JPS61293419A - 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 [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a connection structure for a bending operation wire.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, the insertion section of an endoscope consists of a flexible tube, a curved tube, and a rigid distal end. The bending tube is forcibly bent by pushing and pulling a wire inserted into the insertion part (for example, Utility Model Application No. 57-1
(See Publication No. 20001).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, the tip of the wire mentioned above is either the most advanced of the curved pieces that make up the core material of the curved tube, or it is fixed by soldering to the main body of the rigid tip, so the wire may burn and become dull. Otherwise, unnecessary wax may protrude and narrow the internal space. Furthermore, there is a drawback that surrounding members are corroded due to the paste flowing out.

In addition, brazing has the disadvantage that it requires a lot of effort and time. Moreover, brazing also has variations in strength, and for this reason, since brazing requires a large length, the hard part of the insertion portion inevitably becomes long.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] A connection portion for laser welding the tip of the operating wire 19 for bending the bending portion 5 of the insertion portion 3 is attached to the tip component portion 5 of the insertion portion or the most advanced node ring z4. The tip of the operating wire 19 is laser welded to this.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the internal view 'a1 is composed of an operating section 2 and a shore entry section 3. The insertion section 3 consists of a flexible tube 4, a curved section 5 provided at its distal end, a distal end forming section 6, etc.
An observation window 7 is provided on the distal end surface of the distal end component 6 . The operation frame section 8 of the operation section 2 includes an operation knob 9 for remotely controlling the bending section 5 of the insertion section 3, and an eyepiece section for observing the inside of the body cavity in cooperation with the observation window 7. XO
, a universal cord 11 connected to a light source device (not shown), and an operation button 12 for supplying air and liquid.

As shown in FIG.
4 are connected in the following manner, so that the operation knob 9 of the operation section 2 can be operated to perform a so-called bending operation in the up, down, left and right directions. That is, the plurality of zero-node rings 14 constituting the curved pipe 13 are made of thin-walled cylindrical metal short tubes, and one end surface of each nodal ring 14 is connected to the adjacent nodal ring 14 via a rivet z5. A connecting portion 16 for rotatably connecting the two is extended. The two connecting portions 16 extend at two equally spaced positions on the circumference, that is, at positions shifted by 180 degrees from each other.

A connecting portion 16 similar to the connecting portion 16 extending to the − side end surface extends on the other side end surface of each node ring 14, and the connecting portion 16 on the other side end surface connects the − side end surface. Two pieces are arranged at positions that so-called cross the line connecting part Z6.

Each node ring 14 configured as described above is rotatably connected to each other via a rivet Z5 while connecting the connecting portions Z6 to each other.

The connecting portion 16 is provided on the inner circumferential surface on one end surface side of each node ring 14.
Two recessed portions 18 for supporting the wire receiver 17 are provided at positions 90 degrees apart from the extended position of the recesses 18, which are equally spaced on the circumference, that is, at positions 180 degrees apart. The recess 18 is the node ring 14
A tubular wire receiver 17 for inserting and supporting an operating wire 19 is fixed in each recess 18 by means such as laser welding by laser spot irradiation.

A recess 18 similar to the inner circumferential surface on the one end side is also formed on the inner circumferential surface on the other end side of each node ring 14 . Two recesses 18 on the other end surface side are provided at positions that so-called cross the lines connecting the recesses 18 on the one end surface side, and are spaced equally on the inner periphery. A wire receiver 17 is fixedly attached to the wire receiver 17 .

Therefore, on the inner peripheral surface of each node ring 14, there are 4 @ wire receivers 17.
are fixedly installed, and an operating wire 19 is inserted through each wire receiver 17, respectively. Operation wire 1
The distal end of the node 9 is fixed to the nodal ring 14 located at the most distal end, and the other end is interlocked and connected to the operating section 2, and a pair of operating wires in the nodal ring 14 are offset by 180 degrees from each other in the circumferential direction. 19 is linked to the operating knob 9 so that when the -10,000 is pulled, the other is pushed.

According to the endoscope 1 having the above configuration, by operating the operation knob 9, the bending tube 1 is connected via the four operation wires z9.
3 can be bent vertically and horizontally.

The tip of each of the operating wires 19 is the most advanced node ring 1.
Laser welded to the inner surface of 4. That is, the portion of the node ring 14 to which the operating wire 19 is welded is formed with a groove 21 pushed outward in the radial direction of the node ring 14, as shown in FIG. The groove 21 extends along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 3, and is formed in such a shape that the side surface of the tip end of the operating wire 19 comes into close contact with the groove 21. and,
The tip side surface portion of the operating wire 19 is tightly fitted, and the welding is performed with a laser beam in a state where the contact area is wide. In other words, this groove 21 constitutes a connection portion for laser welding the tip of the operating wire 19.

On the other hand, in the curved portion 5, a metal blade 22 is fitted on the outer periphery of the curved tube 13, and furthermore, an outer skin 23 made of socket fat is fitted on the outer periphery of the blade 22. The outer periphery of the tip of the outer skin 23 is tightly wound with a thread 24.

Further, the flexible tube 4 has a core material 27 formed by fitting a blade 26 onto the outer periphery of a helical tube 25 made of a metal band-shaped plate. It is fitted.

The curved pipe 13 and the core material 27 are connected by a connecting frame 29 as shown in FIG. This connecting frame 29 consists of a cylindrical part 31 that fits into the rear end of the curved tube 13, and a cylindrical part 32 that fits into the tip of the core material 27, and these fitting members are fixed by welding using laser light. ing. Further, the outer skins 23, 28 of the curved portion 5 and the flexible tube 4 are butted against each other as shown in FIG.

Further, within the flexible tube 4, each of the operating wires 19 is inserted into a guide tube 34 made of a metal coil and guided. Each tip of the guide tube 34 is welded to the inner surface of the connecting frame 29 using a laser beam.

As shown in FIG. 1, an objective lens system 35 facing the observation window 7 is incorporated in the distal end component 6. and,
The tip of the image guide fiber 36 guided through the insertion section 3 is optically coupled to the objective lens system 35 thereof.

The base tube 37 provided at the tip of the image guide fiber 36 is fitted into the hole 39 of the main body 38 of the tip component 6, and the portion where the entire circumference of the opening of the hole 39 and the base tube 37 Welded by light. 4Q is the welded part.

- 10,000, a forceps hole 41 is bored in the tip component θ. A channel tip 42 is connected to the forceps hole 4z. Channel tip - The tip of the buoy 2 is connected to the tip component 6 through a metal connecting pipe 43.
is fixed to the main body 38 of. That is, the tip of the connecting pipe 43 is slightly fitted into the forceps hole 41,
The entire circumference of the fitting part is welded and fixed using laser light. Further, a fawn bore 44 is formed to position the tip of the connecting pipe 43 when it is fitted. If the connecting pipe 43 or the base tube 37 is positioned by passing a core metal (jig) over them before welding them to the main body 38, a long fitting part is not required and the pipes can be fixed accurately.

On the other hand, each blade 22 in the flexible tube 4 and the curved part 5
．． The distal end and rear end of 26, and the fitting portions of the curved tube 13 and the outer periphery of the spiral tube 25 into which they are respectively fitted, are welded by laser beams.

4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, each operating wire 19 is welded to the main body 3, 8 of the tip component σ using a laser beam. That is, the small diameter portion 4 of the main body 38 into which the tip of the curved pipe 13 is fitted
5, there are four f along the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 3.
f1146 is formed, and the tip of the operating wire 19 is tightly fitted into this valley groove 46 and welded by laser light. In other words, the above (446) constitutes a connecting portion for laser welding the tip of the operating wire I9.

6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of places on the wall of the most advanced node ring 14 are cut and raised inward to form a cut and raised piece 47 into which the tip of the operating wire z9 is fitted, and this cut and raised piece 47 is used as a connection part. That is.

Then, the tip of each operating wire 19 is inserted into this cut and raised piece 47 and fixed by welding with a laser beam.

8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a notch hole 48 that opens rearward is formed in the wall of the most advanced node ring 14, and this serves as a connection part. Weld and fix using light.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, a connecting portion is formed in the distal end component of the insertion section or the most advanced nodal ring, and the distal end of the operating wire is welded and fixed to this connecting portion using laser light. . Since the connection is made by welding means using laser light in this manner, the connection work can be performed easily and in a short time.

Moreover, since the heating is localized, deterioration of the operating wire due to annealing can be prevented as much as possible and its durability can be ensured. Furthermore, unlike in the case of brazing, no paste is required, and it is possible to prevent contamination and corrosion of surrounding members due to paste leakage. Of course, no special post-processing is required. In addition, sufficient connection strength can be ensured even if there are fewer fixed parts than in the case of brazing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the insertion section in the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire endoscope, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the main part in the second embodiment, Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the main part, Fig. 6 is a front view of the main part in the third embodiment, and Fig. 7 is the same. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the main part, FIG. 8 is a rear view of the main part in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the main part. 2... Endoscope, 3... Insertion section, 5... Curved section, 6
...Tip component, 13...Curved tube, 14...Nodal ring, 19...Operation wire, 21...Concave groove, 46...
Groove, 47... cut and raised piece, 48... notch hole. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 2 Figure 3 WA 411 Figure 5 Figure 61! ! Figure 7 Figure 8II Figure 9

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of joint rings installed in the curved section of the insertion section and rotatably connected to each other; a distal end component section connected to the distal end of the curved section; 1. An endoscope comprising: an operating wire for bending; and a connecting portion provided at the distal end component or the most advanced node ring to which the distal end of the operating wire is laser welded. (2) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed in a shape corresponding to the operating wire in order to increase the contact area with the operating wire.