JPS63226331A - Operation apparatus of 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 operating device for bending an insertion section of an endoscope.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in an endoscope in which the curved part at the tip of the insertion section can be bent in four directions (up, down, left and right), for example,
84101, the operating section connected to the insertion section includes, in order from the operating section side, a first angle knob that bends the curved section in the vertical direction, and a second angle knob that curves the curved section in the left-right direction. angle knobs are coaxially stacked, and the first angle knob closer to the operating section is formed to have a larger outer diameter than the second angle knob.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, when operating an endoscope, the hand that is not the one that grips the operating section should be kept open as much as possible during operation, in order to operate the various treatment instruments and feed the insertion section into the body cavity. It is desirable to leave it there.

Therefore, any of the angle knobs described above must be operated with the fingertips of the hand that grips the operating section.

In this case, the first angle knob is close to the operating section and has a large diameter, so it can be operated with the fingertips of the hand that grips the operating section, but the second angle knob is similar to the first angle knob. Since it is located on the outside of the handlebar and has a small diameter, even if you try to operate it with the fingertips of the hand that is gripping the operating part, the first angle knob will get in the way and your fingertips will not be able to reach it, making it difficult to operate. Ta.

For this reason, people with particularly small hands should use the second angle knob.
There was still room for improvement in terms of operability, such as the need to operate with the other hand, which must be kept open during the operation, and the need to temporarily remove the hand from the insertion section or treatment instrument.

The present invention was made based on these circumstances, and
To provide an operating device for an endoscope that allows the operator to easily pick and operate both of two angle knobs with a hand holding an operating part.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, in the present invention, of the two angle knobs, the peripheral surface of the angle knob that is closer to the operating section is formed into an inclined surface that slopes toward the inside in the radial direction of the angle knob as the distance from the operating section increases. In addition, the angle knob farther from the operating section has a larger outer diameter than the angle knob closer to the operating section, and at least a portion of its circumferential surface is
The angle knob is characterized in that it is formed in a plane substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the angle knob.

[Effect]

According to this configuration, the angle knob that is remote from the operation section is
Its outer diameter is larger than that of the angle knob closest to the operation part, so when operating the farthest angle knob, the nearest angle knob does not get in the way, and the outer diameter of the farthest angle knob does not get in the way. I can reach it with my fingers. At this time, the farthest angle knob must be picked with the fingers extended, but since there is a plane approximately parallel to the rotation axis on the circumferential surface of this angle knob, the direction of the pad of the fingertip is The direction of the circumferential surface of the angle knob substantially matches, making it easier to pick up the angle knob.

At the same time, the angle knob nearer has a small diameter, so when you pick it up with your fingertips, you have to bend your fingers into a hook shape and point the fingertips facing each other. Since the binding is on an inclined surface, the direction of the inclined surface and the pad of the fingertip almost matches, and like the far angle knob mentioned above, it is possible to pick up the operating part with the fingertip of the hand that grips it. .

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The endoscope indicated by reference numeral 1 in the figure includes an insertion section 2 inserted into a body cavity, and an operation section 3 connected to the proximal side of this insertion section 2. This insertion section 2 is connected to the distal end of a flexible tube 4. The distal end component 6 is connected to the tip via a curved tube 5.

A first angle knob 8 for bending the curved tube 5 in the vertical direction and a second angle knob 9 for bending the curved tube 5 in the left-right direction are stacked coaxially on one side of the operating section 3. It is provided. These angle knobs 8, 9 are attached to a rotation shaft 7 that is pivoted to the operating section 3, and the first angle knob 8 is located on the side closer to the operating section 3. Four wires (not shown) are connected to the rotating shaft 7, and the tips of these wires are guided through the flexible tube 4 to the tip of the curved tube 5, and are connected to the tip of the curved tube 5. They are connected at intervals of 90' in the circumferential direction.

Therefore, when the first angle knob 8 is rotated, the tip of the curved tube 5 is pulled in the vertical direction via the wire, and when the second angle knob 9 is rotated, the tip of the curved tube 5 is pulled vertically via the wire. The tip of 5 is pulled left and right,
As a result, the curved tube 5 is curved in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Incidentally, the first angle knob 8 has a disk shape with a constant wall thickness, and its outer diameter is smaller than the height H of the operating section 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the circumferential surface of the first angle knob 8, that is, the part gripped by the fingertips A of the hand, moves inward in the radial direction of the first angle knob 8 as it moves away from the operating section 3. Slanted slope lO
A knurled groove 11 for preventing slipping is cut into this inclined surface 1O.

Further, the second angle knob 9 has claw portions 12 at four locations on its circumferential surface, and a recessed portion 13 for finger rest is formed between these claw portions 12. The outer diameter of the second angle knob 9 is larger than the height H of the operating section 3, including the outer diameter of the first angle knob 8.
In the case of this embodiment, the diameter d of the bottom portion of the recessed portion 13 is also formed larger than the height H of the operating portion 3.

Therefore, the first angle knob 8 located between the second angle knob 9 and the operating section 3 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the recess 13 of the second angle knob 9.

Further, the end of the claw portion 12 on the operating portion 3 side is extended toward the operating portion 3 side so that the fingertip can easily reach it, and the peripheral surface of the claw portion 12 excluding the extension portion 14 and the recessed portion The peripheral surface of 13 is a plane 15 that is substantially parallel to the axis 01-0□ of the rotation shaft 7.
Note that a knurled groove 1B for preventing slipping is carved on the circumferential surface of the claw portion 12.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the outer diameter of the second angle knob 9 remote from the operating section 3 is compared to the outer diameter of the first angle knob 8 near the operating section 3 and the operating section. 3, the first angle knob 8 does not get in the way when the second angle knob 9 is picked with the index finger and thumb of the hand holding the operating section 3. . Therefore, by extending the thumb and index finger straight, the circumferential surface of the claw portion 12 or the recessed portion 13 can be gripped and rotated with the pad of the fingertip A.

In this case, the circumferential surfaces of the claw portion 12 and the recessed portion 13 are aligned along the axis 01-0 of the rotating shaft 7. Since it is formed in a plane 15 parallel to the above, when the thumb and index finger are extended, the direction of the pad of the fingertip A and the direction of the circumferential surfaces of the claw part 12 and the recessed part 13 will almost match. , the second angle knob 9 becomes easier to grip.

On the other hand, since the first angle knob 8 has a smaller diameter than the operating part 3, when picking it up with the fingertips A, the thumb and index finger are bent into a hook shape and the fingertips A are butted against each other.

At this time, the circumferential surface of the first angle knob 8 becomes an inclined surface 1 that is inclined radially inward as it moves away from the operating section 3.
0, so when the first angle knob 8 is picked up with the fingertip, the direction of the circumferential surface of the first angle knob 8 and the direction of the pad of the fingertip A will substantially match. Therefore, even though the first angle knob 8 has a small diameter, it can be easily pinched and rotated with the fingertip A, similarly to the second angle knob 9 described above.

As a result, both the first and second angle knobs 8 and 9 can be easily operated with the fingers of the hand holding the operating section 3, while the other hand can be used to insert and hold the insertion section 2, etc. Since the patient can concentrate on operating the treatment instruments and camera, the endoscopic examination can be carried out quickly and there is an advantage that the pain to be caused to the patient is less.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, but, for example, as in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. A space 21 is provided in which the fingertip A enters, and the claw portion 12, which is the outer peripheral surface of the second angle knob 9, is extended further toward the operation portion 3 side, and this extension portion 22 is connected to the first angle knob. You can put him outside of 8.

According to the configuration of the second embodiment, due to the existence of the space 21, when the first angle knob 8 is pinched and rotated, the second angle knob 8 is rotated.
It is possible to prevent the fingertip A from touching the angle knob 9. Also, the second angle knob 9 is adjusted by the extension portion 22.
The peripheral surface of is brought closer to the operating part 3, making it easier for the fingertip A to reach, improving operability.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

This third embodiment also includes aspects of the first angle knob 8.
Claw portions 31 are provided at four locations spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and a recessed portion 32 for finger rest is formed between these claw portions 31.
In the case of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the claw portion 31 of the first angle knob 8 is smaller than or equal to the diameter d of the bottom portion of the recessed portion 13 of the second angle knob 9. There is.

According to this configuration, even when rotating the second angle knob 9 by hooking a finger on the recessed part 13, the first angle knob 8 does not get in the way, and the first angle knob 8 does not get in the way. This has advantages such as making it difficult for the fingertip A to touch the claw portion 31.

Further, when forming the recessed portion 13.32 on the circumferential surface of the first or second angle knob 8, 9, as in the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The edges may be chamfered to form a slope 51 that makes it easier to hang the fingertip A.

Further, the number of claws provided on the angle knob is not limited to four, and the flat surface provided on the circumferential surface of the claw portion of the second angle knob may be provided not only on a part but also on the entire surface of this circumferential surface.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described in detail above, it is possible to easily pick and operate either of the two angle knobs with the fingertips of the hand gripping the operating section, and therefore the operability of the angle knobs is significantly improved. However, there is an advantage that the other hand can be devoted to inserting the insertion section, operating the treatment instrument, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view of the entire endoscope, Figure 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the state in which the angle knob is operated, Figure 3 is a side view of the angle knob, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention. Diagram,
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the invention. 1... Endoscope, 2... Insertion section, 3... Operation section, 7
... Rotation axis, 8, 9 ... Angle knob (first angle knob, second angle knob), 10 ... Inclined surface,
15...plane. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope in which the operating section is provided with two coaxially stacked and rotatable angle knobs that curve the distal end of the insertion section, the one of the angle knobs that is closer to the operating section. The peripheral surface of the angle knob is formed into an inclined surface that slopes inward in the radial direction of the angle knob as it moves away from the operating section, and the angle knob that is farther from the operating section is more inclined than the angle knob that is closer to the operating section. In addition to forming a large outer diameter,
An operating device for an endoscope, characterized in that at least a portion of its circumferential surface is formed into a plane substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the angle knob.