Flexible section of an endoscope

Abstract

Disclosed is a flexible section of an endoscope. Said flexible section can flex smoothly and can be manufactured inexpensively. The disclosed flexible section is characterized by the provision of a plurality of joint rings (28b) and a manipulator member receiving unit (34). At least one joint ring (28b) has: an opening (38) that goes through the joint ring (28b) radially; and an engagement receiver (39) formed around the opening (38) on the radially outward part of the joint ring (28b). The manipulation member receiving unit (34), which is inserted from the radially outward side of the joint ring (28b) through the opening (38) to the radially inward side, has: a manipulation member insertion part (36), through which a manipulation member is inserted, which is formed by bending an elastic wire rod and which protrudes into the interior of the joint ring (28b); and an engagement part (37) that engages with the engagement receiver (39) such that the manipulation member receiving unit (34) can rotate, with respect to the joint ring (28b), about an axis of rotation that extends roughly in the radial direction of the joint ring (28b).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope bending part. Background technique [0002] The endoscope has an insertion portion inserted into a lumen, and a bending portion that bends is arranged at a distal end portion of the insertion portion. The curved portion has a curved tube constituting a skeleton of the curved portion. [0003] A curved pipe is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 58-46801. In this curved pipe, a plurality of node rings are sequentially connected substantially coaxially so as to be rotatable relative to each other. That is, in the node ring, a pair of tongue portions protrude from both ends of the cylindrical portion, and a shaft hole is formed radially through each tongue portion. With regard to two adjacent node rings, a pair of tongue parts of one node ring and a pair of tongue parts of the other node ring respectively overlap each other in the radial direction, and a joint shaft runs through the sha...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, when the angle wire is pulled and operated to make the bending part bend, depending on the positional relationship between the angle wire and the joint axis and the state of the load applied from the angle wire to the joint axis, the pulling operation of the diagonal wire increases the resistance. Large, sometimes it is difficult to make the bending part perform a smooth bending action

In addition, since the joint shaft is formed by cutting a rod-shaped rigid material, it is difficult to manufacture cheaply, and since the two tongue parts are clamped by a pair of stepped parts of the joint shaft, the joint shaft The installation work of the knuckle ring becomes complicated

Therefore, it is difficult to cheaply manufacture the bent portion

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