Endoscope

Abstract

This endoscope comprises: a rotating shaft which has a first shaft, a second shaft, and a protruding part that connects the first shaft to the second shaft; a pulley which is coupled to the protruding part and rotates together with the first shaft; an operation knob which is coupled to the second shaft, rotates together with the first shaft and the second shaft, and can be tilted with respect to the first shaft; a first wire which has a proximal end connected to the pulley and is wound around the pulley as the operation knob rotates; a second wire which has a proximal end held by the first shaft and is pulled as the operation knob tilts; a flexible tube in which the first wire and the second wire are disposed; and a curved part which is disposed at the tip end part of the flexible tube and connected with the tip end part of the first wire and the tip end part of the second wire. The curved part curves as the operation knob rotates or tilts.

Description

Endoscopy

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a bending portion that can bend the distal end side of an insertion portion up and down and left and right.

[0002] In recent years, endoscopes have come to be widely used in the medical field, etc. The distal end of the insertion section of an endoscope is provided with a bending section that is configured to bend in, for example, up and down and left and right directions.

[0003] The operation section of the endoscope is provided with a rotatable bending operation knob for bending the bending section. Typically, the bending operation knob is provided with two overlapping, approximately disk-shaped rotating knobs: a UD bending operation knob for bending the bending section in the up-down direction and an RL bending operation knob for bending the bending section in the left-right direction.

[0004] For example, International Publication No. 2012 / 173082 discloses an endoscope equipped with a first bending portion up / down knob, a first bending portion left / right knob, and a second bending portion up / down knob, in which the first bending portion up / down knob and the first bending portion left / right knob are provided on top of each other on the side of the main body.

[0005] With this configuration, the operator operates the first bending section up / down knob and the first bending section left / right knob with the thumb of the hand holding the operation unit. Therefore, when operating the first bending section up / down knob with the thumb of the hand holding the operation unit, the operator cannot operate the first bending section left / right knob. Similarly, when operating the first bending section left / right knob with the thumb of the hand holding the operation unit, the operator cannot operate the first bending section up / down knob.

[0006] That is, in an endoscope in which the up / down knob for the first bending portion and the left / right knob for the first bending portion are provided one on top of the other on the side of the main body, it is not possible to simultaneously perform up / down and left / right bending operations with one finger. For example, when bending the bending portion diagonally, the operator must perform a two-step operation: operate the up / down knob for the first bending portion with his / her thumb, then release his / her thumb from the up / down knob for the first bending portion, and then operate the left / right knob for the first bending portion with his / her thumb. This makes it difficult to easily perform up / down / left / right bending operations with one finger.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to provide an endoscope that allows bending operations in the up, down, left and right directions to be easily performed with one finger.

[0008] An endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a rotating shaft having a first shaft, a second shaft, and a protrusion connecting the first shaft and the second shaft; a pulley coupled to the protrusion and rotating together with the first shaft; a control knob coupled to the second shaft, rotating together with the first and second shafts, and tiltable relative to the first shaft; a first wire having a base end connected to the pulley and wound around the pulley as the control knob rotates; a second wire having a base end held by the first shaft and pulled as the control knob is tilted; a flexible tube in which the first wire and the second wire are disposed; and a bending portion disposed at the distal end of the flexible tube, to which a distal end of the first wire and a distal end of the second wire are connected, and which bends as the control knob is rotated or tilted.

[0009] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment; FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of an operation unit for explaining an example of the range of tilt operation; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a bending operation knob; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a pulley; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a slider; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a ball point bit shaft; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 6; FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state when the ball point bit shaft is tilted relative to the pulley; FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an operation unit member constituting the operation unit; FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the connection of an upward bending wire and a downward bending wire; FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the connection of a leftward bending wire and a rightward bending wire; and FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of the connection of a leftward bending wire and a rightward bending wire.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or corresponding elements are appropriately designated by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the length relationships, length ratios, and quantities of elements within a single drawing may differ from reality in order to simplify the description. Furthermore, there may be portions in which the length relationships and ratios differ between multiple drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an endoscope according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, an endoscope 10 according to this embodiment includes a long, slender insertion section 11 to be inserted into a subject, an operation section 12, and a universal cable 13, which is a composite cable. The insertion section 11 of the endoscope 10 includes, in order from the distal end, a distal end portion 14, a bending section 15, and a flexible tube section 16.

[0012] The operation unit 12 is provided with a bending operation knob 17 for bending the bending portion 15 in the up-down and left-right directions, an air / water supply button 18, a suction button 19, and the like.

[0013] The bending operation knob 17 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise and tilts relative to the operation unit 12. The bending portion 15 bends in the up-down direction when the bending operation knob 17 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. Furthermore, the bending portion 15 bends in the left-right direction when the bending operation knob 17 tilts relative to the operation unit 12.

[0014] As described above, in this embodiment, one bending operation knob 17 is provided with a rotation operation function and a tilt operation function, and the rotation operation bends the bending portion 15 in the up-down direction, and the tilt operation bends the bending portion 15 in the left-right direction. By performing a tilt operation while rotating the bending operation knob 17 with the thumb holding the operation unit 12, the operator can bend the bending portion 15 in the left-right, up-down, or in other words, in a desired direction (for example, a diagonal direction) using the single bending operation knob 17, thereby improving operability.

[0015] The universal cable 13 extending from the operation section 12 has an endoscope connector 20 at its extending end that is detachable from the light source device. A light guide bundle is inserted through the insertion section 11, the operation section 12, and the universal cable 13, and this light guide bundle transmits illumination light from the light source device to the tip section 14.

[0016] A coiled cable (not shown) is connected to the endoscope connector 20, and an electric connector that can be attached to and detached from a video processor is provided at the extending end of the coiled cable.

[0017] 2 is a partial enlarged view of the operation unit for explaining an example of the range of tilt operation. As described above, by rotating the bending operation knob 17, the bending portion 15 bends in the up-down direction. Furthermore, by tilting the bending operation knob 17, the bending portion 15 bends in the left-right direction.

[0018] The tilt operation range A1 is within a range of tilt angles from 45 degrees to 135 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis S1 of the insertion unit 11. In other words, the tilt operation range A1 is within a range of tilt angles from 45 degrees to −45 degrees with respect to an orthogonal axis S2 that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis S1 of the insertion unit 11. The tilt operation range A1 is set to a range that allows easy tilt operation, taking into account the range of motion of the thumb when the operator holds the operation unit 12.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the bending operation knob 17, the pulley, the slider, and the ball point bit shaft that connects the bending operation knob 17, the pulley, and the slider will be described.

[0020] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a bending operation knob. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a pulley. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a slider. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a ball point bit shaft. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a state when the ball point bit shaft is tilted relative to the pulley.

[0021] The bending operation knob 17 has a substantially disk shape with a circular hole 17a in the center. The pulley (UD drum) 30 has a circular shape with a hexagonal hole 31 in the center. The pulley 30 also has grooves 32 and 33 on its side to which upward and downward bending wires (described later) are connected. When the pulley 30 rotates, one of the upward and downward bending wires is pulled and the other is relaxed.

[0022] The slider 40 is a rectangular plate with a circular hole 41 in the center in the longitudinal direction. Leftward and rightward bending wires, which will be described later, are connected to the slider 40. That is, the slider 40 is a connecting member to which the base ends of the leftward and rightward bending wires are connected. As the slider 40 slides, one of the leftward and rightward bending wires is pulled and the other is relaxed.

[0023] [HS1][Tetsuchu2] The ball point bit shaft 50 constitutes a rotary shaft including a first shaft 51 having a circular cross section as shown in Fig. 7, a second shaft 52 having a circular cross section as shown in Fig. 8, and a ball point bit 53 having a hexagonal cross section as shown in Fig. 9. The ball point bit 53 connects the first shaft 51 and the second shaft 52 and constitutes a protrusion whose maximum outer diameter is larger than the outer diameters of the first shaft 51 and the second shaft 52.

[0024] The circular first shaft 51 fits into the circular hole 41 of the slider 40. Therefore, the first shaft 51 holds the slider 40 and the base ends of the leftward and rightward bending wires. The circular second shaft 52 fits into the circular hole 17a of the bending operation knob 17. The ball point bit 53 fits into the hexagonal hole 31 of the pulley 30. Furthermore, the ball point bit shaft 50 can be tilted relative to the pulley 30 while the ball point bit 53 remains fitted into the hexagonal hole 31. (See FIG. 10) [HS3] [Pulling 4]

[0025] When the bending operation knob 17 is tilted, the slider 40 slides in the direction opposite to the tilt direction of the bending operation knob 17, and pulls and loosens the bending wires for the left and right directions.

[0026] Furthermore, even when the bending operation knob 17 is tilted, the ball point bit 53 fits into the hole 31 of the pulley 30, so that the rotational force of the bending operation knob 17 can be transmitted to the pulley 30. This causes the upward and downward bending wires to be pulled and relaxed. With this configuration, the bending section 15 can be bent in a desired direction by rotating and tilting the bending operation knob 17.

[0027] 11 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the operating member that makes up the operating unit. The operating unit 12 is composed of operating members 60 and 61. The operating members 60 and 61 are an example of frame members and are exterior members. The bending operation knob 17 is disposed on the upper side (outside) of the operating member 60. The operating member 60 has a groove 62 so that the ball point bit shaft 50 does not interfere with the operating member 60 when the bending operation knob 17 is tilted. A hole (not shown) is formed through the groove 62, and the ball point bit shaft 50 is rotatably disposed in this hole.

[0028] The operating member 61 has a groove 63 and a rib 64. The groove 63 has a rectangular shape into which the slider 40 is fitted and is large enough to allow the slider 40 to slide. The pulley 30 is disposed above the slider 40. The rib 64 has an arc shape and supports the pulley 30 disposed above the slider 40.

[0029] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the connection of the bending wire for the upward direction and the bending wire for the downward direction, and Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the connection of the bending wire for the leftward direction and the bending wire for the rightward direction.

[0030] 12 , the pulley 30 is supported by ribs 64. An upward bending wire 71 and a downward bending wire 72 are connected to grooves 32 and 33 provided on the side surface of the pulley 30. The upward bending wire 71 and the downward bending wire 72 have their base ends connected to the pulley 30 and constitute first wires that are wound around the pulley 30 as the bending operation knob 17 is rotated. The upward bending wire 71 and the downward bending wire 72 are disposed in the flexible tube section 16 and have their tip ends connected to the bending section 15.

[0031] The pulley 30 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the ball point bit shaft 50 (rotation of the bending operation knob 17), pulling one of the upward bending wire 71 and the downward bending wire 72 and loosening the other.

[0032] 13 , the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 have their base ends connected to one side surface and the other side surface (ends in the longitudinal direction) of the slider 40. The leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 have their base ends held by the bending operation knob 17 via the slider 40, and constitute second wires that are pulled (or relaxed) as the bending operation knob 17 is tilted. The leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 are disposed in the flexible tube section 16, and their tips are connected to the bending section 15.

[0033] The slider 40 slides in the groove 63 in accordance with the tilting of the ball point bit shaft 50 (tilting operation of the bending operation knob 17), pulling one of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 and loosening the other. The slider 40 is an example of a second wire connecting member.

[0034] The base ends of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 are connected to one side surface and the other side surface of the slider 40, but are not limited to this configuration.

[0035] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of the connection of the bending wire for leftward and the bending wire for rightward.

[0036] 14 , the base ends of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 are connected to one side surface and the other side surface of the rib 64. The rib 64 to which the base ends of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 are connected is a rib that is arranged on the base end side opposite to the tip portion 14 of the insertion section 11.

[0037] Parts of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 are in contact with one side surface and the other side surface of the slider 40. As a result, one of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 is pulled and the other is relaxed in response to the sliding movement of the slider 40.

[0038] That is, as long as one of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 is pulled and the other is relaxed by the slider 40, which slides in accordance with the tilt operation of the bending operation knob 17, any member may be used to connect the base ends of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74. For example, the base ends of the leftward bending wire 73 and the rightward bending wire 74 may be connected to the bending operation knob 17.

[0039] As described above, the endoscope 10 of this embodiment has the function of bending the bending portion 15 in the up-down direction by rotating the bending operation knob 17, and the function of bending the bending portion 15 in the left-right direction by tilting the bending operation knob 17.

[0040] The operator can simultaneously bend the bending portion 15 in the up-down direction and the left-right direction by rotating and tilting the bending operation knob 17 using the thumb of the hand holding the operation portion 12. As a result, unlike the conventional configuration in which there are separate bending operation knobs for the up-down direction and the left-right direction, the operator can bend the bending portion 15 in a desired direction (for example, diagonally) using only one finger.

[0041] Therefore, according to the endoscope 10 of this embodiment, bending operations in the up, down, left and right directions can be easily performed with one finger.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications, combinations, and applications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising: a rotating shaft having a first shaft, a second shaft, and a protrusion connecting the first shaft and the second shaft; a pulley coupled to the protrusion and rotating together with the first shaft; a control knob coupled to the second shaft and rotating together with the first and second shafts and tiltable relative to the first shaft; a first wire having a base end connected to the pulley and wound around the pulley as the control knob rotates; a second wire having a base end held by the first shaft and pulled as the control knob is tilted; a flexible tube in which the first wire and the second wire are disposed; and a bending section disposed at the distal end of the flexible tube, to which the distal end of the first wire and the distal end of the second wire are connected, and which bends as the control knob is rotated or tilted.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operating knob has a second wire connecting member that is tilted together with the operating knob when the operating knob is tilted relative to the first axis.

3. An endoscope according to claim 2, wherein said second wire connecting member has a hole for rotatably holding said second shaft.

4. An endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the proximal end of said second wire is connected to said second wire connecting member.

5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said second wire connecting member has a longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction being disposed along a predetermined direction.

6. An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined direction is the direction of a partial straight line in a plane perpendicular to the first axis.

7. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the second wire connecting member maintains the predetermined orientation when the operating knob is rotated.

8. The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said rotary shaft is rotatably fixed to a frame member.

9. An endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction inclined at a predetermined angle from the longitudinal axis of the frame member.

10. An endoscope according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined angle is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said frame member in the range of 45 degrees to 135 degrees.

11. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the hole is centrally located in the longitudinal direction of the second wire connection member.

12. An endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the proximal end of the second wire is connected to an end of the second wire connecting member in the longitudinal direction.

13. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the second wire connecting member is a plate-like member having a long side in the longitudinal direction.

14. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the operation knob is disposed on the outside of the frame member.

15. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the frame member is an exterior member.

16. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first wire bends the bending portion in the up and down direction.

17. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein the second wire bends the bending portion in the left-right direction.

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