Endoscope

Abstract

The present invention provides an endoscope. The endoscope includes: a distal end portion, disposed at the distal end of an insertion portion and provided with an observation window; a fluid ejection port formed on a distal end surface of the distal end portion; a flow path formed in the distal end portion and conveying a fluid to be ejected from the fluid ejection port; a suction port formed on the distal end surface; a suction path that draws the fluid from the suction port into the insertion portion; and a deflection portion integrally formed with the distal end portion, projecting so as to cover a portion of the fluid ejection port and colliding with the fluid to change the ejection direction of the fluid away from the location where the suction port is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a water supply function and a suction function. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, endoscopes are known that have an objective lens, a water supply nozzle, a suction channel opening, etc. provided at the front end of a long insertion portion as an insertion body. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-156902 discloses a technology that can fully clean the water supply nozzle of the observation optical system at the front end of the endoscope. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a front end portion, which is arranged at the front end of the insertion portion and is provided with an observation window; a fluid injection port, which is formed on the front end surface of the front end portion; a flow path, which is formed at the front end portion and transports the fluid to be injected from the fluid injection port; a suction port, which is formed on the front end surface; a suction path, which sucks the fluid from the suction port into the insertion portion; and a deflection portion, which protrudes in a manner covering a portion of the fluid injection port and is integrally formed at the front end portion, collides with the fluid and changes the injection direction of the fluid to a direction away from the position where the suction port is formed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 This is a plan view of the appearance of an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0005] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing the structure of a distal end portion of an insertion portion as an insertion body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0006] Figure 3 This is a front view showing the structure of a distal end portion of an insertion portion serving as an insertion body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 4 This is a method of expressing one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the IV-IV wire.

[0008] Figure 5 This is a method of expressing one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the VV wire.

[0009] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating a state in which a vortex is generated by water supply and suction in a body cavity according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion for explaining the flow of fluid ejected from the water supply passage in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 8 It is a front view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion according to the first modified example.

[0012] Figure 9 It is a front view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion according to the second modified example.

[0013] Figure 10 It is a front view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion according to the third modified example.

[0014] Figure 11 It is a front view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion according to the fourth modified example.

[0015] Figure 12 The fourth modification example is shown along Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of line XII-XII.

[0016] Figure 13 It is a front view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion according to the fifth modified example.

[0017] Figure 14 The fifth modification example is shown along Figure 12 A cross-sectional view showing the structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the XIV-XIV line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Here, the endoscope of the present invention will be described as an example. It should be noted that in the following description, the drawings based on the various embodiments are schematic, and it should be noted that the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the thickness of each part, etc., may differ from reality. The drawings may also contain parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0019] In addition, the endoscope in the following structural description illustrates an endoscope with a thin insertion portion as a urological endoscope, but is not limited to this. It can also be applied to various so-called soft endoscopes with flexible insertion portions for insertion into the upper or lower digestive organs of a living body, and so-called rigid endoscopes with hard insertion portions used in surgery.

[0020] Hereinafter, an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the endoscope 1 as the electronic endoscope of this embodiment is mainly composed of an insertion portion 2 formed in a slender tubular shape, an operating portion 3 connected to the base end of the insertion portion 2, a universal soft wire 4 extending from the operating portion 3 as an endoscope cable, and an endoscope connector 5 provided at the front end of the universal soft wire 4.

[0022] Furthermore, for reasons of infection prevention and cost reduction, the endoscope 1 is preferably disposable (single-use) and is discarded after use. However, it may also be a reusable product that is disinfected and sterilized and then reused.

[0023] The insertion portion 2 is a flexible tubular member formed by sequentially providing a distal end portion 6, a bending portion 7, and a flexible tubular portion 8. The distal end portion 6 houses an imaging module as imaging means, an illumination unit, and the like.

[0024] The bending portion 7 is a mechanism portion configured to be actively bendable in two directions (up and down) of the insertion portion 2 by a rotational operation of a bending lever 13 in an operating member of the operating portion 3 .

[0025] In addition, the bending portion 7 is not limited to a type that actively bends in the upward and downward directions, but may also be a type that can bend in four directions including the left and right directions in addition to the upward and downward directions (the entire circumferential direction around the axis through up, down, left and right operations, UP-DOWN / LEFT-RIGHT), or a type that can bend only in one direction, the upward (UP) direction, or a type that does not have a mechanism for active bending based on the bending rod 13 and only bends passively.

[0026] The flexible tubular portion 8 is a tubular member formed to be passively flexible and flexible. Inside the flexible tubular portion 8, in addition to the channel described below, a signal cable harness (described below) extending from the camera module built into the distal end portion 6 and then from the operating unit 3 into the interior of the universal cord 4 is inserted (none of which are shown). A light guide bundle (described below) for guiding illumination light from the light source device so that it is emitted from the distal end portion 6 is also inserted (none of which are shown).

[0027] The operating portion 3 includes: an anti-folding portion 9 arranged on the front end side and covering the base end of the flexible tube portion 8 and connected to the flexible tube portion 8; a gripping portion 10 connected to the anti-folding portion 9 and held by the user's hand when using the endoscope 1; an operating unit for operating various endoscope functions arranged on the outer surface of the gripping portion 10; a disposal instrument insertion portion 11; and a suction valve 15, etc.

[0028] The operation unit provided in the operation portion 3 includes, for example, a bending rod 13 for performing bending operation of the bending portion 7, a plurality of operation members 14 for performing water supply (air supply) operation or suction operation, an imaging unit, an illumination unit, and other corresponding operations.

[0029] The treatment instrument insertion portion 11 is a component having treatment instrument insertion ports for inserting various treatment instruments (not shown), and is connected to a channel (not shown) inside the operation portion 3 via a branch member.

[0030] A forceps plug 12 is provided on the treatment instrument insertion portion 11. The forceps plug 12 is a cover member for opening and closing the treatment instrument insertion opening. Furthermore, the channel is connected to a suction valve 15 via a branching member within the operating portion 3.

[0031] The universal cord 4 is a composite cable having a signal cable harness, a light guide bundle for transmitting illumination light from a light source device (not shown), etc. The signal cable harness, light guide bundle, etc. are inserted from the distal end 6 of the insertion portion 2 into the interior of the operation portion 3 and the universal cord 4.

[0032] The endoscope connector 5 is constructed to have an electrical connector portion 16 on the side portion for connecting a signal cable, and the signal cable is connected between the electrical connector portion 16 and a video processor (not shown) as an external device, and the endoscope connector 5 is constructed to have a light source connector portion 17, a water supply (air supply) plug 18 connected to a water supply (air supply) pipe (not shown) from a water supply (air supply) device (not shown) as an external device, etc. The light source connector portion 17 is connected to the optical fiber bundle and cable (not shown) described later that are connected between the light source device as an external device and the light source connector portion 17.

[0033] Here, based on Figures 2 to 5 The structure of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In the following description, the description of the known structure of the insertion portion 2 will be omitted.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the distal end portion 6 of the insertion portion 2 includes a substantially cylindrical block-shaped frame member, i.e., a distal end rigid portion 20, which serves as a distal end structural portion, provided with an observation window 21, an illumination window 22, and a channel opening 23. The distal end rigid portion 20 is covered with a curved rubber 25 from midway toward the proximal end, and the distal end of the curved rubber 25 is secured by a roll adhesive portion 26.

[0035] The distal rigid portion 20 is a resin frame formed by injection molding, etc. Alternatively, the distal rigid portion 20 may be a metal frame formed by cutting a biocompatible metal such as stainless steel.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the distal end rigid portion 20 constituting the distal end portion 6 has three surfaces at the distal end: a first surface 20a, a third surface 20c. The first surface 20a includes an observation window 21, an illumination window 22, and a portion of a channel opening 23. The remaining portion of the channel opening 23 is located on the second surface 20b. Furthermore, the third surface 20c includes a water supply opening 24, which serves as a fluid ejection opening.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, the front end hard portion 20 is fitted with the front end portion of the bending tube 28 provided inside the bending portion 7, and is covered with a bending rubber 25 to cover the outer circumference of the bending tube 28. In addition, a mesh braided belt (not shown) is provided between the bending tube 28 and the bending rubber 25.

[0038] Furthermore, the distal end rigid portion 20 has a water supply passage 31 formed on the third surface 20c as a flow path opening into the water supply opening 24. The water supply pipe 29 serving as a fluid pipe is connected to the water supply passage 31 in a communicative manner.

[0039] And, as Figure 5 As shown, the distal end rigid portion 20 has openings on the first surface 20a and the second surface 20b as channel openings 23, and a suction path 34 is formed for sucking fluid into the interior of the insertion portion 2 (suction S). A tubular channel 33 is connected to the suction path 34. In addition to being a suction conduit, the suction path 34 and the channel 33 also constitute a treatment instrument insertion conduit for inserting a treatment instrument.

[0040] Here, the first surface 20a of the distal rigid portion 20 is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2. The second surface 20b is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the proximal end at a predetermined angle θ1 relative to the first surface 20a. The third surface 20c is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the proximal end at a predetermined angle θ2 relative to the first surface 20a. Here, the predetermined angle θ1 is greater than the predetermined angle θ2. Furthermore, the predetermined angle θ2 is set, for example, to an angle between 20 and 45 degrees. That is, the inclination of the third surface 20c is set greater than the inclination of the second surface 20b.

[0041] Therefore, the second surface 20b and the third surface 20c of the distal hard portion 20 are inclined in different peripheral directions, forming a so-called cannonball shape with the distal end tapering. Consequently, the remaining portion of the channel opening 23 provided on the second surface 20b and the water supply opening 24 provided on the third surface 20c are set to face different directions.

[0042] Here, the distal end hard portion 20 has a deflection portion 32 formed on the inner side of the first surface 20a for blocking a portion of the water supply opening 24 of the water supply passage 31 to change the spray direction of the water R conveying a fluid (primarily a liquid). The deflection portion 32 is a substantially semicircular protrusion having a linear edge 32a and extending parallel to the first surface 20a so as to cover a portion of the water supply passage 31.

[0043] The deflecting portion 32 is formed to have a predetermined protrusion amount L toward the center of the water supply channel 31 so as to cover a range of 20% to 80% of the pipe diameter φ, which is the diameter of the water supply channel 31. Furthermore, the protrusion amount L of the deflecting portion 32 toward the center of the water supply channel 31 is preferably 50% of the pipe diameter φ of the water supply channel 31 (L = φ / 2).

[0044] Liquid such as purified water or physiological saline supplied from the water supply pipe 29 to the water supply path 31 collides with the deflector 32 and is blocked, thereby changing the direction of the water R ejected from the water supply opening 24 away from the suction port 23 .

[0045] That is, the deflecting portion 32 changes the spray direction of the water R to the outside (side) and obliquely forward of the front end portion 6 in a manner that blocks the liquid sprayed straight forward from the front end portion 6 of the insertion portion 2, so that the spray direction of the water R is away from the suction port 23.

[0046] Specifically, if Figure 6 As shown, the endoscope 1 delivers a liquid such as purified water or physiological saline solution from the distal end portion 6 of the insertion portion 2 inserted into the body cavity 100. At this time, the direction of the liquid ejected from the water delivery opening 24 of the distal hard portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 is changed by the deflection unit 32 to the outside (laterally) and obliquely forward, away from the suction port 23. In other words, the direction of the fluid ejection is changed to a direction away from the location where the suction port 23 is formed.

[0047] Specifically, regarding the flow of fluid inside the flow path, Figure 7 As shown, the same flow as that of a normal pipeline occurs in the water supply path 31, but the flow of the fluid that collides with the deflection portion 32 arranged in a direction intersecting with the water supply path 31 changes in a direction intersecting with the length direction of the insertion portion 2. The fluid that has not collided with the deflection portion 32 flows toward the length direction of the insertion portion 2, but is hindered by the fluid that collides with the deflection portion 32 and a portion flows in a direction intersecting with the length direction of the insertion portion 2, thereby changing the ejection direction.

[0048] At the same time, if the liquid is sucked from the channel opening 23 of the distal end rigid portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 (suction S), a predetermined vortex V is generated in the liquid being transported R. That is, the liquid ejected obliquely forward and outward (laterally) from the distal end rigid portion 20 collides with the inner wall 101 of the body cavity on the opposite side of the suction port 23 from the direction of the suction S, and is sucked into the insertion portion 2 from the channel opening 23, thereby generating a vortex V in front of the distal end portion 6 (refer to FIG. Figure 6 ).

[0049] The endoscope 1 thus constructed stirs urinary calculi such as kidney stones, ureteral stones, bladder stones, or urethral stones into a liquid by using a predetermined vortex V generated by the water supply R and the suction S, particularly during transurethral urinary calculi fragmentation. Furthermore, the endoscope 1 suctions the liquid-stirred calculi (suction S) from the channel opening 23 of the distal end portion 6, thereby efficiently removing and recovering the calculi from a body cavity 100 such as the urinary tract.

[0050] Thus, the endoscope 1 of this embodiment generates a vortex V in the body cavity 100 such as the urinary tract by supplying water R, and stirs and aspirates the crushed urinary calculi fragments (suction S) by supplying water R, thereby efficiently recovering the fragments from the channel opening 23 .

[0051] However, in previous endoscopes, the structure became complicated due to the structure of bending the water supply pipe and the water supply nozzle that changed the water supply direction from the water supply channel, and the maximum outer diameter of the front end and the insertion part, the length of the front end, etc. became larger, and the water supply channel formed an opening in the side direction of the water supply pipe protruding toward the front end.

[0052] In contrast, the endoscope 1 of this embodiment has a deflection portion 32 that changes the direction of water supply R integrally formed in the front end hard portion 20 of the front end portion 6. Compared with the previous structure, it does not require other components and has a simple structure, and the outer diameter and length of the front end hard portion 20 can also be miniaturized.

[0053] (First Modification)

[0054] like Figure 8 As shown, the endoscope 1 of this modified example is formed so that the linear edge 32 a of the deflection portion 32 that blocks the water supply opening 24 of the distal hard portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 is perpendicular to the line segment X connecting the center O1 of the channel opening 23 and the center O2 of the water supply opening 24 .

[0055] As a result, the water supply R direction of the liquid ejected from the water supply opening 24 becomes the direction along the extension line of the above-mentioned line segment X away from the suction port 23, which can generate a stable vortex V. Therefore, the endoscope 1 can more efficiently recover the stone fragments stirred by the water supply R inside the body cavity 100 through the suction S.

[0056] (Second Modification)

[0057] like Figure 9 As shown, the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 of the endoscope 1 of this modification is formed with only a first surface 20a and a second surface 20b, and the water supply opening 24 is arranged on the second surface 20b.

[0058] Even with the endoscope 1 having such a configuration structure of the water supply opening 24 , the water supply R can generate a vortex V in the body cavity 100 , and by stirring and sucking the crushed urinary calculi fragments (suction S) using the water supply R, the fragments can be fully recovered from the channel opening 23 .

[0059] In addition, here, two lighting windows 22 are provided, and the light source for emitting the lighting light may be an LED (not shown).

[0060] (Third Modification)

[0061] like Figure 10 As shown, the distal end surface of the distal end rigid portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 of the endoscope 1 of this modified example is formed with only a first surface 20a and a second surface 20b, with the water supply opening 24 being located on the first surface 20a. The deflection portion 32 that blocks the water supply opening 24 of the distal end rigid portion 20 of the distal end portion 6 is configured so that the direction of water supply R of the ejected liquid is toward the observation window 21.

[0062] Thus, the endoscope 1 can send liquid R toward the observation window 21, while removing debris and the like adhering to the observation window 21 and sending water toward the outer side (lateral side) of the distal end portion 6. Therefore, the endoscope 1 has a structure that can obtain not only a predetermined vortex V in front of the distal end portion 6 but also a clear field of view.

[0063] (Fourth Modification)

[0064] The endoscope 1 of this modification is the same as that of the third modification. Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the front end surface of the front end hard portion 20 of the front end portion 6 is formed of only a first surface 20 a and a second surface 20 b , and the water supply opening 24 is arranged on the first surface 20 a .

[0065] The deflection portion 32 of the water supply opening 24 of the front end rigid portion 20 that blocks the front end portion 6 is set so that the water supply direction R of the ejected liquid is toward the observation window 21. In addition, a recessed portion 35 communicating with the water supply passage 31 and having an inclined surface 36 in the direction of the observation window 21 is formed in a cutout manner on the first surface 20a of the front end rigid portion 20. Figure 12 Reference numeral 40 denotes a camera module.

[0066] As a result, the endoscope 1 has the following structure: the liquid easily flows along the inclined surface 36 of the recess 35 toward the observation window 21. Similar to the third variant, water can be supplied to the outside (side) of the front end portion 6 while using the water supply R to remove garbage attached to the observation window 21. In front of the front end portion 6, not only the specified vortex V can be obtained, but also a clear field of view can be obtained.

[0067] (Fifth Modification)

[0068] like Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the endoscope 1 of this modified example has a recessed portion 37 formed in the third surface 20c of the distal end rigid portion 20, which is in communication with the water supply channel 31 and has a bottom surface 38 facing the outer circumference. The distal end portion of the water supply channel 31 is formed into an L-shaped cutout by the formation of the recessed portion 37.

[0069] That is, the opening portion of the water supply opening 24 serving as the fluid ejection port is provided on the third surface 20 c serving as the inclined surface, and has an L-shaped opening orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the water supply channel 31 .

[0070] Even with the endoscope 1 having such a shape of the water supply channel 31 , the water R can be further ejected laterally to generate a vortex V in the body cavity 100 . By using the water supply R to stir and attract the crushed urinary calculi fragments (suction S), the fragments can be fully recovered from the channel opening 23 .

[0071] The inventions described in the above embodiments and modifications are not limited to these embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be implemented in the implementation stage without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the above embodiments and modifications include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining the multiple components disclosed.

[0072] For example, even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment and the modified examples, as long as the above-mentioned problems can still be solved and the above-mentioned effects can be obtained, the configuration without the components can be extracted as an invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising: a front end portion, which is arranged at the front end of the insertion portion and is provided with an observation window; a fluid ejection port formed on the front end surface of the front end portion; a flow path formed at the front end portion and conveying the fluid to be ejected from the fluid ejection port; a suction port formed on the front end surface; a suction path for sucking the fluid from the suction port into the insertion portion; as well as The deflecting portion is integrally formed at the front end portion so as to protrude so as to cover a portion of the fluid ejection port, and collides with the fluid to change the ejection direction of the fluid to a direction away from a position where the suction port is formed.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein The fluid ejection port is formed on a second surface different from the first surface. The second surface is formed on the distal end surface and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein: The suction port is formed on a first surface formed on the distal end surface and inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion.

4. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein: The first surface and the second surface are inclined surfaces that are inclined toward the side of the distal end portion and toward the proximal end side. The deflecting portion is formed to protrude so as to change the ejection direction of the fluid toward the side of the front end portion away from the suction port and obliquely forward.

5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein: The deflecting portion changes the ejection direction of the fluid so as to be located on an extension line of a line segment connecting the centers of the suction port and the fluid ejection port.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein The suction port is formed on a surface formed on the distal end surface, the surface being inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion. At least a portion of the fluid ejection port and the suction port is formed on the surface.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: The deflecting portion is formed to protrude so as to change the ejection direction of the fluid toward the observation window.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein: The front end portion has a recess formed on the front end surface. The recess communicates with the flow path and has an inclined surface formed toward the observation window.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: The deflecting portion is formed to protrude so as to change the ejection direction of the fluid to a direction different from that of the observation window and the suction port.

10. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein The front end portion is formed with a recessed portion that communicates with the flow path and has a bottom surface facing the outer peripheral side.

11. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid ejection port is provided on the inclined surface formed at the front end portion and has an L-shaped opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flow path.

12. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein The endoscope is a single-use, disposable endoscope.

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