Endoscope tube and endoscope
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FUJIFILM CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Endoscope tubes are prone to buckling and increasing in diameter due to stress concentration at the connection area between the coil winding region and the non-winding region, especially when the insertion portion is curved.
The endoscope tube design includes a distal tube with a spiral groove for coil winding, a non-connected region on the distal end side of the connection area, and a connecting pipe with flanges and diameter expansion surfaces to distribute stress and prevent buckling and diameter increase.
Prevents buckling and diameter increase of the distal tube by distributing stress through a non-connected region and using flanges and diameter expansion surfaces, ensuring smooth movement of treatment instruments.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope tube that is inserted into an insertion portion of an endoscope, and an endoscope equipped with this endoscope tube. [Background technology]
[0002] In the medical field, various endoscopes such as bronchoscopes and ultrasonic endoscopes are used. An endoscope includes an insertion section that is inserted into a subject and an operation section. In such an endoscope, various treatment tools are introduced through a treatment tool inlet provided in the operation section, and the treatment tools are used for treatment by leading out from a treatment tool outlet opening at the tip of the insertion section. An endoscopic tube such as a treatment tool insertion tube (also called a channel) through which the treatment tool is inserted is inserted and arranged inside the insertion section of the endoscope.
[0003] Patent Documents 1 to 4 describe forming a spiral groove on part of the outer surface of the endoscope tube and winding a coil around this spiral groove in order to prevent the endoscope tube from buckling when the insertion portion is bent.
[0004] Here, Patent Document 4 describes a method for easily and accurately manufacturing an endoscopic tube by constructing the endoscopic tube from two tubes, a distal tube and a proximal tube, and connecting the distal tube and the proximal tube with a connecting pipe.
[0005] The base end of the distal tube described in Patent Document 4 has a connection region that is externally connected to the distal end of the connection pipe, and a coil winding region in which a coil is wound. The connection region is provided on the most proximal side of the proximal end of the distal tube, and is a non-winding region in which no coil is wound. The coil winding region is provided contiguous to the distal side of the connection region. As a result, the coil is wound on the outer surface of the proximal end of the distal tube up to a position immediately adjacent to the connection region that is externally connected to the connection pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-000330 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2009-247413 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2008-229067 A [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2013 / 088791 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0007] In the endoscopic tube described in Patent Document 4, when a coil is wound around the outer surface of the base end of the distal tube, the coil is wound up to a position immediately adjacent to the connection area. Therefore, when the bending portion of the insertion portion is bent in response to a bending operation at the operation portion, depending on the position of the connection area within the insertion portion, stress may be concentrated at a position immediately adjacent to the connection area (the boundary between the connection area and the coil winding area), causing buckling. In addition, the coil may ride up onto the connection area, increasing the outer diameter of the connection area.
[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope tube and an endoscope that are capable of preventing buckling and an increase in diameter of the distal tube. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] An endoscopic tube according to a first aspect of the present invention is an endoscopic tube to be inserted into an insertion portion of an endoscope, and comprises a tip tube, a coil wound around at least a portion of a first tube outer surface which is the outer surface of the tip tube, a base tube, and a connecting pipe connecting the tip tube and the base tube, wherein the tip tube has a tube base end located closer to the base end of the tip tube than the base end of the coil, and the tube base end has a connection region connected to and in contact with the connecting pipe, and a non-connected region located closer to the tip of the tip tube than the connecting pipe.
[0010] This endoscope tube prevents the distal tube from buckling and becoming thicker in diameter.
[0011] In the second aspect of the present invention, an endoscopic tube according to the first aspect has a spiral groove formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of a first tube, a coil is wound around at least a portion of the groove on the distal side of the tube closer to the proximal end of the tube, and a groove is formed on the outer surface of the first tube at the proximal end of the tube.
[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope tube of the first or second aspect, a flange is provided on the outer surface of the connecting pipe, which is the outer surface of the connecting pipe, protruding radially outward from the connecting pipe, and the base end of the tube base end and the tip of the base-side tube abut against the flange. This makes it possible to position the base end of the tube base end and the tip of the base-side tube when connecting the tube base end and the base-side tube to the connecting pipe.
[0013] The endoscope tube according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, comprises at least one of a tip-side expanded diameter surface formed on the inner surface of a pipe tip portion, which is the tip portion of the connecting pipe, and expanding the inner diameter of the pipe tip portion toward the tip side of the pipe tip portion, and a base-side expanded diameter surface formed on the inner surface of a pipe base portion, which is the base end of the connecting pipe, and expanding the inner diameter of the pipe base portion toward the base side of the pipe base portion. This makes it possible to reduce the step between the inner surface of the tip-side tube and the inner surface of the connecting pipe, and to reduce the step between the inner surface of the base-side tube and the inner surface of the connecting pipe.
[0014] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope tube of any of the first to fourth aspects, the second tube outer surface which is the outer surface of the proximal tube is a smooth surface.
[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope tube of any of the first to fifth aspects, the length of the non-connected region is 40 mm to 60 mm.
[0016] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope tube of any of the first to sixth aspects, the base end tube has a tube tip portion connected to the connection pipe, and the outer diameter of the coil is smaller than the outer diameter of at least one of the tube base end portion and the tube tip portion, thereby preventing the diameter of the tip end tube around which the coil is wound from becoming thicker.
[0017] An endoscope according to an eighth aspect of the present invention comprises an insertion section having a bending section and a flexible section connected to the bending section, and an endoscope tube according to any one of the first to seventh aspects inserted into the insertion section.
[0018] A ninth aspect of the present invention relates to the endoscope of the eighth aspect, in which the distal tube is disposed within the bending portion, and the proximal tube and the connecting pipe are disposed within the flexible portion.
[0019] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope of the eighth or ninth aspect, the connection pipe is disposed between 200 mm and 400 mm from the tip of the insertion portion. Effect of the Invention
[0020] The present invention can prevent the distal tube from buckling and becoming thicker in diameter. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall view of an endoscope. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the treatment instrument insertion tube shown in FIG. 3 by an ellipse C. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the base end of the first tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] [Overall structure of the endoscope] Fig. 1 is an overall view of an endoscope 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the endoscope 1 is, for example, a bronchoscope, and is used for observing observation sites (which may be lesions, examination sites, or diagnostic sites) in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, and for sampling cell tissue, etc. Bronchoscopes are required to have a smaller diameter than gastrointestinal endoscopes because of the places where they are used, and even those having a treatment tool insertion tube 23 (see Fig. 3) have a tip body 34 with an outer diameter of 4 mm to 6 mm and a flexible section 30 with an outer diameter of 4 mm to 7 mm.
[0023] The endoscope 1 includes an operation section 10 that is held by a practitioner to perform various operations, an insertion section 12 that is inserted into the patient's body, and a universal cord 14. The endoscope 1 is connected via the universal cord 14 to system component devices such as a processor device and a light source device (not shown) that constitute an endoscope system.
[0024] The operation unit 10 is provided with various operation members that are operated by the practitioner, such as an angle lever 16 and a suction button 22.
[0025] The operation section 10 is also provided with a treatment tool introduction section 25. The treatment tool introduction section 25 is provided with a treatment tool introduction port 24 for inserting a treatment tool (not shown, same below) into a treatment tool insertion tube 23 (see FIG. 3) in the insertion section 12.
[0026] The insertion section 12 extends from the tip of the operation section 10 and is formed in a long shape with a small diameter as a whole. The insertion section 12 is composed of a flexible section 30, a passive bending section 31, a bending section 32, and a tip main body 34, in that order from the base end side to the tip end side.
[0027] The flexible section 30 occupies most of the proximal end of the insertion section 12 and is made of, for example, a metallic spiral tube (a spirally wound metal plate) and a net (not shown), the outer periphery of which is further coated with resin. The flexible section 30 has flexibility that allows it to bend in any direction, and when the insertion section 12 is inserted into a body cavity, it bends along the insertion path into the body cavity.
[0028] The passive bending section 31 is composed of, for example, a metallic spiral tube (a metal plate wound in a spiral shape) and a net (not shown), and is further covered with an angle rubber (not shown) together with a bending section 32 described below. This passive bending section 31 is configured to be more flexible than the flexible section 30 so that it can bend passively in response to an external force, and when the insertion section 12 is inserted into a body cavity, it bends along the insertion path into the body cavity in the same way as the flexible section 30.
[0029] The bending section 32 is an active bending section that is configured by connecting multiple bending pieces (not shown), for example, and can be actively bent in the up-down direction (A2 direction) by rotating the angle lever 16 of the operation section 10 in the A1 direction. By bending the bending section 32, the distal end main body 34 can be oriented in a desired direction. Note that a pair of angle knobs may be provided instead of the angle lever 16, and the bending section 32 may be bent in the up-down direction and the left-right direction by rotating the pair of angle knobs.
[0030] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tip body 34. As shown in Fig. 2, an observation window 40, a pair of illumination windows 42, and a treatment tool outlet 44 are provided on the tip surface 34a of the tip body 34. Although not shown, an observation optical system including a lens and an imaging unit including an imaging element are provided behind the observation window 40 inside the tip body 34. The imaging unit captures an image of the observation site through the observation optical system and outputs a signal of the observation image.
[0031] Inside the tip body 34 and behind the pair of illumination windows 42, emission ends of light guides (not shown) are disposed.
[0032] The treatment tool outlet 44 outputs the treatment tool inserted from the treatment tool inlet 24 into the treatment tool insertion tube 23 (see FIG. 3).
[0033] Returning to FIG. 1, the universal cord 14 includes a signal cable connected to the imaging element of the observation optical system, the light guide, and the like, though not shown. A connector is provided at an end (not shown) of the universal cord 14. The connector is connected to a predetermined system component device constituting an endoscope system, such as a processor device and a light source device. As a result, the system component device supplies the endoscope 1 with power, control signals, illumination light, and the like required for operating the endoscope 1. In addition, a signal of an observation image acquired by the observation optical system is transmitted from the endoscope 1 to the system component device (processor device). The signal transmitted to the system component device is image-processed, and an observation image of the observation site is displayed on a monitor (not shown). In addition, illumination light is supplied from the system component device (light source device) to the light guide, and the illumination light is irradiated onto the observation site from a pair of illumination windows 42.
[0034] The configurations of the operation section 10 and the tip body 34 are not particularly limited to the aspects shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but can be changed to various configurations employed in known bronchoscopes.
[0035] [Treatment tool insertion tube] Fig. 3 is a side view of the treatment instrument insertion tube 23. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the treatment instrument insertion tube 23 indicated by an ellipse C in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the treatment instrument insertion tube 23.
[0036] 3 to 5, the treatment tool insertion tube 23 (also called a treatment tool insertion channel) is a resin tube corresponding to the endoscope tube of the present invention, and is connected to the treatment tool introduction port 24 and the treatment tool outlet port 44 via a known branching portion (not shown), and guides the treatment tool inserted into the treatment tool introduction port 24 to the treatment tool outlet port 44. In addition, in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the symbol WA denotes a bending portion range indicating the range of the passive bending portion 31 and the bending portion 32 in the insertion portion 12, and the symbol WB denotes a flexible portion range indicating the range of the flexible portion 30 in the insertion portion 12.
[0037] The treatment instrument insertion tube 23 is composed of a distal tube 50, a coil 58 wound (wound) around the outer surface of the distal tube 50, a base tube 60, and a connection pipe 70. Note that in Fig. 3, the coil 58 is omitted from illustration to avoid complication of the drawing.
[0038] The distal tube 50 is disposed in the bending portion range WA, i.e., in the bending portion 32 and the passive bending portion 31. The distal tube 50 is, for example, a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube. Note that the passive bending portion 31 is also included in the "bending portion" of the present invention. In addition, the entire distal tube 50 does not need to be disposed in the bending portion range WA, and a part of the distal tube 50 (for example, a first tube base end portion 54 described below) may be disposed in the flexible portion range WB, i.e., in the flexible portion 30.
[0039] The tip side tube 50 has a first tube tip portion 52 connected to the treatment instrument outlet 44, and a first tube base end portion 54 (corresponding to the tube base end portion of the present invention) connected to the tip side of the connecting pipe 70 described below.
[0040] A helical groove 56, which is a helical groove for winding a coil 58, is formed in the entire area (including almost the entire area) of the first tube outer surface 50a (see FIG. 4, etc.), which is the outer surface of the distal end tube 50. The helical groove 56 may be formed in a part of the first tube outer surface 50a without forming the helical groove 56 in the entire area of the first tube outer surface 50a. In other words, it is sufficient that the helical groove 56 is formed in at least a part of the first tube outer surface 50a.
[0041] The coil 58 is wound around the helical groove 56 formed on the first tube outer surface 50a of the first tube distal end 52. As a result, the coil 58 is wound around the entire area (including almost the entire area) of the first tube outer surface 50a of the distal tube 50 on the distal side of the first tube proximal end 54. In other words, the first tube proximal end 54 is located on the proximal side of the distal tube 50 from the proximal end of the coil 58. The coil 58 may be wound around a part of the helical groove 56 without being wound around the entire helical groove 56. In other words, the coil 58 may be wound around at least a part of the helical groove 56 on the distal side of the first tube proximal end 54. The coil 58 prevents buckling of the distal tube 50 when the bending section 32 and the passive bending section 31 are bent. The first tube proximal end 54 will be described later (see FIG. 8 described later).
[0042] The outer diameter of the coil 58 is smaller than at least one of the outer diameter of the first tube base end 54 and the outer diameter of a second tube tip end 62 of the base end tube 60 described below. This prevents the diameter of the tip end tube 50 around which the coil 58 is wound from becoming thicker.
[0043] The proximal tube 60 is disposed in the flexible section range WB, i.e., within the flexible section 30. The proximal tube 60 is, for example, a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube. The proximal tube 60 has a second tube tip portion 62 connected to the proximal side of the connection pipe 70, and a second tube proximal end portion (not shown) connected to the treatment tool introduction port 24.
[0044] The second tube outer surface 60a, which is the outer surface of the base end tube 60, is a smooth surface. The smooth surface here refers to a surface on which the spiral groove 56 for winding the coil 58 is not formed.
[0045] The connecting pipe 70 is disposed in the flexible section range WB, i.e., within the flexible section 30. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connecting pipe 70 is disposed within the flexible section 30 and between 200 mm and 400 mm from the tip (tip surface 34a) of the insertion section 12. This connecting pipe 70 connects the tip side tube 50 and the base end side tube 60.
[0046] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the connection pipe 70. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connection pipe 70. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the connection pipe 70 includes a pipe tip portion 72 to which the first tube base portion 54 is externally connected, and a pipe base portion 74 to which the second tube tip portion 62 is externally connected.
[0047] Since the outer diameter of the pipe tip portion 72 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the first tube base end portion 54, when the first tube base end portion 54 is externally fitted and connected to the pipe tip portion 72, the first tube base end portion 54 is expanded in diameter by the pipe tip portion 72. Similarly, since the outer diameter of the pipe base end portion 74 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the second tube tip portion 62, when the second tube tip portion 62 is externally fitted and connected to the pipe base end portion 74, the second tube tip portion 62 is expanded in diameter by the pipe base end portion 74.
[0048] The first tube base end 54 and the pipe tip end 72 are fixed with an adhesive (not shown) (for example, epoxy resin). Similarly, the second tube tip end 62 and the pipe base end 74 are also fixed with an adhesive.
[0049] A flange 76 protruding radially outward from the connection pipe 70 is provided on the pipe outer surface 70a, which is the outer surface of the connection pipe 70. The base end of the first tube base end 54, which is externally fitted and connected to the pipe tip end 72, and the tip of the second tube tip end 62, which is externally fitted and connected to the pipe base end 74, abut against the flange 76. This allows the base end of the first tube base end 54 and the tip of the second tube tip end 62 to be positioned. Note that there may be gaps between the base end of the first tube base end 54 and the flange 76, and between the tip of the second tube tip end 62 and the flange 76, respectively, for filling with the above-mentioned adhesive.
[0050] A pipe inner surface 78 of the connection pipe 70 is formed with a tip end side expanded diameter surface 78a and a base end side expanded diameter surface 78b (see FIG. 7).
[0051] The tip-side expanded diameter surface 78a is the pipe inner surface 78 of the pipe tip portion 72, and is a tapered surface that gradually expands the inner diameter of the pipe tip portion 72 toward the tip side of the pipe tip portion 72. The base-side expanded diameter surface 78b is the pipe inner surface 78 of the pipe base portion 74, and is a tapered surface that gradually expands the inner diameter of the pipe base portion 74 toward the base side of the pipe base portion 74.
[0052] By forming the tip-side expanded diameter surface 78a, the step occurring between the inner surface of the first tube base end 54 and the inner surface of the pipe tip 72 (tip-side expanded diameter surface 78a) at the connection portion between the first tube base end 54 and the pipe tip 72 is reduced. Also, by forming the base-side expanded diameter surface 78b, the step occurring between the inner surface of the pipe base end 74 (base-side expanded diameter surface 78b) and the inner surface of the second tube tip 62 at the connection portion between the pipe base end 74 and the second tube tip 62 is reduced. This prevents the tip of the treatment tool from getting caught on these steps when the tip of the treatment tool inserted into the treatment tool insertion tube 23 passes through the connection pipe 70. As a result, the tip of the treatment tool can move smoothly inside the treatment tool insertion tube 23.
[0053] In this embodiment, both the tip-side expanded diameter surface 78a and the base-side expanded diameter surface 78b are formed on the pipe inner surface 78, but only one of them may be formed. Furthermore, the tip-side expanded diameter surface 78a and the base-side expanded diameter surface 78b may include a portion where the inner diameter does not change or may be formed into a curved shape, as long as the smooth movement of the tip of the treatment tool is not impeded.
[0054] [First tube base end] Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the first tube base end 54. As shown in Fig. 8, the first tube base end 54 has a non-winding region W1. The non-winding region W1 is a region where a spiral groove 56 is formed on the first tube outer surface 50a, but the coil 58 is not wound around the spiral groove 56. The non-winding region W1 includes a connection region W1A and a non-connection region W1B.
[0055] The connection region W1A is the region closest to the base end of the first tube base end portion 54, and is fitted around and connected to the pipe tip portion 72 so as to be in contact with the pipe tip portion 72.
[0056] The non-connected region W1B is provided contiguous with the tip side of the connected region W1A, and is a region located further tip than the pipe tip portion 72. The length of this non-connected region W1B is, for example, 40 mm to 60 mm. The coil winding region W2 is provided contiguous with the tip side of the non-connected region W1B, i.e., the tip side of the first tube base end 54. The coil winding region W2 is a region where the coil 58 is wound around the spiral groove 56 formed on the first tube outer surface 50a.
[0057] Here, if the non-connection region W1B is not provided on the distal side of the connection region W1A, that is, if the coil 58 is wound around the first tube outer surface 50a of the first tube base end 54 up to a position immediately adjacent to the connection region W1A, stress may be concentrated at the immediately adjacent position and buckling may occur when the curved portion 32 of the insertion section 12 is curved. Also, if the coil 58 rides up onto the connection region W1A, the outer diameter of the connection region W1A may increase.
[0058] In contrast, in this embodiment, by providing a non-connection region W1B on the distal end side of the connection region W1A where the coil 58 is not wound, when the curved portion 32 of the insertion section 12 or the like is curved, the stress is not concentrated at the immediately adjacent position but is dispersed throughout the non-connection region W1B, and therefore buckling of the first tube base end 54 is prevented. In addition, the effect of preventing buckling is also affected by the arrangement of the non-wrapped region W1. Here, as described above, the first tube base end 54 (non-wrapped region W1) can be arranged in the flexible portion 30, so that the effect of preventing buckling is more effectively obtained by arranging the non-wrapped region W1 in the flexible portion 30 having a large curvature radius than by arranging the non-wrapped region W1 in the curved portion 32 having a small curvature radius. Furthermore, when the curved portion 32 of the insertion section 12 or the like is curved, the coil 58 is prevented from riding up the connection region W1A, and therefore the diameter of the connection region W1A is prevented from becoming thicker. As a result, buckling and thickening of the first tube base end 54 of the distal tube 50 are prevented.
[0059] [others] In the above embodiment, the spiral groove 56 is formed over the entire area of the first tube outer surface 50a of the first tube base end 54, but there may be an area in part of this first tube outer surface 50a where the spiral groove 56 is not formed.
[0060] In the above embodiment, the coil 58 is wound around the spiral groove 56 formed on the first tube outer surface 50a of the tip side tube 50, but the method of winding the coil 58 around the first tube outer surface 50a is not limited to the spiral groove 56, and the present invention is also applicable to cases where the coil 58 is wound around the first tube outer surface 50a by a method other than the spiral groove 56.
[0061] In the above embodiment, the first tube base end 54 of the tip side tube 50 and the second tube tip end 62 of the base end side tube 60 are each externally fitted and connected to the connecting pipe 70, but the method of connecting the first tube base end 54 and the second tube tip end 62 to the connecting pipe 70 is not particularly limited.
[0062] In the above embodiment, a passive bending section 31 is provided in the insertion section 12, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where the insertion section 12 does not have a passive bending section 31 and the flexible section 30 is directly connected to the base end of the bending section 32.
[0063] In the above embodiment, the second tube outer surface 60a of the base end tube 60 is formed as a smooth surface, but similarly to the distal end tube 50, a spiral groove 56 may be formed on at least a part of the second tube outer surface 60a, and the coil 58 may be wound around at least a part of this spiral groove 56. Furthermore, in this case, the second tube distal end 62 may be formed in a similar structure to the first tube proximal end 54. That is, in the second tube distal end 62, a spiral groove 56 is formed on the second tube outer surface 60a from the distal end side to the proximal end side, but a base end connected region and a base end non-connected region are provided in which the coil 58 is not wound around the spiral groove 56 (not shown).
[0064] The base-end connection region is a region corresponding to the connection region W1A, and is fitted and connected to the pipe base end 74. The base-end non-connection region is a region corresponding to the non-connection region W1B, and is located closer to the base end than the base-end connection region (pipe base end 74). This prevents buckling and thickening of the second tube tip portion 62 of the base-end tube 60 for the same reasons as the tip tube 50.
[0065] In the above embodiment, the treatment tool insertion tube 23 has been described as an example of an endoscope tube of the present invention, but the present invention can be applied to various tubes (channels) that are inserted into the insertion portion 12.
[0066] In the above embodiment, a bronchoscope, which is particularly required to have a small diameter, has been used as an example of the endoscope of the present invention. However, the present invention can be applied to various endoscopes in which an endoscopic tube is inserted into various insertion sections, such as ultrasonic endoscopes and gastrointestinal endoscopes. [Explanation of symbols]
[0067] 1. Endoscope 10...Operation unit 12…Insertion section 14...Universal Code 16...Angle lever 22…Suction button 23...Treatment tool insertion tube 24...Treatment tool inlet 25...Treatment tool introduction section 30…Soft part 31... Passive bending section 32…Bend 34…Tip body 34a…Tip surface 40…Observation window 42…Lighting window 44...Treatment tool outlet 50…Tip side tube 50a…Outer surface of first tube 52…First tube tip 54…First tube base end 56...Spiral groove 58…Coil 60…Base end tube 60a…Outer surface of second tube 62…Tip of second tube 70…Connecting pipe 70a…Outer surface of pipe 72…Pipe tip 74...Pipe base end 76...Flange 78…Inner surface of pipe 78a…Tip side enlarged diameter surface 78b…Proximal side enlarged diameter surface C…Oval W1: Non-wrapped area W1A…Connection area W1B: Non-connected area W2: Coil winding area WA: Curved area range WB…Soft part range
Claims
1. An endoscope tube to be inserted into an insertion portion of an endoscope, A distal tube; a coil wound around at least a portion of a first tube outer surface, which is an outer surface of the distal tube; A proximal tube; a connecting pipe that connects the distal end tube and the proximal end tube; Equipped with the distal tube has a tube base end located closer to the proximal end of the distal tube than the proximal end of the coil, An endoscope tube having a connection region where the base end of the tube is connected to the connection pipe and in contact with the connection pipe, and a non-connection region located on the tip side of the tip tube relative to the connection pipe.
2. A spiral groove is formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the first tube, the coil is wound around at least a portion of the groove on the distal end side of the distal tube relative to the proximal end of the tube; 2. The endoscope tube according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed on an outer surface of the first tube at the proximal end of the tube.
3. A flange protruding radially outward from the connection pipe is provided on the outer pipe surface, which is the outer surface of the connection pipe, 2. The endoscope tube according to claim 1, wherein a base end of the tube base end portion and a tip end of the proximal tube are in contact with the flange.
4. a tip end side expanding surface formed on an inner surface of a pipe tip portion, which is a tip portion of the connection pipe, and expanding an inner diameter of the pipe tip portion toward a tip side of the pipe tip portion; a base end side expanding surface formed on an inner surface of a base end of the connecting pipe, the base end of the connecting pipe being expanded in diameter toward the base end side of the pipe base end; The endoscope tube according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following:
5. 2. The endoscope tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the second tube, which is the outer surface of the base end tube, is a smooth surface.
6. 2. The endoscope tube according to claim 1, wherein the length of the non-connected region is from 40 mm to 60 mm.
7. the proximal tube has a tube tip portion connected to the connecting pipe, 2. The endoscope tube according to claim 1, wherein the coil has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of at least one of the tube base end and the tube tip end.
8. an insertion section having a bending section and a soft section connected to the bending section; The endoscope tube according to claim 1 , which is inserted into the insertion portion; An endoscope comprising:
9. The distal tube is disposed within the curved portion, The endoscope according to claim 8 , wherein the proximal tube and the connecting pipe are disposed within the flexible portion.
10. 10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the connection pipe is disposed between 200 mm and 400 mm from the tip of the insertion portion.