Endoscope operation part and endoscope

Abstract

To provide an endoscope operation part and an endoscope that have improved operability of a hardness adjusting operation.SOLUTION: A cam mechanism 100 connected to a hardness adjusting member 36 for adjusting the hardness of an insertion part 14 includes: a cam ring 42 having a cam groove 52; a push ring 44 for driving the hardness adjusting member 36; a frame 46 having a guide hole 50; and a cam pin 48 having an engagement part 60 that engages with the cam groove 52, an insertion part 62 inserted into the guide hole 50, and a fixed part 64 fixed to the push ring 44. When the diameter of the engagement part 60 of the cam pin 48 is D1 and the diameter of the insertion part 62 is D2, the formula D1>D2 is satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating section of an endoscope and an endoscope, and more particularly to an operating section of an endoscope having a cam mechanism connected to a hardness adjustment member for adjusting the hardness of an insertion section, and an endoscope equipped with such an operating section. [Background technology]

[0002] In the medical field, medical diagnoses using endoscopes are widely performed. Endoscopes generally include a proximal control section that is held and operated by the surgeon, and an insertion section that is connected to the proximal control section and inserted into a body cavity or the like.

[0003] The insertion section of an endoscope has a flexible soft section because it is inserted into a complexly curved insertion path. Also known is an endoscope whose hardness can be adjusted to determine the direction of the tip end of the insertion section or to fix the shape of the insertion section (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] The endoscope in Patent Document 1 has a cam mechanism connected to a coil for adjusting the hardness of the flexible section. This cam mechanism has a cam ring with a cam groove, a push ring connected to the coil, a frame with a linear groove, and a pin. The pin has a portion that engages with the cam groove of the cam ring, a portion that is inserted into the linear groove of the frame, and a portion that is fixed to the push ring.

[0005] In this type of cam mechanism, when the cam ring is rotated, the pin moves linearly, guided by the cam groove of the cam ring and the linear groove of the frame, causing the push ring fixed to the pin to move forward, compressing the coil and hardening the soft part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-67529 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, an endoscope that adjusts the hardness using a cam mechanism as in Patent Document 1 may have poor operability in adjusting the hardness.

[0008] That is, when the cam ring is rotated to compress the coil, the reaction force of the coil is transmitted to the pin via the push ring. If this reaction force causes the pin to tilt, the outer periphery of the pin is pressed against the end of the cam groove in the cam ring, and the resulting frictional resistance makes it difficult to adjust the hardness.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation section of an endoscope and an endoscope that can improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The operating section of an endoscope according to a first aspect of the present invention is an operating section of an endoscope having a cam mechanism connected to a hardness adjustment member for adjusting the hardness of an insertion section, the cam mechanism comprising a rotatable cam ring having a cam groove, a drive member that drives the hardness adjustment member by moving in the axial direction of the cam ring as the cam ring rotates, a guide member having a guide hole formed and extending in the axial direction, and a cam pin having an engagement portion that engages with the cam groove, an insertion portion that is inserted into the guide hole, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the drive member, wherein when the diameter of the engagement portion of the cam pin is D1 and the diameter of the insertion portion is D2, D1>D2.

[0011] The operation section of an endoscope according to a second aspect of the present invention is the same as that of the first aspect, wherein D1 and D2 satisfy D1 / D2≧1.1.

[0012] The operating section of an endoscope according to a third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect, wherein the cam groove has a first opposing surface facing the engagement portion, and the first opposing surface is provided with a first chamfered portion at the end on the guide member side.

[0013] The operating section of an endoscope according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the engaging section has a second opposing surface that faces the cam groove, and the second opposing surface is provided with a second chamfered portion at the end on the guide member side.

[0014] In the operating section of an endoscope according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the cam groove has a first opposing surface facing the engaging section, and the first opposing surface is provided with a first chamfered portion at an end portion on the guide member side, and the engaging section has a second opposing surface facing the cam groove, and the second opposing surface is provided with a second chamfered portion at an end portion on the guide member side.

[0015] The operating section of an endoscope according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the fifth aspect, wherein the starting position of the second chamfered portion on the second opposing surface is located farther from the central axis of the cam ring than the starting position of the first chamfered portion on the first opposing surface.

[0016] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the operation portion of an endoscope of the fifth or sixth aspect, the first chamfered portion is a C-chamfered portion, and the second chamfered portion is an R-chamfered portion.

[0017] An endoscope according to an eighth aspect of the present invention comprises an operation section of the endoscope according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, an insertion section, and a hardness adjusting member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the operability of the hardness adjustment operation is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an endoscope according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is an external view of an operation ring provided on the hand operation unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the hardness adjusting member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the configuration of the cam mechanism. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the cam mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the cam mechanism. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the interlocking structure between the operation ring and the ring cover. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the cam ring. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a conventional cam mechanism. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the engagement relationship between the cam ring and the cam pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0021] Overall Configuration of Endoscope 10 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an endoscope 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the endoscope 10 includes a proximal control unit 12 and an insertion section 14 connected to the proximal control unit 12. For example, an operator holds and operates the proximal control unit 12 with his left hand, while holding the insertion section 14 with his right hand and inserting the insertion section 14 into a body cavity of a subject, thereby observing the examination site. The proximal control unit 12 and the insertion section 14 share a common longitudinal axis A. The proximal control unit 12 and the insertion section 14 are examples of the control unit and insertion section of the present invention.

[0022] The proximal end of a universal cable 16 is connected to the handheld operation unit 12, and a connector (not shown) is provided at the distal end of the universal cable 16. This connector is connected to a system configuration device including a light source device and a processor device (not shown). This causes illumination light to be sent from the light source device to an illumination optical system provided at the distal end of the insertion section 14. In addition, data of an observation image obtained by the endoscope 10 is output to the processor device, and the image is displayed on a monitor device connected to the processor device.

[0023] The proximal end of the insertion section 14 is connected to the distal end of the handheld operation section 12. The insertion section 14 has, from the proximal end to the distal end of the insertion section 14, a flexible section 18, a bending section 20, and a distal rigid section 22. The bending section 20 is remotely bent by rotating an angle knob 24 provided on the handheld operation section 12. This allows the distal end surface of the distal rigid section 22 to be oriented in a desired direction.

[0024] The handheld operation unit 12 is also provided with an air / water supply button 26, a suction button 28, a forceps introduction port 30, an operation ring 38, and the like.

[0025] The air and water supply button 26 is an operating button for supplying air and water to the examination area, etc. from the air and water supply port (not shown) of the tip rigid portion 22 via the air and water supply channel (not shown) inserted into the insertion portion 14.

[0026] The suction button 28 is an operation button for suctioning body fluids and the like from a forceps port (not shown) of the distal end rigid portion 22 via a forceps channel (not shown) inserted through the insertion portion 14.

[0027] The forceps introduction port 30 is an opening that communicates with the forceps channel and allows the operator to introduce a treatment tool such as forceps. The treatment tool is led out from the forceps port toward the examination site.

[0028] 2 is an external view showing an operation ring 38 (also called a dial ring) provided on the distal end side of the handheld operation unit 12. The operation ring 38 is rotatable around the longitudinal axis A, and is rotated by the surgeon when adjusting the hardness of the insertion section 14.

[0029] The endoscope 10 also includes a stiffness adjusting member 36 (see FIG. 3) for adjusting the stiffness of the insertion section 14, and a cam mechanism 100 (see FIG. 4) connected to the stiffness adjusting member 36. The stiffness adjusting member 36 is driven by the cam mechanism 100. The cam mechanism 100 is provided in the handheld operation unit 12, and is operated by rotating an operation ring 38.

[0030] <Hardness adjusting member 36> Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion section 14. To avoid cluttering the drawing, Fig. 3 mainly shows the hardness adjusting member 36 having the coil 32 and the wire 34. The hardness adjusting member 36 is an example of the hardness adjusting member of the present invention.

[0031] 3, the hardness adjusting member 36 that adjusts the hardness of the insertion section 14 has a coil 32 and a wire 34. The coil 32 is inserted from the proximal operation section 12 into the flexible section 18. The wire 34 is inserted into the hollow section of the coil 32. The tip ends of the wire 34 and the coil 32 are fixed to a metal fitting 40 by a fixing method such as brazing.

[0032] The base end of the connection wire 35 is fixed to the metal fitting 40, and a hook-shaped fixing member 37 is fixed to the tip end of the connection wire 35. The fixing member 37 is fixed to the base end of the bending portion 20, for example.

[0033] The base end of the coil 32 is held in an unfixed state by a push ring 44 (see FIG. 4) of a cam mechanism 100 (described later). The base end of the wire 34 is fixed to a wire sleeve 66 (see FIG. 4) provided in the handheld operation unit 12.

[0034] When cam mechanism 100 is operated by rotating operation ring 38, push ring 44 moves in the direction of longitudinal axis A. Note that since the direction of longitudinal axis A and the axial direction of cam ring 42, which will be described later, are the same direction, in the following description, the axial direction of cam ring 42 may also be referred to as the direction of longitudinal axis A.

[0035] When the push ring 44 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis A (the axial direction of the cam ring 42), the coil 32 is compressed along the direction of the longitudinal axis A in conjunction with the movement of the push ring 44, or is returned from the compressed state to its natural length.

[0036] When the coil 32 is compressed, the flexible portion 18 hardens, and when the length of the coil 32 is returned to its natural length, the flexible portion 18 softens. In this way, by operating the cam mechanism 100 with the operating ring 38, the state of the coil 32 (compressed state and natural length state) changes, and the hardness of the flexible portion 18 is adjusted.

[0037] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 2, and is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of cam mechanism 100. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main part of cam mechanism 100, where VA in Figure 5 is an external view of the main part with operation ring 38 removed from Figure 2, and VB in Figure 5 is an external view of the main part with ring cover 70 and cam ring 42 removed from VA in Figure 5.

[0038] Here, there are two types of hardness adjusting member that adjust the hardness of the flexible section: a pulling type that pulls the wire toward the base end of the hand-operated section, and a pushing type that pushes the coil toward the distal end of the insertion section. The hardness adjusting member 36 in this example uses the pushing type. Also, a cam mechanism 100 is used as the mechanism for pushing the coil 32. Below, we will explain the cam mechanism 100, which is an example of a cam mechanism of the present invention.

[0039] <Cam mechanism 100> As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cam mechanism 100 includes a cam ring 42, a push ring 44, a frame 46, and a cam pin 48.

[0040] The cam ring 42, the push ring 44, and the frame 46 are each configured in a cylindrical shape with different diameters, with the cam ring 42 located at the outermost position and the push ring 44 located at the innermost position, and the frame 46 located between the cam ring 42 and the push ring 44. The cam ring 42, the push ring 44, and the frame 46 are examples of the cam ring, the drive member, and the guide member, respectively, of the present invention.

[0041] The frame 46 is fixed inside the handheld operating unit 12 so as not to be rotatable. The longitudinal axis of the frame 46 is arranged along the longitudinal axis A. The frame 46 also has a guide hole 50 formed to extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis A (the axial direction of the cam ring 42). When the cam ring 42, which will be described later, is rotated, the guide hole 50 engages with a cam pin 48 fixed to the push ring 44, thereby restricting rotation of the push ring 44 about the longitudinal axis A and guiding movement of the push ring 44 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. The guide hole 50 is an example of a guide hole of the present invention.

[0042] Cam ring 42 is rotatably and slidingly in contact with the outer peripheral surface of frame 46. Cam groove 52 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of cam ring 42, and cam groove 52 is formed so as to penetrate through the outer peripheral surface of cam ring 42 in the thickness direction. Cam groove 52 is one example of the cam groove of the present invention.

[0043] The push ring 44 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the frame 46 so as to be movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. The push ring 44 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis A together with the cam pin 48 as the cam ring 42 rotates. As a result, the push ring 44 drives the hardness adjusting member 36, and the state of the coil 32 changes between a compressed state and a natural length state.

[0044] Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the cam mechanism 100. As shown in Fig. 6, the cam pin 48 has an engaging portion 60 that engages with the cam groove 52, an inserting portion 62 that is inserted into the guide hole 50, and a fixing portion 64 that is fixed to the hole 45 of the push ring 44.

[0045] The cam pin 48 is configured by connecting the engaging portion 60, the inserting portion 62, and the fixing portion 64 in the axial direction of the cam pin 48. The cam pin 48 is an example of a cam pin of the present invention. The engaging portion 60, the inserting portion 62, and the fixing portion 64 are also examples of an engaging portion, an inserting portion, and a fixing portion of the present invention. The cam pin 48 will be described later.

[0046] 4 and 5, a cylindrical ring cover 70 is provided on the outside of the cam ring 42. The ring cover 70 is fixed to the cam ring 42 with fixing members 72 (see FIG. 8), such as screws, and rotates integrally with the cam ring 42. Furthermore, the ring cover 70 covers the cam pins 48 when the ring cover 70 is fixed to the cam ring 42. This prevents the cam pins 48 from falling off the cam ring 42.

[0047] Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the interlocking structure between the operation ring 38 and the ring cover 70. VIIA in Fig. 7 is a view of the operation ring 38 as seen from the direction of the longitudinal axis A, and VIIB in Fig. 7 is a view of the ring cover 70 as seen from the direction of the longitudinal axis A. Note that VIIB in Fig. 7 also shows the cam ring 42 and the push ring 44 in addition to the ring cover 70. Also, in Fig. 7, for ease of explanation, the centers of the operation ring 38, ring cover 70, cam ring 42, and push ring 44 are indicated by the same reference symbol A as the longitudinal axis A.

[0048] 7, keys 38A, 38A protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the operation ring 38 are engaged with key grooves 70A, 70A formed on the outer surface of the ring cover 70. The keys 38A and the key grooves 70A are each provided along the longitudinal axis A. As a result, when the operation ring 38 is rotated around the longitudinal axis A, the ring cover 70 is rotated. As a result, the cam ring 42 integrated with the ring cover 70 rotates.

[0049] 7A and 7B show an example in which two keys 38A and two key grooves 70A are provided at 180° intervals around the circumference of the operation ring 38 and the ring cover 70, respectively, but the number of keys 38A and key grooves 70A is not limited to this. However, from the perspective of smoothly transmitting the rotational operating force of the operation ring 38 to the ring cover 70 (cam ring 42), it is preferable that the keys 38A and the key grooves 70A be arranged at equal intervals around the circumference.

[0050] As shown in VIIB of Fig. 7, a thick portion 44A is provided on a part of the inner periphery of the push ring 44. The thick portion 44A has a storage hole 44B for storing the base end of the coil 32. The storage hole 44B is provided along the longitudinal axis A from the end face on the tip end side of the push ring 44 toward the base end side of the push ring 44 (see Fig. 4). The diameter (inner diameter) of the storage hole 44B is approximately the same as the diameter (outer diameter) of the coil 32. The storage hole 44B holds the base end of the coil 32 so that it can be freely pushed in.

[0051] Furthermore, the thick portion 44A has a groove 44C for preventing rotation of the coil 32. By engaging the base end of the coil 32 with this groove 44C, rotation of the coil 32 around the coil axis is prevented.

[0052] On the other hand, the base end of the wire 34 is disposed in a through-hole (not shown) that passes through from the housing hole 44B to the base end side of the push ring 44, and is fixed to a wire sleeve 66 (see FIG. 4).

[0053] Fig. 8 is a side view of cam ring 42 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axis A. Fig. 8 also shows a spacer 80 for adjusting the position of cam ring 42 in the direction of longitudinal axis A (the axial direction of cam ring 42). Spacer 80 is disposed on the proximal end side of cam ring 42 in handheld operation unit 12. This spacer 80 will be described later.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 8, cam ring 42 has cam grooves 52. Cam grooves 52 are through-holes that penetrate the outer peripheral surface of cam ring 42 in the thickness direction, and are configured as elongated holes that are inclined with respect to longitudinal axis A when cam ring 42 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axis A. Engagement portions 60 of cam pins 48 engage with cam grooves 52. Engagement portions 60 are configured in a disk shape.

[0055] As described above, the cam pin 48 has an insertion portion 62 that is inserted into the guide hole 50 of the frame 46, and a fixed portion 64 that is fixed to the hole 45 of the push ring 44. The insertion portion 62 and the fixed portion 64 are each formed in a cylindrical shape. The above is the configuration of the cam mechanism 100 of this example.

[0056] According to the cam mechanism 100 of this example, when the cam ring 42 rotates in conjunction with the rotational operation of the operation ring 38, the cam pin 48 moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis A (the axial direction of the cam ring 42) due to the guide hole 50 and the cam groove 52. This causes the push ring 44, which is fixed to the fixing portion 64 of the cam pin 48, to move in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. In other words, by rotating the operation ring 38 in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the push ring 44 moves toward the insertion section 14 or toward the base end of the handheld operation section 12.

[0057] When the push ring 44 moves toward the insertion section 14, the bottom of the storage hole 44B (see FIG. 4) of the push ring 44 abuts against the base end of the coil 32, pushing the coil 32 in its natural length toward the insertion section 14. This compresses the coil 32, increasing the hardness of the flexible section 18 (hardening the flexible section 18).

[0058] Conversely, when the push ring 44 moves toward the base end of the handheld operation unit 12, the coil 32 is returned to its natural length by the restoring force of the coil 32. As a result, the length of the coil 32 is returned to its natural length, and the hardness of the flexible portion 18 decreases (the flexible portion 18 softens).

[0059] However, in endoscopes that use a cam mechanism to adjust the hardness of the insertion section (flexible section), the operability of the hardness adjustment operation can sometimes be poor. The reasons for this will be explained below.

[0060] FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of a main part of a conventional cam mechanism, showing the engagement relationship between cam groove 2 of cam ring 1 and cam pin 3.

[0061] As shown in IXB of Fig. 9, when cam ring 1 is rotated to compress the coil (not shown), the reaction force of the coil is transmitted to cam pin 3 via push ring 4. If cam pin 3 is tilted by this reaction force, outer peripheral surface 3A of cam pin 3 is pressed against end 2A (end on the frame side) of cam groove 2 of cam ring 1, and the frictional resistance that occurs at this time causes a problem of worsening the operability of the hardness adjustment operation.

[0062] The inclination mentioned above means that the central axis of the cam pin is inclined with respect to an axis (an axis parallel to the paper surface) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. The same applies hereinafter.

[0063] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the endoscope 10 of this embodiment has the following configuration.

[0064] 9A is a schematic diagram of a main part of the cam mechanism 100 of this example, showing the engagement relationship between the cam groove 52 of the cam ring 42 and the cam pin 48. FIG.

[0065] As shown in IXA of Figure 9, if the diameter (outer diameter) of the engagement portion 60 of the cam ring 42 is D1 and the diameter (outer diameter) of the insertion portion 62 is D2, the diameters D1 and D2 of the engagement portion 60 and insertion portion 62, respectively, are such that D1 > D2.

[0066] In this way, by making the diameter D2 of the insertion portion 62 smaller than the diameter D1 of the engagement portion 60, it is possible to improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation using the operation ring 38. This will be explained in detail below.

[0067] 9A, when cam ring 42 is rotated to compress coil 32, the reaction force of coil 32 is transmitted to cam pin 48 via push ring 44. Even if cam pin 48 is tilted by this reaction force, outer peripheral surface 62A of insertion portion 62 does not come into contact with end 52A (end on the frame 46 side) of cam groove 52 of cam ring 42 because diameter D2 of insertion portion 62 is smaller than diameter D1 of engagement portion 60.

[0068] Therefore, the cam mechanism 100 of this example can prevent the outer peripheral surface 62A of the insertion portion 62 from being pressed against the end portion 52A of the cam groove 52 when adjusting the hardness with the operation ring 38. This makes it possible to improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation with the operation ring 38.

[0069] As an example, it is preferable that the relationship between the diameter D1 of the engaging portion 60 and the diameter D2 of the insertion portion 62 be D1 / D2≧1.1. If D1 / D2≧1.1, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

[0070] Furthermore, when considering the space-saving nature of the cam mechanism 100 and the workability and durability of the cam pin 48, the relationship between D1 and D2 is preferably D1 / D2≦5, and more preferably D1 / D2≦2. If D1 / D2≦5, the space-saving nature of the cam mechanism 100 can be achieved, and the workability and durability of the cam pin 48 can be ensured. As an example, D1 is approximately 5 mm, and D2 is approximately 3 mm. Furthermore, when the diameter of the fixing portion 63 is D3, D3 is approximately 2.8 mm.

[0071] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the main part of the cam mechanism 100, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the engagement relationship between the cam groove 52 of the cam ring 42 and the engagement portion 60 of the cam pin 48.

[0072] 10, cam groove 52 of cam ring 42 has opposing surface 52B facing engaging portion 60, and opposing surface 52B is provided with a C-chamfered portion C at end 52A on the frame 46 side. Note that opposing surface 52B is an example of a first opposing surface of the present invention, and C-chamfered portion C is an example of a first chamfered portion of the present invention.

[0073] By providing the C-chamfered portion C at the end 52A of the cam groove 52, even when the cam pin 48 is tilted, it is possible to effectively prevent the end 60A of the engagement portion 60 of the cam pin 48 on the frame 46 side from contacting the end 52A of the cam groove 52. Therefore, by providing the C-chamfered portion C at the end 52A of the cam groove 52 on the frame 46 side, it is possible to improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation.

[0074] 10, the engaging portion 60 of the cam pin 48 has an opposing surface 60B that faces the cam groove 52, and the opposing surface 60B is provided with an R-chamfered portion R at an end 60A on the frame 46 side. The opposing surface 60B is an example of a second opposing surface of the present invention, and the R-chamfered portion R is an example of a second chamfered portion of the present invention.

[0075] By providing the R-chamfered portion R on the end 60A of the engaging portion 60, even when the cam pin 48 is tilted, the end 60A of the engaging portion 60 of the cam pin 48 on the frame 46 side can be effectively prevented from contacting the end 52A of the cam groove 52. Therefore, by providing the R-chamfered portion R on the end 60A of the engaging portion 60 on the frame 46 side, it is possible to improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation.

[0076] Also, as shown in Figure 10, the starting position S1 of the R-chamfered portion R on the opposing surface 60B is located farther from the center axis of the cam ring 42 (symbol A shown in VIIB in Figure 7) than the starting position S2 of the C-chamfered portion C on the opposing surface 52B.

[0077] According to the above configuration, when cam pin 48 is tilted, it is possible to reliably prevent end 60A of engagement portion 60 from contacting end 52A of cam groove 52, compared to a configuration in which start position S2 is located farther from the central axis of cam ring 42 than start position S1. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the operability of the hardness adjustment operation.

[0078] 10, a C-chamfered portion C is used as the first chamfered portion and an R-chamfered portion R is used as the second chamfered portion, but this is not limited to this. An R-chamfered portion R may be used as the first chamfered portion and a C-chamfered portion C may be used as the second chamfered portion. Also, a C-chamfered portion C may be used as both the first chamfered portion and the second chamfered portion, or an R-chamfered portion R may be used as both the first chamfered portion and the second chamfered portion. Furthermore, a C-chamfered portion C or an R-chamfered portion R may be provided on only one of the cam groove 52 and the engagement portion 60.

[0079] As described above, according to the endoscope 10 of this embodiment, the cam mechanism 100 connected to the hardness adjustment member 36 comprises a cam ring 42 having a cam groove 52, a push ring 44 that drives the hardness adjustment member 36, a frame 46 having a guide hole 50, and a cam pin 48 having an engagement portion 60 that engages with the cam groove 52, an insertion portion 62 that is inserted into the guide hole 50, and a fixing portion 64 that is fixed to the push ring 44. If the diameter of the engagement portion 60 of the cam pin 48 is D1 and the diameter of the insertion portion 62 is D2, then D1 > D2, and therefore the operability of the hardness adjustment operation can be improved.

[0080] [Other configurations] Furthermore, the endoscope 10 of this embodiment is provided with a spacer 80 shown in FIG. 8 in order to solve the problems described below.

[0081] When the hardness adjusting member 36 is used repeatedly, the coil 32 may undergo plastic deformation (so-called "setting"), and the setting of the coil 32 may shorten the length of the coil 32. In this case, the gap between the bottom of the storage hole 44B shown in FIG. 4 and the base end of the coil 32 increases, so even if the base end of the coil 32 is pushed in by the push ring 44, the amount of pushing of the coil 32 decreases by the amount that the length of the coil 32 has shortened. In other words, when setting occurs in the coil 32, there is a problem that the desired hardness cannot be obtained.

[0082] Therefore, the endoscope 10 of this embodiment is provided with a spacer 80 shown in Fig. 8. The spacer 80 is disposed on the proximal end side of the cam ring 42 in the proximal operation unit 12. The spacer 80 is configured in a cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the cam ring 42, and an annular distal end surface 80A of the spacer 80 and an annular proximal end surface 42A of the cam ring 42 abut against each other through surface contact.

[0083] A plurality of position adjustment grooves 82A, 84A, 86A, 88A... are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the spacer 80 around the longitudinal axis A. These grooves 82A, 84A, 86A, 88A... are each arranged along the longitudinal axis A and formed as a U-shaped, bottomed groove extending from the base end surface 80B of the spacer 80 toward the tip end surface 80A.

[0084] The bottoms 82B, 84B, 86B, 88B... of these grooves 82A, 84A, 86A, 88A... are offset from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, and are provided at positions that gradually move away from the tip surface 80A, starting from the bottom 82B.

[0085] A pin 90 is engaged with a selected bottom portion from the bottom portions 82B, 84B, 86B, 88B, etc. In Fig. 8, the pin 90 is engaged with the bottom portion 82B. This pin 90 is detachably fixed to a fixing portion (for example, the frame 46) provided on the handheld operation unit 12.

[0086] 8 is set as the push-in start position for the coil 32. This push-in start position is set by engaging the bottom portion 82B of the spacer 80 with the pin 90.

[0087] When the coil 32 wears down due to repeated use of the hardness adjusting member 36, the amount of pressing of the coil 32 decreases by the amount that the length of the coil 32 is shortened.

[0088] In this case, first, the pin 90 is removed from the fixing portion. Next, when the bottom portion 84B, for example, is selected from the other bottom portions 84B, 86B, 88B, ..., the spacer 80 is rotated around the longitudinal axis A to align the bottom portion 84B with the fixing position of the pin 90. Thereafter, the pin 90 is fixed to the fixing portion, and the bottom portion 84B is engaged with the pin 90.

[0089] As a result, cam ring 42 is moved toward the tip end by difference a between the positions of bottom portion 82B and bottom portion 84B in the direction of longitudinal axis A (≈ the amount by which the length of coil 32 has been shortened), and this position is reset to the pushing start position of coil 32. By providing such spacer 80, the hardness of flexible portion 18 can be adjusted to a desired (constant) hardness even if coil 32 has become worn.

[0090] Although the endoscope according to this embodiment has been described above, the present invention may be improved or modified in several ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 10 Endoscopy 12 Handheld control unit 14 Insertion section 16 Universal Cable 18 Soft part 20 Curved section 22 Hard tip 24 Angle knob 26 Air and water supply button 28 Suction button 32 coils 34 wires 36 Hardness adjusting member 37 Fixing member 38 Operation ring 40 Metal fittings 42 Cam Ring 44 Push Ring 46 frames 48 Campin 50 Guide hole 52 Cam groove 60 Engagement part 62 Insertion part 64 Fixed part 66 Wire sleeve 70 Ring Cover 72...Fixing member 80 spacer 82A Groove 84A Groove 86A Groove 88A Groove 82B bottom 84B Bottom 86B Bottom 88B Bottom 90 pins

Claims

1. In an operation section of an endoscope having a cam mechanism connected to a hardness adjusting member for adjusting the hardness of an insertion section, The cam mechanism a cam ring having a cam groove and being rotatable; a drive member that moves in the axial direction of the cam ring as the cam ring rotates, thereby driving the hardness adjusting member; a guide member having a guide hole formed extending in the axial direction; a cam pin having an engaging portion that engages with the cam groove, an inserting portion that is inserted into the guide hole, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the driving member; Equipped with When the diameter of the engagement portion of the cam pin is D1 and the diameter of the insertion portion is D2, D1>D2. The control section of an endoscope.

2. The D1 and D2 satisfy D1 / D2≧1.

1. The operation section of the endoscope according to claim 1 .

3. the cam groove has a first opposing surface that faces the engaging portion, The first opposing surface has a first chamfered portion at an end portion thereof facing the guide member. The operation section of an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the engaging portion has a second opposing surface that faces the cam groove, The second opposing surface has a second chamfered portion at an end portion thereof facing the guide member. The operation section of an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the cam groove has a first opposing surface that faces the engaging portion, a first chamfered portion is provided on the first opposing surface at an end portion on the guide member side; the engaging portion has a second opposing surface that faces the cam groove, The second opposing surface has a second chamfered portion at an end portion thereof facing the guide member. The operation section of an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.

6. a start position of the second chamfered portion on the second opposing surface is farther from the central axis of the cam ring than a start position of the first chamfered portion on the first opposing surface; The operation section of the endoscope according to claim 5.

7. the first chamfered portion is a C-chamfered portion, The second chamfered portion is a R chamfered portion. The operation section of the endoscope according to claim 6.

8. An operation unit of an endoscope according to claim 1 or 2; The insertion portion; The hardness adjusting member; An endoscope comprising:

Images