JP2005073760A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope permitting facilitating the replacement of a treatment instrument by a simple structure, reducing the time of manual operation and facilitating the manual operation. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope comprises a flexible insertion part 3 with a treatment instrument channel 2 formed inside, an endoscope control section 5 on the base end side of the insertion part 3 with the treatment instrument channel 2 formed inside for performing the operation of bending the distal end of the insertion part 3 in an arbitrary direction, a treatment instrument driving member 7, retractable in the treatment instrument channel 2, with a detachable forceps part (the distal end of the treatment instrument) 6 at the distal end, a moving mechanism 8 for moving the treatment instrument driving member 7 inside the treatment instrument channel 2 forward/backward, and a storage part 10 connected to the treatment instrument channel 2 for storing the treatment instrument driving member 7. The endoscope control section 5 has an opening 11 communicating with the treatment instrument channel 2 on the way for attaching/detaching the forceps part 6 at the distal end of the treatment instrument driving member 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope capable of automatically inserting and removing a treatment tool.

  In general, when performing treatment of a required part in the body or examination of a living tissue by an operation from outside the body using an endoscope, for example, a plurality of treatment tools such as a needle scalpel or a biopsy are continuously used. Sometimes. In such a case, conventionally, the selected treatment tool is inserted into the body through the treatment tool channel provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope, and after performing a predetermined treatment, the treatment tool is pulled out of the body, and again the treatment tool. For example, the operation was inserted into the treatment instrument channel.

When inserting such a treatment instrument into the treatment instrument channel, it is necessary to carefully insert a long treatment instrument into a narrow treatment instrument channel from a hole provided in the endoscope. Requires attention.
Therefore, an endoscope provided with an insertion / extraction device that automatically performs an insertion / extraction operation into a treatment instrument channel has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the multifunctional device includes a plurality of treatment instrument tip portions, and transports the treatment tool tip portion selected from these to the tip of the endoscope insertion portion, and is used by being connected to the arm portion tip provided inside the insertion portion. An endoscope including a treatment tool has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 57-117823 A (FIG. 1) JP-A-6-54801 (FIG. 3)

However, for example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the treatment tool uses a conventional treatment tool as it is, it is necessary to assist the operation while supporting the treatment tool by hand when the treatment tool is inserted into the endoscope. However, it has not been possible to reduce the time and ease of sufficient procedures.
Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the distal end of the arm portion extending outward from the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion is inverted 180 degrees, and the distal end portion of the treatment instrument is transported there and attached / removed by an electromagnet. The replacement work may not be facilitated if a sufficient area for this work cannot be secured at the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that facilitates the replacement of a treatment tool and can shorten and facilitate a procedure.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The endoscope according to the present invention includes a flexible insertion portion having a treatment instrument channel formed therein, and the treatment instrument channel formed in the inside by being connected to a proximal end side of the insertion portion and the insertion. An endoscope operation section for bending the distal end of the treatment section, a treatment instrument drive member which can be moved forward and backward in the treatment instrument channel and can be attached to and detached from the distal end of the treatment instrument, and the treatment instrument drive member for the treatment A moving mechanism that moves in both the forward and backward directions within the instrument channel; and a storage section that can store the treatment instrument drive member and is connected to the treatment instrument channel. The endoscope operation section includes the treatment instrument. There is an opening that is communicated in the middle of the channel and is stored in a position where the distal end of the treatment instrument driving member passes through the distal end of the treatment instrument, and the treatment instrument distal end and the treatment instrument driving member can be attached and detached. Formed And said that you are.

Since the endoscope has the above-described configuration, the distal end of the treatment instrument drive member is moved to the opening of the endoscope operation section by the moving mechanism when the treatment instrument drive member is attached to or removed from the distal end of the treatment instrument. This is done at this opening. Therefore, the attachment / detachment operation of the treatment instrument distal end portion can be performed at hand, and the treatment instrument distal end portion can be reliably attached to / detached from the treatment instrument drive member.
In addition, since the treatment instrument driving member and the treatment instrument distal end portion are detachable, even when performing a plurality of treatments, a plurality of treatment instrument distal end portions that are detachable are prepared and replaced one after another. One treatment tool driving member can handle a plurality of treatments, and the troublesomeness of handling a plurality of treatment tool driving members for each treatment can be reduced.

The endoscope according to the present invention is preferably the endoscope, wherein the moving mechanism is detachably connected to the endoscope operation unit.
Since this endoscope has the above-described configuration, only the moving mechanism can be removed from the endoscope and cleaned or sterilized.

Furthermore, the endoscope of the present invention is preferably the endoscope, wherein the storage portion is detachably connected to the moving mechanism.
Since this endoscope has the above-described configuration, when the treatment instrument drive member can be reused, the treatment instrument drive member is removed from the endoscope in a state where the treatment instrument drive member is housed in the housing portion, and is cleaned and sterilized. Can do.
Even when the treatment instrument drive member cannot be reused, the entire storage section can be easily removed from the endoscope and replaced with a new treatment instrument drive member.

Moreover, the endoscope of the present invention is preferably the endoscope, wherein the storage unit includes a reel mechanism having a core member that winds and stores the treatment instrument driving member.
Since this endoscope has the above-described configuration, it can be stored compactly even with a long treatment instrument drive member, and can easily be treated using a reel mechanism when the treatment instrument drive member is wound / delivered. The tool driving member can be advanced and retracted.

Moreover, the endoscope of the present invention is the endoscope, wherein the moving mechanism is an outer peripheral surface of a pair of rotating members that are pivotally spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the treatment instrument driving member. It is preferable that a pair of belt mechanisms around which an endless belt member is wound are provided, and the treatment instrument driving member is sandwiched and pressed between the belt members of the pair of belt mechanisms.
Since this endoscope has the above-described configuration, the belt member is rotated by rotating the rotating member, and the treatment instrument driving member sandwiched between the belt members is moved while being pressed against the belt member. The treatment instrument driving member and the moving mechanism can be brought into contact with each other with a larger contact area compared to the case where only the rotating member is brought into contact, and the frictional force between the belt member and the treatment instrument driving member is increased, thereby the treatment instrument driving member. Can be reliably moved.

The endoscope of the present invention is the endoscope described above, and it is preferable that a swing mechanism capable of changing the distal end direction is provided on the distal end side of the treatment instrument driving member.
Since the endoscope has the above-described configuration, the distal end of the treatment instrument driving member can be directed in a desired direction during treatment, and treatment can be easily performed.

The endoscope of the present invention is the endoscope, wherein one of a male screw part and a female screw part that can be screwed together is formed at the distal end of the treatment instrument, and the male screw part and the female screw part It is preferable that the other is formed on the treatment instrument drive member.
The endoscope of the present invention is the endoscope, wherein one of a recess and a projection that can be fitted to each other is formed at the distal end of the treatment instrument, and the other of the recess and the projection is the treatment. It is preferable to be formed on the tool driving member.
Since this endoscope has the above-described configuration, the treatment instrument distal end portion and the treatment instrument drive member can be easily attached and detached by attaching and detaching the male screw portion and the female screw portion, or the concave portion and the convex portion. be able to.

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the replacement of the treatment instrument with a simple configuration, and to improve the time and ease of the procedure.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment includes an insertion portion 3 in which a treatment instrument channel 2 is formed and a treatment instrument channel 2 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 3. And an endoscope operation section 5 that performs an operation of bending the distal end direction of the insertion section 3 in an arbitrary direction, and is capable of moving forward and backward in the treatment instrument channel 2 and a forceps section (the distal end of the treatment instrument) at the distal end. Part) 6 is a detachable treatment instrument drive member 7, a moving mechanism 8 that moves the treatment instrument drive member 7 in both the forward and backward directions in the treatment instrument channel 2, and the treatment instrument drive member 7 can be stored and the treatment instrument channel. 2 is provided.

The endoscope operation section 5 is formed with an opening 11 that is communicated in the middle of the treatment instrument channel 2 and that allows the forceps section 6 to be attached to and detached from the distal end of the treatment instrument drive member 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, the treatment instrument drive member 7 includes a sheath tube portion 12 formed in a coil shape, and an operation wire portion 13 that is disposed inside and outside the sheath tube portion 12 so as to freely open and close the forceps portion 6. As shown in FIG. 3, a forceps operation section 15 that moves the operation wire section 13 back and forth is connected to the proximal end of the treatment instrument drive member 7.
A concave portion 20A and a concave portion 20B are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side of the sheath tube portion 12 and the distal end of the operation wire portion 13, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the forceps part 6 is disposed as a tubular tip cover member 21 connected to the sheath tube part 12 and a distal end of the tip cover member 21 so as to be openable and closable. A pair of forceps pieces 22 and 23, and a rod-shaped transmission member 25 that transmits an advance / retreat operation of the operation wire portion 13 to the pair of forceps pieces 22 and 23.
Convex portions 26A and 26B that can be respectively fitted to the concave portions 20A and 20B are formed on the proximal end sides of the distal end cover member 21 and the transmission member 25.
A ring member 27 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sheath tube portion 12 and the tip cover member 21 to cover the fitting portion after the both are fitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the moving mechanism 8 is detachably connected to the endoscope operation unit 5, and has a pair of roller-like rotating members 28 and 29 that are pivotally mounted to face each other. A driving unit 30 including a motor that rotates the pair of rotating members 28 and 29 simultaneously at the same speed, and a control unit (not shown) that controls driving of the driving unit 30 are provided.
The control unit is interlocked with a switch 31 provided in the endoscope operation unit 5, and drive control is performed by operating the switch 31.
For example, the switch 31 can switch between “advance”, “retreat”, and “stop” of the treatment instrument drive member 7.
The treatment instrument driving member 7 is pressed between the pair of rotating members 28 and 29.

The storage unit 10 is detachably connected to the moving mechanism 8, and as shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 10 is cylindrical and stores the treatment instrument drive member 7 wound around the center, and is rotatable around the center axis. A core member (reel mechanism) 32 is provided.
The proximal end of the treatment instrument driving member 7 is connected to the core member 32, and the forceps operation portion 15 is disposed so as to protrude outward from the storage portion 10 in the axial direction of the core member 32.

Next, a method of using the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described below.
First, the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1 assembled in the state shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the body cavity. Then, the switch 31 is operated to “forward” to drive the drive unit 30, and the pair of rotating members 28 and 29 are rotated in the direction in which the treatment instrument drive member 7 is pushed out from the moving mechanism 8 to the endoscope operation unit 5. As a result, the treatment instrument drive member 7 sandwiched and pressed between the pair of rotating members 28 and 29 is sent out from the storage portion 10.

After the distal end of the treatment instrument drive member 7 is moved in the treatment instrument channel 2 to a position where it is communicated with the opening 11, the drive section 30 is temporarily stopped by setting the switch 31 to “stop”.
The forceps portion 6 is inserted into the opening portion 11 so that the concave portion 20B of the operation wire portion 13 and the convex portion 26B of the transmission member 25 are fitted, and the concave portion 20A of the sheath tube portion 12 and the convex portion 26A of the distal end cover member 21 are fitted. And the ring member 27 is slid to attach the forceps 6 to the treatment instrument drive member 7.
After mounting, the drive unit 30 is driven again by setting the switch 31 to “advance”, and the treatment instrument drive member 7 is inserted through the treatment instrument channel 2 to the distal end of the insertion section 3 to perform necessary treatment.

After the treatment by the forceps 6 is completed, the switch 31 is operated to “retreat” to drive the drive unit 30 to rotate the pair of rotating members 28 and 29 in the direction opposite to that during insertion. At this time, the treatment instrument driving member 7 moves in the treatment instrument channel 2 to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 3 by the same action as that at the time of insertion. At this time, the core member 32 of the storage unit 10 is rotated by being pushed by the treatment instrument driving member 7, and the treatment instrument driving member 7 is wound around the core member 32.
When the forceps 6 comes to the position of the opening 11, the switch 31 is operated to temporarily stop the drive unit 30. Then, after the forceps operating portion 15 is operated so that the direction of the forceps portion 6 is directed to the opening 11 side, the concave portion 20B of the operating wire portion 13 and the convex portion 26B of the transmission member 25 are separated, and the sheath The concave portion 20A of the tube portion 12 and the convex portion 26A of the distal end cover member 21 are separated, and the forceps portion 6 is detached from the treatment instrument driving member 7 and collected.

Here, when performing a treatment with another treatment tool, another treatment tool tip is connected to the treatment tool drive member 7 as in the case of the forceps 6 and the drive unit 30 is driven in the same manner as described above. The treatment instrument drive member 7 is inserted to the distal end of the insertion portion 3 to perform a new treatment.
When the treatment is finished, the drive unit 30 is driven to store the treatment instrument drive member 7 in the storage unit 10.

According to this endoscope 1, the attachment / detachment operation of the forceps part 6 is performed by the endoscope operation part 5, so that the attachment / detachment operation can be confirmed at hand, and the forceps part 6 is securely attached to the treatment instrument driving member 7. / Can be removed.
Further, since the treatment instrument driving member 7 and the forceps portion 6 are detachable, even when performing a plurality of treatments, a plurality of treatment tool tip portions that are detachable similarly to the forceps portion 6 are prepared and successively. By exchanging with each other, it is possible to deal with a plurality of treatments with one treatment instrument driving member 7, and it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness of handling a plurality of treatment instrument driving members for each treatment.

  In addition, since the moving mechanism 8 is detachably connected to the endoscope operation unit 5 and the storage unit 10 is detachably connected to the moving mechanism 8, the moving mechanism 8 and the storage unit 10 are detached separately. Cleaning and sterilization can be performed. At this time, when the treatment instrument drive member can be reused, it can be washed together with the storage section 10. When the treatment instrument drive member cannot be reused, the treatment instrument drive member can be easily stored in the storage section 10.

Further, since the storage unit 10 includes the core member 32, even if the treatment instrument driving member 7 is long, it can be stored compactly, and when the treatment instrument driving member 7 is wound / delivered, the core member 32 is used. The treatment instrument drive member 7 can be easily moved forward and backward.
Further, the forceps portion 6 and the treatment instrument drive are achieved by detaching the convex portions 26A and 26B formed on the distal end cover member 21 and the transmission member 25 and the concave portions 20A and 20B formed on the connecting member 17 and the operation wire portion 13. The attachment and detachment with the member 7 can be performed easily.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the treatment instrument driving member 7 is pressed between the pair of rotating members 28 and 29, but as shown in FIG. 4, the moving mechanism 33 extends in the direction in which the treatment instrument driving member 7 extends. Are provided with a pair of belt mechanisms 37 and 38 which are composed of a pair of roller-like rotating members 34 and 35 which are pivotally spaced apart from each other and an endless belt member 36 which is wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof. The treatment instrument drive member 7 may be sandwiched between the belt members 36 of the pair of belt mechanisms 37 and 38 and press-contacted.

  In this case, the belt member 36 is rotated in the rotation direction of the rotating member by rotating the pair of rotating members 34 and 35, and the treatment instrument driving member 7 sandwiched between the belt members 36 is pressed against the belt member 36. Since the belt member 36 is moved in the rotation direction, the treatment instrument driving member 7 and the moving mechanism 33 can be brought into contact with each other with a larger contact area compared with the case where only the rotating members 28 and 29 are brought into contact with each other. The frictional force with the treatment instrument drive member 7 is increased, and the treatment instrument drive member 7 can be reliably moved.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the forceps part 6 is directly connected to the sheath tube part 12, when the forceps part 6 is attached to the front end side of the sheath tube part 12, as shown in FIG. Further, a swing mechanism 39 that can change the direction of the forceps portion 6 may be provided.
The swing mechanism 39 includes a tubular connecting member 17 that is connected to the forceps unit 6, is rotatably arranged with respect to the sheath tube unit 12, and is bent by the operation of the forceps operation unit 15.
Accordingly, when the treatment is performed by projecting the forceps portion 6 from the distal end of the insertion portion 3 by operating the swing mechanism 39 to change the direction of the forceps portion 6 connected to the distal end of the treatment instrument driving member 7. The direction can be changed, and the attachment / detachment operation space can be secured easily by directing the distal end of the treatment instrument driving member toward the opening side of the opening when the forceps 6 is attached / detached in the opening 11. Detachable operation can be performed.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a bendable portion 40 in which the distal end of the sheath tube portion 12 is bendable may be provided as a swing mechanism.

Further, not only the endoscope forceps whose distal end portion of the treatment instrument is the forceps portion 6, but also the high-frequency incision forceps tip portion 41 of the high-frequency incision forceps as shown in FIG. The knife tip 42 or the like may be used. In this case, a high frequency power source is connected to the forceps operation unit 15 for use.
In the case of the high-frequency incision forceps, the sheath tube portion 12 is inside the endoscope 1 and is covered with the treatment instrument channel 2 or the like, so that the operator directly touches the sheath tube portion 12 during the treatment. It is not necessary to cover the outer peripheral surface of the sheath tube portion 12 for insulation.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although convex part 26A, 26B is formed in the front end cover member 21 and the transmission member 25, and recessed part 20A, 20B is formed in the connecting member 17 and the operation wire part 13, respectively, the front end cover A recess may be formed on the member and the transmission member, and a protrusion may be formed on the connecting member and the operation wire portion.

Further, the method for attaching and detaching the treatment instrument distal end to the treatment instrument drive member is not limited to the fitting between the recess and the projection. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, female thread portions 46A and 46B are formed at the distal end of the sheath tube portion 43 and the distal end of the operation wire portion 45, respectively, and external thread portions 47A that can be respectively screwed into the female thread portions 46A and 46B. 47B is formed on the distal end cover member 21 of the forceps 48 and the ends of the transmission member 25, and the female screw 46A and the male screw 47A, and the female screw 46B and the male screw 47B are screwed together to drive the treatment instrument. The forceps 51 may be detachably attached to the member 50.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the female thread part 46 </ b> A of the sheath tube part 43 and the male thread part 47 </ b> A of the distal end cover member 21 are screwed together, and the recess 20 </ b> B of the operation wire part 13 and the transmission member 25 are formed. The forceps part 53 and the treatment instrument drive member 55 may be connected by fitting the convex part 26B.
Further, the winding of the treatment instrument drive member 7 in the storage unit 10 is not limited to the core member 32, and the treatment instrument drive member 7 may be folded and stored, and the opening 11 is provided with a lid covering the cover. It does not matter.

It is a side view showing an endoscope concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the treatment tool drive member front-end | tip and forceps part of the endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the accommodating part of the endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the moving mechanism of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the swing mechanism of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the swing mechanism of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the treatment tool front-end | tip part which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the treatment tool front-end | tip part which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the treatment tool drive member front-end | tip and forceps part of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the treatment tool drive member front-end | tip and forceps part of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Treatment tool channel 3 Insertion part 5 Endoscope operation part 6, 51, 53 Forceps part (treatment tool front-end | tip part)
7, 50, 55 Treatment instrument drive member 8, 33 Moving mechanism 10 Storage portion 11 Opening portion 20A, 20B Recess portion 26A, 26B Protrusion portion 27, 28, 34, 35 Rotating member 36 Belt member 37, 38 Belt mechanism 32 Core member ( Reel mechanism)
40 High frequency incision forceps tip (treatment tool tip)
42 Needle-shaped knife tip (treatment tool tip)
46A, 46B Female thread 47A, 47B Male thread

Claims (8)

A flexible insertion portion having a treatment instrument channel formed therein;
An endoscope operation unit that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit and that has the treatment instrument channel formed therein and performs a bending operation on the distal end of the insertion unit;
A treatment instrument driving member which is movable forward and backward in the treatment instrument channel and detachably attachable to the distal end of the treatment instrument;
A moving mechanism for moving the treatment instrument driving member in both the forward and backward directions within the treatment instrument channel;
A storage section capable of storing the treatment instrument drive member and connected to the treatment instrument channel;
The endoscope operation unit is communicated in the middle of the treatment instrument channel and is stored in a position where the distal end of the treatment instrument drive member passes through the distal end of the treatment instrument, and the treatment instrument distal end and the treatment instrument An endoscope characterized in that an opening is formed so that the drive member can be attached and detached.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is detachably connected to the endoscope operation unit.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is detachably connected to the moving mechanism.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage unit includes a reel mechanism having a core member that winds and stores the treatment instrument driving member. The moving mechanism includes a pair of belt mechanisms in which an endless belt member is wound around the outer peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating members that are pivotally spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the treatment instrument driving member,
The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the treatment instrument driving member is sandwiched and pressed between belt members of the pair of belt mechanisms.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a swing mechanism capable of changing a distal end direction is provided on a distal end side of the treatment instrument driving member.   One of a male screw portion and a female screw portion that can be screwed together is formed at the distal end portion of the treatment instrument, and the other of the male screw portion and the female screw portion is formed at the treatment instrument drive member. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6. One of the recessed part and convex part which can mutually be fitted is formed in the said treatment tool front-end | tip part, The other of the said recessed part and the said convex part is formed in the said treatment tool drive member, The Claim 1 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The endoscope according to any one of the above.

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