Flexible tube for endoscope and method for manufacturing the same

• US 20050288545A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Jun, Nakamura, Takeaki, Machida, Yasushi
• Application Number:
  US11/095,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes

Abstract

A flexible tube for endoscope comprising a helical tube, a net tube put on the helical tube, an outer skin put on an outer peripheral surface of the net tube, and a topcoat put on a surface of the outer skin. The outer skin and the topcoat are molded substantially simultaneously or successively by the two-coat molding method.

Claims

1. A flexible tube for endoscope comprising:

an outer skin layer covering an outer peripheral surface of a tubular member; and

a topcoat covering an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer,

wherein the outer skin layer and the topcoat are molded by substantially simultaneously laminating resin materials together.

2. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer skin layer and the topcoat are each kept at a temperature higher than normal temperature and lower than a fusion temperature when the outer skin layer and the topcoat are laminated.

3. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the temperature of the outer skin layer is set at a temperature close to and lower than the temperature of the topcoat when the topcoat is laminated.

4. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the tubular member has a helical tube and a net tube put on the helical tube.

5. A flexible tube for endoscope comprising:

an outer skin layer covering an outer peripheral surface of a tubular member; and

a topcoat covering an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer,

the outer skin layer and the topcoat being molded by successively laminating resin materials together.

6. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the outer skin layer and the topcoat are each kept at a temperature higher than normal temperature and lower than a fusion temperature when the outer skin layer and the topcoat are laminated.

7. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the outer skin layer is set at a temperature close to and lower than the temperature of the topcoat when the topcoat is laminated.

8. A flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the tubular member has a helical tube and a net tube put on the helical tube.

9. A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for endoscope, comprising:

laminating an outer skin layer of a resin material to an outer peripheral surface of a tubular member; and

laminating a topcoat of a resin material to an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer,

wherein laminating of the outer skin layer and the topcoat are performed substantially simultaneously.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the outer skin layer and the topcoat are each kept at a temperature higher than normal temperature and lower than a fusion temperature when the outer skin layer and the topcoat are laminated.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature of the outer skin layer is set at a temperature close to and lower than the temperature of the topcoat when the topcoat is laminated.

12. A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for endoscope, comprising:

laminating an outer skin layer of a resin material to an outer peripheral surface of a tubular member; and

laminating a topcoat of a resin material to an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin layer,

wherein laminating of the outer skin layer and the topcoat are performed successively.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the outer skin layer and the topcoat are each kept at a temperature higher than normal temperature and lower than a fusion temperature when the outer skin layer and the topcoat are laminated.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the temperature of the outer skin layer is set at a temperature close to and lower than the temperature of the topcoat when the topcoat is laminated.

15. A flexible tube for endoscope comprising:

a helical tube;

a net tube put on the helical tube;

an outer skin put on an outer peripheral surface of the net tube; and

a topcoat put on a surface of the outer skin,

wherein the outer skin and the topcoat are molded substantially simultaneously or successively by the two-coat molding method.

16. The flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 15, wherein the outer skin contains a thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 15, wherein the topcoat contains a fully-saturated styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer or an elastomer obtained by copolymerizing the fully-saturated styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and isobutylene.

18. The flexible tube for endoscope according to claim 15, wherein the net tube and the outer skin are bonded together with a urethane-based adhesive agent.

19. A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for endoscope, comprising:

spirally winding a thin elastic sheet to form a helical tube;

putting a net tube on the helical tube; and

welding and molding two types of resins substantially simultaneously on an outer peripheral surface of the net tube, thereby forming an outer skin and a topcoat welded together.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the outer skin contains a thermoplastic elastomer.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the topcoat contains a fully-saturated styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer or an elastomer obtained by copolymerizing the fully-saturated styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and isobutylene.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the net tube and the outer skin are bonded together with an urethane-based adhesive agent.