Endoscope

• US 7,780,593 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shuji, Ikeda, Yuichi, Ueno, Haruhiko, Sato, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Victoria W
• Application Number:
  US11/963,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 600139-142, 600146-150, 600/130, 600/131
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2453 of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

A bend section is disposed on an insertion section. A rotary body, on which a proximal end portion of a wire for a bend operation, which has a distal end portion connected to the bend section, is rotatably supported in a large-diameter section. Driving force transmission portion, which converts linear movement of a working shaft that is operable in a linear direction to rotational movement of the rotary body, is provided in the large-diameter section. A driving source unit is detachably coupled to the large-diameter section on the proximal end side of the insertion section. The driving source unit is provided with operation section which linearly moves the working shaft, in accordance with an operation of a driving shaft that operates in a linear direction by a driving force from a driving motor.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising:

a scope unit; and

a driving source unit configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit,

wherein the scope unit includes;

an insertion section including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and configured to be inserted into a body;

a bend section provided in the distal end portion of the insertion section and configured to be bent;

a scope unit coupling section provided on the proximal end portion of the insertion section;

an operation member including a middle portion, a first end side portion and a second end side portion wherein the first end side portion includes a first distal end portion coupled to the bend section and is configured to be moved in an advance direction and a retreat direction opposite to each other and configured to operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the first end side portion in the retreat direction, and the second end side portion includes a second end portion coupled to the bending portion and is configured to be moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and configured to operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the second end side portion in the retreat direction;

a rotary member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be rotationally moved in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to each other and including a working pinion gear and a pulley wherein the middle portion of the operation member is wound around the pulley, the first end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction and configured to be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction, and the second end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction and configured be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction;

a first working member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a first working abutment portion and a first working rack wherein the first working rack is meshed with the working pinion gear, the rotary member is configured to be rotationally moved in the first rotational direction via the working pinion gear and the first working rack meshed with each other in interlock with linear movement of the first working member in the advance direction, and the first working member is configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction via the working pinion gear and the first working rack meshed with each other in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction; and

a second working member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a second working abutment portion and a second working rack wherein the second working rack is opposite to the first working rack relative to the working pinion gear and meshed with the working pinion gear, the rotary member is configured to be rotationally moved in the second rotational direction via the working pinion gear and the second working rack meshed with each other in interlock with linear movement of the second working member in the advance direction, and the second working member is configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction via the working pinion gear and the second working rack meshed with each other in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction; and

the driving source unit includes;

a driving source unit coupling section configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit coupling section;

a first driving member provided in the driving source unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a first driving abutment portion wherein the first working abutment portion is configured to be abutted on the first driving abutment portion, and the first working member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the first working abutment portion and the first driving abutment portion abutted on each other in interlock with linear movement of the first driving member in the advance direction, when the driving source unit coupling section is coupled to the scope unit coupling section;

a second driving member provided in the driving source unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a second driving abutment portion wherein the second working abutment portion is configured to be abutted on the second driving abutment portion, and the second working member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the second working abutment portion and the second driving abutment portion abutted on each other in interlock with linear movement of the second driving member in the advance direction, when the driving source unit coupling section is coupled to the scope unit coupling section; and

a driving force generating mechanism configured to linearly move the first driving member in the advance direction and the retreat direction and linearly move the second driving member in an opposite direction to a direction of linear movement of the first driving member.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1,

wherein the driving force generating mechanism includes a driving pinion gear configured to be rotationally driven in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction,

the first driving member includes a first driving rack meshed with the driving pinion gear, and the first driving member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the first driving rack and the driving pinion gear meshed with each other in interlock with rotational driving of the driving pinion gear in the first rotational-direction and configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction via the first driving rack and the driving pinion gear meshed with each other in interlock with rotational driving of the driving pinion gear in the second rotational direction, and

the second driving member includes a second driving rack opposite to the first driving rack relative to the driving pinion gear and meshed with the driving pinion gear, and second driving member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the second driving rack and the driving pinion gear meshed with each other in interlock with rotational driving of the driving pinion gear in the second rotational direction and configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction via the second driving rack and the driving pinion gear meshed with each other in interlock with rotational driving of the driving pinion gear in the first rotational direction.

3. An endoscope comprising:

a scope unit; and

a driving source unit configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit,

wherein the scope unit includes;

an insertion section including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and configured to be inserted into a body;

a bend section provided in the distal end portion of the insertion section and configured to be bent;

a scope unit coupling section provided on the proximal end portion of the insertion section;

an operation member including a middle portion, a first end side portion and a second end side portion wherein the first end side portion includes a first distal end portion coupled to the bend section and is configured to be moved in an advance direction and a retreat direction opposite to each other and configured to operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the first end side portion in the retreat direction, and the second end side portion includes a second end portion coupled to the bending portion and is configured to be moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and configured to operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the second end side portion in the retreat direction;

a rotary member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be rotationally moved in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to each other and including a working pinion gear and a pulley wherein the middle portion of the operation member is wound around the pulley, the first end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction and configured to be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction, and the second end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction and configured be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction;

a working member provided in the scope unit coupling section and configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a working abutment portion;

a transmission mechanism configured to rotationally move the rotary member in the first rotational direction in interlock with linear movement of the working member in the advance direction and configured to rotationally move the rotary member in the second rotational direction in interlock with linear movement of the working member in the retreat direction; and

an urging member configured to linearly urge the working member in the retreat direction, and

the driving source unit includes;

a driving source unit coupling section configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit coupling section;

a driving member provided in the driving source unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a driving abutment portion wherein the working abutment portion is configured to be abutted on the driving abutment portion, the working member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the working abutment portion and the driving abutment portion abutted on each other in interlock with linear movement of the driving member in the advance direction, and the working member is configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction by the urging member in interlock with linear movement of the driving member in the retreat direction, when the driving source unit coupling section is coupled to the scope unit coupling section; and

a driving force generating mechanism configured to linearly move the driving member in the advance direction and the retreat direction.

4. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the transmission mechanism includes:

a working pinion gear provided in the rotary member; and

a working rack provided in the working member and meshed with the working pinion gear.

5. An endoscope comprising:

a scope unit; and

a driving source unit configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit,

wherein the scope unit includes;

an insertion section including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and configured to be inserted into a body;

a bend section provided in the distal end portion of the insertion section and configured to be bent;

a scope unit coupling section provided on the proximal end portion of the insertion portion;

an operation member including a middle portion, a first end side portion and a second end side portion wherein the first end side portion includes a first distal end portion coupled to the bend section and is configured to be moved in an advance direction and a retreat direction opposite to each other and operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the first end side portion in the retreat direction, and the second end side portion includes a second end portion coupled to the bending portion and is configured to be moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and operate the bend section to be bent in interlock with movement of the second end side portion in the retreat direction;

a rotary member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be rotationally moved in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to each other and including a working pinion gear and a pulley wherein the middle portion of the operation member is wound around the pulley, the first end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction and configured to be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction, and the second end side portion of the operation member is configured to be moved in the retreat direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the first rotational direction and configured be moved in the advance direction via the pulley and the middle portion of the operation member wound around the pulley in interlock with rotational movement of the rotary member in the second rotational direction;

a working member provided in the scope unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a working engagement portion; and

a transmission mechanism configured to rotationally move the rotary member in the first rotational direction in interlock with linear movement of the working member in the advance direction and configured to rotationally move the rotary member in the second rotational direction in interlock with linear movement of the working member in the retreat direction, and

the driving source unit includes;

a driving source unit coupling section configured to be coupled to and detached from the scope unit coupling section;

a driving member provided in the driving source unit coupling section, configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction and the retreat direction and including a driving engagement portion wherein the working engagement portion is configured to be engaged with the driving engagement portion, the working member is configured to be linearly moved in the advance direction via the working engagement portion and the driving engagement portion engaged with each other in interlock with linear movement of the driving member in the advance direction, and the working member is configured to be linearly moved in the retreat direction via the working engagement portion and the driving engagement portion engaged with each other in interlock with linear movement of the driving member in the retract direction; and

a driving force generating mechanism configured to linearly move the driving member in the advance direction and the retreat direction.

6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the transmission mechanism includes:

a working pinion gear provided in the rotary member; and

a working rack provided in the working member and meshed with the working pinion gear.