Patent Application
20080027282
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Some of the best modes of the present invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
As
The camera control unit is connected to a monitor (not shown). Thus, the camera control unit can process the video signal representing any optical image of the tissue or organ being examined, which has been formed by a solid-state imaging element such as CCD that will be described later. Using the signal thus processed, the monitor displays the image of the tissue or organ being examined.
The insertion section 22 includes a distal end part 42, a flexible part 44, and a flexible tubular part 46. The distal end part 42 is rigid. The flexible part 44 can bend up and down, left to right and vice versa. The flexible tubular part 46 is long and flexible.
The distal end part 42 is the most distal portion of the insertion section 22. The distal end part 42 incorporates an illumination optical system and an observation optical system including a solid-state imaging element, and has a forceps port (not shown) and a nozzle (not shown, either). The forceps port communicates with the instrument insertion channel (not shown). The nozzle is provided to supply air into body cavities and water to the observation lens. The instrument insertion channel communicates with the instrument insertion port (not shown) of the operation section 24.
The flexible part 44 is coupled, at distal end, to the proximal end of the distal end part 42. The flexible tubular part 46 is coupled, at distal end, to the proximal end of the flexible part 44. The operation section 24 is coupled, at distal end, to the proximal end of the flexible tubular part 46. Thus, the distal end of the operation section 24 is coupled to the proximal end of the insertion section 22.
The operation section 24 has a support part 52 at the distal end. The support part 52 supports the proximal end of the flexible tubular part 46. The support part 52 has a distal end, which is tapered, gradually narrower toward the proximal end of the flexible tubular part 46. The support part 52 has a grip 54 at its proximal end. The doctor may hold the grip 54 when he or she uses the operation section 24. The grip 54 has remote-control switches 56, which the doctor may operate to remote-control a video recording device (not shown), such as a VTR, and the camera control unit (not shown, either).
At the proximal end of the grip 54, flexible-part operating levers 58 and 60 are provided. The doctor may rotate these levers 58 and 60 in order to bend the flexible part 44, deviating from the axis of the flexible tubular part 46, or bending the flexible part 44 up or down, and to the left or the right. The lever 58 bents the flexible part 44 up when rotated in one direction, and down when operated in the other direction. Similarly, the lever 60 bends the flexible part 44 to the left when rotated in one direction, and to the right when rotated in the other direction.
A position-setting lever 62 is provided adjacent to the flexible-part operating lever 58. This lever 62 may be operated to retain the lever 58 at a desired position, thereby setting the flexible part 44 in a desired bent state. The lever 62 may be operated to release the flexible part 44 from that bent state. In other words, the lever 62 is operated to set and release the flexible part 44 in and from a desired bent state.
Like the flexible-part operating lever 58, the other flexible-part operating lever 60 has a position-setting lever 64. This lever 64 may be operated to release the flexible part 44 from a desired bent state. That is, the lever 64 is operated to set the flexible part 44 in a desired bent state and to release the part 44 from the bent state, allowing the flexible-part operating lever 60 to rotate.
The overtube 14 shown in
As shown in
The balloon 74 is mounted on that part of the tubular body 72 which is near the distal end of the tubular body 72. The tubular body 72 has a distal tip 72a that is opaque to X rays. The proximal-side grip 78 is provided on the proximal end of the tubular body 72. The proximal-side grip 78 is made hard enough to be held well.
The branched connecting part 76 projects from the distal end of the proximal-side grip 78 and is located near the proximal end of the tubular body 72. The branched connecting part 76 has first and second rigid portions 80 and 90. The rigid portions 80 and 90 project from appropriate parts (extension bases) of the proximal end of the overtube 14 toward the proximal end of the proximal-side grip 78. Thus, the first and second rigid portions 80 and 90 extend from the proximal part of the tubular body 72, deviating from the axis of the tubular body 72. The first and second rigid portions 80 and 90 are located symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis of the tubular body 72.
A first cap 82 is provided on the extending end of the first rigid part 80. A first connecting part 84 is mounted on the first cap 82.
The tubular body 72 has a first communication path (communication tubular path) 86. The first communication path 86 extends from the distal end of the tubular body 72 to the first rigid part 80. The path 86 communicates with the interior of the first cap 82. The first communication path 86 is made in the tubular body 72 and extends along the axis of the tubular body 72. That part of the tubular body 72, which is near the distal end of the first communication path 82, has a plurality of openings 74a. The openings 74a open to the outside of the tubular body 72 and to the interior of the balloon 74. Hence, gas can be supplied into the balloon 74 from the proximal end of the first communication path 86, thereby to inflate the balloon 74. The gas can of course be discharged to deflate the balloon 74.
As described above, the first connecting part 84 is mounted on the first cap 82. The first connecting part 84 is shaped like a hollow cylinder and has a flange that extends in a radial direction from the first cap 82 for a predetermined distance. The proximal end of the first rigid part 80 abuts on the flange of the first connecting part 84. That is, a space is defined between the first cap 82 and the first rigid part 84.
A second cap 92 is provided on the extending end of the second rigid part 90. A second connecting part 94 is mounted on the second cap 92. The tubular body 72 has a second communication path (communication tubular path) 96. The second communication path 96 extends from the tubular body 72 to the proximal end of the second rigid part 90. The second communication path 96 extends along the axis of the second rigid part 90. The second communication path 96 communicates, at one end, with the interior of the tubular body 72.
As
The supplying/discharging device 102 includes a housing 112, a pump 114, a tubular path (communication path) 116, a control circuit 118, and a remote controller 120. The pump 114 can supply and discharge (draw) gas. The pump 114 supplies gas in a regular manner. In other words, the gas is supplied from the pump 114 at an almost constant flow rate (i.e., in a particular amount of gas per unit time) and at an almost constant speed. The pump 114 discharges the gas at a substantially constant rate, too. That is, the pump 114 discharges the gas at an almost constant flow rate, that is, at an almost constant speed. A tubular path 116 is connected, at one end, to the pump 114. A tube cap 116a that has a tube-connecting part 116b is arranged at the other end of the tubular path 116. The tube cap 116a is connected to the first cap 82 of the overtube 14 and can be disconnected from the first cap 82. The pump 114 is electrically connected to the control circuit 118. The control circuit 118 controls not only the pump 114, but also the tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism 104. The control circuit 118 controls the pump 114 in both the gas-supplying operation and the gas-discharging operation. The control circuit 118 controls the pump 114 to prevent the pressure in the tubular path 116 from rising over a predetermined value.
A cable 120a electrically connects the remote controller 120 to the control circuit 118. The controller 120 includes a stop button 122, a pressurizing button 124, and a depressurizing button 126. When pushed, the stop button 122 generates a signal, which is input to the control circuit 118. Upon receiving the signal, the control circuit 118 makes the pump 114 stops operating. When pushed, the pressurizing button 124 generates a signal, which is input to the control circuit 118. Upon receiving this signal, the control circuit 118 makes the pump 114 supply gas into the tubular path 116. When pushed, the depressurizing button 126 generates a signal, which is input to the control circuit 118. Upon receiving this signal, the control circuit 118 makes the pump 114 discharge the gas from the tubular path 116.
The tubular path 116 is made of, for example, silicone rubber. The tubular path 116 is elastic, having its diameter decreased when pressed from outside and increased to the initial value when released from the pressure.
As shown in
The pushing member 140 is arranged outside the housing 132 and mounted on a driving shaft of the motor 138. The pushing member 140 is therefore rotated when the motor 138 is driven. The support member 142 is secured to, and provided outside, the housing 132. The support member 142 has an L-shaped cross section, taken along a vertical plane, and holds the tubular path 116, jointly with the pushing member 140. The tubular path 116 can therefore be easily held in, and removed from, the gap between the pushing member 140 and the support member 142. While being used, the tubular path 116 is prevented from slipping from the gap between the pushing member 140 and the support member 142. The pushing member 140 has an elliptical cross section, taken along a plane perpendicular to its axis. The member 140 is so positioned that the driving shaft of the motor 138 passes the focus of the ellipse. The pushing member 140 stays in the position shown in
As seen from
How the endoscope apparatus 10 according to this embodiment operates will be explained.
First, the operation of the remote controller 120 will be explained.
When the pressurizing button 124 is pushed, it generates a signal as is explained in
As shown in
As shown in
How the distal end of the insertion section 22 of the endoscope apparatus 12 is inserted deep into the small intestine α, whose wall is thinner than that of the large intestine, by using the overtube 14 will be explained with reference to
First, the overtube 14 is mounted on the insertion section 22 of the endoscope 12. Then, the overtube 14 is arranged close to the proximal end of the insertion section 22, as much as possible. Thus, the distal end of the insertion section 22 protrudes from the distal end of the overtube 14. The distal end portion of the insertion section 22 in this state is inserted through the subject's mouth into the small intestine α.
When the distal end of the insertion section 22 reaches a bending part of the small intestine α and can no longer be easily inserted deeper, the overtube 14 is moved along the insertion section 22 toward the distal end thereof (see
To inflate the balloon 74, the doctor pushes the pressurizing button 124 provided on the remote controller 120 shown in
While the balloon 74 is retained on the inner surface of the small intestine α, the doctor pulls both the overtube 14 and the insertion section 22 toward the proximal end of the endoscope 12. The small intestine α is therefore and contracted. At this point, the bending part of the small intestine α is pulled as mentioned above and stretched. As a result, the insertion section 22 of the endoscope 12 can be easily inserted deeper into the small intestine α. The doctor then moves the insertion section 22 as deep as possible in the small intestine α, with respect to the overtube 14 (see
More precisely, the doctor pushes the depressurizing button 126 provided on the controller 120. When pushed, the depressurizing button 126 generates a signal. This signal is output from the remote controller 120 to the control circuit 118. Upon receiving the signal, the control circuit 118 drives the pump 114, which discharges gas. The control circuit 118 supplies the signal to the motor 138, and drives the motor 138. The driving shaft of the motor 138 rotates half around the axis of the driving shaft. The pushing member 140 is thereby rotated half around its axis and fixed in position. The space between the support member 142 and the pushing member 140 is thereby expanded. The tubular path 116 is no longer pressed. The tubular path 116 therefore expands by virtue of its elastic force. The gas can therefore be discharged by the pump 114 at a higher rate than in the case the tubular path 116 is pressed by the pushing member 140. Hence, the balloon 74 is deflated in a shorter time than it is inflated. Then, the doctor pushes the stop button 122, whereby the pump 114 stops operating. Since the balloon 74 is quickly deflated, the doctor can immediately start performing the next medical step.
Now that the balloon 74 has been deflated, the overtube 14 is moved toward the distal end of the insertion section 22, along the insertion section 22, as illustrated in
As can be understood from the foregoing, this embodiment can achieve the following advantages.
To inflate the balloon 74 by supplying the gas into it from the pump 114 through the tubular path 116, the pushing member 140 can narrow the tubular path 116 to make it difficult for the gas to flow (can lower the flow rate of the gas). The balloon 74 can therefore be inflated slowly. Thus, a force can be exerted on the inner surface of the intestine, gradually expanding the intestine. The balloon 74 can be held in contact with the inner surface of the intestine, setting the overtube 14 at a specific position in the intestine. To deflate the balloon 74, the pushing member 140 is moved away from the tubular path 116, allowing the path 116 to have its sectional area increased to the initial value. The gas can then be discharged fast. This enables the doctor to start performing the next medical step at once.
The position of the pushing member 140 can be easily controlled merely by operating the remote controller 120. Hence, the power of the pump 114 can be minutely changed in accordance with the degree to which the balloon 74 has been inflated or deflated.
In the present embodiment, the pushing member 140 has a substantially elliptical cross section and has a rotation axis passing a point deviating from the center (set at, for example, the focus of the ellipsis). Instead, the rotation axis of the member 140 may pass the center. In this case, the pushing member 140 can press and release the tubular path 116 as it is rotated a quarter (¼) around its axis.
A second embodiment of this invention will be described, with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The remote controller 120 includes a stop button 122, a pressurizing button 124, and a depressurizing button 126, all provided on the mechanism body 154. As shown in
The stop button 122, pressurizing button 124 and depressurizing button 126 are electrically connected to the control circuit 118 by a cable 104a that has one end arranged in the mechanism body 154. When pushed, the stop button 122, pressurizing button 124 and depressurizing button 126 are electrically connected to conductors 128a, 128b and 128c, respectively, which extend through the cable 104a and which are electrically connected to the control circuit 118.
How the endoscope apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment operates will be explained.
When pushed, the pressurizing button 124 pushes the tubular path 116. At the same time, the electrical contact 124a of the pressurizing button 124 is electrically connected to the conductor 128b extending through the cable 104a. The control circuit 118 therefore drives the pump 114 as the pressurizing button 124 is pushed. Gas is thereby supplied through the tubular path 116 into the balloon 74, inflating the balloon 74. At this point, the pressurizing button 124 depresses the tubular path 116 in part, narrowing the tubular path 116. The flow of the gas is impaired at the depressed part of the tubular path 116. The gas therefore flows slowly, and the flow rate of the gas decreases. Hence, the balloon 74 is inflated more slowly than in the case where the pressurizing button 124 does not depress the tubular path 116 at all.
When the pressurizing button 124 is released, the tubular path 116 expands by virtue of its elastic force, back to its initial state. The cross-section area of the path 116 therefore increases. The electrical contact 124a of the pressurizing button 124 is electrically disconnected from the conductor 128b extending through the cable 104a. As a result, the pump 114 stops operating.
When the stop button 122 is pushed, the electrical contact 122a of the stop button 122 is electrically connected to the conductor 128a extending through the cable 104a. The control circuit 118 therefore stops driving the pump 114 as the stop button 122 is pushed. The control circuit 118 stops the pump 114 even if the pressurizing button 124 is pushed at the same time the stop button 122 is pushed.
When the depressurizing button 126 is pushed, the electrical contact 126a of the depressurizing button 126 is electrically connected to the conductor 128c extending through the cable 104a. The control circuit 118 therefore drives the pump 114 as the depressurizing button 126 is pushed. If the pressurizing button 124 is pushed at the same time the depressurizing button 126 is pushed, the control circuit 118 drives the pump 114 such that the pressure in the tubular path 116 is lowered.
As can be understood from the foregoing, the second embodiment can achieve the following advantages.
Depression of the pressurizing button 124 can not only change the cross-sectional area of the tubular path 116, but also control the operation of the pump 114. Since the cross-sectional area of the tubular path 116 can thus be controlled, the flow rate of the gas can be controlled. Hence, the balloon 74 can be slowly inflated. The speed with which the balloon 74 is inflated can be adjusted by depressing the tubular path 116 to a desired degree.
Further, if the stop button 122 or the depressurizing button 126 is pushed while the pressurizing button 124 remains pushed, the pump 114 will be stopped or will be driven to lower the pressure in the tubular path 116.
Since the tubular path 116 is arranged in the tubular-path receptacle 152, only the cover member 156 can be opened with respect to the mechanism body 154. This makes it easy to replace the tubular path 116 with a new one.
An O-ring, for example, may be provided at the end of the tubular-path receptacle 152 of the tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism 104. In this case, liquid or the like can be prevented from flowing into the tubular-path receptacle 152. The tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism 104 can therefore be used repeatedly.
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to
As shown in
The movable body 184 has a communication path 184a shaped like, for example, a column. The movable body 184 is shaped like, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped. The movable body 184 has an inclined face 184b at a lower corner. The face 184b inclines at, for example, 45° to the axis of the tubular path 116. The angle at which the face 184b inclines may be changed, if necessary, in accordance with the distance the movable body 184 should be moved.
A linear motor 186 is provided in the housing 172 of the tubular-path-resistance changing mechanism 104. The drive shaft 186a of the linear motor 186 extends parallel to the axis of the tubular path 116. The drive shaft 186a can move to have its distal end move into and out of the space 174. The distal end of the drive shaft 186a abuts on the inclined face 184b of the movable body 184. Therefore, the movable body 184 moves upwards in the space 174 when the drive shaft 186a of the linear motor 186 pushes the inclined face 184b, and moves downwards by its own weight and by virtue of the action the upper spring 182 when the drive shaft 186a of the linear motor 186 stop pushing the inclined face 184b. As shown in
How the endoscope apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment operates will be explained.
When the stop button 122 on the remote controller 120 is pushed, the tubular path 116 and the communication path 184a of the movable body 184 axially deviate from each other (assuming the normal state) as shown in
When the stop button 122 is pushed, the control circuit 118 stops the pump 114. Further, the control circuit 118 drives the linear motor 186, pulling the drive shaft 186a from the inclined face 184b of the movable body 184. The movable body 184 shown in
When the depressurizing button 126 is pushed, the control circuit 118 drives both the pump 114 and the linear motor 186. Then, the drive shaft 186a of the motor 186 is pulled as shown in
As can be understood from the foregoing, the third embodiment can achieve the following advantages.
As the movable body 184 is moved up or down in the space 174, the axial alignment between the tubular path 116 and the communication path 184a can be varied. To inflate the balloon 74, the axial alignment is decreased so that the flow rate of the gas being supplied into the balloon 74 is lowered. The balloon 74 can therefore be inflated slowly. To deflate the balloon 74, the axial alignment is increased so that the flow rate of the gas is raised. The balloon 74 can therefore be deflated quickly.
In the present embodiment, the movable body 184 takes one position (normal position) when the stop button 122 is pushed, and another position when the pressurizing button 124 is pushed. Instead, the normal position may be the position that the movable body 184 assumes when pressurizing the button 124.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
The filter 194 is mounted on the shaft (drive shaft) of a motor (not shown) and is connected to the control circuit 118. The angle by which the filter 194 is rotated can therefore be changed as needed.
When the stop button 122 or the pressurizing button 124 provided on the remote controller 120 is pushed, the filter 194 is rotated as shown in
When the depressurizing button 126 is pushed, the filter 194 is rotated, assuming the position shown in
In any embodiment described above, the endoscope apparatus 10 is used to examine the small intestine α. Nevertheless, the endoscope apparatus 10 can be inserted into the large intestine through the anus to examine the large intestine in the same way as to examine the small intestine. If the endoscope apparatus 10 is used to examine any other organ, the balloon may preferably be inflated faster than it is deflated.
In such a case, the pushing member 140 takes the position shown in
The fluid-supplying/discharging system 16 may be coupled not only to the overtube 14, but also to any other medical device that supplies and discharges fluid.
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
Therefore, the insertion section 22 of the endoscope 12 can be inserted deeper into the intestine, with the overtube 14 set at a specific position with respect to the intestine wall. In addition, the distal end of the overtube 14 can be guided deeper into a body cavity, with the insertion section 22 set in a specific position with respect to the intestine wall.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-202341 | Jul 2006 | JP | national |
