Endoscopic device

A first balloon is fitted to an insertion portion of an endoscope and a second balloon is fitted to an insertion aid member. An end connector of a tube is connected to a balloon control device that supplies and sucks air into and from the first balloon and the second balloon. A duct that communicates with the first balloon, a duct that communicates with the second balloon, and a duct that communicates with a clearance between the insertion portion and the insertion aid member are formed in the end connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscopic device, and more particularly to an endoscopic device that alternately inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope and an insertion aid member to insert the insertion portion into an alimentary canal in a deep part such as small intestine or large intestine for observation.

2. Related Art

When an insertion portion of an endoscope is inserted into an alimentary canal in a deep part such as small intestine, complex bending of intestine prevents a force from being transmitted to a tip of the insertion portion in simple insertion of the insertion portion, and insertion into a deep part is difficult. For example, surplus bending or flection in the insertion portion prevents the insertion portion from being further inserted into the deep part. Thus, a method is proposed for inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope covered with an insertion aid member into a body cavity, and guiding the insertion portion with the insertion aid member to prevent surplus bending or flection of the insertion portion.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 51-11689 describes an endoscopic device including a first balloon at a tip of an insertion portion of an endoscope, and a second balloon at a tip of an insertion aid member (also referred to as an over tube or a sliding tube). This endoscopic device alternately inserts the insertion portion and the insertion aid member while repeating expansion and contraction of the first balloon and the second balloon, thereby allowing the insertion portion to be inserted into a deep part of intestine with complex bending.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional endoscopic device, a connector on the side of the endoscope that communicates with the first balloon and a connector on the side of the insertion aid member that communicates with the second balloon are individually connected to a balloon control device. Further, a lubricant supply device such as a syringe is connected to a connector for a duct through which a lubricant is injected between the insertion portion and the insertion aid member. Thus, the conventional endoscopic device includes many connectors and takes trouble in connecting the connectors, and may cause connection errors of the connectors.

The invention has been achieved in view of the above described. circumstances, and has an object to provide an endoscopic device that facilitates connection of a connector and causes no connection errors.

In order to achieve the above described object, a first aspect of the invention provides an endoscopic device, comprising: an endoscope having a first balloon at a tip of an insertion portion thereof; an insertion aid member that is placed over the insertion portion of the endoscope to guide insertion of the insertion portion into a body cavity, and has a second balloon at a tip thereof; and a balloon control device that controls supply and suction of a fluid into and from the first balloon and the second balloon, wherein a first duct that communicates with the first balloon, a second duct that communicates with the second balloon, and a third duct through which a lubricant is supplied between the insertion portion and the insertion aid member are connected to one connecter, and the connector is connected to the balloon control device.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the three ducts are connected to the balloon control device via one connector, thereby reducing the number of connectors as compared with the case where a connector is provided for each duct. This facilitates connection of the connector, and eliminates connection errors of the connector.

In order to achieve the above described object, a second aspect of the invention provides an endoscopic device, comprising: an endoscope having a first balloon at a tip of an insertion portion thereof; an insertion aid member that is placed over the insertion portion of the endoscope to guide insertion of the insertion portion into a body cavity, and has a second balloon at a tip thereof; and a balloon control device that controls supply and suction of a fluid into and from the first balloon and the second balloon, wherein the balloon control device is provided inside an external device to which a connector portion of the endoscope is connected, a first duct that communicates with the first balloon, a second duct that communicates with the second balloon, and a third duct through which a lubricant is supplied between the insertion portion and the insertion aid member are connected to the connecter portion of the endoscope, and the connector portion is connected to the external device to connect at least the first duct and the second duct to the balloon control device.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the connector portion of the endoscope is connected to the external device to simultaneously connect the three ducts to the balloon control device. This further facilitates connection of the connector. The external device is a light source device or a processor for the endoscope, and the connector portion of the endoscope is a so-called light guide connector or an electric connector.

In order to achieve the above described object, a third aspect of the invention provides an endoscopic device, comprising: an endoscope having a first balloon at a tip of an insertion portion thereof; an insertion aid member that is placed over the insertion portion of the endoscope to guide insertion of the insertion portion into a body cavity, and has a second balloon at a tip thereof; and a balloon control device that controls supply and suction of a fluid into and from the first balloon and the second balloon, wherein a first duct that communicates with the first balloon, a second duct that communicates with the second balloon, and a third duct through which a lubricant is supplied between the insertion portion and the insertion aid member are connected to a connecter portion of the endoscope connected to an external device, and the connector portion and the balloon control device are connected by a tube to connect at least the first duct and the second duct to the balloon control device.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the three ducts are connected to the connector portion of the endoscope, and thus the connector portion and the balloon control device are simply connected by the tube to allow the three ducts to be connected to the balloon control device. This facilitates connection of the connector, and eliminates connection errors of the connector.

In a fourth aspect of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the third duct is connected to a lubricant injection device via the connector according to the first aspect, or the connector portion of the endoscope according to the second or third aspect.

In the endoscopic device according to the invention, the first duct that communicates with the first balloon, the second duct that communicates with the second balloon, and the third duct through which the lubricant is supplied are connected to the balloon control device via one connecter, or the three ducts are connected to the connector portion of the endoscope connected to the external device and then connected to the balloon control device. This facilitates connection to the balloon control device, and eliminates connection errors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of an endoscopic device according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the endoscopic device. As shown inFIG. 1, the endoscopic device mainly includes an endoscope10, a light source device20, a processor30, and a balloon control device66.

The endoscope10includes an insertion portion12to be inserted into a body cavity, and a hand operation portion14connected to the insertion portion12. A universal cable16is connected to the hand operation portion14, and a Light Guide (hereinafter referred as LG) connector18is provided at a tip of the universal cable16. The LG connector18is removably connected to the light source device20to allow illumination light to be transmitted to a below described illumination optical system54(seeFIG. 2). An electric connector24is connected to the LG connector18via a cable22, and the electric connector24is removably connected to the processor30. A tube26for feeding air or water and a tube28for suction are connected to the LG connector18.

On the hand operation portion14, an air/water feed button32, a suction button34, and a shutter button36are provided side by side, and a pair of angle knobs38and a forceps insertion portion40are provided. A supply/suction port44for supplying a fluid into a below described first balloon42or sucking the fluid from the first balloon42is also provided in the hand operation portion14. An example using air as a fluid will be described below, but other fluids such as an inert gas or water may be used.

On the other hand, the insertion portion12includes a tip46, a bending portion48, and a soft portion50, and the bending portion48is remotely bent by rotating the pair of angle knobs38provided on the hand operation portion14. This allows a tip surface47of the tip46to be directed to a predetermined direction.

As shown inFIG. 2, an observation optical system52, illumination optical systems54, an air/water feed nozzle56, and a forceps opening58are provided in the tip surface47of the tip46. A CCD (not shown) is provided behind the observation optical system52, and a signal cable is connected to a substrate that supports the CCD. The signal cable is inserted through the insertion portion12, the hand operation portion14, and the universal cable16, extended to the electric connector24, and connected to the processor30inFIG. 1. Thus, an observation image captured by the observation optical system52inFIG. 2is formed on a light receiving surface of the CCD and converted into an electric signal. Then, the electric signal is output to the processor30inFIG. 1via the signal cable, and converted into a video signal. This causes an observation image to be displayed on a monitor60connected to the processor30.

An emission end of a light guide (not shown) is provided behind the illumination optical systems54inFIG. 2. The light guide is inserted through the insertion portion12, the hand operation portion14, and the universal cable16inFIG. 1. Then, an incident end of the light guide is connected to a light guide bar19(seeFIG. 3) of the LG connector18. Thus, the light guide bar19of the LG connector18is connected to the light source device20to cause the illumination light from the light source device20to be transmitted to the illumination optical systems54via the light guide and emitted from the illumination optical systems54.

FIG. 3is a configuration diagram of ducts for a fluid in the endoscopic device.

As shown inFIG. 3, an air/water feed tube80is connected to the air/water feed nozzle56. The air/water feed tube80is branched into an air feed tube82and a water feed tube84, and the air feed tube82and the water feed tube84each are connected to a valve86provided in the hand operation portion14. To the valve86, an air supply tube88and a water supply tube90are connected, and the air/water feed button32is mounted. In a state where the air/water feed button32protrudes, the air feed tube82communicates with the air supply tube88, and the air/water feed button32is pushed to cause the water feed tube84to communicate with the water supply tube90. An air vent (not shown) is formed in the air/water feed button32, and the air supply tube88communicates with outside air via the air vent.

The air supply tube88and the water supply tube90are inserted through the universal cable16, and extended to a water feed connector92of the LG connector18. The tube26is removably connected to the water feed connector92, and a tip of the tube26is connected to a water storage tank27. Then, the water supply tube90communicates with the water storage tank27below a liquid level, and the air supply tube88communicates with the water storage tank27above the liquid level.

An air tube94is connected to the water feed connector92, and the air tube94communicates with the air supply tube88. The air tube94communicates with an air pump21in the light source device20by the LG connector18being connected to the light source device20. Therefore, when the air pump21is driven to feed air, the air is fed to the air supply tube88via the air tube94. This air escapes outside via the air vent (not shown) when the air/water feed button32is not operated. Then, an operator closes the air vent to cause the air in the air supply tube88to be fed to the air feed tube82, and injected from the air/water feed nozzle56. When the air/water feed button32is pushed, the air supply tube88and the air feed tube82are blocked to cause the air supplied to the air tube94to be supplied onto the liquid level of the water storage tank27. This increases internal pressure of the water storage tank27to feed water to the water supply tube90. Then, the water is injected from the air/water feed nozzle56via the water feed tube84. Thus, the water or air is injected from the air/water feed nozzle56and sprayed onto the observation optical system52to clean the observation optical system52.

On the other hand, a forceps tube96is connected to the forceps opening58. The forceps tube96is branched to communicate with the forceps insertion portion40and a valve98. Thus, a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted from the forceps insertion portion40to lead the treatment tool out of the forceps opening58. To the valve98, a suction tube100is connected, and the suction button34is mounted. In a state where the suction button34protrudes, the suction tube100communicates with outside air, and the suction button34is pushed to connect the suction tube100and the forceps tube96. The suction tube100is extended to a suction connector102of the LG connector18, and the tube28(seeFIG. 1) is connected to the suction connector102to cause the suction tube100to communicate with an unshown suction device. Therefore, the suction button34is pushed in a state where the suction device is driven, thereby allowing a lesion area or the like to be sucked from the forceps opening58.

A first balloon42made of an elastic body such as rubber is fitted to an outer peripheral surface near the tip of the insertion portion12. As shown inFIG. 2, the first balloon42is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape with narrowed opposite ends. The first balloon42is fitted in such a manner that the insertion portion12is inserted through the first balloon42and placed in a desired position, and then the opposite ends of the first balloon42are secured to the insertion portion12. The first balloon42is expandable, and expands into a substantially spherical shape or contracts to stick to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion12.

An air vent62is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion12to which the first balloon42is fitted. The air vent62is connected to the supply/suction port44provided in the hand operation portion14via a tube104shown inFIG. 3. One end of a tube106is connected to the supply/suction port44, and the other end of the tube106is connected to a connector110of a below described insertion aid member70.

A length of the tube106is such that the insertion aid member70is restricted before a tip of the insertion aid member70comes into contact with the first balloon42when the insertion aid member70is slid toward the tip of the insertion portion12.

On the other hand, the insertion aid member70is formed into a cylindrical shape, has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the insertion portion12, and has sufficient flexibility. A second balloon72made of latex is fitted near the tip of the insertion aid member70. The second balloon72is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape with narrowed opposite ends, and fitted with the insertion aid member70being passed therethrough. The second balloon72expands into a substantially spherical shape by air being supplied thereinto or contracts to stick to an outer peripheral surface of the insertion aid member70by air being sucked therefrom.

A hard grip74is provided at a base end of the insertion aid member70, and the insertion portion12is inserted from the grip74. The connector110protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the grip74.

Three ducts112a,112band112care connected to the connector110. The duct112ais connected to an opening formed in a side surface of the connector110. Then, the tube106is connected to the opening to cause the duct112ato communicate with the first balloon42. The duct112bcommunicates with the second balloon72, and the duct112ccommunicates with an inner peripheral surface of the insertion aid member70. The ducts112ato112cmay have configurations through which a fluid flows, and may be formed by, for example, forming a through hole in the grip74of the insertion aid member70, or sticking a tube to the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the insertion aid member70. The shape of the connector110and the layout of the ducts112ato112cin the connector110are not limited, and for example, an end surface of the connector110may be formed into an oval shape, and the ducts112ato112cmay be placed in a line. Alternatively, the end surface of the connector110may be formed into a circular shape, and the ducts112ato112cmay be placed so as to form a regular triangle.

An end connector124of a tube120is connected to the connector110. Three ducts122a,122band122care formed in the tube120, and the end connector124is connected to the connector110to cause the ducts122ato122cto communicate with the ducts112ato112c, respectively.

The other end connector126of the tube120is connected to a connector128of the balloon control device66. This causes the duct122aand the duct122bto communicate with an air pump130in the balloon control device66. Thus, the air pump130is driven to feed and suck air into and from the duct122aand the duct122b. The duct122acommunicates with the first balloon42via the duct112aof the insertion aid member70, the tube106, and the tube104, and the duct122bcommunicates with the second balloon72via the duct112b. Therefore, the balloon control device66allows the first balloon42and the second balloon72to expand and contract.

On the other hand, the duct122ccommunicates with a lubricant injection port132of the balloon control device66by the end connector126being connected to the connector128. The duct122ccommunicates with a clearance between the insertion aid member70and the insertion portion12via the duct112c. Thus, a lubricant such as water is injected from the lubricant injection port132of the balloon control device66to allow the lubricant to be supplied into the clearance between the insertion aid member70and the insertion portion12. As an injection device of the lubricant, a syringe134or a pump136is used.

In the endoscopic device configured as described above, the three ducts122ato122care connected to the end connector126of the tube120connected to the balloon control device66. The duct122ais a first duct that communicates with the first balloon42, the duct122bis a second duct that communicates with the second balloon72, and the duct122cis a third duct for the lubricant. Thus, the three ducts122ato122care collectively connected to one end connector126to facilitate connection to the balloon control device66. Further, the number of the connectors is reduced to eliminate connection errors of the connector.

According to the embodiment, the three ducts122ato122care collectively connected to one end connector126, and thus one tube120only is connected to the balloon control device66. This prevents a plurality of connection tubes from being entangled in operation of the endoscope10or the insertion aid member70, thereby improving operability.

Further, according to the embodiment, the base end of the insertion aid member70and the hand operation portion14of the endoscope10are connected by the tube106, and thus the tube106serves as a stopper in insertion of the insertion aid member70to prevent the tip of the insertion aid member70from coming into contact with the first balloon42of the insertion portion12.

The invention is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment, but may have a configuration in which a first duct that communicates with a first balloon42, a second duct that communicates with a second balloon72, and a third duct through which a lubricant is supplied are correctively connected to one connector. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, a duct122aonly may be branched in the middle of a tube120, and the branched portion is directly connected to a supply/suction port44of an endoscope10.

FIG. 5is a schematic configuration diagram of ducts for a fluid in an endoscopic device according to a second embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 5, ducts112band112care connected to a connector110of an insertion aid member70. An end connector144of a tube140is connected to the connector110. Two ducts142band142care formed in the tube140, and the ducts142band142ccommunicate with the ducts112band112c, respectively. The other end connector146of the tube140is connected to a connector148of a hand operation portion14. Tubes150band150care connected to the connector148, and the tubes150band150ccommunicate with the ducts112band112c, respectively. The tubes150band150ceach are inserted through a universal cable16, and extended to a connection surface17of an LG connector18. A tube104that communicates with a first balloon42is extended to and placed in the connection surface17.

A light source device20has a function of the balloon control device66in the first embodiment. Specifically, the light source device20incorporates an air pump130and has a lubricant injection port132. When the LG connector18is connected to the light source device20, the tube104and the tube150bcommunicate with the air pump130to cause the tube150cto communicate with the lubricant injection port132.

According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the tubes104,150band150care provided in the LG connector18, and thus the tubes104and150bcommunicate with the air pump130at the same time as the LG connector18is connected to the light source device20to cause the tube150cto communicate with the lubricant injection port132. This further facilitates connection of the connector.

Also, according to the second embodiment, a duct that communicates with the first balloon42(i.e. the tube104), a duct that communicates with a second balloon72(i.e. the tube150b), and a duct through which a lubricant is supplied (i.e. the tube150c) are inserted through the universal cable16, thereby preventing an increase in the number of cords drawn out of the hand operation portion14of an endoscope10. This prevents reduction in operability of the hand operation portion14that occurs when the number of cords is increased.

In the second embodiment, the light source device20has the function of the balloon control device66, but for example, the processor30inFIG. 1may have the function of the balloon control device66as long as the device is an external device to which the endoscope10is connected. In this case, the three ducts (i.e. the tube104, the tube150b, and the tube150c) are extended to the electric connector24, and the electric connector24is connected to the processor30to connect the three ducts to the balloon control device66. This facilitates connection of the connector.

FIG. 6is a schematic configuration diagram of ducts for a fluid in an endoscopic device according to a third embodiment. In the third embodiment shown inFIG. 6, like the second embodiment shown inFIG. 5, a duct that communicates with a first balloon42(i.e. a tube104), a duct that communicates with a second balloon72(i.e. a tube150b), and a duct through which a lubricant is supplied (i.e. a tube150c) are inserted through a universal cable16, and extended to an LG connector18. In the third embodiment, however, a connector160is formed in an outer surface of the LG connector18, and the tubes104,150band150care connected to the connector160.

On the other hand, a balloon control device66is provided separately from a light source device20, and the balloon control device66incorporates an air pump130and has a lubricant injection port132. A connector162is provided in the balloon control device66, and a connector172provided at one end of a tube170is connected to the connector162. Then, a connector174provided at the other end of the tube170is connected to the connector160of the LG connector18.

Three ducts176a,176band176care formed in the tube170, and the connector174is connected to the connector160to cause the three ducts176a,176band176cto communicate with the tubes104,150band150c, respectively. The connector172is connected to the connector162to cause the ducts176aand176bto communicate with the air pump130, and cause the duct176cto communicate with the lubricant injection port132.

According to the third embodiment configured as described above, the tube170is simply connected to the LG connector18and the balloon control device66to allow the three ducts to be simultaneously connected, thereby facilitating connection of the connector and eliminating connection errors.

In the third embodiment, like the second embodiment, the three ducts are inserted through the universal cable16, and a small number of cords are drawn out of a hand operation portion14, thereby improving operability of the hand operation portion14.

In the third embodiment, the three ducts are extended to the LG connector18, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the ducts may be extended to a connector portion of an endoscope10connected to an external device. For example, the three ducts may be extended to the electric connector24inFIG. 1.