Abstract:
The present invention relates to a side view type or a direct view type endoscope which is used not only for examining the inner portion of stomachs and bowels, but also for cutting out or treating polyps on the wall of stomachs and bowels by an extractor which is inserted through an extractor leading tube of the endoscope. In said endoscope, the rear end portion of a wire guide tube of the extractor operating device is opened or can be opened for washing and sterilization of said wire guide tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an endoscope, or more particularly, to a wire guide tube of the extractor operating device in an endoscope. 
     A side view type or a direct view type endoscope which is used for examining the inner portion of the stomach and bowels or used for cutting out or treating polyps on the wall of the stomach and bowels by an extractor which is inserted through an extractor leading tube must be, nowadays, thoroughly washed and sterilized after using it. The washing and sterilization must be done not only on the surface of the endoscope, but also on the inner portion of the tubes in the endoscope. A tube which is opened at both its ends such as an extractor leading tube or a water and air supplying tube can be thoroughly washed and sterilized by the circulation of cleanser and disinfectant. But the rear end portion of the wire guide tube of the extractor operating device is closed and connected to the extractor operating device, and sufficient washing and sterilization of pflegm or body fluid which flows into the wire guide tube is difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims at perfect washing and sterilization of the wire guide tube of the extractor operating device in an endoscope. This is achieved by making said wire guide tube open at both its ends with the aid of a through tube which extends to the outside of a handle at the coupling of the extractor operating device or at the rear end of said wire guide tube. Additionally, this may be achieved by connecting said wire guide tube with a water and air supplying tube whose both ends are open, or by providing a piston mechanism at the rear end of said wire guide tube, thus enabling cleanser and disinfectant to circulate through said wire guide tube. 
     The first object of the present invention is to wash and sterilize the wire guide tube perfectly by making said wire guide tube open at both its ends with the aid of the through tube, which extends to the outside at the rear end of said wire guide tube or at the coupling of the extractor operating device. 
     The second object of the present invention is to get perfect washing and sterilization of the wire guide tube by connecting said wire guide tube with the tube whose both ends are opened such as the water and air supplying tube at the rear end of said wire guide tube or at the extractor operating device. 
     The third object of the present invention is to get perfect washing and sterilization of the wire guide tube by making both ends of said wire guide tube open through utilizing a water and air supplying tube as the wire guide tube at the same time. 
     The fourth object of the present invention is to get perfect washing and sterilization of the wire guide tube by a piston mechanism which is provided at the coupling of the extractor operating device situated at the rear end of said wire guide tube. The piston mechanism supplies the desired amount of cleanser and disinfectant when needed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a through tube is connected to a hollow portion which is connected with a wire guide tube of a extractor operating device. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a through tube is connected to the rear end portion of a wire guide tube of a extractor operating device. 
     FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d are partial sectional views of embodiments in which the by-passes are provided in the hollow portion. 
     FIG. 4a is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a hollow portion is connected to the tube such as a water and air supplying tube whose both ends are opened. 
     FIG. 4b is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a hollow portion is connected to an extractor leading tube. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment in which a wire guide tube of an extractor operating device is utilized at the same time as a water and air supplying tube whose both ends are opened. 
     FIGS. 6a, 6b are partial sectional views of embodiments in which piston mechanisms are provided in the hollow portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an operating device in an endoscope. A rack 4 is displaced by rotating a pinion 3 by a knob (not shown ) situated outside of a handle, and said pinion 3 is connected to an extractor operating wire 2 which is connected to an extractor operating device 1. The end portion of a wire guide tube 5 in handle 6 is connected to a hollow portion 7. A packing 8 is provided in said hollow portion 7, and said rack 4 can be displaced in the horizontal direction by said pinion 3. An opening 9 is provided at the forward part of said rack 4 in said hollow portion 7. One end of a through tube 10 is connected to said opening 9, and said through tube 10 is tied up in a bundle with a light conducting fiber 11, an air supplying tube 12, a water supplying tube 13 and other wires. Said through tube 10 extends outside of a handle 6, and the forward end of said through tube 10 can be opened or shut at will. In FIG. 2, the before-mentioned through tube 10 is connected to an opening 14 situated at the rearward end of a wire guide tube 5, not to said hollow portion 7. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 represents the top of a side view type endoscope, and the number 15 indicates an observation window, and the light is transmitted into an image tube 18 through a prism 16 and a lens 17. The number 19 indicates an extractor, the number 20 a valve of an air supplying tube 12, the number 21 a valve of a water supplying tube 13. 
     FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the top of a direct view type endoscope. The number 1 indicates an exractor operating device which is actuated by an operating wire 2. The operating device of said operating wire 2 in handle 6 is composed of the before-mentioned rack 4 and pinion 3 system, but the device may be composed of a roller system (not shown ) which is so made that the rear end of the operating wire is bound around the roller, and by rotating the roller, the wire is actuated. By these embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wire guide tube 5 is opened at its both ends with the aid of the through tube 10, thus resulting in perfect washing and sterilization with the cleanser and disinfectant which circulate in said wire guide tube 5. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3a. A by-pass 22 is provided to connect the forward end and the rear end of the hollow portion 7, and a rack 4 is provided between them. A through tube 10 is connected to the rear end portion of said hollow portion 7. 
     Another embodiment of the before-mentioned by-pass is shown in FIG. 3b. A gap 23 is provided between the rack 4 and the hollow portion 7, and said gap 23 is utilized as a by-pass. Said through tube 10 protrudes out of a handle 6, and a protruded opening 24 can be opened or shut at will. 
     FIG. 3c shows other embodiment of a by-pass. A through hole 25 is provided through the rack 4 in the hollow portion 7. 
     FIG. 3d shows other embodiment of a by-pass. A passage 26 is provided between the pinion 3 and the hollow portion 7. 
     By these embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, the wire guide tube 5 is opened at its both ends like as the before-mentioned embodiments. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4a in which the tube opened at its both ends such as a water and air supplying tube 27 is utilized instead of the through tube. The opening which is provided at the forward end of the hollow portion 7 or at the rear end of the wire guide tube 5 is connected to the tubes whose both ends are opened such as a water and air supplying tube 27, thus resulting the wire guide tube 5 opened at its both ends. An extractor leading tube in FIG. 4b can be substituted. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 in which a common tube 28 is utilized both as a wire guide tube 5 and a water and air supplying tube 27 whose both ends are opened. Said common tube 28 has an opening 30 at the forward end of a flexible sheath 29 of an endoscope, and said opening 30 is connected with a branch 31 which is opened at the forward end of an endoscope. In addition, an opening 32 is provided at the rearward portion in a handle 6, and said opening 32 is connected to a water and air supplying tube 27 whose both ends are opened. By the present embodiment, the both ends of the wire guide tube 5 is opened, and the diameter of the flexible sheath 29 is made smaller by reducing the tubes in the flexible sheath. Accordingly, the flexibility of the flexible sheath 29 is improved. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 6a in which a packing 8 is equipped, instead of a through tube, around a rack 4 in a hollow portion 7 which is situated at the rear end of the wire guide tube 5. Said rack 4 is slidably supported with the aid of said packing 8, and said rack 4 works as a pump. A cleanser and a disinfectant can be charged or discharged in the wire guide tube at will, thus resulting easy washing and sterilization of said wire guide tube. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 6b in which a hollow portion 7 works as a cylinder, and a piston 33 is equipped in said hollow portion 7. The rear end of the operating wire is connected with said piston 33, and said piston 33 is connected to an operating knob (not shown ) situated outside the handle 6.