U.S. patent application number 10/869950 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for fluid delivery adapter unit for endoscope.
Invention is credited to Akiba, Haruo.
Application Number | 20040260151 10/869950 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33516241 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040260151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Akiba, Haruo |
December 23, 2004 |
Fluid delivery adapter unit for endoscope
Abstract
A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid
supply equipments to an endoscope comprises a straight pipe capable
of being detachably coupled to a fluid inlet collet of a headpiece
of the endoscope and a generally L-shaped elbow pipe having a lure
lock component at a proximal end to which the fluid supply
equipment is coupled. A joining structure is installed between the
elbow pipe and the straight pipe so as to allow the elbow pipe and
the straight pipe to turn through a predetermined angle relative to
each other only when the elbow pipe is forced to turn and further
to keep them in a turned position while the elbow pipe is unforced.
The joining structure comprises principally involves an elastic
sealing member to provide fluid tight seal between the elbow pipe
and the straight pipe.
Inventors: |
Akiba, Haruo; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
33516241 |
Appl. No.: |
10/869950 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/159 ;
600/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/159 ;
600/156 |
International
Class: |
A61B 001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2003 |
JP |
2003-175799 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid
supply equipments to an endoscope comprising an operating
headpiece, an elongated insertion tube extending from the operating
headpiece, and fluid delivery passage means which extends from
fluid inlet means which opens to the atmosphere at a proximal end
of the operating headpiece and to fluid outlet means at a distal
end of the elongated insertion tube and to which a fluid supply
equipment is connected through the fluid inlet means so as to
deliver fluid supplied from the fluid supply equipment to the fluid
outlet means, said fluid delivery adapter unit comprising: a
straight pipe capable of being detachably coupled to said fluid
inlet means; an elbow pipe having a lure lock component at a
proximal end to which said fluid supply equipment is coupled; and
joining means for joining said elbow pipe to said straight pipe so
as to allow said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said straight
pipe only when said elbow pipe is forced to turn and to keep said
elbow pipe in a turned position with respect to said straight pipe
while said elbow pipe is unforced.
2. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in claim 1, wherein
said joining means restricts a turn of said elbow pipe to a
predetermined angle.
3. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in claim 1, wherein
said joining means prevents said elbow pipe from moving in an axial
direction.
4. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in claim 1, wherein
said joining means restricts a turn of said elbow pipe to a
predetermined angle and prevents said elbow pipe from moving in an
axial direction.
5. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in claim 1, wherein
said elbow pipe is bent at an angle of approximately
90.degree..
6. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in claim 1, wherein
said elbow pipe is partly inserted into said straight pipe and said
joining means comprises elastic sealing means disposed on portion
of said elbow pipe inserted in said straight pipe and compressed
between said elbow pipe and said straight pipe so as to provide
fluid tight seal between said straight pipe and said elbow pipe
while allowing said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said
straight pipe against frictional force of said elastic sealing
means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fluid delivery adapter
unit for an endoscope that is used as an auxiliary fluid delivery
unit for selectively interfacing fluid supply equipments with an
endoscope to deliver and spray fluid through a distal end of a
flexible insertion tube of the endoscope.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Typically, an endoscope is provided with a plurality of
fluid delivery and suction means for delivering and sucking fluid.
One of such fluid delivery and suction means is a body-fluid
suction device including a suction tube that is detachably
connected to a working channel of the endoscope through which a
medical instrument such as a biopsy sampling device, catheter, etc.
and a vacuum pump connected to the suction tube. Suction of a body
fluid is performed by operating a suction valve installed to an
operating headpiece of the endoscope. In the event where it is
required to clean a viewing window at a distal end of an insertion
tube of the endoscope, a cleaning fluid delivery means is used to
deliver a cleaning liquid to the distal end of the insertion tube.
The cleaning fluid generally consists of a cleaning liquid such as
water and pressurized air. Cleaning of a disfeature viewing window
is performed by spraying a cleaning liquid onto the viewing window
to wash away crud and/or grime and then delivering pressurized air
to blow off drops of liquid from the viewing window.
[0005] As just described, endoscopes are typically provided with a
liquid delivery passage and an air delivery passage. Delivery of
liquid and air are selectively started by manipulation of a
liquid/air delivery valve installed to the operating headpiece. In
many instances, these liquid delivery passage and air delivery
passage are merged together into one outlet port at their distal
ends so that the outlet port is connected to a spray nozzle
oriented toward the viewing window at a distal end of the insertion
tube. In such an instance, cleaning of the viewing window is
performed by operating the liquid/air delivery valve to cause
deliver and spray of a cleaning liquid through the spray nozzle in
the first place and then switching the liquid/air delivery valve to
cause deliver and spray of pressurized air through the spray nozzle
in the second place. In this manner, cleaning of the disfeatured
viewing window of the endoscope is performed while the insertion
tube remains left within a body cavity of a patient.
[0006] A certain type of endoscope is provided with fluid delivery
means for spraying high pressure water against a wall surface of a
body cavity of a patient so as thereby to remove away crud adhered
to the wall surface of the body cavity or to disperse a dye
solution toward the wall surface of the body cavity. This type of
fluid delivery means causes a jet stream of desired liquid through
an injection nozzle at a distal end of the insertion tube of the
endocope. In this instance, it is different from the fluid delivery
means for cleaning a viewing window that sprays a cleaning liquid
toward the viewing window in that the liquid is sprayed in a
direction of the field of view through the injection nozzle.
[0007] The fluid delivery means has a fluid outlet port at a distal
end of the insertion tube and a fluid inlet port that is located on
the operating headpiece. A large variety of locations of the fluid
inlet port are possible. In the case where the fluid inlet port is
located at an end of the operating headpiece opposite to an end
from which the insertion tube extends, the fluid delivery passage
extends approximately straight between the fluid inlet port to the
fluid outlet port. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of
cleaning the interior of the fluid delivery passage. In order to
supply a high pressure fluid, a fluid supply equipment is connected
to the endoscope through the fluid inlet port that generally
comprises a fluid tank, a fluid conveyance tube and a fluid supply
pump.
[0008] In the meanwhile, endoscopes are provided with a universal
tube or sheath extending from an operating headpiece which encloses
light guide means for guiding light for illuminating a body cavity
from a light source provided separately from the endoscope and, in
the case of electronic endoscope, a video signal transmission cable
for transmitting video signals from a CCD image pick-up device at a
distal end of an insertion tube of the endoscope to a vide monitor
provided separately from the endoscope. In the case where an
endoscope is connected with the fluid conveyance tube in addition
to the universal tube at the operating headpiece, the fluid
conveyance tube possibly gets in operator's hair when the operator
manipulates the endoscope taking a grip on the operating headpiece.
Furthermore, there is fear that the fluid conveyance tube is broken
near the fluid inlet port and, in that event, blocks desirable
delivery of fluid. For these reason, it may be desirable to use a
generally L-shaped plumbing connector pipe to connect a fluid
conveyance tube to the fluid inlet port so that fluid conveyance
tube extends in the approximately same direction as the universal
tube, as described more fully, for example, in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 2001-292963.
[0009] Fluid supply equipments for use with the endoscope include
manual type fluid supply equipments such as a syringe that is
manipulated by a surgical practitioner apart from the pumping type
fluid supply equipment. Manual fluid supply using a syringe
capacitates a surgical practitioner to perform unrestrained
quantity and/or pressure control of fluid delivery and is often
preferred depending on the end of fuel delivery. However, the prior
art fuel delivery system has a problem with connectivity of the
plumbing connector pipe with a syringe or operationality of a
syringe connected to the plumbing connector pipe resulting from
directional consistency between the plumbing connector pipe and the
universal tube. In particular, since the plumbing connector pipe
faces downward when taking a single-handed grip on the operating
headpiece of the endoscope, manipulation of the syringe with the
other hand is inevitably accompanied by awkward motion with the
consequence that it is hard for the surgical practitioner to impart
injection force to the syringe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting
fluid supply equipments to an endoscope that enables a surgical
practitioner taking a single-handed grip on an operating headpiece
of the endoscope to manipulate the endoscope with the other hand
without being encumbered by a fluid conveyance tube of a pumping
type fluid supply equipment or to perform smooth manipulate of a
manual type fluid supply equipment such as a syringe or the
like.
[0011] The foregoing object of the present invention is
accomplished by a fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively
connecting fluid supply equipments to an endoscope comprising an
operating headpiece, an elongated insertion tube extending from the
operating headpiece, and fluid delivery passage means that extends
from fluid inlet means such as a collet opening at a proximal end
of the operating headpiece and coupling a fluid supply equipment to
the endoscope to fluid outlet means at a distal end of the
elongated insertion tube so as to deliver fluid supplied from the
fluid supply equipment to the fluid outlet means. The fluid
delivery adapter unit comprises a straight pipe capable of being
detachably coupled to the fluid inlet means, an elbow pipe having a
lure lock component at a proximal end to which the fluid supply
equipment is coupled, and joining means for joining the elbow pipe
to the straight pipe so as to allow the elbow pipe to turn in
opposite directions, desirably through a predetermined angle in a
range from 90 to 180.degree., relatively to the straight pipe only
when the elbow pipe is forced to turn and to keep the elbow pipe in
a turned position with respect to the straight pipe while the elbow
pipe is unforced.
[0012] It is preferred that the elbow pipe is bent at an angle of
approximately 90.degree. so as to have a generally L-shaped
configuration for the purpose of structural simplicity. It is
preferred that the elbow pipe is partly inserted into the straight
pipe. In this instance, the joining means comprises elastic sealing
means disposed on portion of the elbow pipe inserted in the
straight pipe and compressed between the elbow pipe and the
straight pipe so as to provide fluid tight seal between them while
allowing the elbow pipe to turn with respect to the straight pipe
against frictional force of the elastic sealing means. The joining
means comprising the elastic sealing means between the elbow pipe
and the straight pipe keeps the elbow pipe in a turned position
with its frictional force. In consequence the joining means thus
structured is more advantageous to position adjustment of the elbow
pipe than comprising a mechanical locking member or mechanical
locking device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed
description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein the same numeral numbers have been used to denote same or
similar parts or mechanisms throughout the drawings and in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an external view of an endoscope equipped with a
fluid delivery adapter unit according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional-view of a fluid inlet port with a plug
put thereon;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional-view of the fluid delivery adapter
unit connected to a fluid inlet port;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fluid delivery adapter unit
exploded by component; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along line
V-V.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] In the following description, the term "distal end" as used
herein shall mean and refer to the end close to a distal end of an
insertion tube of an endoscope, and the term "proximal end" as used
herein shall mean and refer to the end remote from the a distal end
of an insertion tube of an endoscope.
[0020] Referring to the drawings in detail, and, in particular, to
FIG. 1 schematically showing an endoscope, the endoscope comprises
an operating headpiece 1, an elongated insertion tube 2 connected
to the operating headpiece 1, and a universal tube 3 connected to
the operating headpiece 1. The insertion tube 2 that is inserted
into a body cavity of a patient (not shown) consists of a soft tube
portion 2a, a flexible tube portion 2b and a rigid distal tube
portion 2c in order from the side of the operating headpiece 1 to
the distal end. The distal tube portion 2c is provided with an
endoscopic observation system comprising an observation unit and an
illumination unit installed therein. The flexible tube section 2b
can be bent in any direction by a pair of articulation control
knobs 4 installed to the operating headpiece 1 so as thereby to
orient the distal tube portion 2c in desired directions.
[0021] The endoscope is equipped with fluid delivery means, called
a fluid-jet spray device or an auxiliary water delivery device,
installed therein through which fluid such as water or a chemical
solution is delivered and sprayed toward a wall surface of a body
cavity of a patient. The fluid delivery device has fluid inlet
means 10 such as a collet secured to the operating headpiece 1 and
a fluid delivery channel 11 extending inside the insertion tube 2
from the fluid inlet collet 10 and having fluid spray means such as
a spray nozzle 11a opening to the endoscopic observation system at
an extremity of the distal tube portion 2c. The fluid inlet collet
10 is installed in the operating headpiece 1 at an end in a
lengthwise direction of the endoscope opposite to an end at which
the insertion tube 2 is connected to the operating headpiece 1.
This location of the fluid inlet port 10 makes the fluid delivery
channel 11 lay approximately straight within the operating
headpiece 1 with the consequence that the fluid delivery channel 11
near the fluid inlet collet 10 can be cleaned with a brush.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluid inlet collet 10
includes a flanged inlet coupler 12 having a generally cylindrical
shape and fitted into a stepped mounting bore 13 formed in a
housing 1a of the operating headpiece 1. The inlet coupler 12 has
an annular flange 12a that is snugly situated on a stepped seat 13a
of the mounting bore 13 when the inlet coupler 12 is mounted in the
mounting bore 13 and has external threads 12b formed on external
surface thereof behind the flange 12a, i.e. portion of the inlet
coupler 12 that is located within and hidden by the housing 1a of
the operating headpiece 1. The inlet coupler 12 is firmly secured
to the housing 1a of the operating headpiece 1 by fastening a
setscrew 14 onto the external threads 12a of the inlet coupler 12
so as to tightly hold portion of the housing 1a between the flange
12a and the setscrew 14. The inlet coupler 12 further has a tapered
coupling sleeve 12c formed as an integral piece of the inlet
coupler 12. The inlet coupler 12 is coupled onto a tube forming the
fluid delivery channel 11 through the coupling sleeve 12c.
[0023] The inlet coupler 12 formed as a female lure lock component
has a conical bore 12d opening at the proximal end thereof. The
conical bore 12d is formed such that the bore diameter linearly
decreases along a predetermined lengthwise distance from the
proximal end thereof and an inclination of the conical surface is
approximately {fraction (6/100)} that is comparatively gentle. The
inlet coupler 12 has external threads 15 extending on an external
surface thereof from the proximal end to a position at a
predetermined lengthwise direction from the flange 12a.
[0024] When the inlet coupler 12 is left open during insertion of
the insertion tube 2 into a body cavity of a patient, the body
cavity is brought into communication with the atmosphere through
the fluid delivery channel 11 extending between the inlet coupler
12 and the spray nozzle 11a. In order to interrupt the
communication between a body cavity and the atmosphere, a plug 20
is detachably fitted into the conical bore 12d of the inlet coupler
12. In the event where a delivery of fluid into a body cavity is
required, a fluid supply equipment, that is provided separately
from the endoscope, is connected to the endscope through a fluid
delivery adapter 21 detachably connected to the inlet coupler 12 in
place of the plug 20 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0025] As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid delivery
adapter 21 comprises two pipes, namely a straight coupling pipe 22
that is detachably connected to the inlet coupler 12 and an elbow
pipe 23 loosely joined to the coupling pipe 22. The coupling pipe
22 is made as an integral piece having a fluid flow passageway 26.
The coupling pipe 22 consists of four pipe portions, namely a
coupling pipe portion 22a, a threaded pipe portion 22b, an enlarged
pipe portion 22c and a thick collar portion 22d arranged in this
order. The coupling pipe portion 22a is tapered off or cone-shaped
as a male lure lock component so as to snugly mate with the conical
bore 12d of the inlet coupler 12. The threaded pipe portion 22b has
external threads formed on an outer surface thereof so as to have a
thread diameter greater than that of the coupling pipe portion 22a.
The enlarged pipe portion 22c has an external diameter greater than
the thread diameter of the threaded pipe portion 22b but less than
an external diameter of the cylindrical portion of the inlet
coupler 12 and has a socket bore 28 for receiving the elbow pipe 23
for conjunction. The thick collar 22d has a pair of elliptic holes
31 in its perimeter wall at diametrically opposite positions. A
threaded union ring 24 having an external diameter less than the
external diameter of the cylindrical portion of the inlet coupler
12 but greater than an external diameter of the enlarged pipe
portion 22c of the coupling pipe 22. A union nut 25 is loosely
fitted onto the enlarged pipe portion 22c of the coupling pipe 22
and is configured to fasten onto the external threads 15 of the
inlet coupler 12. The union nut 25 has an annular collar 25a having
an inner diameter greater than the external diameter of the union
ring 24 but smaller than the external diameter of the enlarged pipe
portion 22c of the coupling pipe 22. In the way of fastening the
union nut 25 onto the inlet coupler 12, the union nut 25 forces the
annular collar 25a to push down the union ring 24 and, in
consequence, to drive the coupling pipe portion 22a of the coupling
pipe 22 into the conical bore 12d of the inlet coupler 12. When the
union nut 25 is fully fastened onto the inlet coupler 12, the
coupling pipe 22 is locked up in the inlet coupler 12. On the other
hand, when the union nut 25 is unfastened from the inlet coupler
12, the coupling pipe 22 is uncoupled from the inlet coupler
12.
[0026] The elbow pipe 23 is made as an integral piece having a
fluid flow passageway 27 in straight fluid communication with the
fluid flow passageway 26 of the coupling pipe 22 and a fluid flow
passageway 29 extending at approximately 90.degree. from the fluid
flow passageway 27. Specifically, the elbow pipe 23 consists of two
pipe portions, namely a relay pipe portion 23a that is connected to
the coupling pipe 22 and a coupling pipe portion 23b extending at
approximately 90.degree. from the relay pipe portion 22a. The fluid
flow passageway 27 is formed in the relay pipe portion 23a so as to
be in fluid communication with the fluid flow passageway 27. The
fluid flow passageway 29 is formed in the coupling pipe portion 23b
so as to form a female lure lock component. That is, the fluid flow
passageway 29 is tapered such that the inner diameter of the
passageway 29 linearly decreases along a predetermined lengthwise
distance from an open end thereof (as shown by the phantom line in
FIG. 3). The elbow pipe 23 is coupled onto and locked up in an
auxiliary equipment having a coupling distal end forming a male
lure lock component by mating the coupling distal end into the
tapered fluid flow passageway 29 of the coupling pipe portion 23b
of the elbow pipe 23. For coupling convenience of the elbow pipe 23
onto the auxiliary equipment, the elbow pipe 23 is provided with an
annular flange as shown in FIG. 3. The elbow pipe 23 may be
equipped with a plug (not shown) that is detachably fitted into the
fluid flow passageway 29 of the coupling pipe portion 23b while the
auxiliary equipment remains uncoupled.
[0027] As was previously described, the elbow pipe 23 is
inseparably joined to the coupling pipe 22 through slightly slack
insertion of the relay pipe portion 23a in the socket bore 28 of
the coupling pipe 22. In order to provide tight conjunction between
the elbow pipe 23 and the coupling pipe 22 for properly coupling
the endoscope and the fluid supply equipment together in desired
relative positions, the elbow pipe 23 is allowed to turn in the
socket bore 28 of the coupling pipe 22 through a predetermined
angle in opposite directions and is fixedly joined to the coupling
pipe 22 in a desired relative position.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5 showing a position adjusting mechanism
for adjusting the elbow pipe 23 in position or direction relative
to the coupling pipe 22, the elbow pipe 23 is provided with a pair
of cylindrical latch hooks 30 having an external diameter
approximately equal to a width of the elliptic hole 31 of the thick
collar 22d of the coupling pipe 22. These latch hooks 30 are
fixedly disposed in diametrically opposite positions on the relay
pipe portion 23a and are press-fitted in, or otherwise fixedly
attached to, the relay pipe portion 23a so as to be movably
received in the elliptic hole 31 of the thick collar 22d. The latch
hooks 30 are in the elliptic holes 31 of the thick collar 22d,
respectively, Accordingly, the elbow pipe 23 can turn relatively to
the coupling pipe 22 so as thereby to be adjusted in position or
direction relative to the coupling pipe 22. The circumferentially
movable engagement between the latch hooks 30 and the elliptic
holes 31 prevents the elbow pipe 23 from axially displacing, and
hence being separated, from the coupling pipe 22. In this instance,
it is desired for the elliptic hole 31 to have an aperture angle in
a range of from approximately 90.degree. to approximately
180.degree. so that the elbow pipe 23 can turn through a
predetermined angle, for example, up to 90.degree. relatively to
the coupling pipe 22 in this embodiment, as shown by the phantom
lines in FIG. 5. Further, it is preferred to cover the thick collar
22d with an ornamental ring cap 32.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in detail, the elbow pipe 23 is
rotatably joined to the coupling pipe 22 through joining means
principally involving elastic sealing means. Specifically, the
elbow pipe 23 is provided with two elastic sealing rings 34 such as
O-rings seated on seats 33 formed on the relay pipe portion 23a.
The sealing rings 34 are compressed between the seats 33 formed on
the relay pipe portion 23a and the interior wall of the socket bore
28 of the enlarged pipe portion 22c of the coupling pipe 22, so as
thereby to provide fluid tight seal between the coupling pipe 22
and the elbow pipe 23, in particular between the fluid flow
passageways 26 and 27 formed therein. Compression strain of the
sealing rings 34 keeps the elbow pipe 23 and the coupling pipe 22
in any adjusted relative position or direction. Accordingly, it is
necessary for position adjustment of the elbow pipe 23, in other
words, a direction adjustment of the coupling pipe portion 23b, to
drive the elbow pipe 23 against frictional force of the sealing
rings 34.
[0030] The fluid delivery adapter unit coupled onto the fluid inlet
collet 10 of the endoscope enables a fluid supply equipment to
supply fluid into a body cavity of a patient through the endoscope.
When fluid delivery is not called for, the fluid delivery adapter
unit is uncoupled from the endoscope and then the plug 20 is fitted
into the conical bore 12d of the inlet coupler 12 of the fluid
inlet collet 10 so as thereby to keep the fluid delivery channel 11
of the endoscope from remaining open to the atmosphere.
[0031] Examples of fluids to be delivered into body cavities of
patients through endoscopes include a cleaning liquid for cleaning
a wall surface of the body cavity, a fluid of contrast media and
other chemical solutions for medical treatment. These fluids may be
delivered automatically or manually. The manual fluid delivery is
typically performed by use of a syringe as the fluid supply
equipment. On the other hand, the automatic fluid delivery is
typically performed by the aid of a fluid conveyance tube connected
to a water pump. That is, the water pump draws from a fluid tank
and feeds pressurized fluid into the fluid conveyance tube.
[0032] In this instance, the fluid supply equipment, a syringe or a
fluid conveyance tube, may be connected to the fluid inlet collet
10 of the endoscope directly or by way of the fluid delivery
adapter 21. Since the fluid delivery adapter 21 has a generally
L-shaped configuration and is capable of turning through a
predetermined angle, for example, of approximately 90.degree.
relative to the fluid inlet collet 10 as described above, the fluid
supply equipment can be connected in all directions, i.e. from
above, below or sideways. A syringe 40 and a fluid conveyance tube
41 are schematically shown by way of example of the fluid supply
equipment in FIG. 3. The syringe 40 has a distal end coupler 42
formed as a male lure lock component mating with the female lure
lock component at the coupling pipe portion 23b of the elbow pipe
23.
[0033] The fluid conveyance tube 41 has a distal end coupler 43
formed as a male lure lock component mating with the female lure
lock component at the coupling pipe portion 23b of the elbow pipe
23. These syringe 40 and fluid conveyance tube 41 are selectively
connected to the endoscope by coupling the distal end coupler 42 or
43 to the fluid delivery adapter 21. The fluid conveyance tube 41
at one end is connected to a water pump (not shown) that draws and
pressurizes fluid in a fluid tank. Typically, the fluid tank is
located near a light source unit (not shown) that is connected to
the endoscope through the universal tube 3 (see FIG. 1). Therefore,
the elbow pipe 23 of the fluid delivery adapter 21 is turned to
adjust a position in the same direction as the universal tube 3. It
is preferred to tie the fluid conveyance tube 41 with the universal
tube 3 at more than one position with binding bands or binding
tapes so that the fluid conveyance tube 41 does not lie in the way
of a surgical practitioner who takes a single-handed grip on the
operating headpiece 1 of the endoscope.
[0034] On the other hand, it is quite usual for the syringe 40 to
be manipulated by a surgical practitioner. That is, the surgical
practitioner manipulates the syringe 40 with one hand while holding
the operating headpiece 1 of the endoscope with the other hand.
Therefore, it facilitates manipulation of the syringe 40 if the
syringe 40 is directed laterally with respect to the operating
headpiece 1 of the endoscope. In particular, it is preferred that
the syringe 40 extends from the endoscope on opposite side of the
operating headpiece 1 in a lengthwise direction, i.e. toward the
side on which the articulation control knobs 4 are installed. By
reason of this, it is preferred to connect the syringe 40 to the
fluid delivery adapter 21 with the elbow pipe 23 turned 90.degree.
with respect to the relay pipe portion 22a as shown by the phantom
lines in FIG. 5. This syringe position allows the surgical
practitioner to handily manipulate the syringe 40 with one hand
while holding the endoscope with the other hand. That is, a piston
of the syringe 40 can be forced with one hand toward the other hand
holding the operating headpiece 1 to douche fluid into a body
cavity of a patient through the endoscope. This notably enhances
operationality of the syringe. The installation of the sealing
rings 34 between the coupling pipe 22 and the elbow pipe 23 which
are connected for relative rotation reliably secures an adjusted
angular position of the elbow pipe 23 relative to the coupling pipe
22 and prevents the elbow pipe 23 from changing its angular
position during manipulation of the syringe 40. This is quite
advantageous to easy and reliable manipulation of the syringe.
[0035] As described above, the fluid delivery adapter of the
present invention enables a surgical practitioner taking a
single-handed grip on an operating headpiece of the endoscope to
manipulate the endoscope with the other hand without being
encumbered by a fluid conveyance tube of a pumping type fluid
supply equipment or to perform smooth manipulate of a manual type
fluid supply equipment such as a syringe or the like.
[0036] The present invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that
variants and other embodiments can be effected by person of
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *