U.S. patent number 3,878,835 [Application Number 05/444,989] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-22 for chucking attachment for insertion of a fine flexible tube into an endoscope.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Mikio Utsugi.
United States Patent |
3,878,835 |
Utsugi |
April 22, 1975 |
Chucking attachment for insertion of a fine flexible tube into an
endoscope
Abstract
A chucking attachment for insertion of a fine flexible tube into
a channel formed in the body of an endoscope wherein a guide member
is detachably fitted to the open end of the channel; a chucking
member wholly formed of relatively hard synthetic resin is slidably
attached to the guide member; part of the chucking member is made
flexible so as to pinch a fine similarly flexible tube inserted
thereinto; the fine flexible tube is introduced into the channel of
the endoscope through the chucking member and guide member, thereby
enabling the fine flexible tube to be stepwise forced into the
channel by being repeatedly pinched and released by the flexible
portion of the chucking member when it slides up and down.
Inventors: |
Utsugi; Mikio (Hachioji, Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
12120273 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/444,989 |
Filed: |
February 22, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 24, 1973 [JA] |
|
|
48-23796 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/139;
279/23.1; 604/159; 279/20.1; 279/46.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
1/015 (20130101); Y10T 279/17427 (20150115); Y10T
279/17119 (20150115); Y10T 279/17153 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
1/12 (20060101); A61B 1/04 (20060101); A61b
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/2M,2B,2R,2A,348,349R,214.4,4 ;279/1Q,23,41R,46R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Layton; Henry S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an endoscope having an outer tubular, flexible duct for
insertion into the body, a fine flexible tube within said outer
duct, and means for inserting said fine tube into said outer duct,
the improvement in said means comprising, a cylindrical guide means
disposed at the inlet opening of said outer duct to guide within a
prescribed range said fine flexible tube as it is introduced into
said duct; a cylindrical body slidably fitted into said guide means
and having a rigid portion thereof slidably abutting against the
outer wall of said fine flexible tube for guiding the same and a
flexible portion thereof positioned on said cylindrical body and
radially flexible when depressed by the fingers, thereby enabling
pinching said fine flexible tube when inserted into the flexible
portion of said cylindrical body, whereby said fine flexible tube
is forced stepwise into the endoscope outer duct by repeatedly
sliding said cylindrical body member through said guide means and
also repeatedly causing said flexible portion of said body to pinch
said fine flexible tube inserted thereinto and to be released
therefrom.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide means has
its botton end detachably affixed to the inlet opening of the
endoscope outer duct, the inner diameter of said guide means being
substantially the same as that of said duct and forming therewith a
continuous passageway.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body
within said guide means is wholly prepared from relatively hard
synthetic resin.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion
of said cylindrical body consists of a plurality of band-like
strips defined by intervening notches cut out lengthwise of said
body.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an inwardly extending
flange-like projection is formed at the upper end of the passageway
of said guide means, and an outwardly extending flange-like
projection is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the bottom
end of said cylindrical body fitted into said guide means;
engagement between the flange-like projection of said cylindrical
body and the flange-like projection of said guide means preventing
the bottom end of said cylindrical body from slipping out of said
guide means.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion
of said cylindrical body is progressively flared outwardly toward
the end of the endoscope from which said fine flexible tube is
inserted.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a notch is cut out
lengthwise throughout one side of both the flare-shaped flexible
portion and the cylindrical portion of said cylindrical body,
thereby enabling the fine flexible tube to be inserted sideways
into the flexible tube passageway from one side thereof.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said flare-shaped
flexible portion has a substantially rectangular cross section; the
two opposing longer side walls forming the rectangle being thinner
than the two opposing shorter side walls, thereby enably said thin
longer side walls to be pinched when depressed by the fingers, and
to engage the fine flexible tube within the flexible portion
thereof.
9. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said guide means is
metal; the rigid portion of said cylindrical body is also metal and
the flexible portion thereof is rubber, said rigid portion and
flexible portion being constructed in an integral body.
10. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a notch is formed
lengthwise on one side of said guide means, thereby enabling the
flexible tube to be inserted sideways into the guide member through
the notch.
11. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein two opposing
projections are formed on the inner peripheral wall of the upper
end of said guide means; a flange-like projection is provided on
the outer peripheral wall of the bottom end of said cylindrical
body, said flange-like projection being provided with two opposing
notches extending radially of the cylindrical body, and engageable
with the projections of the guide means.
12. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said guide means is
curved and has a projection formed on the inner peripheral wall of
its upper end; said cylindrical body within said guide means also
being bent with the same curvature as the guide means and having a
guide groove provided lengthwise throughout the outer wall so as to
engage the projection of the guide means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an endoscope and more particularly to a
chucking attachment capable of inserting a fine flexible tube, for
example, a tube for bringing an X-ray photographing agent into the
internal organs or a tube such as catheter for sucking a humor or
body fluid out of said organs smoothly without buckling into the
channel of the endoscope.
In recent years, an endoscope, particularly a fiberscope has come
into use to observe or photograph the interior of the internal
organs, for example, the stomach. The fiberscope is further so
improved as to additionally function as a means for sucking a humor
out of the internal organs, pouring an opaque X-ray photographing
fluid thereinto or sampling part of the tissue of a living
body.
To this end, the fiberscope is so designed as to enable a fine
flexible tube to be inserted from the outside into any of the
internal organs through a channel formed lengthwise in the outer
flexible duct of the fiberscope. For more effective application of
the aforesaid fine flexible tube taken into the internal organs, it
is demanded that the inner diameter of said fine flexible tube be
as much broadened as possible and consequently the outer diameter
of said fine flexible tube be so enlarged as to cause the tube to
abut against the inner wall of the fiberscope channel as closely as
possible. Since the channel is flexed according to the bending of
the flexible duct of the fiberscope, it is necessary that said fine
flexible tube be made as thin as possible in order to be rendered
sufficiently pliable quickly to match the flexed state of the
channel and in consequence be prepared from as soft material as
possible.
If, however, it is tried to construct the fine flexible tube in the
above-mentioned manner, particularly by broadening its inner
diameter, then a larger friction will arise between the outer wall
of the flexible tube and the inner wall of the channel, presenting
difficulties in causing the flexible tube smoothly to travel
through the channel. Further, if an attempt is made to force the
flexible tube through the channel, then the tube will be bent near
the inlet of the channel, resulting in the so-called buckling.
There will now be further detailed by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2
the above-mentioned buckling of the fine flexible tube. Numeral 1
denotes an endoscope, for example, the type adapted for examination
of the duodenum. A channel 2 is formed lengthwise in the outer
flexible duct of the endoscope 1. A fine flexible tube 3 is
inserted by the fingers, as illustrated, into the channel 2 through
an inlet opening. The fine flexible tube 3 is generally made of
Teflon, and plays the part of pouring an opaque fluid X-ray
photographing fluid already introduced thereinto from the forward
end of said flexible tube 3 into, for example, the pancreatic duct
or bile duct of the duodenum so as to carry out X-ray
photographing, namely, the so-called "endoscopic retrograde
pancreato-cholangeography" now in common use. This photography is
considered indispensable, for example, to discover the presence of
pancreatic cancer or biliary concretion, or diagnose the
development of these diseases.
In the case of the above-mentioned photography, however, the fine
thin flexible tube 3 is readily subject to buckling near the inlet
opening of the channel 2 before said tube 3 is taken thereinto. If,
under this condition, an attempt is made to force the flexible tube
3 into the channel 2, then the tube 3 will present buckling again
as shown in FIG. 2, causing its outer wall to be forcefully pressed
against the inner wall of the channel. If, therefore, it is tried
to push the flexible tube 3 further into the channel 2, then
buckling will arise in succession due to increased friction between
the channel 2 and tube 3, completely preventing the tube 3 from
moving forward through the channel 2.
To avoid the appearance of the above-mentioned buckling, therefore,
the customary practice has been to insert the flexible tube 3 of
Teflon into the channel 2 in a state previously supported by a core
metal 4 extending lengthwise through the tube 3, and draw out the
core metal 4 after the tube 3 is brought to the prescribed
position. However, this practice has been found extremely
inconvenient due to a great deal of time being consumed, where a
physician is going to insert a fiberscope into the body of a
patient for instant diagnosis of the affected portion of his body
by which he is supposed to be afflicted -- such diagnosis should
naturally be executed instantly. Moreover, the above-mentioned
conventional practice is accompanied with the following significant
drawbacks. Description will be given by reference to FIG. 4 which
presents the condition where the flexible Teflon tube 3 is
conducted through the channel 2 of the fiberscope 1 so as to have
the forward end projected outward from the distal end 1a of said
fiberscope 1 and taken into the pancreatic duct 6 open to the
duodenum 5. Though, in this case, the flexible tube 3 was
previously supported by the core metal 4 introduced thereinto, FIG.
4 shows the condition where the core metal 4 was pulled out of the
tube 3, though not indicated. The Teflon flexible tube 3 brought to
the condition of FIG. 4 is fitted with a syringe 7 at the base end.
An opaque X-ray photographing fluid is ejected by the syringe 7
from the forward end of the Teflon flexible tube 3 into the
pancreatic duct 6 for the endoscopic retrograde
pancreato-cholangeography of the interior of said pancreatic duct
6.
Since, in this case, the pancreatic duct 6 should receive only an
opaque X-ray photographing fluid but not air exerting an adverse
effect on said photography, the flexible tube 3 is filled with the
opaque X-ray photographing fluid before the tube 3 is taken into
the pancreatic duct 6, and then the forward end of the tube 3 is
inserted to deliver the opaque X-ray photographing fluid into the
pancreatic duct 6 by means of the syringe 7. As previously
mentioned, however, the flexible tube 3 is supported, as
customarily practised, by the core metal 4 before the tube 3 is
made to pass through the channel 2. This practice has the drawbacks
that the part of the tube 3 into which the core metal 4 is inserted
can not be filled with the opaque X-ray photographing fluid in
advance; and after withdrawal of the core metal 4, air enters that
part of the tube 3 which is now left empty and is carried with the
opaque X-ray photographing fluid into the pancreatic duct 6 to
obstruct the X-ray photography. These drawbacks have rised
significant problems with the prior art X-ray photographic process
for examination of the internal organs of a patient. Accordingly,
use of the core metal 4 as a support for the tube 3 being inserted
into the channel 2 has been accompanied with considerable
difficulties.
Referring to FIG. 4, numeral 8 denotes a bile duct open to the
duodenum 5. Where the interior of the bile duct 8 is photographed
by X-ray, the forward end of the flexible tube 3 is taken into the
bile duct 8 as in the case of the pancreatic tube 6.
In connection with the above-mentioned X-ray photography, it may be
considered theoretically possible to adopt a different process
which comprises the steps of initially leaving the Teflon flexible
tube 3 filled with air instead of being charged with opaque X-ray
photographing fluid; bringing the forward end of the tube 3 near
the inlet of the pancreatic duct 6 or bile duct 8 of the duodenum
5; attaching the syringe 7 filled with the opaque X-ray
photographing fluid to the base end of the tube 3; pouring the
fluid by the syringe 7 exactly to the forward end of the tube 3
completely to eject the air remaining in the tube 3 into the
duodenum 5; inserting the forward end of the tube 3 into the
pancreatic duct 6 or bile duct 8; and finally taking the opaque
X-ray photographing fluid into said duct 6 or 8. However, this
process presents considerable difficulties in determining the
charged amount of the opaque X-ray photographing fluid required to
fill the tube 3 exactly to its forward end and consequently is
quite impracticable for the X-ray photography for examination of
the internal organs of a living body which is demanded to be
carried out unfailingly and quickly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly the general object of this invention to provide a
chucking attachment for insertion of a fine flexible tube into the
channel of an endoscope in order to resolve various difficulties
hitherto accompanying said insertion.
According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided a
chucking attachment of simple construction adapted for smooth
insertion of a fine flexible tube into the channel of an endoscope.
The chucking attachment comprises a cylindrical guide member fixed
to the inlet opening of the endoscope channel and a chucking member
vertically slidable through said guide member within a prescribed
range. The chucking member consists of a cylindrical portion
capable of such a slidable abutment against the outer wall of a
fine flexible tube being inserted into the channel as to prevent
the buckling of said tube when it enters the channel and a flexible
portion made of, for example, flexible metal or relatively hard
synthetic resin or rubber which can be flexed radially of said
chucking member and, when depressed by the fingers, pinch the
inserted flexible tube. When the fine flexible tube is partly
inserted into the channel after passing through the chucking member
and guide member, the chucking member is made to slide vertically
through the guide member. During said slide, the fine flexible tube
is repeatedly pinched and released by means of the flexible portion
of the chucking member, and stepwise forced into the channel for a
prescribed distance each time. During this insertion, any part of
the fine flexible tube is firmly held by the guide member and
chucking member, each time said part is brought near the inlet
opening of the channel, thereby completely preventing the buckling
of the flexible tube.
In a chucking attachment according to an embodiment of this
invention, the flexible portion of the chucking member is provided
with a plurality of notches formed in the axial direction of said
member. In another embodiment, the flexible portion of chucking
member is progressively broadened toward the top in the flare or
conical form. When the broadened top of the flexible portion of the
chucking member is radially depressed by the fingers, the portion
can pinch the fine flexible tube passing therethrough. In still
another embodiment, not only the flexible portion of the chucking
member is progressively broadened toward the top in the flare or
conical form, but also the flexible portion and cylindrical portion
are provided with a notch extending lengthwise throughout one side
of the chucking member and communicating with the flexible tube
passageway of the chucking member. Accordingly, the flexible tube
can be inserted sideways into the chucking member through said
notch.
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a chucking
attachment of simple construction for insertion of a fine flexible
tube into an endoscope which can be easily fitted to the endoscope
and also enables the fine flexible tube to be taken into the
endoscope without buckling.
Another object of this invention is to provide a chucking
attachment capable of forcing the fine flexible tube into the
channel of the endoscope reliably and quickly.
Other objects of this invention will be easily understood by
reference to the description of the preferred embodiments and the
drawings attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are lengthwise exploded views of the prior art
endoscope showing the buckling of a fine flexible tube occurring
near the inlet opening of the channel of the endoscope when said
tube is taken into the channel;
FIG. 3 is a lengthwise exploded view of the prior art endoscope
wherein the flexible tube is inserted into the channel of the
endoscope with a core metal drawn into said tube;
FIG. 4 is a lengthwise exploded view of the prior art endoscope
showing the steps of passing a flexible tube through the endoscope
channel and inserting the forward end of the tube into the
pancreatic duct to pour an opaque X-ray photographing fluid into
said duct by means of a syringe;
FIG. 5 is a partly exploded view of a chucking attachment according
to an embodiment of this invention, showing the step of inserting a
fine flexible tube into the channel of an endoscope with the
chucking attachment fitted to the inlet opening of the channel;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are oblique views of the chucking member of the
chucking attachment according to another embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 8 is a partly exploded oblique view of a chucking attachment
according to still another embodiment which consists of the
chucking member of FIG. 7 and a guide member having a different
shape from that of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a partly exploded oblique view of a guide member and
chucking member, when disassembled, which are shaped differently
from those of the preceding embodiments so as to prevent the
loosening of their mutual connection;
FIG. 10 is a partly exploded oblique view of a curved guide member
and a curved chucking member, when disassembled, which jointly
constitute a chucking attachment according to a further embodiment
of the invention; and
FIG. 11 is a partly exploded view of an entire endoscpe apparatus,
showing the condition in which the curved chucking attachment of
FIG. 10 is attached to said apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 5, the body 11 of an endoscope has a projection
11a. Formed in the inner wall of the endoscope body 11 is a channel
12 whose inlet opening 12a is positioned in the projection 11a.
FIG. 5 only shows part of the endoscope body 11 and the inlet
opening 12a of the channel 12 including its neighborhood.
The inlet opening 12a of the channel 12 is provided with a cavity
13 having a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the channel
12 and screwed on the inside. A cylindrical guide member 14 screwed
on the outside of the lower end is detachably fitted into the
cavity 13. The guide member 14 has substantially the same inner
diameter as the channel 12 and an axial line aligning with that of
the channel 12. Accordingly, the channel 12 may be deemed to have a
linear upward extension substantially corresponding to the length
of the guide member 14 and consequently the actual inlet opening of
the channel 12 is constituted by the upper inlet opening of the
guide member 14.
Fitted into the guide member 14 is a chucking member 15 slidable in
the axial direction of the guide member 14 in abutment against the
inner wall of the guide member 14. This chucking member 15 enables,
as later described, the fine flexible tube 16 to be smoothly
conducted through the channel 12. The chucking member 15 is wholly
formed of relatively hard plastic material, for example,
polycarbonate resin. That lower end portion of the chucking member
15 which is received in the guide member 14 has its periphery
protruded to form a flange-like projection 15a. This flange-like
projection 15a slides along the inner wall of the guide member 14.
On the other hand, the inner wall of the periphery of the upper
open end of the guide member 14 is provided with a similarly
flange-like projection 14a which is made engageable with the
projection 15a of the chucking member 15 so as to prevent the
chucking member 15 from slipping upward out of the guide member 14.
When the chucking member 15 is pulled uppermost, both projections
14a and 15a are brought into engagement.
The substantially lower half of the chucking member 15 consists of
a cylindrical portion 15b having an inner diameter slightly larger
than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 16. On the other hand,
the upper half portion of the chucking member 15 is provided with a
plurality of notches 17 extending in the axial direction of the
chucking member 15. The remaining separate band-like strips jointly
constitute an elastically flexible portion 15c. The upper end of
each of the band-like strips constituting the elastically flexible
portion 15c is rounded outward to form a lug 15d. The elastically
flexible band-like strips 15c of the chucking member 15 can be
easily depressed by the fingers inwardly, namely, radially of the
chucking member 15. Where, therefore, the elastically flexible
band-like strips 15c are depressed by the fingers, as shown in FIG.
5, toward the peripheral surface of the flexible tube 16 inserted
into the chucking member 15, the tube 16 can be releasably
pinched.
The elastically flexible band-like strips 15c of the chucking
member 15 of the first embodiment which are defined by the
intervening notches 17 may be formed of not only the aforesaid
plastic material, but also thin strips of stainless steel.
As mentioned above, the chucking attachment of this invention
consists of the guide member 14 and chucking member 15. Where,
however, the endoscope body 11 has a considerably long projection
11a, or where, in case of the absence of said projection 11a, that
part of the endoscope body 11 which is disposed near the inlet
opening of the channel 12 is made relatively straight and has a
proper hardness, then said projection 11a or another part of the
channel may be substituted for a guide member, eliminating the
necessity of providing a separate guide member 14 as shown in FIG.
5.
There will now be described the sequential steps of inserting the
flexible tube 16 into the channel 12 of the endoscope 11. First,
the guide member 14 is fitted to the chucking member 15 in advance
to bring the chucking attachment to a readily applicable condition.
Later, while the guide member 14 is fixed by being screwed into the
cavity 13 of the endoscope body 11 or is left free, the forward end
of the flexible tube 16 is introduced into the chucking attachment
from the upper opening of the chucking member 15, namely, over the
lugs 15d of the elastically flexible band-like strips 15c. The
forward end of the flexible tube 16 is manually pushed through the
chucking attachment up to the inlet opening 12a of the channel 12
and also beyond said inlet opening insofar as the insertion of the
flexible tube can be effected by manual operation. When any further
manual insertion is obstructed, then the chucking attachment is
brought into play.
The chucking attachment is fixed to the endoscope body 11 by
screwing the guide member 14 into the cavity 13 of said body 11. At
this time, the chucking member 15 is taken into the innermost part
of the guide member 14, namely, causing only the lugs 15d of th
elastically flexible bandlike strips 15c to project above the guide
member 14. The chucking member 15 is pulled upward by catching the
lugs 15d by the fingers in slidable abutment against the flexible
tube 16. FIG. 5 shows the chucking member 15 pulled upward.
The flexible tube 16 is pinched by the elastically flexible
band-like strips 15c depressed by the fingers radially of the
chucking member 15 and introduced into the guide member 14 together
with said chucking member 15. While being thus inserted, the
flexible tube 16 is firmly held straight by the cylindrical portion
15b and guide member 14. Therefore, the forward end of the flexible
tube 16 smoothly advances without being subjected to buckling near
the inlet opening of the endoscope channel 12, though the forward
end may be encountered with a slight friction with the channel
12.
When the chucking member 15, together with the flexible tube 16, is
brought deep into the guide member 14, then the flexible tube 16 is
released from the pinch by the elastically flexible band-like
strips 15c. Next, the lugs 15d are held by the fingers to pull up
the chucking member 15. At this time, the forward end of the
flexible tube 16 of course retains the position to which it was
finally brought by the preceding insertion. When the elastically
flexible band-like strips 15c of the pulled up chucking member 15
are manually made to pinch the flexible tube 16 again, then said
tube 16 is forced into the endoscope channel 12 for a prescribed
distance, namely, to an extent corresponding to one vertical
sliding stroke of the chucking member 15.
Repetition of the above-mentioned pinch and release of the flexible
tube 16 by the chucking member 15 enables the tube 16 to be
inserted stepwise into the endoscope channel 12 smoothly and
forcefully without buckling, offering the advantage of rendering
the tube 16 free from the tendency to be bent during insertion and
prominently prolonging its effective life. Since the flexible tube
16 can be passed through the chucking attachment quickly and
reliably each time, the period of the insertion cycle can be
shortened. Moreover, the flexible tube 16 is not supported by a
core metal received therein as is the case with the prior art but
can be inserted into the endoscope channel in a state fully filled
with an opaque X-ray photographing fluid, preventing the
objectionable intrusion of air into the internal organ whose
interior is going to be examined by X-ray photography.
The guide member 14 of the chucking attachment of this invention
may be integrally formed with the endoscope body 11 instead of
being provided separately. Further, the chucking member 15 may be
formed into other modifications than the construction of FIG. 5.
Some of these modifications are set forth in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The chucking member 115 of FIG. 6 consists, like that of FIG. 5, of
a lower cylindrical portion 115b having substantially the same
diameter as the flexible tube 16 so as to slide along the outer
surface of the tube 16 and an upper half flexible portion 15c,
which can be flexed radially of the chucking member 115 when
depressed by the fingers. The chucking member 115 has a flexible
tube passageway 118 extending through the cylindrical portion 115b
and flexible portion 115c. According to the embodiment of FIG. 6,
the flexible portion 115c is characterized in that it has a
rectangular cross section and is formed into a flare shape. The
longer side walls a,a are made thinner than the shorter side walls
b,b disposed at right angles thereto. The inside of the facing
longer side walls a,a of the flexible portion 115c partly
constituting the flexible tube passageway 118 is very slightly
spaced from the outer wall of the flexible tube 16 being inserted
thereinto. On the other hand, the inside of the other facing
shorter side walls b,b the flexible portion 115c partly
constituting the flexible tube passageway 118 is increasingly
spaced from the outer wall of the flexible tube 16 being inserted
thereinto as viewed from the end at which the flexible portion 115c
contacts the cylindrical portion 115b toward the upper opening of
the flexible portion 115c. When, therefore, the facing longer side
walls a,a of the flexible portion 115c are depressed inward or
radially thereof by the fingers, then the flexible tube 16 can be
easily pinched.
The chucking member 115 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 may
be prepared, like that of FIG. 5, from relatively hard plastic
material, for example, polycarbonate resin. It is also possible to
form the cylindrical portion 115b of metal and the flexible portion
115c of plastic material, or rubber such as butadiene acrylonitrile
rubber.
The chucking member 115 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 is
operated in the same manner as that of FIG. 5 in inserting the
flexible tube 16 into the endoscope channel 12. The facing thin
longer side walls a,a of the flexible portion 115c not only easily
pinches the flexible tube 16 when depressed by the fingers, but
also is closely pressed against said tube 16. On the other hand,
the other facing shorter side walls b,b are made thick and prevents
the flexible portion 115c from being unduly distorted and in
consequence suppresses the buckling of the flexible tube 16 when
inserted into the endoscope channel 12.
There will now be described the chucking member 215 according to
the embodiment of FIG. 7. This chucking member 215 is shaped
substantially the same as that of FIG. 6, excepting that one side
of the chucking member 215 of FIG. 7 is cut open lengthwise
throughout so as to insert the flexible tube 16 sideways. Namely, a
notch 219 is bored lengthwise throughout both the flexible portion
215c and cylindrical portion 215b constituting the chucking member
215 so as to insert the flexible tube 16 sideways into the chucking
member 215, more facilitating said insertion than in the
embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6.
Where the chucking member 215 into which the tube 16 is inserted in
advance is supposed to present some inconvenience in handling, then
the chucking member 215 of FIG. 7 constructed as described above
offers a prominent advantage of enabling the flexible member 16 to
be inserted only when needed. Namely, the flexible tube 16 is first
manually pushed directly into the endoscope channel 12 instead of
being inserted into the chucking member 215. Where any further
manual insertion is made impossible due to increasing friction
between the tube 16 and channel 12, then it is advised to insert
the tube 16 sideways into the tube passageway 218 of the chucking
member 215 through the lengthwise extending notch 219. This makes
the operation of inserting the tube 16 into the endoscope channel
12 very easy.
FIG. 8 shows the condition in which the chucking member of FIG. 7
is fitted into the guide member 114. This guide member 114 is
shaped cylindrical like that of FIG. 5 with the same inner diameter
but is different therefrom in that the guide member 114 of FIG. 8
has a notch 119 bored all along the length for communication with
the flexible tube passageway provided in said guide member 114.
When the chucking member 215 takes the indicated solid line
position, the notch 219 of said chucking member 215 is aligned with
the notch 119 of the guide member 114, enabling the flexible tube
16 to be inserted sideways into the tube passageway from one side
of the chucking member 215 and guide member 114 through said
notches 219, 119. Where the guide member 114 into which the
flexible tube 16 is introduced in advance is considered to present
some inconvenience in handling, then the flexible tube is manually
inserted directly into the endoscope channel instead of being first
taken into the guide member 114. When any further manual insertion
is slightly obstructed due to increasing friction between the
flexible tube 16 and channel 12, then the guide member 114 and
chucking member 215 are fitted sideways to the flexible tube 16
through the aforesaid notches 219, 119. Thereafter, the guide
member 114 is fixed to the endoscope body 11. Accordingly, the
chucking member 215 of FIG. 8 has the advantage of prominently
facilitating the insertion of the flexible tube 16 into the
endoscope channel 12. Further, when the chucking member 215 is
rotated about 90.degree. as shown in the indicated two dots-dash
lines after the flexible tube 16 is inserted into the chucking
member 215 and guide member 114, then the flexible tube 16 will be
prevented from slipping out of the tube passageway and also from
giving rise to buckling.
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of this invention where the
chucking attachment is provided with a device for preventing the
chucking member 315 from coming off the guide member 314. According
to this embodiment, two facing projections 314a are formed in the
radial direction on the inner peripheral wall of the upper end of
the guide member 314. On the other hand, a flange-like projection
315a formed on the bottom periphery of the chucking member 315 is
provided with two facing notches 316 extending radially of said
chucking member 315. These projections 314a and notches 316 are
made engageable with each other to facilitate the insertion of the
chucking member 315 into the guide member 314. After said
insertion, the chucking member 315 is lifted just a little above
the guide member 314 and slightly rotated so as to cause the
unnotched portion of the flange-like projection 315a to be brought
into contact with the aforesaid projections 314a. This procedure
prevents the chucking member 315 from slipping out of the guide
member 314. The withdrawal of the chucking member 315 out of the
guide member 314 can be easily effected by rotating the chucking
member 315 again so as to bring the notches 316 of the flange-like
projection 315a of the chucking member 315 into alignment with the
projections 314a of the guide member 314. The above-mentioned easy
engagement and disengagement between the chucking member 315 and
guide member 314 also facilitates the insertion of the flexible
tube 16 thereinto.
FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of this invention wherein
both guide member 414 and chucking member 415 being inserted
thereinto are bent with the same curvature. This is for the
following reason. Since an attachment such as a photographic camera
400 is customarily fitted to the endoscope body 11 as shown in FIG.
11, the chucking attachment consisting of the guide member 414 and
chucking member 415 should be prevented from striking against said
attachment. In this case, it is demanded that particularly the
guide member 414 be curved as shown in FIG. 11 in the direction in
which the operation of the attachment is not obstructed. In
consequence, the chucking member 415 also has to be bent with the
same curvature as the guide member 414 so as to slide smoothly up
and down therethrough. If the curved chucking member 415 should
rotate in the curved guide member 414 after inserted thereinto,
then the outer wall of the chucking member 415 will tightly abut
against the inner wall of the guide member 414 and the resultant
friction will prevent the easy slide of the chucking member 415
through the guide member 414. To avoid such difficulties, a
projection 414a is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the upper
end of the guide member 414, and a guide groove 416 is provided on
the outer peripheral wall of the chucking member 415 all along the
length. Therefore, the chucking member 415 should be inserted into
the guide member 414 by bringing the projection 414a and groove 416
into engagement so as to suppress the possible rotation of the
chucking member 415 in the guide member 414 and consequently admit
of the smooth slide of the former through the latter.
The guide member 414 is generally preferred to consist of a metal
pipe. That part of the channel 12 of the endoscope 11 which is
positioned near its inlet opening is generally made of a metal
pipe, and is often curved. Therefore, said curved channel part may
be used as the guide member 414. If, therefore, the chucking member
415 is originally designed for direct insertion into said curved
channel part, then it will be unnecessary to provide the guide
member 414 separately.
The fine flexible tube inserted into the endoscope channel by means
of the chucking attachment of this invention broadly includes, as
is usually the case, not only a tube for pouring an opaque X-ray
photographing fluid and a catheter for drawing out a humor but also
forceps for sampling part of the tissue of a living body.
* * * * *