U.S. patent number 3,557,780 [Application Number 04/721,833] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-26 for mechanism for controlling flexure of endoscope.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Masaaki Sato.
United States Patent |
3,557,780 |
Sato |
January 26, 1971 |
MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING FLEXURE OF ENDOSCOPE
Abstract
Mechanism for controlling flexture of an endoscope which
comprises at least two flexible portions each including a plurality
of tubular short articulated segments having their faces tapered to
form diametrically extending pivot ridges and flexibly connected to
and in alignment with each other by means of wires extending
through said ridges with the ridge of one segment bearing against
the opposite ridge of the next segment, at least two sets of
tension wires extending through said segments to a control portion
of the endoscope through a connecting portion connecting said
controllable flexible portion to said control portion so as to be
connected to an operating mechanism therein, the forward ends of
each of said sets of tension wires being secured to the forward
ends of the respective flexible portions thereby permitting each of
the flexible portions to be bent by activating the set of tension
wires secured thereto by means of said operating mechanism
separately from other flexible portion(s). Brake means are provided
to releasably maintain the flexible portions in their controlled
position.
Inventors: |
Sato; Masaaki (Hachioji-shi,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
27279585 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/721,833 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1968 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 1967 [JA] |
|
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42/24827/1967 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/141;
356/241.4; 600/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
1/0055 (20130101); A61M 25/0138 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
1/005 (20060101); A61b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/4,6,5,7,8,9
;138/120 ;356/241,259(Inquired),256(Inquired)
;95/11,281,(Inquired) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Eager; Adele M.
Assistant Examiner: Dunne; G. F.
Claims
I claim:
1. Mechanism for controlling the flexure of an endoscope,
comprising a controllably flexible portion, a set of tension wires
being fixed with their one ends to the forward end of said
controllably flexible portion at the peripheral portion thereof and
extending therethrough so as to be connected with their other ends
to a control means housed in a control portion connected to said
controllably flexible portion, thereby permitting said controllably
flexible portion to be bent in a desired direction by pulling
selected ones of the wires in said set by operating said control
means, wherein the improvement comprises the fact that said
controllably flexible portion comprises at least two sections each
adapted to be bent in a desired direction separately from each
other by pulling selected ones of the wires in the set which are
fixed with their one ends to the forward end of each of said
sections and which extend through said controllably flexible
portion so as to be connected with their other ends to said control
means so that each of said sets of wires are actuated separately,
and said control means comprises a stationary control lever on said
control portion, and a plurality of rotatable control levers in
gear relationship with control drums about which the other ends of
said set of tension wires are wound, to place the control levers in
a substantially parallel relationship with their respective
controlled portions.
2. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises drum means for operating said sets of wires,
respectively.
3. Mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said control means
comprises brake means adapted to releasably apply braking force to
said control means thereby permitting the bent state of the
controllable flexible portion given by the operation of said
control means to be positively maintained.
4. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein closely wound
noncontractable flexible helical springs are provided around the
respective wires of said sets of wires, each of said springs
extends from the rear end of the section in the controllably
flexible portion to which the wire extending through said each
spring belongs to an abutment surface in said control portion
thereby permitting the relative movement of each of the wires with
respect to the spring therearound occurring at the abutment surface
by the operation of the control means to be exactly transmitted to
the forward portion of the wire at the forward end of the spring so
that the controllably flexible portion is bent in accordance with
the operation of the control means.
5. Mechanism for controlling the flexure of an endoscope comprising
a controllably flexible portion, a pair of tensioning wires fixed
with their one ends to the forward end of said controllably
flexible portion at substantially diametrically opposite peripheral
positions adjacent to the center line normal to the neutral plane
of bending of said controllably flexible portion and extending
therealong so as to be connected with their other ends to a control
means housed in a control portion of the endoscope thereby
permitting said controllably flexible portion to be bent in desired
direction by pulling a selected one of said wires in said pair by
the operation of said control means, wherein the improvement
comprises closely wound noncontractable flexible helical springs
provided around the respective wires of said pair, each of said
springs extending from the rearward end of said controllably
flexible portion to an abutment surface stationarily provided in
said control portion thereby permitting the relative movement of
each of the wires with respect to the spring therearound which
occurs at said abutment surface, by the operation of said control
means, to be exactly transmitted to the forward portion of the wire
at the forward end of the spring so that said controllably flexible
portion is bent exactly in correspondence to the operation of said
control means.
6. Mechanism for controlling the flexure of an endoscope including
a controllably flexible portion, a pair of tensioning wires fixed
with their one ends to the forward end of said controllably
flexible portion at substantially diametrically opposite peripheral
positions adjacent to the center line normal to the neutral plane
of bending of said controllably flexible portion and extending
therealong so as to be connected with their other ends to a control
means housed in a control portion of the endoscope, thereby
permitting said controllably flexible portion to be bent in desired
direction by pulling selected one of said wires in said pair by the
operation of said control means, wherein the improvement comprises
the fact that said controllably flexible portion comprises at least
two sections of which a first section is located at the foremost
end of said controllably flexible portion while a second section is
connected to the rearward end of said first section, said first and
second sections having respectively a pair of tensioning wires with
their one ends securely fixed to the respective ends of said first
and second sections and extending therealong so as to be connected
with their other ends to a first and second control means housed in
said control portion, respectively, thereby permitting each of said
first and second sections to be bent in desired direction
separately from each other by the operation of the control means
corresponding to the section to be bent, a first lever rotatably
mounted on a rotatable disc rotatably mounted in said control
portion at a position radially offset from the center of rotation
of said disc and operably coupled to said first control means such
that said first section is bent by the operation of said first
lever in the same direction, and substantially by the same angle,
as those of the rotation of said first lever, and a second lever
fixedly secured to said rotatable disc so as to be rotated
therewith and operably connected to said second control means such
that said second section is bent by the operation of said second
lever in the same direction, and substantially by the same angle,
as those of the rotation of said second lever, the direction of
said first lever being made parallel to the longitudinal direction
of said first section with said first lever being located forwardly
of said second lever when both said first and second sections are
held in the straight state while the direction of said second lever
is made parallel to the longitudinal direction of said second
section when said second section is held in the straight state,
thereby permitting said first lever to be always parallel to said
first section regardless of the flexure of said first and second
sections by virtue of the mounting of said first lever on said
rotatable disc the rotation of which also causes the actuation of
said first control means together with said second control means
when rotated by the operation of said second lever, while said
second lever is made always parallel to said second section
regardless of the flexure thereof, so that the state of flexure of
said first and second sections is directly indicated by the
directions of said first and second levers, respectively.
7. Mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a stationary lever is
fixedly secured to said control portion, the direction of said
stationary lever being made parallel to the longitudinal direction
of the rearward end of said controllably flexible portion connected
to said control portion, thereby permitting the state of flexure of
the entire length of said controllably flexible portion to be
directly indicated by the directions of said stationary lever, said
first and second levers, respectively.
8. Mechanism according to claim 6, wherein each of said first and
second control means comprises a drum on which the pair of
tensioning wires are secured, the drum of said first control means
being provided with a coaxial gear integral therewith and rotatably
mounted on a shaft secured to said rotatable disc and extending
along the axis of rotation thereof, said coaxial gear being coupled
with a gear integrally secured to said first lever by the
interposition of an idle gear rotatably mounted on said disc, the
drum of said second control means being fixedly secured to said
shaft secured to said disc, so that the drum of said first control
means is rotated by either of the operation of said first lever and
the rotation of said disc by the operation of said second lever
which also causes the rotation of the drum of said second control
means.
9. Mechanism according to claim 6, wherein each of said first and
second control means is comprised of pinion-rack means having a
pair of parallely located racks adapted to be moved oppositely to
each other by a pinion interposed therebetween and engaging
therewith with the pair of tensioning wires being secured to said
pair of racks, respectively, so as to be actuated thereby, the
pinion of said first control means being rotatably mounted on a
stationary shaft provided in said control portion and having a
coaxial gear integral therewith, said coaxial gear being coupled
with a gear integral with said first lever through the
interposition of an idle gear rotatably mounted on a center shaft
fixedly secured to said rotatable disc along the axis of rotation
thereof while the pinion of said second control means is fixedly
secured to said center shaft so as to be rotated together with said
second lever, so that the pinion of said first control means is
rotated by either of the operation of said first lever and the
rotation of said disc by the operation of said second lever which
also causes the rotation of the pinion of said second control
means.
10. Mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said first and second
control means are provided with brake means adapted to releasably
apply braking force thereto thereby permitting the bent state of
said first and second sections to be positively maintained.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control mechanism for bending
the controllable flexible portion of an endoscope in desired
configuration.
The prior art control mechanism for bending the controllable
flexible portion of the endoscope is inconvenient in that the bent
state of the controllable flexible portion of the endoscope cannot
be exactly detected from the exterior when the endoscope is
inserted into the hollow portion of a living body to be
inspected.
The present invention avoids the above described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel and useful control mechanism
for bending the controllable flexible portion of an endoscope in
which at least two groups are provided in said flexible portion,
each of which groups can be bent separately from the other group(s)
in desired direction by selectively pulling wire means connected to
the group in question by operating control lever means in the
control portion of the endoscope to which said wire means endoscope
connecting said flexible portion to the control portion.
The positions of the lever means are adapted to correspond to the
bent state of the controllable flexible portion thereby permitting
the bent state of the flexible portion to be exactly and
conveniently detected from the exterior by the controlled position
of the lever means when the endoscope is used for inspection.
Brake means are provided in the control mechanism to positively
maintain the bent state of the flexible portion given by the
operation of the control mechanism thereby preventing the bent
state of the flexible portion from being unexpectedly changed by
the external force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic general views of two kinds of
endoscopes showing the manners how the flexible portions are bent,
respectively;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the principle of the control
mechanism for bending the flexible portion of one embodiment of the
endoscope constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line X-X
in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y in FIG.
3;
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z in FIG.
3;
FIGS. 6 to 14 are general views of the endoscope provided with the
control mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, showing the
manner how the flexible portion of the endoscope is bent in
accordance with the operation of the control knobs in the control
mechanism;
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but
showing the portion of the control mechanism provided with brake
means constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of
an embodiment of the brake means shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17A is a schematic general view similar to FIG. 3 but showing
the principle of the control mechanism for bending the flexible
portion of the second embodiment of the endoscope constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 17B is a fragmentary view showing the modification of the
actuating means using drum means in place of pinion-rack means
employed in the actuating means shown in FIG. 17A;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y in FIG.
17A;
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z in FIG.
17A;
FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line X-X
in FIG. 17A showing the control mechanism;
FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 but showing a modification of
the control mechanism provided with brake means;
FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view showing the main parts of brake means
in the control mechanism of FIG. 21;
FIGS. 23 and 24 are general views of the endoscope provided with
the control mechanism as shown in FIG. 20 or 22, respectively,
showing the manners how the flexible portion of the endoscope is
bent in accordance with the operation of the control knobs in the
control mechanism;
FIG. 25 is a fragmentary view partly in cross section of another
embodiment of the endoscope constructed in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the flexible
portion shown in FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is a side view of the portion shown in FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a front view of the tubular segment constituting the
flexible portion shown in FIG. 27;
FIG. 29 is a front view of the intermediate ring employed in the
endoscope shown in FIG. 25; and
FIGS. 30 to 37 are fragmentary views of the flexible portion of the
endoscope shown in FIG. 25, respectively, showing the manners how
the flexible portion of the endoscope is bent in accordance with
the operation of the control mechanism of the endoscope shown in
FIG. 25.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Prior to the description of the present invention, operation of the
prior art endoscopes will be described briefly for the better
understanding of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows one type of the prior art endoscope in which camera
portion 1 is connected to one end of flexible portion 3 by
articulated portion 2. The other end of flexible portion 3 is
connected to control housing 4 provided with control knob 5 which
actuates said articulated portion 2 through wires extending through
flexible portion 3 so that camera portion 1 is bent at an angle
with respect to the axis of the end of flexible portion 3 to which
camera portion 1 is connected through articulated portion 2.
In order to facilitate the inspection by using the endoscope,
flexible portion 3 can be rotated about its axis together with
control housing 4 relative to grip means rotatably mounted on
control housing 4. The grip means is provided with angular
graduation cooperating with the index provided on control housing 4
so that the degree of rotation of flexible portion 3 and hence the
direction of camera portion 1 can be detected by means of the
graduation and the index.
FIG. 2 shows another type of the prior art endoscope, in which
controllable flexible portion 6 is employed in place of articulated
portion shown in FIG. 1.
In the prior art endoscopes as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is
difficult to exactly detect the direction of the camera portion and
the degree of the bending thereof during the inspection using the
endoscope, because the inspection is usually carried out in the dim
place.
Now various embodiments of the present invention will be described
in detail with reference to FIGS. 3--37.
Referring to FIG. 3 showing the principle of the control mechanism
for bending the controllable flexible portion of the endoscope
constructed in accordance with the present invention, camera
portion I is connected to one end of first controllable flexible
portion II, and the other end of said first controllable flexible
portion II is connected to one end of second controllable flexible
portion III, the other end of said second controllable flexible
portion III being in turn connected to one end of flexible
elongated connecting portion IV yieldingly bendable in accordance
with the configuration of the path leading to the hollow space in
the living body to be inspected. The other end of said flexible
elongated connecting portion IV is connected to control portion V,
in which the control mechanism for actuating said first and second
flexible portions II, III is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A, said first flexible portion II
comprises a plurality of relatively short articulated tubular
segments 8 all of which are of identical construction. As shown in
FIG. 3, both faces of each of segments 8 are tapered to form
diametrically extending pivot ridges N-N, respectively. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5B, said second flexible portion III comprises a
plurality of relatively short articulated tubular segments 8'
substantially similar to segments 8. All of said segments 8' are of
identical construction. Hollow space 9 is provided in each of said
segments 8, 8', through which the film loaded in camera portion I
and lead wires for energizing the lamp in camera portion I or a
light conducting fiber optical system and other elements extend. As
shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, small holes 10, are provided at positions
in diametrically extending pivot ridges N-N of each of segments 8,
8'. Wire 11 extends through each of said holes 10, one end of said
wire 11 being fixed to forward end segment 8a one face of which is
tapered to form a diametrically extending pivot ridge similar to
that of segment 8, said segment 8a being connected to camera
portion I, while the other end of said wire 11 is fixed to rear end
segment 8'c which is similar to segment 8a and connected to the
forward end of flexible connecting portion IV, so that segments 8,
8' are urged toward each other and aligned with each other by wires
11 with said ridge of one segment bearing against the opposite
ridge of the next segment thereby permitting each of segments 8, 8'
to be relatively pivoted to the next segment about diametrically
extending pivot ridge N-N. Small holes 12, 12' are provided in each
of segments 8 adjacent to the center line normal to ridge N-N as
shown in FIG. 5A, and small holes 12, 12', 14, 14' are provided in
each of segments 8' adjacent to the center line normal to ridge N-N
as shown in FIG. 5B, the positions of holes 12, 12' in each of
segments 8' corresponding to those of holes 12, 12' in each of
segments 8, respectively. Wires 13, 13' extend through holes 12 and
12' in each of segments 8, 8', respectively, one end of each of
wires 13, 13' being fixed to segment 8a, while the other end of
each of wires 13, 13' extends through flexible connecting portion
IV and is connected to the periphery of control drum 16 provided in
control portion V, which is operated by a control lever described
hereinafter. Wires 15 and 15' extend through holes 14, 14' in each
of segments 8, respectively, one end of each of wires 15, 15' being
fixed to forward end segment 8'b similar in construction to segment
8' and located at the forward end of second flexible portion III
and connected to the rear end of first flexible portion II, while
the other end of each of wires 15, 15' extends through flexible
connecting portion IV and connected to the periphery of another
control drum 17 which is provided in control portion V coaxially
with previously described control drum 16 and operated by another
control lever as described hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 4, drum 17 is fixedly secured to shaft 19
journaled in bearings 18 provided in the housing of control portion
V, disc 20 and second control lever 21 being fixedly secured to
said shaft 19. Drum 16 is rotatably supported by shaft 19 and gear
22 is integrally fixed to drum 16. Said gear 22 meshes with
intermediate gear 24 rotatably fitted on shaft 23 which is fixed to
disc 20. Said intermediate gear 24 also meshes with gear 25 fixedly
secured to shaft 26 which is rotatably journaled in a bearing
secured to disc 20. First control lever 27 is fixedly secured to
the outer end of shaft 26. A stationary lever 28 is secured to
cover 29 of control portion V as shown in FIG. 4, said stationary
lever 28 serving to indicate the relative positions of said control
levers 21, 27 with respect to control portion V.
The positions of levers 21 and 27 are so determined that they are
aligned with stationary lever 28 when camera portion I, first
flexible portion II and second flexible portion III are aligned as
shown in FIG. 6.
The operation of the endoscope as described above is as follows.
Starting from the condition of the endoscope shown in FIG. 6, when
both levers 21, 27 are simultaneously rotated in the anticlockwise
direction as shown in FIG. 10, drum 17 is rotated by the actuation
of second lever 21 so as to pull wire 15' and loosen wire 15
thereby causing second flexible portion III to be bent as shown in
FIG. 3. In this case, drum 16 also rotates together with drum 17 by
virtue of the engagement of gear 22 with gear 25 through
intermediate gear 24, gear 25 being kept stationary relative to
lever 21, so that wire 13' is pulled to the same extent as wire 15'
while wire 13 is loosened, however, the positions of wires 13, 13'
relative to segment 8'b do not change, because the bending of
second flexible portion III absorbs the movement of wires 13, 13'
within the range of second flexible portion III. Therefore, first
flexible portion II is not bent. As shown in FIG. 10, the relative
positions of control levers 21, 27 with respect to stationary lever
28 exactly corresponds to the bent state of first and second
flexible portions II, III. When first control lever 27 is further
rotated anticlockwise from the condition shown in FIG. 10 to the
condition shown in FIG. 12, only drum 16 is further rotated by the
engagement of gear 22 with gear 25 through gear 24, so that wire
13' is further pulled and wire 13 is loosened thereby causing first
flexible portion II to be bent toward the right in FIG. 3 to assume
the condition shown in FIG. 12. In this case, relative positions of
levers 21, 27 with respect to stationary lever 28 also correspond
to the bent state of first and second flexible portions II,
III.
In the similar way, first and second flexible portions II, III can
be selectively bent as desired as shown in FIG. 7 to 9, 11, 13 and
14 by appropriately operating either or both levers 21, 27, the
relative positions of levers 21, 27, 28 indicating the bent state
of the flexible portions, respectively.
In order to prevent the control of flexible portions II, III from
being disturbed by the external force applied inadvertently by the
path leading to the hollow space in the living body through which
the endoscope is inserted, it is preferable to provide friction
means or click stop means between disc 20 and lever 27,
alternatively, worm gear means may be employed between levers 21,
27 and drums 17, 16, respectively.
It is also evident that the present invention described above can
be incorporated in the flexible portion using articulated portions
as shown in FIG. 1 which can bend the flexible portions at a
plurality of points.
It is also evident that drums 16, 17 can be replaced by pinion-rack
means which can pull or loosen wires in the similar way as
described hereinbelow.
FIG. 15 shows a modification of the control mechanism shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. The mechanism shown in FIG. 15 is provided with
brake means in order to positively maintain the controllable
flexible portions in their controlled states. The mechanism shown
in FIG. 15 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4 except that brakedrum
30 having annular V-shaped groove 30' in its periphery and secured
to bearing plate 18 is adapted to rotatably support shaft 19 and
that brake drum 31 having annular V-shaped groove 31' in its
periphery is integrally secured to gear 25, said brakedrums 30 and
31 being adapted to be releasably clamped between a pair of
brakeshoes 32, 32' each having mating surfaces 32a, 32'a engageable
with V-shaped grooves 30', 31' of said brakedrums 30 and 31. Said
pair of brake drums 30, 31 are relatively movably assembled by a
pair of bolts and nuts 33, 33' as shown in FIG. 16. Springs 34 are
provided on bolts 33 between nuts 33' and brake shoe 32' so as to
normally urge the pair of brake shoes 32, 32' toward each other so
that brakedrums 30, 31 are tightly clamped therebetween when
braking action is desired to be applied to the shoes. Shaft 36
extends rotatably through control lever 21 and disc 20, the outer
end of said shaft 36 being provided with knob 37 while brake
releasing piece 35 is secured to the inner end of shaft 36. Piece
35 has an elongated configuration in cross section in the plane
normal to the axis of shaft 36 so that when shaft 36 is rotated by
knob 37, brakeshoes 32, 32' are moved between a position in which
shoes 32, 32' are urged toward each other by the action of spring
34 so that the braking action is applied to brakedrums 30, 31 and a
position in which brakedrums 30, 31 are released from brakeshoes
32, 32'.
In operation, when first control lever 27 is rotated, gear 22 and
hence drum 16 are rotated through gear 25 fixed to lever 27 and
intermediate gear 24 so that first flexible portion II is bent.
Drum 16 is positively held in its controlled position by virtue of
the braking action applied to brakedrum 31 fixed to gear 25,
thereby permitting first flexible portion II to be maintained in
its controlled state. When second control lever 21 is rotated, gear
25 rotates about the axis of shaft 19 together with the pair of
brakeshoes 32, 32' while gear 25 is prevented from rotating about
its axis relative to disc 20 by virtue of braking action of shoes
32, 32'. Lever 21 is held in its controlled position by virtue of
the braking action acting between brakedrum 30 fixed to bearing
plate 18 and brakeshoes 32, 32' rotatable about the axis of shaft
19 together with second control lever 21. Therefore, the mechanism
shown in FIG. 15 permits the controllable flexible portions of the
endoscope to be positively held in their controlled state. When it
is desired to release the brake means, it is only necessary that to
rotate knob 37 so as to move brakeshoes 32, 32' away from
brakedrums 30, 31.
FIGS. 17A to 20 show the second embodiment of the endoscope
constructed in accordance with the present invention. The endoscope
shown in FIG. 17A is similar to that shown in FIG. 3 except that
pinion 55 and a pair of racks 57, 57' meshing with pinion 55 for
actuating wires 48, 48' and pinion 54 and a pair of racks 56, 56'
meshing with pinion 54 for actuating wires 46, 46' are provided in
place of drums 16, 17 of FIG. 3, and that closely wound helical
springs 60, 60' extend from abutment portion 53 of control portion
V to rear end segment 8d of first flexible portion II through which
wires 48 and 48' extend as shown in FIGS. 17A, 18 and 19,
respectively, and closely wound helical springs 59, 59' extend
between said abutment portion 53 and rear end segment 8'c of second
flexible portion III through which wires 46, 46' extend as shown in
FIGS. 17A and 19, respectively.
Springs 60, 60' extend through flexible connecting portion IV with
sufficient surplus length so as to permit bending of portion IV
without requiring any relative movement between springs 60, 60' and
wires 48, 48' passing therethrough. Also, springs 59, 59' extend
through flexible connecting portion IV and second controllable
flexible portion III with sufficient surplus length so as to permit
bending of portions III, IV without requiring any relative movement
between springs 59, 59' and wires 46, 46' passing therethrough. It
is evident that springs 60, 60'; 59, 59' must be of noncompressive
nature so as to transmit the relative movement of the wires to the
springs given at the ends adjacent to abutment portion 53 to the
opposite ends thereof. In the region of connecting portion IV, it
is preferred to employ metallic pipes in place of closely wound
helical springs. The forward end of each of wires 48, 48', 46, 46'
is fixed to respective segments 8'b, 8a in the same way as shown in
FIG. 3.
It must be noted that, in the construction shown in FIG. 3, when
second flexible portion III is to be bent, wires 13, 15 (or 13',
15') must be simultaneously pulled while only wire 13 (or 13') must
be pulled in order to bend first flexible portion II, whereas, in
the construction shown in FIG. 17A, since closely wound helical
springs are provided, it is only necessary to pull only wire 48 (or
48') in order to bend second flexible portion III while first
flexible portion II can be bent by pulling only wire 46 (or
46').
In operation, pinion 55 or 54 is selectively rotated so as to bend
either of first or second flexible portion II or III, while both
pinions 55 and 54 are rotated in desired directions so as to bend
both first and second flexible portions II, III as shown in FIGS.
23 and 24.
FIG. 17B shows a modification of the control mechanism shown in
FIG. 17A. The control mechanism shown in FIG. 17B comprises drum
55' and 54' for actuating wires 48, 48', 46, 46', respectively, in
place of pinion-rack means 55, 57, 57', 54, 56, 56' shown in FIG.
17A. The operation of the control mechanism of FIG. 17B is similar
to that shown in FIG. 17A.
FIG. 20 shows the detail of the control mechanism to be used in the
endoscope shown in FIG. 17A. The control mechanism shown in FIG. 20
is similar to that shown in FIG. 4 except that drums 16, 17 for
pulling wires shown in FIG. 4 are replaced with pinions 55, 54 and
pairs of racks 57, 57', 56, 56' meshing with pinions 55, 54,
respectively, as shown in FIG. 20, pinion 54 being fixedly mounted
on separate shaft 58 rotatably mounted in bearing plate 18 to which
shaft 58 gear 61 is secured. Gear 61 meshes with intermediate gear
64 rotatably fitted on shaft 69 to which second lever 21, disc 20
and pinion 55 are secured. Intermediate gear 64 meshes with gear 62
fixed to shaft 26 to which first lever 27 is fixed. When first
lever 27 is rotated, gear 62, intermediate gear 64 and gear 61 are
rotated so that pinion 54 actuates racks 56, 56' thereby pulling
wire 46 or 46' so as to bend first flexible portion II in desired
direction. When second lever 21 is rotated, pinion 55 actuates
racks 57, 57' thereby pulling wire 48 or 48' so as to bend second
flexible portion III in desired direction. In this case the
rotation of lever 21 causes gear 62 to be rotated about the axis of
intermediate gear 64 thereby rotating intermediate gear 64 together
with shaft 69. However, since the ratio of gear 61 to intermediate
gear 64 is made sufficiently small in the present invention, the
bending of first flexible portion II resulting from the rotation of
gear 62 about intermediate gear 64 when only second flexible
portion III is to be bent can be neglected.
FIGS. 21 and 22 show a modification of the control mechanism shown
in FIG. 20.
The control mechanism shown in FIG. 21 is similar to that shown in
FIG. 20 except that brake means similar to those shown in FIG. 15
are added. In the brake means shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, axially
shiftable shaft 36' having knob 37' at its outer end and tapered
end portion 35' at its inner end is provided in place of rotatable
shaft 36 of FIG. 15 in order to move shoes 32, 32' apart from each
other by inserting tapered end portion 35' between shoes 32, 32' by
pushing shaft 36' downwardly when it is desired to release the
brake means. The operation of the control mechanism shown in FIGS.
21 and 22 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 15 and 20.
FIGS. 23 and 24 show some of the manners how the first and second
flexible portions are bent. It is evident from FIGS. 23 and 24 that
the relative positions of levers 21, 27 indicate the bent state of
the first and second flexible portions determined by the operation
of the levers.
FIG. 25 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
25, casing 101 of head I housing therein the inspecting or
photographing mechanism and other means is connected to the forward
end of controllable flexible portion II', the other end of which is
connected to the forward end of elongated flexible connecting
portion III' by means of connecting ring 105, the other end of said
connecting portion III' being in turn connected to control housing
of the endoscope not shown. Sheath 102 covers watertightly portions
II' and III'. Controllable flexible portion II' comprises two
groups II'a, II'b as shown in FIG. 26. Each of groups II'a, II'b is
constituted by a plurality of relatively short tubular segments 103
similar in construction and arrangement to those as shown in FIG.
3. A hollow space 106 is provided in each of segments 103 through
which a fiber optical system or photographic film and other
elements employed in the endoscope is adapted to pass. Both faces
of each of segments 103 are tapered to form diametrically extending
pivot ridges 103a, respectively, in the same manner as shown in
FIG. 3. Diametrically opposed two small holes 107 are provided at
positions where ridges 103a are formed, through each of which wire
112 extends, one end of which is secured to ring 105 while the
other end is secured to casing 101, thereby flexibly urging
segments 103 toward each other and aligning segments 103 with each
other. Further, each of segments 103 is provided with small holes
or cut out portions 108a and 108b in the center line normal to said
ridges 103a. Intermediate ring 104 is interposed between groups
II'a and II'b as shown in FIG. 26. One face of ring 104 is tapered
to form a diametrically extending pivot ridge 104a, and the other
face may be flat or tapered to form a diametrically extending
ridge. Ring 104 is provided with holes 109, 109 similar to holes
107 in segment 103 and holes or cutout portions 110a, 110b similar
to holes or cutout portions 108a of segment 103. Further holes
111a, 111b are provided in ring 104 at the positions outside of
said holes or cutout portions 110a, 110b, respectively, as shown.
Small holes 110'a and 110'b are provided in the forward and end
face of ring 104, the positions of said holes 110'a, 110'b
corresponding to said holes or cutout portions 110a, 110b,
respectively. The forward end face of connecting ring 105 has the
same configuration as the forward end face of intermediate ring
104. Tension wires 113a and 113b extend through holes 108a, 108b of
each of segments 103, holes 110a, 110b of connecting ring 104,
respectively. One end of each of wires 113a, 113b is secured to
casing 101, while the other end of each of wires 113a, 113b extends
through connecting portions III' and is connected to a winding
mechanism provided in the control housing not shown. Closely wound
helical spring 114 is provided around each of wires 113a, 113b, one
end of each of springs 114 abutting against ring 104 as shown in
FIG. 26 while the other end of each of springs 114 abuts against
the abutment surface provided in the control housing. One ends of
tension wires 115a, 115b are secured to holes 111a, 111b,
respectively, of intermediate ring 104 as shown in FIG. 26. Wires
115a, 115b extend through group II'b of controllable flexible
portion II' and flexible connecting portion III' and the other ends
of wires 115a, 115b are connected to another winding mechanism in
the control housing. Closely wound helical springs 116 are provided
around wires 115a, 115b, respectively. One end of each of springs
116 abuts against connecting ring 105 as shown in FIG. 26, while
the other end of each of springs 116 abuts against the abutment
surface provided in the control housing. Closely wound helical
springs 114 and wires 113a, 113b passing therethrough extend
through group II'b of flexible portion II' and flexible connecting
portion III' with sufficient surplus length so as to permit group
II'b and connecting portion III' to be bent without requiring any
relative movement between springs 114 and wires 113a, 113b passing
therethrough so that the relative movement of wires 113a, 113b with
respect to springs 114 given at the side of control housing by the
operation of the winding mechanism can be exactly transmitted to
the other sides of wires remote from the control housing.
Similarly, springs 116 and wires 115a, 115b extend through
connecting portion III' with sufficient surplus length so that
connecting portion III' can be bent without requiring any relative
movement of wires 115a, 115b with respect to springs 116.
In operation, group II'a of controllable flexible portion II' can
be bent in desired direction as shown in FIG. 34 or 35 by operating
the winding mechanism for pulling wires 113a or 113b. When it is
desired to bend only group II'b of flexible portion II' as shown in
FIGS. 36 and 37, only the winding mechanism for pulling wire 115a
or 115b is operated. If both the winding mechanisms are
simultaneously operated, flexible portion II' can be bent to assume
any desired configuration as shown in FIGS. 30 to 33 depending upon
the selection of the wires to be pulled.
Although the flexible portion has been shown as consisting of two
groups, it is evident more than two groups of the controllable
flexible portion can be provided in accordance with the teaching of
the present invention.
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