CN115697174A - Tip protection tool for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a tip protection tool for an endoscope, which is easy to manufacture. A protection tool (10) is provided with: a cylindrical main body (16) having elasticity; and a slit-shaped slit (20) provided between one end portion and the other end portion of the main body (16), the slit (20) dividing the main body (16) into an accommodating portion (22) and a pressing portion (24). The main body (16) is elastically deformed to enlarge the opening area of the slit (20), and thereby the distal end (14) of the endoscope insertion section (12) is accommodated in the accommodation section (22) via the slit (20). When the distal end (14) is housed in the housing section (22), the pressing section (24) presses and holds the endoscope insertion section (12) against the inner wall of the housing section (22) by a restoring force from elastic deformation.

Description

Tip protection tool for endoscope

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a distal end protection tool for an endoscope which is attached to a distal end of an endoscope insertion portion and used.

Background

Endoscopes are well known in the medical field. An endoscope performs imaging and the like of the inside of a subject by inserting an insertion portion (endoscope insertion portion) into the body. In an endoscope, when preparation for use, storage, maintenance, or the like is performed, the distal end of the insertion portion may come into contact with a floor, a wall, or the like and be damaged. Therefore, measures such as attaching a protection tool (an endoscope distal end protection tool) to the distal end of the insertion portion are taken except for the time of use. As such a protective tool, for example, patent document 1 is known.

Prior art documents

Patent literature

Patent document 1: chinese utility model No. 204765536 instruction manual

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the protection tool described in patent document 1 has a problem that the shape is complicated and the manufacturing takes time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide a distal end protection tool for an endoscope, which is easy to manufacture.

Means for solving the technical problems

The tip protection tool for an endoscope of the present invention includes: a cylindrical main body formed of a material having elasticity; and a slit-shaped notch provided between the one end portion and the other end portion of the main body, wherein the main body is divided into an accommodating portion on the one end portion side and a pressing portion on the other end portion side by the notch, and the main body is elastically deformed to enlarge an opening area of the notch, whereby the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion is accommodated in the accommodating portion via the notch, and when the distal end is accommodated in the accommodating portion, the pressing portion presses the endoscope insertion portion against an inner wall of the accommodating portion by a restoring force from the elastic deformation and holds the endoscope insertion portion in the accommodating portion.

The end of the slit may be formed in a circular or polygonal shape having a diameter greater than the width of the slit.

The slit may enlarge the width of the center.

The notch may have an arc-shaped notch on the pressing portion side to increase the width of the center.

The pressing part may be formed with an opening.

At least two openings may be formed, and the openings may be arranged on one end side and the other end side of the slit with the center of the slit therebetween.

The opening may be in the shape of a long hole that is long in the axial direction of the body.

The central axis of the inner periphery of the main body may be eccentric with respect to the central axis of the outer periphery of the main body.

The center axis of the inner circumference of the main body may be eccentric in a direction away from the slit.

The main body may be formed using a material having light transmittance.

The frictional resistance of the slits may be higher than the inner and outer circumferences of the body.

The main body may be provided with a small diameter portion formed by reducing an inner diameter of the main body at one end portion side.

The one end portion side of the main body may be provided with a strength reducing portion that reduces the strength of the main body.

The accommodating portion may be curved along an accommodating direction of a front end of the endoscope insertion portion.

The housing portion may be provided with a mark indicating a reference of an arrival position of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion.

The body may be subjected to an antistatic treatment.

Effects of the invention

The endoscope distal end protection tool of the present invention has a simple shape and can be easily manufactured.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a protection tool.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory view of an installation sequence of the protection tool.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the mounting sequence of the protection tool.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the mounting sequence of the protection tool.

Fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction, the side direction, and the upper direction.

Fig. 6 is a three-dimensional view showing a state in which the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction, the side direction, and the upper direction.

Fig. 7 is a three-dimensional view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction, the side direction, and the upper direction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 14 is two views showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 16 is a plan view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Fig. 19 is a plan view showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the side.

Fig. 20 is two views showing a state where the protection tool is viewed from the axial direction and the side direction.

Detailed Description

[ 1 st embodiment ]

In fig. 1, a protection tool 10 (a distal end protection tool for an endoscope) is attached to a distal end 14 (see fig. 4) of an endoscope insertion portion 12 to protect the distal end 14. The protection tool 10 includes a cylindrical main body 16, and the cylindrical main body 16 is formed using a material having translucency and elasticity. Examples of the material of the main body 16 include silicone resin, fluororesin, and elastomer having autoclave resistance. The light transmittance is not necessarily transparent as long as the light transmittance is such that the inside can be visually recognized.

Further, the inner peripheral surface and/or the outer peripheral surface of the body 16 may be coated to improve the slidability. Further, the inner peripheral surface and/or the outer peripheral surface of the main body 16 may be coated to reduce dust collection property. As described above, examples of the coating for improving the sliding property and/or reducing the dust collecting property include fluorine-based coating, parylene coating, and the like. Further, the inner peripheral surface and/or the outer peripheral surface of the main body 16 may be textured (formed with fine irregularities) to improve the sliding property and/or reduce the dust collecting property. Of course, both coating and texturing may be performed.

A slit-shaped slit 20 is formed between one end and the other end of the main body 16. The slit 20 is formed long in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body 16, and the main body 16 is divided into an accommodating portion 22 on one end side and a pressing portion 24 on the other end side by the slit 20. When the protection tool 10 is attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12, the slit 20 functions as an opening for inserting the distal end 14 into the main body 16 (into the housing portion 22) (see fig. 3). The front end 14 inserted into the main body 16 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 22 (refer to fig. 4).

When the protection tool 10 is attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12, at least a part of the incision 20 abuts against the outer periphery of the endoscope insertion portion 12 (see fig. 4). Therefore, it is preferable that the notch 20 is not subjected to the above-described coating and/or texturing (hereinafter, referred to as friction reduction treatment). Thus, the frictional resistance of the notch 20 becomes higher than the inner and outer peripheries of the main body 16, and the protective tool 10 can be prevented from falling off.

In addition to the slit 20, a portion abutting on the outer periphery of the endoscope insertion portion 12 is present in the peripheral portion of the slit 20, and for example, the pressing portion 24 side (slit 20 side) of the inner periphery of the housing portion 22 abuts on the outer periphery of the endoscope insertion portion 12 (see fig. 4). Therefore, it is possible to increase the frictional resistance without performing the friction reducing process on such a portion (for example, a predetermined range from the pressing portion 24 (the slit 20) in the inner periphery of the accommodating portion 22). Further, although the anti-slip effect can be improved by freely setting the range in which the anti-friction treatment is not performed and increasing the frictional resistance by not performing the anti-friction treatment, the slidability is reduced, and the attachment property to the endoscope insertion portion 12 is deteriorated. Therefore, the friction reduction is not performed in a range of preferably within 20mm from pressing portion 24 (slit 20), and more preferably within 10mm from pressing portion 24 (slit 20).

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, when the protection tool 10 is attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12, the main body 16 is elastically deformed by being urged by a finger or the like so that the main body 16 is bent at the portion of the slit 20 to enlarge the opening area of the slit 20. Then, the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 is inserted into the housing portion 22 from the incision 20. Then, the finger or the like is released to release the body 16. By releasing the main body 16 in a state where the distal end 14 is accommodated in the accommodating section 22, as shown in fig. 4, the main body 16 is restored by a restoring force from elastic deformation, and along with this restoration, the pressing section 24 presses the side wall of the endoscope insertion section 12 against the inner wall of the accommodating section 22. Thus, the protection tool 10 is attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12 so as to be locked to the endoscope insertion portion 12. When the protection tool 10 is removed from the endoscope insertion portion 12, the main body 16 may be bent to pull out the endoscope insertion portion 12 from the protection tool 10.

As shown in fig. 5, both end portions 20A of the slit 20 are formed in a circular shape having a diameter larger than the width W of the slit 20. This prevents the notch 20 from being torn when the body 16 is bent. In this example, both ends 20A of the slit 20 are circular, but both ends 20A of the slit 20 may be polygonal.

The slit 20 is enlarged in width at the center in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the endoscope insertion section 12 can be easily inserted into the housing section 22. Further, when attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12, the adhesion to the side wall of the endoscope insertion portion 12 can be improved to prevent detachment. In the present embodiment, the width of the central portion of the notch 20 is increased by providing the notch 26 having an arc shape (more specifically, an arc shape of about 1/3 of the entire circumference of the main body 16).

Further, as the endoscope, there are various kinds of endoscopes such as a transnasal endoscope, an oral endoscope, and a lower endoscope, and the outer diameters of the endoscope insertion section 12 are different from each other, for example, the transnasal endoscope is about 5mm, the oral endoscope is about 10mm, and the lower endoscope is about 13mm, but the inner diameter ID of the protection tool 10 (main body 16) is preferably about 5mm larger than the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion section 12. The thickness T of the side wall of the protection tool 10 (main body 16) is preferably about 2mm to 3 mm.

When a bending portion (a portion that is bent up and down and left and right by the operation of an operation portion provided on the proximal end side of the endoscope insertion portion 12) is present near the distal end 14, the length L1 of the housing portion 22 is preferably about 20mm longer than the length from the distal end to the terminal end of the bending portion, and more specifically, the length L1 is preferably about 100mm to 170 mm. Further, the length L2 of the pressing portion 24 is preferably about 10mm to 30 mm. In a state where the protection tool 10 is attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12, a force with which the pressing portion 24 presses the endoscope insertion portion 12 against the inner wall of the housing portion 22 (a force with which the protection tool 10 grips the endoscope insertion portion 12) is preferably of a degree that the protection tool 10 does not damage the endoscope insertion portion 12 and the protection tool 10 does not come off from the endoscope insertion portion 12 (at least does not freely slip), and more specifically, is preferably 1N to 3N.

The width W of the slit 20 is preferably about 0.5mm to 2 mm. Further, the diameter of the circular opening formed in each end portion 20A of the slit 20 is preferably larger than the width W of the slit 20, and more specifically, is preferably about 5 mm. The notch 20 is preferably formed at 1/2 or more of the entire circumference of the body 16, in other words, the notch 20 is formed at a position lower than the center axis of the body 16 when the notch 20 is viewed from the side.

As described above, the protection tool 10 of the present invention has a simple shape in which the notch 20 is formed in the cylindrical main body 16, and thus is easy to manufacture. Further, the main body 16 can be attached by bending the main body 16 and inserting the endoscope insertion portion 12 and then releasing the main body 16, and the attachment is easy. Further, by bending the main body 16 and pulling out the endoscope insertion portion 12, the main body 16 can be removed, and the removal is easy.

Further, the protection tool 10 of the present invention can not only bend the main body 16 but also secure an opening area necessary for inserting the endoscope insertion portion 12, and therefore can be attached or detached without damaging the endoscope insertion portion 12 and/or the distal end 14. That is, for example, as in patent document 1, in a structure in which an opening is formed by pinching a holding portion with fingers, when the opening degree of the opening is insufficient, particularly, when the difference between the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion 12 and the inner diameter ID of the protection tool 10 is small, there is a possibility that the distal end 14 or the endoscope insertion portion 12 is damaged by the holding portion, but the protection tool 10 of the present invention can prevent such a problem, and can be easily attached or detached without damaging the endoscope insertion portion 12 and/or the distal end 14.

Further, since the protection tool 10 of the present invention is formed of a material having translucency, the condition of the endoscope insertion portion 12 (distal end 14) accommodated in the accommodating portion 22 can be checked from the outside of the protection tool 10, which is convenient.

[ 2 nd embodiment ]

In embodiment 1, the description has been given of an example in which the center of the inner periphery of the main body 16 coincides with the center of the outer periphery, but the center C1 of the inner periphery of the main body 16 may be different (eccentric) from the center C2 of the outer periphery as in the protection tool 50 shown in fig. 6. In the description using the drawings of fig. 6 and the following, the same components as those of embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

In fig. 6, the protection tool 50 according to embodiment 2 is configured such that the center C1 of the inner periphery of the main body 16 is eccentric to the side opposite to the notch 20 with respect to the center C2 of the outer periphery, and the thickness of the side wall opposite to the notch 20 is made thinner than the thickness of the side wall on the notch 20 side.

By thus reducing the thickness of the side wall on the opposite side to the slit 20, the protection tool 50 can be easily bent when inserted into the endoscope insertion portion 12. Further, by making the protection tool 50 easily bendable in this manner, even when the protection tool 50 is bent, the change in the inner peripheral shape of the protection tool 50 is reduced, and the endoscope insertion portion 12 and/or the distal end 14 can be easily attached or detached without being damaged. Further, by increasing the thickness of the side wall on the side of the notch 20, the contact area between the endoscope insertion portion 12 and the notch 20 can be increased when the endoscope insertion portion 12 is attached, and the detachment can be prevented more reliably.

The eccentric amount D of the center C1 of the inner periphery of the main body 16 (the distance from the center C2 of the outer periphery of the main body 16) may be set as appropriate, but the eccentric amount D is preferably about half the thickness of the side wall of the main body 16 (the average value of the thicknesses of the side walls of the main body 16), and more specifically, is preferably about 1mm to 1.5 mm.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the center C1 of the inner periphery of the main body 16 is eccentric to the opposite side of the notch 20 from the center C2 of the outer periphery, but conversely, the center C1 of the inner periphery of the main body 16 may be eccentric to the side of the notch 20 from the center C2 of the outer periphery. In this case, although the bendability of the protection tool 50 is reduced (the protection tool 50 is less likely to bend), the restoring force of the protection tool 50 from the bent state is improved, and therefore the endoscope insertion portion 12 can be more firmly held when attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12 (the retainability is improved).

Also, the present invention is not limited to the example in which the thickness of the side wall is increased (or decreased) over the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the protection tool by decentering the center C1 of the inner circumference of the main body 16 with respect to the center C2 of the outer circumference as described above. The strength (bendability or retainability) of the protective tool may also be adjusted by deforming (thickening) the outer periphery outward and/or the inner periphery inward only in a portion of the protective tool in the longitudinal direction to increase the thickness of the sidewall (or deforming (thinning) the outer periphery inward and/or the inner periphery outward to decrease the thickness of the sidewall). Examples of the portion where the thickness of the side wall is increased (or decreased) include the periphery of the notch 20 and the periphery of the portion opposite to the notch 20. Also, the thickness of the side wall may be increased (or decreased) only at the periphery of both end portions 20A of the slit 20. Of course, the thickness of the side wall may be increased (or decreased) over the entire circumference including the circumference of the slit 20, the circumference of the portion on the opposite side of the slit 20, and the entire circumference of the both end portions 20A of the slit 20.

[ embodiment 3 ]

As shown in fig. 7, in protection tool 100 according to embodiment 3, an opening 102 is formed in pressing portion 24. The openings 102 are formed in an elongated hole shape elongated in the axial direction of the body 16, and a pair (two) of the openings are provided at positions facing each other on one end side and the other end side of the slit 20 with respect to the center of the slit 20 (a line segment passing through the center of the slit 20 and parallel to the central axis of the body 16). By forming the opening 102 in this manner, the strength of the pressing portion 24 is reduced, elastic deformation is facilitated, and adhesion between the endoscope insertion portion 12 and the slit 20 is improved, so that detachment can be prevented more reliably.

In embodiment 3, the opening is formed in an elongated hole shape elongated in the axial direction of the main body 16, but the shape, position, and arrangement position of the opening may be changed as appropriate. For example, the opening may be formed in a long hole shape that is long in the circumferential direction of the main body 16. The opening may be formed in a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like. Further, the opening may be provided on the opposite side of the outer periphery of the main body 16 from the notch 20 or in the housing portion 22. Further, the number of openings may be one, or three or more. Further, instead of the opening, a recess may be provided in which the thickness of the side wall of the main body 16 is reduced.

[ 4 th embodiment ]

While one notch 20 is provided in the above embodiment, a plurality of notches 20 are provided in the protection tool of embodiment 4. Specifically, the protection tool 150 shown in fig. 8 is provided with notches 20 at one end portion and the other end portion of the main body 16, respectively. In this way, the protection tool 150 can be attached to the endoscope insertion portion 12 from either one of the one end portion and the other end portion, which is convenient. Further, even if one slit 20 cannot be used due to breakage or the like, the other slit 20 can be used, so that the number of times the protection tool 150 can be used can be increased.

Further, the orientation of the slit 20 may be changed as in the protection tool 200 shown in fig. 9. In the example of fig. 9, the slits 20 are provided at one end portion and the other end portion of the main body 16, respectively, and the orientations of the slits 20 are made different by 180 ° at the one end portion and the other end portion of the main body 16. Further, a plurality of notches 20 may be provided in parallel as in the protection tool 250 shown in fig. 10. In the example of fig. 10, three notches 20 are provided in the same orientation at one end of the main body 16. Of course, the position, number, and orientation of the notches 20 are not limited to the above, and can be freely set.

[ 5 th embodiment ]

In fig. 11, in addition to the notch 20 described in the above embodiment, the protection tool 300 according to embodiment 5 is provided with a spare notch 310 used when the notch 20 is not used. The spare slit 310 includes a pair of end openings 310A corresponding to both ends 20A of the slit 20 and a breaking portion 310B connecting the end openings 310A to each other. The fracture portion 310B is formed by making the thickness of the side wall of the main body 16 thinner than the other portions. The spare slit 310 functions as a slit 20 by cutting the fracture part 310B with scissors or the like, for example.

As described above, even if the protection tool 300 according to embodiment 5 cannot use the notch 20, the spare notch 310 can function as the notch 20, and therefore the number of times the protection tool 300 can be used can be increased. Further, since the protection tool 300 is provided with the notch 20 on the end portion side close to the main body 16 and the spare notch 310 on the end portion side far from the main body 16, the notch 20 close to the end portion is used first and the main body 16 is cut at the notch 20 portion when the notch 20 is not used, whereby a problem such as interference by the portion not used can be prevented.

In the example of fig. 11, the description has been given of the example in which two spare slits 310 are provided in parallel in the vicinity of the slit 20, but the position, number, orientation, and positional relationship with the slit 20 of the spare slits 310 can be freely set. In the example of fig. 11, the example in which the fracture portion 310B is formed by making the thickness of the side wall of the main body 16 thinner than the other portions is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The fracture portion 310B may be a structure that is easily fractured when the spare incision 310 is used as the incision 20, and may be a structure in which a plurality of openings are arranged in a sewing thread shape, for example.

[ 6 th embodiment ]

In fig. 12, a protection tool 350 according to embodiment 6 is provided with a small diameter portion 352 formed by reducing the inner diameter and the outer diameter of a main body 16 on one end portion side (the side opposite to a pressing portion 24) of the main body 16. By providing the small diameter portion 352 in this manner, the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 can be prevented from penetrating the protection tool 350 when the endoscope to which the protection tool 350 is attached is dropped or the like, and therefore the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 can be protected more reliably. The inner diameter of the small diameter portion 352 is preferably about 2mm smaller than the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion 12 to be protected. For example, it is preferably about 3mm in the case of a transnasal endoscope, about 8mm in the case of a peroral endoscope, and about 11mm in the case of a lower endoscope.

In the example of fig. 12, the entire diameter of one end portion side of the main body 16 is reduced, but the diameter of a part of the one end portion side of the main body 16 may be reduced (a tapered portion is provided in the main body 16) so as to function as the small diameter portion 402, as in the protection tool 400 shown in fig. 13. In the example of fig. 12 and 13, the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the main body 16 are reduced, but only the inner diameter of the main body 16 may be reduced to function as the small diameter portions 452 and 502 as in the protection tools 450 and 500 shown in fig. 14 and 15.

Further, the small diameter portion is only required to prevent the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 from penetrating the protection tool, and therefore, the inner diameter does not need to be reduced over the entire circumference of the main body 16. Therefore, as in the protection tool 550 shown in fig. 16, the inner diameter may be reduced only in a part of the inner circumference of the main body 16 by providing a convex portion or the like on the inner circumference so as to function as the small diameter portion 552. Further, reducing the inner diameter of the main body 16 also includes making the inner diameter of the main body 16 0, that is, closing one end side of the main body 16. However, in this case, the cleaning performance of the protection tool is lowered. Therefore, the inner diameter of the small diameter portion is preferably larger than 0.

In addition, in the case where the small diameter portion is provided, if the connection between the small diameter portion and the portion other than the small diameter portion is not gentle (if the connection is a connection type in which the inclination of the tangent line sharply changes at a boundary between the small diameter portion and the portion other than the small diameter portion), the cleaning performance is degraded. Therefore, the small diameter portion and the portion other than the small diameter portion are preferably connected gently (a connection mode in which the inclination of the tangent line gently changes from the small diameter portion to the portion other than the small diameter portion). This makes the inner and outer surfaces of the main body 16 smooth, thereby improving the cleaning performance. Of course, the cleaning performance may be improved by gently connecting the portion other than the small diameter portion (for example, the front and/or rear end of the main body 16, the notch 20, and the like) and the other portion.

[ 7 th embodiment ]

In fig. 17, the protection tool 600 according to embodiment 7 is provided with a strength reduction portion 602 having lower strength than the other portions of the main body 16 by reducing the thickness of the side wall of the protection tool 600 on the one end portion side (the side opposite to the pressing portion 24) of the main body 16. By providing the strength reducing portion 602 in this manner, the strength reducing portion 602 can be deformed to prevent the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 from penetrating the protection tool 600 when the endoscope to which the protection tool 600 is attached is dropped or the like, and therefore, the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 can be protected more reliably.

In the example of fig. 17, the description has been given of an example in which only a part of the one end side of the main body 16 functions as the strength reducing portion 602, but the entire one end side of the main body 16 may function as the strength reducing portion 652 as in the protection tool 650 shown in fig. 18. Further, although the strength is reduced by reducing the thickness of the side wall, the strength may be reduced by changing the material and/or providing an opening or a notch so that the strength is reduced to function as a strength reducing portion.

[ 8 th embodiment ]

In fig. 19, the protection tool 700 according to embodiment 8 is formed such that the accommodating portion 22 is curved along the accommodating direction when the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 is accommodated in the protection tool 700. By bending the housing section 22 in this manner, the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion section 12 can be prevented from penetrating the protection tool 700 when the endoscope to which the protection tool 700 is attached is dropped or the like, and therefore the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion section 12 can be protected more reliably. In the example of fig. 19, the accommodating portion 22 is bent to the opposite side of the notch 20, but the bending direction may be changed as appropriate.

[ 9 th embodiment ]

In fig. 20, the protection tool 750 according to embodiment 9 is provided with a mark 752 indicating a reference of an arrival position of the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 in the housing portion 22. The mark 752 is formed of a printed matter and/or a concave-convex provided on the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery of the accommodating portion 22. By providing the mark 752 in this manner, it is easy to grasp how much the distal end 14 of the endoscope insertion portion 12 should be inserted into the protection tool 750, and it is convenient. In the example of fig. 20, the arrival position is indicated by a linear mark 752, but the arrival position may be indicated by a mark such as an arrow, an illustration, a message using characters, or the like.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments 1 to 9, the description has been given of the example in which the axial direction of the protection tool (main body) is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the notch, but the present invention is not limited to this. The longitudinal direction of the slit may be inclined in a direction other than the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the protection tool.

In addition, the protection tool of the present invention is preferably subjected to antistatic treatment on the main body 16 from the viewpoints of preventing adhesion of dust and the like and preventing damage to electronic components such as a camera due to discharge. Examples of the antistatic treatment include mixing an antistatic agent with a material for forming a protective tool and/or subjecting the surface of the protective tool to antistatic treatment.

Description of the symbols

10. 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750-protective tool (front end protective tool for endoscope), 12-endoscope insertion portion, 14-front end, 16-main body, 20-incision, 20A-end (end of incision), 22-accommodating portion, 24-pressing portion, 26-notch, 102-opening, 310-backup incision, 310A-end opening, 310B-breaking portion, 352, 402, 452, 502, 552-small diameter portion, 602, 652-strength reducing portion, 752-mark, width of W-incision, inner diameter of ID-protective tool (main body), thickness of side wall of T-protective tool (main body), length of L1-accommodating portion, length of L2-pressing portion, center of inner periphery of main body, center of outer periphery of C2-main body, and D-eccentricity (distance between center of inner periphery and center of outer periphery of main body).

Claims (16)

1. An endoscope distal end protection tool comprising:

a cylindrical main body formed using a material having elasticity; and

a slit-shaped slit provided between one end portion and the other end portion of the main body,

the main body is divided into an accommodating portion on the one end side and a pressing portion on the other end side by the cutout,

elastically deforming the main body to enlarge an opening area of the slit, thereby accommodating a distal end of the endoscope insertion portion in the accommodating portion via the slit,

when the distal end is accommodated in the accommodating portion, the pressing portion presses the endoscope insertion portion against an inner wall of the accommodating portion by a restoring force from the elastic deformation and holds the endoscope insertion portion in the accommodating portion.

2. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to claim 1,

the end of the slit is formed in a circular or polygonal shape having a diameter greater than the width of the slit.

3. The endoscope tip protection tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the slit enlarges the width of the center.

4. The endoscope tip protection tool according to claim 3,

the cutout is formed with an arc-shaped notch on the pressing portion side, thereby widening the width of the center.

5. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the pressing portion is formed with an opening.

6. The endoscope tip protection tool according to claim 5, wherein,

the opening is formed in at least two, and is disposed on one end side and the other end side of the slit with a center of the slit interposed therebetween.

7. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to claim 5 or 6,

the opening is in the shape of a long hole that is long in the axial direction of the main body.

8. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the center axis of the inner periphery of the main body is eccentric with respect to the center axis of the outer periphery of the main body.

9. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to claim 8,

the center axis of the inner circumference of the main body is eccentric in a direction away from the notch.

10. The distal end protecting tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the main body is formed using a material having light transmittance.

11. The distal end protecting tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

the friction resistance of the cutout is higher than the inner and outer peripheries of the main body.

12. The distal end protecting tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

the one end side of the main body is provided with a small diameter portion formed by reducing the inner diameter of the main body.

13. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

the one end side of the main body is provided with a strength reducing portion that reduces the strength of the main body.

14. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

the accommodating portion is curved along an accommodating direction of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion.

15. The distal end protecting tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 14,

the housing section is provided with a mark indicating a reference of an arrival position of the distal end of the endoscope insertion section.

16. The tip protection tool for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 15,

the body is subjected to an antistatic treatment.

Images