JP3523393B2 - Optical fiber bundle for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope optical fiber bundle formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, an optical fiber bundle for an endoscope is formed by bundling thousands to tens of thousands of thin optical fibers having a diameter of about 0.01 mm to 0.03 mm, and forming the bundle inside the endoscope. Are located. [0003] However, if the bundle of optical fibers is directly arranged in the endoscope, the optical fibers come into contact with other members and break.
The bundle of optical fibers is placed inside the endoscope in a state of being covered with a flexible covering tube. FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional optical fiber bundle for image transmission. Insides of metal pipe caps 2 and 3 are fitted to both ends of a bundle 1 of optical fibers, respectively. It is integrally fixed by the agent. [0005] The outside of the optical fiber bundle 1 is covered with a flexible covering tube 4 over its entire length, and both ends of the covering tube 4 are adhered to the outer peripheral surfaces of the bases 2 and 3 to form a thread. They are tied up at 5,6. FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional optical fiber bundle for illumination. A bundle 1 of optical fibers is divided into two branches in the middle, and bases 3 and 3 are fixed to respective ends thereof. The coating tubes 4 ', 4 are coated on each of the parts and the parts which are not. [0007] In order to sterilize the apparatus after using the endoscope, high-pressure steam sterilization, ethylene oxide gas sterilization, and the like are performed. The pressure is temporarily reduced to a considerably lower pressure to replace the gas. [0008] Then, there is a case in which a flexible member that covers the endoscope, such as a covering tube of a curved portion, swells and bursts. Therefore, various measures have been taken for the endoscope so that when the pressure outside the device becomes low, the pressure inside the device also decreases. However, when the pressure inside the endoscope decreases in the sterilizer, the optical fiber bundle disposed there is covered with the covering tube, and the pressure does not decrease immediately, so that the covering tube expands. May burst. [0010] Then, the optical fiber may be broken due to an impact when the coated tube ruptures or comes into contact with other members during subsequent use, and the optical performance may be significantly reduced. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for sterilizing an endoscope that does not cause rupture of the coating tube of the optical fiber bundle and damage to the optical fiber even if the pressure inside the device of the endoscope decreases. It is an object to provide an optical fiber bundle for an endoscope. [0012] In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber bundle for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises an endoscope which is arranged inside an endoscope by bundling a number of optical fibers. In the optical fiber bundle for a mirror, the bundle of optical fibers is covered with a flexible covering tube having high vapor permeability, which easily transmits gas and vapor, and ventilation between the inside and the outside of the covering tube is provided. A vent for allowing the air to flow is formed in the coated tube. Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an optical fiber bundle for image transmission arranged in an endoscope. At both ends of a bundle 1 of optical fibers, metal pipe bases 2 and 3 are fitted and adhered, respectively. It is integrally fixed by the agent. The bundle 1 of optical fibers is arranged so that the fibers are arranged in the same manner on both end faces. The bundle 1 of optical fibers is covered over its entire length with a covering tube 4 made of a flexible tube having high vapor permeability, such as a silicone rubber tube, through which gas and vapor can easily pass. The both ends of 4 are adhered to the outer peripheral surfaces of the bases 2 and 3 and are fastened by the threads 5 and 6. The coating tube 4 includes a coating tube 4
A plurality of ventilation holes 7 are provided at appropriate intervals to allow ventilation between the inside and the outside of the tube, and the breathability of the silicone rubber tube itself having high vapor permeability is remarkably enhanced. . Accordingly, the optical fiber bundle covered with the coating tube 4 and placed in the endoscope is such that the endoscope is placed in the sterilizer and the pressure inside and outside the endoscope apparatus is rapidly increased. In this case, the pressure in the coating tube 4 decreases without delay not only by the ventilation through the material itself of the coating tube 4 but also by the ventilation through the ventilation hole 7 having a larger air permeability. The tube 4 does not expand and burst. It is sufficient that the ventilation hole 7 is formed in at least one place. And the shape is covered tube 4
Any shape may be used as long as it allows ventilation between the inside and the outside of the device, for example, it may be a simple notch. FIG. 4 shows an optical fiber bundle for illumination arranged in the endoscope. The bundle 1 of optical fibers is divided into two in the middle, and the end on the fork side is used as an emission end. And
The end on the side integrated into one is used as the incident end. Metal mouthpieces 2 and 3 are fixed to both ends of the incident end side and the exit end side, respectively, and a covering made of, for example, a silicon rubber tube is provided on each of the forked portion and the united portion. The tubes 4 ', 4 are covered.
In the part where the forked part is divided, the forked side covering tube 4 ′ is inserted into the one side of the covering tube 4. Since the ventilation holes 7 are formed in each of the coating tubes 4 'and 4, the endoscope is placed in the sterilizing apparatus in the same manner as the optical fiber bundle for image transmission shown in FIG. If the pressure inside and outside the endoscope device drops rapidly,
The covering tubes 4 ', 4 do not swell and burst. In this case as well, the vent hole 7 may be formed at least in one place as a whole.
Any shape may be used as long as it allows ventilation between the inside and outside of the coating tube 4. According to the present invention, the optical fiber bundle disposed inside the endoscope is covered with the coating tube having high vapor permeability, which easily transmits gas and vapor, and By forming a ventilation hole for ventilation between the inside and the outside in the covering tube, the endoscope is placed in the sterilizer and the pressure inside and outside the endoscope device is rapidly reduced. In some cases, in addition to the ventilation through the material of the sheath tube itself, the ventilation through the ventilation holes with even greater ventilation reduces the pressure in the sheath tube without delay, causing the sheath tube to swell and burst. The optical fiber is not damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image transmission optical fiber bundle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber bundle for illumination according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber bundle for image transmission. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber bundle for illumination. [Description of Signs] 1 Bundle of optical fibers 4, 4 'Coated tube 7 Vent

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-57-160428 (JP, A) JP-A-60-63814 (JP, U) JP-A-60-160801 (JP, U) JP-A Sho 62- 167211 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] An endoscope optical fiber bundle which is arranged inside an endoscope by bundling a large number of optical fibers, comprising a silicone rubber tube which is permeable to gas and vapor. An endoscope, wherein the bundle of optical fibers is covered with a flexible covering tube, and a ventilation hole for allowing ventilation between the inside and outside of the covering tube is formed in the covering tube. Optical fiber bundle for mirror.