JP2009028143A - Polymer actuator type curving device in endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a polymer actuator type curving device in an endoscope capable of easily and surely connecting lead wires (electrodes) to a polymer actuator and preventing the enlargement of a curving section. <P>SOLUTION: This curving device is provided with: a substantially tubular conductive polymer layer 33 provided in the curving section 20 near the distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope; electrodes 38 and 39 having contact sections 40 abutting on the outer circumferential face of the conductive polymer layer and supplying a power from a power supply from the contacts section to the conductive polymer layer; and an elastic pushing member 43 elastically contacting with the contact sections 40 and the conductive polymer layer from the outer circumferential side and pushing the contact sections toward the outer circumferential side of the conductive polymer layer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a polymer actuator bending device in an endoscope that bends a bending portion using a polymer actuator.

Patent Document 1 discloses a bending drive device (micro device) for medical use or industrial use.
This bending drive device includes a resin tube 2, a conductive layer 3 covering the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 2, four conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, 144 covering the outer peripheral surface of the conductive layer 3, And an electrolyte layer 5 that covers each of the conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, and 144.
Each of the conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, and 144 is connected to a power source 55 through lead wires 54 and 54 ', respectively. When the electric power generated by the power source 55 is supplied to the respective conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, 144 via the lead wires 54, 54 ', the respective conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, 144 are bent. The actuator bends.
JP 2004-350495 A

Patent Document 1 does not disclose how to connect the lead wires 54, 54 ′ and the respective conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, 144 specifically.
Soldering can be used as long as the lead wire is connected to another metal material. However, since the conductive polymer layers 141, 142, 143, 144 are not metal, the lead wires 54, 54 ′ and the respective conductive high layers are not used. The molecular layers 141, 142, 143, 144 cannot be soldered.
In addition, the actuator having the above configuration may be implemented by being provided in a small-diameter member such as a bending portion (insertion portion) of an endoscope. Therefore, the connecting means has a shape that does not cause the actuator to have a large diameter. Are preferred. Furthermore, it is preferable that the connection means can easily perform the connection work.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer actuator bending device for an endoscope that can easily and reliably connect a lead wire (electrode) and a polymer actuator and that does not increase the diameter of the bending portion. .

  The polymer actuator bending device in the endoscope of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical conductive polymer layer provided in a bending portion near the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope and extending in the longitudinal direction of the bending portion. A contact portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the conductive polymer layer, and supplies power from a power source provided inside or outside the endoscope to the conductive polymer layer from the contact portion. Elasticity in an annular or substantially annular shape in front view that elastically contacts the electrode built in the endoscope, the contact portion and the conductive polymer layer from the outer peripheral side, and presses the contact portion toward the outer peripheral surface side of the conductive polymer layer. And a pressing member.

  The elastic pressing member is preferably made of a conductive material, and an insulating member is preferably provided between the elastic pressing member and the contact portion.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that an engagement recess having the same shape as the inner periphery of the elastic pressing member is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating member, and the inner periphery of the elastic pressing member is engaged with the engagement recess.

  The elastic pressing member can be constituted by, for example, an elastically deformable C-ring.

The elastic pressing member may be constituted by a coil that can be elastically deformed.
When using a coil, it is preferable to provide an elastically deformable reverse-wound coil wound in the opposite direction to the coil.
Further, instead of providing a reverse-wound coil, the conductive polymer layer is divided into a plurality of partial cylindrical portions along a straight line inclined at a specific angle with respect to the bus bar of the conductive polymer layer. When power is supplied to the polymer layer, a twisting force in a direction to cancel the twisting force of the coil may be generated.

  It is preferable to form a fitting recess on one of the facing surfaces of the contact portion and the conductive polymer layer and to form a fitting projection on the other side to fit the fitting recess.

According to the present invention, the elastic pressing member is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion of the substantially cylindrical conductive polymer layer and the electrode, and the contact portion of the electrode is attached to the conductive polymer layer by the elastic force of the elastic pressing member. Press against the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, it is possible to reliably contact the contact portion and the conductive polymer layer.
Furthermore, the elastic pressing member can be easily mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the conductive polymer layer and the contact portion simply by being positioned on the outer peripheral side of the conductive polymer layer.
Moreover, since the elastic pressing member is annular or substantially annular when viewed from the front, the elastic pressing member can be provided in the annular space existing between the conductive polymer layer and the outer peripheral component member (the outer tube) of the curved portion, so the elastic pressing member is attached. Even so, the diameter of the curved portion does not increase.

  If comprised like Claim 2, even if an elastic press member is an electroconductive thing, the electrical insulation between the contact part of an electrode and an elastic press member is easily realizable.

  If comprised like Claim 3, since the inner peripheral part of an elastic press member engages with the engagement recessed part formed in the outer peripheral surface of an insulating member, the slip with respect to an insulating member of an elastic press member can be prevented effectively. Therefore, the contact between the electrode and the conductive polymer layer and the insulation between the elastic pressing member and the contact are more reliably performed.

  If comprised like Claim 4, an elastic press member is realizable by a very simple structure.

  If comprised like Claim 5, while being able to provide an elastic press member by simple structure, the internal peripheral surface of the member which comprises the outer peripheral surface of a curved part can be supported by an elastic press member (coil). Therefore, even if an external force is applied to the bending portion, the bending portion can be prevented from being recessed.

According to the sixth aspect, when the conductive polymer layer is bent, the coiled elastic pressing member tends to bend while being twisted. However, when the conductive polymer layer is bent, the reverse winding coil is curved while generating a twisting force in a direction opposite to that of the coiled elastic pressing member, so that the twisting force of the coiled elastic pressing member and the reverse winding coil cancel each other. Each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bending portion from being twisted.
On the other hand, according to the seventh aspect, when the conductive polymer layer is bent, each partial cylindrical portion constituting the conductive polymer layer is in a direction opposite to the twisting direction of the coiled elastic pressing member. Since it is going to twist, the twisting force of each partial cylindrical part and a coil-shaped elastic press member mutually cancels. Therefore, the twisting of the bending portion can be prevented without using the reverse winding coil as in the sixth aspect.

  If comprised like Claim 8, since the slip of the contact part of an electrode and a conductive polymer layer can be prevented, it becomes possible to contact a contact part and a conductive polymer layer more reliably.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the front-rear direction defines the distal end side of the insertion portion 12 of the endoscope 10 as “front” and the proximal end side of the insertion portion 12 as “rearward”.
As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 10 according to the present embodiment is a medical electronic endoscope, and has an operation unit 11 held by an operator and a flexible extending forward from the operation unit 11. An insertion portion 12 and a universal tube 15 extending from the operation portion 11 to the opposite side of the insertion portion 12 are provided. At the end of the universal tube 15, a connector that can be connected to a processor 14 incorporating a power supply 13 is provided. The distal end portion 17 of the insertion portion 12 is composed of a cylindrical hard member, and an objective lens, a pair of illumination lenses, a treatment instrument insertion hole (all not shown) and the like are provided on the distal end surface.
An image pickup device (not shown) located immediately after the objective lens is provided inside the distal end portion 17, and a signal line (not shown) extending from the image pickup device includes an insertion portion 12, an operation portion 11, a universal tube 15, and the like. It is connected to the processor 14 through the connector. Therefore, the image observed by the objective lens is displayed on a monitor (not shown) connected to the processor 14 after being imaged by the image sensor and image processing by the processor 14.

The portion located immediately after the distal end portion 17 of the insertion portion 12 is a bending portion 20 that bends in conjunction with the rotation operation of the up and down direction bending operation member 18 and the left and right direction bending operation member 19 provided in the operation portion 11.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical rear support member 23 having a small-diameter portion 21 that forms the front half and a large-diameter portion 22 that forms the rear half is provided at the rear end of the bending portion 20. is there. The rear support member 23 has a through hole 24 that penetrates the rear support member 23 in the axial direction. In addition, a front support member 25 whose diameter is reduced in four stages as it goes rearward is provided at the front end of the curved portion 20. That is, the front support member 25 includes a minimum diameter portion 26, a first intermediate diameter portion 27, a second intermediate diameter portion 28, and a maximum diameter portion 29 that are arranged from the rear toward the front. Further, a through hole 30 extending in the axial direction of the front support member 25 passes through the inside of the front support member 25.
An inner peripheral surface of a front end portion of a resin tube 32 having a cylindrical shape is fitted to the minimum diameter portion 26 of the front support member 25.
A conductive polymer layer 33 which is a substantially cylindrical member having the same length as the resin tube 32 is integrally provided on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 32. The conductive polymer layer 33 includes four partial cylindrical portions 34 and partial cylindrical portions 35 (a circumferential interval between the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34 is 180 °) obtained by dividing the cylinder into four equal parts along the longitudinal direction (bus line direction). And the circumferential interval between the pair of partial cylindrical portions 35 is also 180 °. As shown in FIG. 2, a gap S is formed between the opposing side surfaces of the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35. Further, an electrolyte solution (not shown) is infiltrated into the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35, and the electrolytic solution fills a gap S between the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35. . Accordingly, the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35 can be electrically connected to each other via the electrolytic solution.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rear ends of the resin tube 32 and the conductive polymer layer 33 are terminated immediately before the small diameter portion 21, and the resin tube fixed to the through hole 24 of the rear support member 23. The front half of the support member 36 is fitted and fixed to the rear end of the resin tube 32. Contact portions 40 that are front end portions of the pair of electrodes 38 made of a conductive material are in contact with the rear end portions of the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34, respectively. Contact portions (not shown) which are front end portions of a pair of electrodes 39 made of a conductive material are in contact with each other, and the rear end portions of the four electrodes 38 and the electrodes 39 pass through the through holes 24 and are rear support members. 23 extends to the rear (operation unit 11 side). Furthermore, the front ends of the lead wires L1 and L2 are connected to the rear ends of the electrodes 38 and 39, respectively. The rear ends of the lead wires L1 and L2 are the insertion portion 12 and the operation portion. 11 and the universal tube 15 are extended to the inside of the connector.
Although not shown, the signal line connected to the image sensor, the universal tube 15, the operation unit 11, the insertion unit 12 (bending unit 20), and the illumination lens disposed inside the connector are connected. The light guide fiber passes through the through hole 24 of the rear support member 23, the cylindrical support member 36, the resin tube 32, and the through hole 30 of the front support member 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34 and the pair of partial cylindrical portions 35 and the contact portions 40 of the electrodes 38 and 39 are insulative coatings that are members obtained by rounding a band-shaped insulating material in an annular shape. A material (insulating member) 41 is covered.
Further, a coil (elastic pressing member) 43 and a reverse winding coil 45 are provided between the rear support member 23 and the front support member 25. The coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are both elastically deformable conductive members formed by processing a metal wire, and the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 surround the conductive polymer layer 33.
The front end portion of the coil 43 is elastically engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the second intermediate diameter portion 28 of the front support member 25 in a state where the diameter is slightly larger than the free state. On the other hand, since the rear end portion of the coil 43 is elastically engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating material 41 in a state where the diameter is slightly larger than the free state, the insulating coating material 41 is electrically conductive by the rear end portion of the coil 43. It is pressed toward the conductive polymer layer 33 side. Therefore, the contact portion 40 of the electrode 38 and the contact portion of the electrode 39 are in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the conductive polymer layer 33 by the insulating coating material 41.
The reverse winding coil 45 is coaxially positioned on the inner peripheral side of the coil 43, and the winding direction is opposite to that of the coil 43. The front end portion of the reverse winding coil 45 is elastically engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the first intermediate diameter portion 27 of the front support member 25 in a state where the diameter is slightly larger than the free state. On the other hand, the rear end portion of the reverse winding coil 45 is elastically engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the conductive polymer layer 33 in a state where the diameter is slightly larger than the free state.

On the outer peripheral side of the coil 43, a mesh tube 47 in which a mesh material made of metal is wound in a cylindrical shape is located. The rear end portion of the mesh tube 47 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 21 of the rear support member 23, and the front end portion of the mesh tube 47 is fixed to the rear end surface of the maximum diameter portion 29. The inner peripheral surface of the mesh tube 47 is in contact with the coil 43.
Further, a synthetic resin-made outer tube 48 that forms the entire skin of the insertion portion 12 as well as the bending portion 20 is wound around the outer peripheral surfaces of the rear side support member 23, the front side support member 25, and the coil 43.

Next, the operation of the bending portion 20 will be described.
When the connector of the endoscope 10 is connected to the processor 14 and the vertical bending operation member 18 provided in the operation unit 11 is rotated in one direction, a pair of electrodes is connected from the power supply 13 built in the processor 14 via the lead wire L1. A current flows through 38. Then, a voltage is applied to the pair of partial cylindrical portions 34 connected (contacted) with the contact portion 40 of the electrode 38, so that one partial cylindrical portion 34 is curved upward while contracting, and the other partial cylindrical portion. 34 curves upward while stretching. Further, since the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are also curved upward, the entire bending portion 20 is curved upward. On the other hand, when the vertical bending operation member 18 is rotated in the direction opposite to the above direction, a current flows in the opposite direction from the power source 13 to the pair of electrodes 38 via the lead wire L1, so that one of the partial cylindrical portions 34 expands. While curving downward, the other partial cylindrical portion 34 curves downward while contracting. Furthermore, since the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are bent downward, the entire bending portion 20 is bent downward.
When the left / right bending operation member 19 provided in the operation unit 11 is rotated in one direction, a current flows from the power source 13 to the pair of electrodes 39 via the lead wire L2, so that the contact portion between the pair of electrodes 39 and A voltage is applied to the pair of partial cylindrical portions 35 that are in contact with each other. Then, the one partial cylindrical portion 35 is bent to the right while being contracted, the other partial cylindrical portion 35 is bent to the right while being expanded, and the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are bent to the right. The entire portion 20 is curved to the right. On the other hand, when the left / right bending operation member 19 is rotated in the direction opposite to the above direction, a current flows in the opposite direction from the power source 13 to the pair of electrodes 39 via the lead wire L2, so that one of the partial cylindrical portions 35 expands. While curving to the left, the other partial cylindrical portion 35 curves to the left while contracting. Furthermore, since the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are bent leftward, the entire bending portion 20 is bent leftward.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electrode 38 and the electrode 39 are pressed (mechanically contacted) with the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35 using the coil 43, respectively. The partial cylindrical portion 34 and the electrode 39 and the partial cylindrical portion 35 are electrically connected to each other reliably. Therefore, when the up / down bending operation member 18 or the left / right direction bending operation member 19 is rotated, the bending portion 20 is reliably bent up and down or left and right.
Further, when the coil 43 is positioned on the outer peripheral side of the conductive polymer layer 33 while being elastically deformed so that the diameter of the coil 43 is larger than that in the free state, and the hand is released from the coil 43 in this state, the coil 43 is reduced in diameter by its own elasticity. Since the rear end portion is in pressure contact with the insulating covering material 41 and the front end portion is in pressure contact with the second intermediate diameter portion 28 of the front supporting member 25, the coil 43 is attached to the insulating covering material 41 and the front supporting member 25. Simple.
Moreover, since the coil 43 that is an annular member when viewed from the front can be provided in an annular space that exists between the conductive polymer layer 33 and the mesh tube 47, the coil 43 can be bent even if the coil 43 is provided inside the bending portion 20. The portion 20 does not increase in diameter.
In addition, the coil 43 of this embodiment has not only a function of pressing the electrode 38 and the electrode 39 against the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35, but also a function of supporting the inner peripheral surface of the mesh tube 47. Therefore, when an external force is applied to the surface of the bending portion 20 (outer tube 48), it is possible to effectively prevent the bending portion 20 (outer tube 48) from being recessed toward the inner peripheral side.

Furthermore, although the metal coil 43 and the conductive polymer layer 33 are both conductive, since the insulating coating material 41 made of an insulating material is interposed therebetween, the coil 43 and the conductive polymer layer 33 can be reliably insulated.
When the conductive polymer layer 33 (curved portion 20) is bent, the coil 43 is also bent in the same direction as the conductive polymer layer 33. At this time, the coil 43 tends to twist in a specific direction. If the coil 43 is twisted, the portion constituting the curved portion 20 of the outer tube 48 is twisted, which is a problem. However, in the present embodiment, when the conductive polymer layer 33 (curved portion 20) is curved, the reverse winding coil 45 wound in the opposite direction to the coil 43 generates a twisting force opposite to the twisting direction of the coil 43. Therefore, the twisting forces of the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 45 are canceled out. Therefore, actually, the portion constituting the bending portion 20 of the outer tube 48 is not twisted during bending.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The front support member 50 of the present embodiment is reduced in diameter in three stages toward the rear, and has a small diameter portion 51, an intermediate diameter portion 52, and a large diameter portion 53 in order from the rear. A through hole made up of a small diameter hole 54 and a large diameter hole 55 is formed inside the front support member 50.
In addition, an engaging recess 58 that is recessed in the outer peripheral surface of the front half of a cylindrical tube support member 57 made of synthetic resin is fitted and fixed to the rear end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the resin tube 32. .
A reverse winding coil 60 corresponding to the reverse winding coil 45 of the first embodiment is disposed inside the resin tube 32. The reverse winding coil 60 is provided in the resin tube 32 in a state where the diameter is reduced from the free state, and the outer peripheral portion of the reverse winding coil 60 is in elastic contact with the inner peripheral surface of the resin tube 32. Further, the vicinity of the front end portion of the reverse winding coil 60 is in elastic contact with the small-diameter hole 54 of the front support member 50. Further, the front end portion of the reverse-wound coil 60 is engaged with an annular recess 64 of an annular retainer 63 fixed to the large-diameter hole 55 of the front support member 50 (prevention of forward removal is restricted). A portion of the rear end portion of the reverse winding coil 60 in the circumferential direction is covered with a rear end covering member 66 made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the rear end covering member 66 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the tube support member 57. is doing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the reverse winding coil 60 is positioned inside the resin tube 32. As in the first embodiment, the bending portion 20 of the outer tube 48 is configured when the bending portion 20 is bent. The portion to be twisted can be prevented from being twisted.
Furthermore, since the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 60 are separated by the resin tube 32 and the conductive polymer layer 33, the coil 43 and the reverse winding coil 60 do not come into contact when the bending portion 20 is bent. Therefore, the bending portion 20 can be bent more smoothly.

Finally, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The conductive polymer layer 33 of the present embodiment is also composed of four partial cylindrical portions 71 and partial cylindrical portions 72 (in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, each partial cylindrical portion 71, partial cylindrical portion 72). The partial cylindrical portion 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72 are different in shape from the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35. That is, the side edges of the pair of partial cylindrical portions 71 and the pair of partial cylindrical portions 72 that are spaced apart from each other at an interval of 180 ° are inclined with respect to the axis of the conductive polymer layer 33 in a straight state. (It is also inclined with respect to the cylindrical generatrix which is the outer shape of the conductive polymer layer 33), and a gap S linearly extending in the inclination direction is formed between the adjacent partial cylindrical portions 71 and 72. is doing. Further, the contact portions 40 of the electrodes 38 are in contact with the rear ends of the pair of partial cylindrical portions 71, and the contact portions of the electrodes 39 are in contact with the rear ends of the pair of partial cylindrical portions 72, respectively. . The insulating covering material 41 covers the rear end portions of the outer peripheral surfaces of the electrodes 38 and 39 and the partial cylindrical portion 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72, and the rear end portion of the coil 43 covers the insulating covering material 41 and the partial cylindrical portion. 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72 are pressed.
In this embodiment, there is no coil corresponding to the reverse winding coil 45 of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, when a pair of partial cylindrical portions 71 bend up and down or a pair of partial cylindrical portions 72 bend left and right by passing an electric current through each partial cylindrical portion 71 and partial cylindrical portion 72, the partial cylinders The part 71 and the partial cylindrical part 72 tend to twist in a specific direction. Then, since the direction of the force of the partial cylindrical portion 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72 to be twisted is opposite to the direction of the coil 43 to be twisted, the torsional force of the partial cylindrical portion 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72 and the coil 43. The twisting forces of each other cancel each other.
Therefore, twisting of the bending portion 20 can be prevented without providing a coil corresponding to the reverse winding coil 45 of the first embodiment or the reverse winding coil 60 of the second embodiment.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on each embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can implement, giving various changes.
For example, although the endoscope 10 of the present embodiment is for medical use, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a curved portion of an industrial endoscope. The endoscope may have a built-in power source.
Furthermore, in each embodiment, although the electroconductive polymer layer 33 was comprised by the four partial cylindrical parts 34, 35, 71, 72, you may implement as a plurality of partial cylindrical parts other than four.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an elastically deformable C-ring 70 may be used instead of the coil 43. The C-ring 70 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating material 41 in a state where the diameter is larger than the free state, and presses the insulating coating material 41 toward the inner peripheral side by the elastic force when the C-ring 70 is installed.
Thus, even when the C-ring 70 is used, the electrode 38 and the electrode 39 can be reliably brought into contact with the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the partial cylindrical portion 35 (or the partial cylindrical portion 71 and the partial cylindrical portion 72).
Moreover, since the structure of the C-ring 70 is simpler than that of the coil 43, it can be manufactured at a lower cost.
Further, since the C-ring 70 does not generate a twist when the bending portion 20 is bent, the reverse winding coil 45 and the reverse winding coil 60 are not necessary, and the conductive polymer layer 33 is formed of the partial cylindrical portion 71 of the third embodiment, It is not necessary to configure like the partial cylindrical portion 72.

Moreover, it is also possible to implement like the modification shown in FIG.
A plurality of helical engagement recesses 75 formed at the same inclination angle as the coil 43 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating covering material 41. The cross-sectional shape of each engaging recess 75 is the same as the inner peripheral portion of the coil 43, and the inner peripheral portion of the rear end portion of the coil 43 is engaged with the engaging recess 75. By doing so, the slip of the rear end portion of the coil 43 and the insulating covering material 41 is prevented, so that the contact portion 40 of the electrode 38 contacts the partial cylindrical portion 34 (or the partial cylindrical portion 71) and the electrode 39. The portion and the partial cylindrical portion 35 (or the partial cylindrical portion 72) can be more reliably brought into contact with each other.
Further, a plurality of fitting projections 76 project from the portion of the electrode 38 facing the partial cylindrical portion 34, and each fitting convex portion 76 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the partial cylindrical portion 34 (or the partial cylindrical portion 71). A plurality of fitting recesses 77 into which are fitted are provided. Similarly, although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of fitting convex portions project from the portion of the electrode 39 facing the partial cylindrical portion 35 (or the partial cylindrical portion 72), and the outer periphery of the partial cylindrical portion 35. The surface is provided with a plurality of fitting recesses into which the fitting protrusions of the electrode 39 are fitted. If comprised in this way, the slip between the contact part 40 of the electrode 38 and the partial cylindrical part 34 (partial cylindrical part 71) and the slip between the contact part of the electrode 39 and the partial cylindrical part 35 (partial cylindrical part 72) will occur. This prevents the contact portion 40 of the electrode 38 and the partial cylindrical portion 34 and the contact portion of the electrode 39 and the partial cylindrical portion 35 from contacting each other more reliably. Note that fitting recesses may be formed in the electrodes 38 and 39, and fitting protrusions may be formed in the partial cylindrical portion 34 (or partial cylindrical portion 71) and the partial cylindrical portion 35 (or partial cylindrical portion 72).

1 is an overall view of an endoscope and a processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a vertical side view of the bending part of an endoscope. FIG. 5 is a side view of a bending portion in which a mesh tube and an outer tube are omitted and only an upper half portion is viewed in cross section. It is a vertical side view similar to FIG. 2 of the curved part of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the curved part similar to FIG. 3 in 2nd Embodiment. The vertical side view similar to FIG. 2 of the curved part of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the modification of an elastic press member. It is a side view which shows only the upper half part of the rear-end part inside a curved part of another modification by cross-sectional view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Operation part 12 Insertion part 13 Power supply 14 Processor 15 Universal tube 17 Tip part 18 Up-down direction bending operation member 19 Left-right direction bending operation member 20 Bending part 21 Small diameter part 22 Large diameter part 23 Back side support member 24 Through-hole 25 Front side support member 26 Minimum diameter part 27 First intermediate diameter part 28 Second intermediate diameter part 29 Maximum diameter part 30 Through hole 32 Resin tube 33 Conductive polymer layer 34 35 Partial cylindrical part 36 Cylindrical support member 38 39 Electrode 40 Contact part 41 Insulating coating material (insulating member)
43 Coil (elastic pressing member)
45 Reverse-wound coil 47 Reticulated tube 48 Outer tube 50 Front support member 51 Small-diameter portion 52 Intermediate-diameter portion 53 Large-diameter portion 54 Small-diameter hole 55 Large-diameter hole 57 Tube support member 58 Engagement recess 60 Reverse-winding coil 63 Annular retainer 64 Annular recess 66 Rear End covering member 70 C ring (elastic pressing member)
71 72 Partial cylindrical portion 75 Engaging recess 76 Fitting projection 77 Fitting recess L1 L2 Lead wire S Gap

Claims (8)

A substantially cylindrical conductive polymer layer extending in the longitudinal direction of the bending portion provided in the bending portion in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope;
The endoscope has a contact portion that abuts the outer peripheral surface of the conductive polymer layer, and supplies power from a power source provided inside or outside the endoscope to the conductive polymer layer from the contact portion. Electrodes built into the mirror,
An elastic pressing member in a front view or substantially annular shape that elastically contacts the contact portion and the conductive polymer layer from the outer peripheral side, and presses the contact portion to the outer peripheral surface side of the conductive polymer layer;
A polymer actuator bending device for an endoscope, comprising: In the polymer actuator type bending apparatus in the endoscope according to claim 1,
The elastic pressing member is made of a conductive material,
A polymer actuator bending device in an endoscope in which an insulating member is provided between the elastic pressing member and the contact portion. In the polymer actuator type bending apparatus in the endoscope according to claim 2,
A polymer actuator in an endoscope in which an engagement recess having the same shape as the inner periphery of the elastic pressing member is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating member, and the inner periphery of the elastic pressing member is engaged with the engagement recess. Type bending device. The polymer actuator-type bending apparatus for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A polymer actuator bending device in an endoscope, wherein the elastic pressing member is a C-ring that is elastically deformable. The polymer actuator-type bending apparatus for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A polymer actuator-type bending apparatus in an endoscope, wherein the elastic pressing member is an elastically deformable coil. In the polymer actuator type bending apparatus in the endoscope according to claim 5,
A polymer actuator bending device in an endoscope comprising an elastically deformable reverse wound coil wound in a direction opposite to the coil. In the polymer actuator type bending apparatus in the endoscope according to claim 5,
When the conductive polymer layer is divided into a plurality of partial cylindrical portions along a straight line inclined at a specific angle with respect to the bus of the conductive polymer layer, and power is supplied to the conductive polymer layer A polymer actuator bending apparatus for an endoscope that generates a twisting force in a direction to cancel the twisting force of the coil. The polymer actuator-type bending apparatus for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Polymer actuator bending device in an endoscope in which a fitting recess is formed on one of the opposing surfaces of the contact portion and the conductive polymer layer, and a fitting projection is formed on the other side. .

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