FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE, AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SAME
FIG1 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a flexible endoscope of the present invention
FIG1 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a flexible endoscope of the present invention. In FIG1, the light guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube 103 included in the catheter portion 102 is connected to a first connection terminal 106 inside the connection plug 104. The image guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube 103 included in the catheter portion 102 is connected to a second connection terminal 108 inside the connection plug 104. Furthermore, in the connection plug 104 shown in FIG1, the proximal end of the catheter tube 103 is accommodated together with the proximal ends of the image guide and the light guide in two covers 105 and 105' that are molded so as to have a hollow portion. The first connection terminal 106 and the second connection terminal 108 are arranged to protrude from the hollow covers 105 and 105' of the connection plug 104 and extend substantially in parallel. Here, the catheter tube 103 is passed through a flexible tube 107 attached to the hollow covers 105 and 105', and accommodated and fixed inside the hollow covers 105 and 105'. It is preferable that the flexible tube 107 is made of a material having appropriate elasticity, and specific examples of the material include silicone rubber, natural or synthetic rubber, polyimide, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyamide. Furthermore, in the first connection terminal 106 and the second connection terminal 108, ferrule flange portions 117 and 121 that the first connection terminal 106 and the second connection terminal 108 are respectively provided with are locked to the terminal arrangement portions 119 and 123 of the hollow cover 105. This makes it possible to prevent the first connection terminal 106 and the second connection terminal 108 from coming loose from the hollow covers 105 and 105' of the connection plug 104 shown in FIG1. In the flexible endoscope 100 of the present invention shown in FIG1, the length of the catheter portion 102 is not particularly limited, but the catheter portion 102 is designed to preferably have a length of 1000 mm to 2500 mm, and more preferably 1200 mm to 2300 mm. In contrast, the catheter portion 102 preferably has an average outer diameter of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm.
diagram
103
catheter tube
160
end fitting
100
flexible endoscope
104
connection plug
102
catheter portion
108
second connection terminal
106
first connection terminal
107
flexible tube
['1. An angioscope comprising: a catheter portion; and a connection plug, wherein the catheter portion includes an image guide, a light guide, and a catheter tube that surrounds the image guide and the light guide in a longitudinal direction, the connection plug includes a hollow cover that accommodates a proximal end of the catheter tube, a flexible tube that protrudes from the hollow cover and through which the catheter tube is passed, a first connection terminal that is connected to the light guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube, and a second connection terminal that is connected to the image guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube, the image guide and the light guide are slidable inside the catheter tube, the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal protrude from the hollow cover of the connection plug substantially in parallel, and at least one of the image guide and the light guide is arranged curved inside the hollow cover of the connection plug.']