Electric heating – Metal heating – Of cylinders
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-08
2004-04-06
Elve, M. Alexandra (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
Of cylinders
C219S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06717092
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a treatment instrument of an endoscope, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing which includes a step of connecting parts of the treatment instrument of the endoscope.
Most of the treatment instruments of an endoscope has a connected portions. For example, an instrument having an operation wire and forceps to be operated, there is a portion where an end of the wire is connected to a mechanism for moving the forceps. For another example, an instrument may have a portion to be bent easily and a portion which is formed to be relatively rigid. Such portions may be formed with coils made of thin wires and thick wires, respectively, and the flexible and rigid portions are soldered.
The soldered connection has, however, various disadvantages. For example, residual flux may corrode the coils, or when the coils are soldered, a positional relationship between the coils may change.
Japanese Utility Model Publication HEI 07-13692 disclosed a connecting structure in which a proximal end of a coil and a distal end of another coil are heat-melted by a laser beam, and then the melted portions are connected. In such a method, however, since the laser beam is used, the proximal end of one coil and the distal end of the other coil should contact without a clearance so that the laser beam does not leak therefrom. For this purpose, the end surfaces should be made flat by grinding, which requires an extra working process.
Another type of instrument is a brush instrument such as a cleaning brush for cleaning the instrument channel of the endoscope or a cytological brush for collecting tissues in the human cavity. The brush instrument includes an operation wire and a brush unit secured to the tip of the operation wire. Generally, the brush unit is made of synthetic resin, while the wire is made of metal. Since such a brush instrument is to be inserted through the instrument channel of the endoscope or human tissues, a collar is provided at the tip of the operation wire. Typically, the collar is fixed on the wire using solder, and sometimes a sufficient amount of the solder is provided to round the edges of the collar.
Since the collar is secured to the wire by soldering, residual flux may corrode the wire. Further, since the brush unit is formed of the synthetic resin, in order to avoid overheating of the brush unit, the soldering process should be done within a relatively short period of time, which sometimes makes it difficult to firmly secure the collar to the tip of the wire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing treatment instrument of an endoscope, in which parts of the treatment instrument can be connected with a relatively simple method, without the disadvantages as above.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing instrument of an endoscope, in which the tip of a wire which is to be moved in the axial direction thereof is processed so as not to scratch or hurt the instrument channel of the endoscope, or human tissues.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a treatment instrument of an endoscope, the treatment instrument including a first coil and a second coil that is different from the first coil and to be connected to the first coil, an operation wire, and a device secured to a distal end of the first coil, the wire being inserted through the first coil and the second coil, a distal end of the wire being connected to the device, the device being driven by the wire when the wire being moved in the first coil and the second coil. Such a method includes inserting one end of the first coil and one end of the second coil in a connection pipe from opposite ends thereof, and exposing ends of the connection pipe and portions of the first coil and the second coil corresponding to the ends of the connection pipe to arc columns, respectively. The portions exposed to the arc columns are melted, and thereafter, solidified.
Optionally, an outer diameter of the connection pipe member may be substantially the same as an outer diameter of the first coil outside the connection pipe and an outer diameter of the second coil outside the connection pipe, and an inner diameter of the connection pipe member may be substantially the same as an outer diameter of the first coil inside the connection pipe and an outer diameter of the second coil inside the connection pipe.
Further optionally, a plurality of positions, along a circumferential direction, of a portion where an end of the connection pipe is to be connected to the first coil are exposed to arc columns, respectively, and a plurality of positions, along a circumferential direction, of a portion where an other end of the connection pipe is to be connected to the second coil may be exposed to arc columns, respectively.
Still optionally, the connection pipe may be formed with a plurality of through holes, each of which is exposed to an arc column. With such a structure, an edge portion of each of the through holes and one of the first and second coils located at each of the through holes are heated and melted.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided another method of manufacturing a treatment instrument of an endoscope. The treatment instrument may include a first coil and a second coil that is different from the first coil and to be connected to the first coil, an operation wire, and a treatment device secured to a distal end of the first coil. The wire may be inserted through the first coil and the second coil, a distal end of the wire being connected to the treatment device. The treatment device can be driven by the wire when the wire is moved in the first coil and the second coil. The method includes generating an arc column between a contact portion where a proximal end side of the first coil and a distal end side of the second coil contact with each other and an electrode located in the vicinity of the contact portion, the proximal end side of the first coil and the distal end side of the second coil located at the contact portion being melted as exposed to the arc column, and solidified as cooled.
Optionally, a plurality of positions, along a circumferential direction, of the contact portion are exposed to arc columns, respectively.
Further optionally, the first coil may include a flexible coil, and wherein the second coil includes a rigid coil.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a further method of manufacturing a treatment instrument of an endoscope. The treatment instrument may includes a first guide coil, an operation wire, and a device to be operated, the wire being inserted through the first guide coil, a distal end of the wire being connected to the device, the device being driven by the wire when the wire being moved in the first guide coil. The method may include inserting the first guide coil into a first cover coil, and exposing a plurality of portions of the first cover coil at positions where the first cover coil covers the first guide coil to arc columns, respectively. In this case, the first cover coil and the first guide coil at portions exposed to the arc columns can be melted, and thereafter, solidified.
Optionally, the exposing includes locating an electrode at each of the plurality of portions, and applying a predetermined voltage between the first cover coil and the electrode to generate the arc column therebetween.
Still optionally, the instrument may be a biopsy forceps having a pair of cups that is opened/closed by operation of the operation wire.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an endoscope. The endoscope may include a first guide coil, and an operation wire, the wire being inserted through the first guide coil, a distal end portion of the endoscope being provided with a moving mechanism, a distal end of the wire being connected to the moving
Iwasaka Kikuo
Kurosawa Hidehito
Matsuno Shinichi
Nanba Hideo
Obata Yoshihiro
Elve M. Alexandra
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
McHenry Kevin
PENTAX Corporation
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