Insertion assisting device and endoscope apparatus

Abstract

An insertion assisting device 60 has an insertion path 70 into which an insertion portion 12 of an endoscope 100 is inserted and has a substantially tubular shape. The insertion assisting device 60 includes a ventilation opening 90 that is formed on a distal-end surface or outer circumferential surface thereof, a ventilation duct 74 that communicates with the opening 90 and is different from the insertion path 70, and a liquid reservoir tank 116 that is connected to a base-end side of the duct 74 and stores liquid flowing out of the duct 74.

1 . An insertion assisting device having a substantially tubular shape, the insertion assisting device comprising:
 an insertion path into which an insertion portion of an endoscope is inserted;   a ventilation hole that is formed on a distal-end surface or outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting device;   a ventilation duct that communicates with the ventilation hole and is different from the insertion path; and   a liquid storage unit that is connected to a base-end side of the ventilation duct and stores liquid flowing out of the ventilation duct.   
     
     
         2 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid storage unit is a liquid reservoir tank, and   the liquid reservoir tank includes
 a pipe having
 one end that communicates with the ventilation duct, and 
 the other end that is disposed in the liquid reservoir tank, and 
 
 a discharge path through which gas within the tank is discharged. 
   
     
     
         3 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid storage unit is detachably mounted on a grasp portion of the insertion assisting device. 
     
     
         4 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein a check valve for preventing a flow from the base-end side of the ventilation duct to a distal-end side of the ventilation duct is provided in the ventilation duct or a duct communicating with the ventilation duct. 
     
     
         5 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation duct is connected to a suction device through the liquid storage unit. 
     
     
         6 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 5 , wherein an opening that communicates with a portion diverging from the ventilation duct is formed in a grasp portion of the insertion assisting device. 
     
     
         7 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid storage unit includes a liquid holding unit that holds the stored liquid therein. 
     
     
         8 . The insertion assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein an inflatable balloon is mounted on the outer circumference of the distal-end portion of the insertion assisting device. 
     
     
         9 . An endoscope apparatus comprising:
 an endoscope having an insertion portion; and   an insertion assisting device having a substantially tubular shape, wherein the insertion assisting device includes
 an insertion path into which the insertion portion of an endoscope is inserted; 
 a ventilation hole that is formed on a distal-end surface or outer circumferential surface of the insertion assisting device, and 
 a ventilation duct that communicates with the ventilation hole and is different from the insertion path, and 
   the ventilation duct is connected to a suction device through a duct provided in the endoscope.   
     
     
         10 . The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the duct, which is provided in the endoscope, is inserted into an inside of a universal cable that extends from a hand operation unit of the endoscope, so as to be connected to another equipment.   
     
     
         11 . The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the duct, which is provided in the endoscope, is a forceps channel through which suction is performed from a forceps port formed on a distal-end portion of the insertion portion, and   the ventilation duct of the insertion assisting device communicates with the forceps channel.   
     
     
         12 . The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 an opening that communicates with a portion diverging from the ventilation duct is formed in a grasp portion of the insertion assisting device, and   the ventilation duct is opened to an outside through the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein an inflatable balloon is mounted on the outer circumference of the distal-end portion of the insertion assisting device.