Endoscope

Abstract

An endoscope includes a flexible tube and a connection mouth ring. The flexible tube includes a helical tube, a braid tube disposed outside the helical tube, and an outer tube disposed outside the braid tube. The endoscope further includes a caulking member which caulks the end of the braid tube from the outside of the connection mouth ring in a state held therebetween. The end of the helical tube is connected by thermal action to the connection mouth ring, and a part where the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring is positioned differently along the axis of the connection mouth ring from a part where the end of the braid tube is caulked against the connection mouth ring.

1 . An endoscope comprising:
 a flexible tube including a helical tube, a braid tube disposed outside the helical tube, and a flexible outer tube disposed outside the braid tube;   a cylindrical connection mouth ring connected to an end of the flexible tube; and   a caulking member by which an end of the braid tube is caulked outside the connection mouth ring in a state held therebetween,   wherein an end of the helical tube is connected by thermal action to the connection mouth ring inside the braid tube, and   a part where the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring is positioned differently along the axis of the connection mouth ring from a part where the end of the braid tube is caulked against the connection mouth ring by the caulking member.   
   
   
       2 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring circumferentially or along the helical of the helical tube. 
   
   
       3 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the part where the end of the braid tube is caulked against the connection mouth ring by the caulking member is located at a distal end side of the part where the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring. 
   
   
       4 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein thickness of the connection mouth ring is formed to be greater in the part where the end of the braid tube is caulked against the connection mouth ring by the caulking member than in the part where the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring. 
   
   
       5 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the end of the connection mouth ring has an inside diameter equal to or smaller than the outside diameter of the helical tube when independent and in a free state, and   an outer peripheral surface of the end of the helical tube is connected in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the connection mouth ring.   
   
   
       6 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the end of the connection mouth ring has an outside diameter equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the helical tube when independent and in a free state, and   an inner peripheral surface of the end of the helical tube is connected in close contact with an outer peripheral surface of the connection mouth ring.   
   
   
       7 . The endoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection mouth ring includes, outside the connection mouth ring, a positioning portion which positions the caulking member with respect to the connection mouth ring.