Medical system and endoscope

Abstract

A medical system comprises: an endoscope comprising a joint; and a drive device that generates a driving force that bends the joint. The endoscope comprises a first tube comprising the joint, a second tube, a connecting portion that rotatably connects the first tube and the second tube about a rotation axis extending in longitudinal direction of the endoscope, and an attachment or detachment portion that connects the second tube and the drive device so that the driving force can be transmitted. The drive device bends the joint by transmitting the driving force to the joint via the second tube, the connecting portion, and the first tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical system comprising:
 an endoscope having a joint; and   a drive device that generates a driving force that bends the joint,   wherein the endoscope comprises
 a first tube comprising the joint, 
 a second tube, 
 a connecting portion that rotatably connects the first tube and the second tube about a rotation axis extending in longitudinal direction of the endoscope, and 
 an attachment or detachment portion that connects the second tube and the drive device so that the driving force can be transmitted, 
   the drive device bends the joint by transmitting the driving force to the joint via the second tube, the connecting portion, and the first tube.   
     
     
         2 . The medical system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the connecting portion comprises an opening that communicates with internal path of the endoscope, and   the opening is provided in a part that rotates in conjunction with the second tube.   
     
     
         3 . The medical system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the endoscope comprising a wire attached to the joint, and   the drive device electrically drives the wire to transmit the driving force to the joint to bend the joint.   
     
     
         4 . The medical system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the joint comprising a first joint on a distal end side and a second joint on a proximal end side,   the wire comprises a first wire and a second wire,   a distal end side of the first wire is attached to the first joint,   a distal end side of the second wire is attached to the second joint, and   the first joint and the second joint can be curved in different directions.   
     
     
         5 . The medical system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an external connecting portion that rotatably connects and supports the first tube and the second tube about a rotation axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope.   
     
     
         6 . The medical system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the attachment or detachment portion connects the second tube and the drive device in a detachable manner,   the attachment or detachment portion comprises a rotating drum around which the wire is wound, and   the drive device to which the attachment or detachment portion is attached drives the wire by rotating the rotating drum.   
     
     
         7 . The medical system according to  claim 6 , wherein, by the rotation of the rotating drum, one of a pair of wires that bends the joint up and down or left and right is pulled, and the other of the pair is sent out. 
     
     
         8 . The medical system according to  claim 7 , wherein a part of the wire that is wound around a diameter of the rotating drum is a larger than a diameter of the other parts of the wire. 
     
     
         9 . The medical system according to  claim 3 , wherein diameter of the wire in a part passing through a diameter of the second tube is larger than a diameter of the wire in a part passing through the first tube. 
     
     
         10 . The medical system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first sheath that is inserted through the first tube and the connecting portion and whose proximal end portion is connected to the opening of the connecting portion; and   a second sheath inserted through the first tube, the connecting portion, and the second tube,   wherein the proximal end portion of the first sheath is arranged at a position radially offset from the rotation axis of the connecting portion.   
     
     
         11 . The medical system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the endoscope comprises a distal end portion on a distal end side of the joint,   a distal end portion of the first sheath is attached to the distal end portion of the first tube,   a distal end portion of the second sheath is attached to the distal end portion of the first tube or the joint, and   a proximal end portion of the second sheath is attached to the attachment or detachment portion.   
     
     
         12 . The medical system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the first sheath is a resin sheath into which a treatment tool is inserted from the opening, and   the second sheath is a coil sheath through which the wire is inserted.   
     
     
         13 . The medical system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the connecting portion further comprises a regulating member that arranges the first sheath at a position radially offset from the rotation axis of the connecting portion,   the regulating member is a pipe, and   the first sheath is connected to the opening via the pipe.   
     
     
         14 . The medical system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the pipe is three-pronged,   a first end of the pipe is connected to the proximal end portion of the first sheath,   a second end of the pipe is connected to the opening, and   a third end of the pipe is connected to a distal end portion of a third sheath that is inserted into the second tube.   
     
     
         15 . The medical system according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the attachment or detachment portion connects a proximal end portion of the third sheath and a pump of the drive device, and   the drive device to which the attachment or detachment portion is attached drives the pump to supply and suck air to the third sheath.   
     
     
         16 . An endoscope that is detachably connected to a drive device that generates a driving force, the endoscope comprising:
 a first tube comprising a joint;   a second tube;   a connecting portion that rotatably connects the first tube and the second tube about a rotation axis extending in longitudinal direction of the endoscope; and   an attachment or detachment portion that connects the second tube and the drive device so that the driving force can be transmitted,   wherein the joint bends due to the driving force transmitted from the drive device via the second tube, the connecting portion, and the first tube.   
     
     
         17 . The endoscope according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the connecting portion comprises an opening that communicates with internal path of the endoscope, and   the opening is provided in a part that rotates in conjunction with the second tube.   
     
     
         18 . The endoscope according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first sheath that is inserted through the first tube and the connecting portion and whose proximal end portion is connected to the opening of the connecting portion; and   a second sheath inserted through the first tube, the connecting portion, and the second tube,   wherein the proximal end portion of the first sheath is arranged at a position radially offset from the rotation axis of the connecting portion.   
     
     
         19 . The endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein
 a distal end portion is further provided on a distal end side from the joint,   a distal end portion of the first sheath is attached to the distal end portion of the first tube,   a distal end portion of the second sheath is attached to the distal end portion of the first tube or the joint, and   the proximal end portion of the second sheath is attached to the attachment or detachment portion.   
     
     
         20 . The endoscope according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the connecting portion further comprises a regulating member that arranges the first sheath at a position radially offset from the rotation axis of the connecting portion,   the regulating member is a pipe, and   the first sheath is connected to the opening via the pipe.