| 摘要 |
<p>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope with a hardness adjustment means which maintains a coil hardening function and improves its durability. SOLUTION: A coil 36 and wire 35 are inserted into an elastic part 13 of an insertion part 6 to change the hardness, the rear end of the coil 36 is fixed to a coil stopper 40, the rear end of the coil 35 is connected to a hardness adjustment operation mechanism, and by operating a hardness adjustment knob 34, a compression force is applied to the coil 36. The front end of the coil 36 is fixed to the front end of the wire 35, an extended wire part 30 extended from the fixed part is fixed to a connecting pipe 38 at the rear end of a curving part 12. The extended wire part 30 has a torsional strength higher than that of the coil 36 and controls a rotational force which occurs when the coil 36 is compressed and hardened so as to prevent the coil from rotating exceeding its elastic limit and a hardness variable function can be maintained for a long time use.</p> |
