JP2002216902A - Connector device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector device for an endoscope that is excellent in cleansability and water flashing of the contact face of the plug and can be locked steadily when the plug is installed in the receptacle. SOLUTION: In the connector device of an endoscope, the contact face 24 of a plug 14 is made nearly flat, and a protrusion 25 is provided at a part other than the contact face, and a mechanism of locking the plug 14 with the receptacle 15 by engaging with this protrusion 25 is provided at the video- processor 6 side other than the above plug, and further an operating member 37 for unlocking the lock mechanism is also provided on the video-processor 6 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device for an endoscope provided with an imaging device attached to an eyepiece of an endoscope and for imaging an endoscope image, or an imaging device at an end of the endoscope. The present invention relates to an endoscope connector device for connecting a plug provided to an electronic endoscope provided to a receptacle and transmitting information from the above-described imaging device to a video processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called card edge type endoscope connector device in which the contact portion and the main body portion of a plug are square is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 6 (1994) -1994.
No. 251828. FIGS. 1 to 13 of this publication show a connector device having a structure in which a contact surface of a plug is formed substantially in a plane.

In FIGS. 14 and 15 of the publication,
A lock arm is provided extending from the contact surface of the plug, and a projection is provided on the receptacle for engaging with the engagement portion of the lock arm. When the plug is mounted on the receptacle, the engagement portion of the lock arm and the projection of the receptacle are provided. 1 shows a connector device having a structure in which a lock mechanism is configured to engage with each other, and when releasing a locked state, a lock arm is pushed down to release the lock arm.

Further, in FIGS. 16 to 17 of the publication, an engaging recess is provided on a contact surface of a plug, and a projection for engaging with the engaging recess is provided on a lock arm of a receptacle. A connector device having a structure in which a projection of a lock arm is engaged with a recess to lock the plug, and when releasing the locked state, the lock arm is pushed up to release the projection of the lock arm from the recess of the plug. Have been.

However, as in the case of FIGS. 1 to 13, the plug cannot be locked in a fixed state when the plug is mounted on the receptacle only by forming the contact surface of the plug to be substantially flat, so that the plug does not come off. It had to be used with care, and was inconvenient.

Further, as in the case of FIGS. 14 to 15 or FIGS. 16 to 17, a part of the lock mechanism is constructed in the region of the contact surface of the plug, and irregularities are formed in the region of the contact surface of the plug. In an endoscope connector device, the presence of irregularities on the contact surface not only makes it difficult to clean, disinfect, and sterilize the contact surface of the plug, but also provides water on the irregular surface of the contact surface by cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing. However, there is a problem in that the contact surface and the chemical solution easily accumulate, and it takes much time and effort to dry the contact surface sufficiently. If the endoscope connector device is used while the area of the contact surface is not sufficiently dried, electrolysis may occur between the contacts having a potential difference and the contacts may be corroded. Short-circuiting adversely affects the image quality of the endoscope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope connector device in which the contact surface of the plug has good cleanability and drainage, and can be securely locked when the plug is mounted on the receptacle. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for an endoscope provided with an image pickup device attached to an eyepiece of an endoscope for picking up an endoscope image, or an image pickup device for an endoscope endoscope. In a connector device for an endoscope for connecting a plug provided in an electronic endoscope provided with a device to a receptacle and transmitting information from the above-described imaging device to a video processor, a contact surface of the plug is substantially formed. A projection is provided on a portion other than the contact surface of the plug body, and a locking mechanism that engages with the projection and holds the plug in the receptacle is provided on the video processor side other than the plug, and furthermore, the locking of the locking mechanism is performed. An operation unit for canceling the state is also provided on the video processor side.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A connector device for an endoscope according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The endoscope apparatus 1 includes, for example, an endoscope 3 having an elongated insertion section 2 and a detachable attachment to the endoscope 3. An endoscope imaging device 4 mounted on the endoscope 3, a light source device 5 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 3, a video processor 6 for performing signal processing on the endoscope imaging device 4, and a video processor Monitor 7 for displaying video signal output from 6
It is comprised including. Although not shown, the endoscope 3
Instead of the endoscope imaging device 4, an electronic endoscope provided with an imaging element at the distal end of the elongated insertion section 2 may be used.

The endoscope 3 includes an elongated insertion portion 2, a large-diameter grip portion 8 connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 2, and an eyepiece formed at the rear end of the grip portion 8. It has a portion 9 and a light guide base 10 provided on a side peripheral portion of the gripping section 8, and a light guide cable 11 is connected to the light guide base 10. The connector 12 provided at the end of the light guide cable 11 can be detachably connected to the light source device 5. By connecting the connector 12 of the light guide cable 11 to the light source device 5, white light from a lamp (not shown) in the light source device 5 is applied to the incident end face of the light guide cable 11. The illumination light transmitted by the light guide cable 11 is supplied to a light guide (not shown) in the endoscope 3. Further, the illumination light is transmitted through a light guide to an illumination window (not shown) at the distal end of the insertion section 2, and the illumination window emits illumination light forward to illuminate the subject.

An optical image of the object illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the illumination window is formed on a relay optical system (not shown) of the endoscope 3 by an objective lens (not shown) provided at the distal end of the insertion section 2. The formed image is transmitted to the eyepiece 9 by the relay optical system. The image can be observed with the naked eye via an eyepiece (not shown) of the eyepiece 9.

The eyepiece 9 is provided with the endoscope imaging device 4.
Is detachably attached. The endoscope imaging device 4 has a built-in solid-state imaging device such as a CCD (not shown) as an imaging device, and an endoscope image captured by the solid-state imaging device is a cable extending from the endoscope imaging device 4. The video signal is transmitted to the video processor 6 via a plug 13 which is detachably provided to the video processor 6 and the video processor 6. The video processor 6 is provided with a receptacle 15 provided with a plug 14 detachably mounted.

The plug 14 and the receptacle 15 constitute an endoscope connector device 16 for transmitting information from the solid-state imaging device to the video processor 6.

The configuration of the endoscope connector device 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, plug 1
As shown in FIG. 2, the plug 4 has a plug main body 21 as a main body member, and a contact part 22 is provided on a front end face of the plug main body 21 so as to protrude forward from the front end face. The thickness of the contact portion 22 is thinner than the thickness of the plug body portion 21,
Both the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides are almost flat,
In addition, they are formed as planes substantially parallel to each other. Contact part 2
2 is a contact surface 24 having a plurality of contact pins 23, and the contact surface 24
Is formed in a substantially flat state without any irregularities despite the provision of the contact pins 23.

On at least one side surface of the plug body 21, there is provided a protruding portion 25 projecting sideways.
In the present embodiment, the projections 25 are provided on both sides of the front end of the plug body 21 so as to protrude. For this reason, the front end portion of the plug main body 21 has a shape in which the left-right width is widened. The rear end of the projection 25 is a slope 28 through which the projection 25 is connected to the side wall surface of the plug body 21.

The front end face of the plug main body 21 constitutes a plug front face part 26 as a so-called abutting end face which comes into contact with a plug contact part 61 of the receptacle 15 described later.
The rear end of the plug body 21 serves as a grip portion 27 for operating the plug 14. The cable 13 extends from the rear end of the plug body 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plug 14 is directed toward the receptacle 15 of the video processor 6, and then the plug 14 is inserted into the receptacle 15 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG.
The receptacle main body 32 is fitted into the front panel 31 of the video processor 6 so as to be fitted therein.
The opening 34 of the insertion opening 33 into which the 4 is mounted is open to the outside of the front panel 31. The opening 34 of the insertion opening 33 is closed by a lid 35 shown in FIG. 6 when the plug 14 is not mounted.

A base 36 movable in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the front panel 31 is provided in the insertion opening 33 of the receptacle main body 32. Further, an operation member 37 is provided on the side of the insertion opening 33, and the operation member 37 is also provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the front panel 31. . The base 36 and the operation member 37 are movable in a parallel direction.

The base 36 and the operating member 37 are connected via an arm plate-shaped connecting member 38. The connecting member 38 is arranged in a lower region of the base 36, and an intermediate portion thereof is pivotally supported by the receptacle main body 32 via a support shaft 39. For this reason, the connecting member 38 can rotate in a horizontal plane in the lower region of the base 36. One end of the connection member 38 is pivotally connected to the operation member 37 via a pivot pin 40. The other end of the connecting member 38 is provided with a cutout portion 42 that engages with a convex portion 41 formed by cutting and raising the lower surface of the base 36. The base 36 and the operating member 37 are interlocked via a connecting member 38 and are simultaneously moved in opposite directions.

As shown in FIG. 5, a horizontal hole 44 penetrates through a wall 43 partitioning the base 36 and the operating member 37 over a moving area of the base 36 and a moving area of the operating member 37. A locking member 45 that protrudes and retracts from both the base 36 and the operating member 37 is slidably provided at 44. The locking member 45 is the front panel 3
1 is movable in a horizontal and horizontal direction parallel to the surface direction. That is, the locking member 45 is connected to the base 36 and the operating member 3.
7 is provided so as to move in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction.

The end of the locking member 45 facing the moving area of the base 36 forms a first locking portion 47 having a slope 46 formed thereon, and the end of the locking member 45 facing the moving area of the operating member 37. Has a second locking portion 52 having a slope 51 formed thereon.

A cavity 53 into which the second locking portion 52 enters is cut out in a side surface portion of the operating member 37, and a front end of the operating member 37 located forward of the cavity 53 is provided with the locking member 45. A pressing action portion 54 for pressing is formed. At the outer end of the operation member 37, there is provided an operation section 55 which protrudes from the front panel 31 when the plug 14 and the receptacle 15 are mounted.

A contact pin 23 of the plug 14 is provided at a rear end 56 in the insertion opening 33 of the receptacle body 32.
A contact pin (not shown) electrically connected to the power supply is provided.

The cover 3 provided in the opening 34 of the insertion opening 33
8, a support shaft 57 is provided at one end, and the support shaft 57 is supported by the receptacle main body 32 as shown in FIG. Further, the lid 35 is urged by a spring member (not shown) in a direction to close the opening 34, and closes the opening 34 by itself when the plug 14 is not mounted.

An upright plug contact portion 61 is provided at the front end of the base 36 of the receptacle 15. The plug contact portion 61 is provided by the plug front portion 26 when the plug 14 is mounted in the insertion opening 33. When the plug 14 is depressed and the plug 14 is to be removed, the plug front portion 26 is pressed.

The plug 14 is connected to the receptacle 1
5, when the plug 2 is mounted,
The locking member 45 is fixedly held by the locking member 45. This locked state is achieved by pressing the operating portion 5 of the operating member 37.
4 maintained. That is, a lock mechanism is configured to hold the plug 14 fixedly in a state of being mounted on the receptacle 15.

(Operation) A case where the plug 14 is mounted on the receptacle 15 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the plug 14 is directed toward the receptacle 15, and then the plug 14 is inserted into the insertion opening 33 of the receptacle 15, as shown in FIG. At this time, the lid 35 is opened by the tip of the plug 14 (see FIG. 6).

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the plug 14 is inserted into the insertion opening 33, the plug front surface 26
Is in contact with the plug contact portion 61 of the base 36, and when the plug 14 is further pushed in, the plug contact portion 61 is pressed, so that the base 36 moves inward away from the front panel 31. At this time, since the convex portion 41 on the lower surface of the base 36 is engaged with the notch portion 42 of the connecting member 38, the connecting member 38 is connected to the support shaft 3 of the receptacle main body 32.
It rotates around 9.

When the connecting member 38 rotates,
The operation member 37 moves toward the front of the front panel 31, that is, toward the outside. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, at the same time as the operating member 37 protrudes from the front panel 31, the locking member pressing action portion 54 of the operating member 37 is
To move the locking member 45 to the plug 14 side.
Then, as shown in FIG.
Are engaged with each other to lock the plug 14 in the insertion opening 33. Further, the operation unit 55 of the operation member 37 is in a state of protruding from the surface of the front panel 31.

The locking member 45 and the projection 25 of the plug 14
The plug 14 is locked. Since the plug 14 and the receptacle 15 are fixedly held in the mounted state, even if the plug 14 is pulled out, it is not pulled out as it is.

On the other hand, when removing the plug 14, the operation part 55 is pressed so that the operation member 37 is moved backward with respect to the front panel 31. At this time, the connecting member 3
Reference numeral 8 rotates around the support shaft 39 and the operating member 37 at the same time, rotates around the support shaft 39 and moves the base 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking member pressing action portion 54 of the operating member 37 moves rearward with respect to the front panel 31 to release the engagement with the locking member 45, and
5 is made movable in the horizontal direction with respect to the front panel 31.

Then, since the connecting member 38 presses the base 36 by the rotation of the connecting member 38, the base 36 moves forward with respect to the front panel 31. At this time, the plug contact portion 61 of the base 36 is
The plug body 21 moves forward while pressing the locking member 45 with the projection 25 to release the lock. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Moves forward with respect to the front panel 31 together with the base 36, and a part of the grip portion 27 goes out, so that the plug 14
, Pull it out of the receptacle 15,
Remove.

(Effect) In the present embodiment, since the contact surface 24 of the plug 14 is substantially flat, cleaning properties are good and drainage is good. Further, since there is no portion such as a concave portion in which water or chemical liquid easily accumulates in the plug main body portion 21, water or chemical liquid does not flow into the contact surface 24 from a portion other than the contact surface 24. Further, since there is a lock mechanism for fixing the plug 14 in a state where the plug 14 is mounted on the receptacle 15, there is no possibility that the plug 14 is accidentally detached.

The plug contact portion 61, the operating member 37 to the locking member 45, and the operating portion 55 to the support shaft 39 provided on the receptacle 15 may be provided not on the receptacle 15 but on a member of the video processor 6.

(Second Embodiment) An endoscope connector device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The plug 14 of the present embodiment is a plug body 2
A convex portion 71 is provided on the upper surface of 1. Further, an elastic member 72 such as a coil spring is provided in the receptacle 15. The elastic member 72 has one end fixed to the receptacle main body 32 and the other end fixed to the back surface of the operation member 37.
1 is urged outward.

The locking member 45 is provided so as to be movable in the sliding direction of the plug 14 and the operating member 37, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the front panel 31 of the video processor 6.

The plug front part 26 and the convex part 71 of the plug body part 21, the elastic member 72, the locking member 45, the operating member 37 having the locking member pressing action part 54 and the operating part 55, and the like are connected to the plug 14 and the receptacle. 15 is a lock mechanism for holding the device 15 in a mounted state.

In the present invention, the operating member 37, the locking member 45, and the elastic member 72 provided on the receptacle 15 are provided.
May be provided not on the receptacle 15 but on a member of the video processor 6.

Further, the convex portion 71 is provided on the upper surface of the plug main body portion 21. However, as in the first embodiment, the plug main body portion 21 is provided.
May be provided on the side surface. Conversely, the projection 25 of the first embodiment
May be provided on the upper surface of the plug body 21.

(Operation) As the plug 14 is inserted into the receptacle 15, the plug front surface 26 pushes back the locking member 45, the operating member 37 moves in the direction of retreating from the front panel 31, and the elastic member 72 Compressed. Further, the plug 14 is pushed in to complete the mounting. At this time, since the operating member 37 is urged in a direction to protrude from the front panel 31 by the pressing force of the elastic member 72,
The operation member 37 moves forward with respect to the front panel 31, and the operation section 55 projects from the outer surface of the front panel 31. Further, with the movement of the locking member pressing action portion 54, the locking member 45 engages with the convex portion 71 of the plug 14. By the engagement between the locking member 45 and the convex portion 71, the plug 14 and the receptacle 15 are held in the mounted state, and the plug 14 cannot be easily pulled out as it is even if it is pulled out.

When the plug 14 is to be removed, the operating member 55 of the operating member 37 protruding outside is pushed, and the operating member 37 is pushed in against the restoring force of the elastic member 72. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the locking member pressing action portion 54 of the operating member 37 moves backward with respect to the front panel 31 and retreats from the locking member 45, so that the locking member 45 moves. Will be possible. By pulling out the plug 14 in this unlocked state, the plug 14 can be removed from the receptacle 15.

(Effect) This is the same as the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) An endoscope connector device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the plug 14 has a projection 71 on the upper surface of the plug body 21. The protruding portion 71 has a slope 73 at the plug insertion side end, and the plug pull-out side end of the projection 71 is a vertically upstanding locking end 74.

The receptacle 15 is provided with an elastic operating member 75 having one end fixed to the receptacle body 32.
In the middle of the operating member 75, an engaging portion 76 that engages with the convex portion 71 of the plug 14 and an operating portion 77 protruding outside from the front panel 31 are provided. The operating member 75, the operating portion 77, the convex portion 71, and the engaging portion 76 constitute a lock mechanism that holds the plug 14 and the receptacle 15 in a mounted state.

The operating member 75, the operating portion 77 and the engaging portion 76 provided on the receptacle 15 are connected to the receptacle 1
5 may be provided on a member of the video processor 6. Further, although the convex portion 71 is provided on the upper surface of the plug main body portion 21, it may be provided on the side surface of the plug main body portion 21 as in the first embodiment.

(Operation) When the plug 14 is mounted on the receptacle 15, as the plug 14 is inserted into the receptacle 15, the projection 71 of the plug 14 pushes up the engaging portion 76 of the operation member 75, and the operation member 75 It bends and deforms. When the plug 14 is further inserted, the engaging portion 76 of the operating member 75 falls to the locking end 74 side of the convex portion 71, and the operating member 75 is restored to the original shape. Operation member 75
Is locked. That is, the convex portion 71 of the plug 14 and the engaging portion 76 of the operation member 75 are engaged. The plug 14 and the receptacle 15 are held in the mounted state by the engagement of the convex portion 71 and the engaging portion 76, and the plug 14 is not pulled out as it is when the plug 14 is pulled out.

On the other hand, when the plug 14 is removed, an operation is performed to bend the operation portion 77 in a direction in which the engagement between the projection 71 and the engagement portion 76 is released. By pulling out the plug 14 with the operating member 75 deformed, the plug 14 can be removed from the receptacle 15.

(Effect) This is the same as the first embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the connector device for an endoscope is an example of an endoscope image pickup device provided with an image pickup element for picking up an endoscope image by being attached to an eyepiece of the endoscope. However, according to the present invention, a plug provided in an electronic endoscope provided with an imaging device at the end portion of the endoscope is connected to a receptacle, and the information for transmitting information from the imaging device to a video processor is provided. The present invention is also applicable to an endoscope connector device.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the contact surface of the plug is substantially flat, there is an effect that the cleaning property is good and the drainage is good. In addition, since it has a lock mechanism that holds the plug and the receptacle mounted,
There is also an effect that there is no possibility that the plug is unexpectedly disconnected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state immediately before a plug is mounted on a receptacle of the connector device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment with a plug attached to a receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a plan longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the plug is being mounted on the receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a plug is being mounted on the receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan longitudinal sectional view of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment in a state where the plug has been mounted on the receptacle.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a receptacle lid of the endoscope connector device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which a plug is being mounted on a receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where a plug has been mounted on a receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plug of the endoscope connector device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which a plug is being mounted on a receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the plug is completely mounted on the receptacle of the endoscope connector device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plug of the endoscope connector device according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus, 3 ... Endoscope, 4 ... Endoscope imaging apparatus,
5 light source device, 6 video processor, 7 monitor, 9 eyepiece of endoscope, 14 plug, 15 receptacle, 16 connector device for endoscope, 21 plug main body as main body member , 22 contact point, 23 contact pin of contact part, 24 contact surface of contact part, 25 convex part, 26 ...
Front face of plug as abutting end face, 31 front panel, 32 main body of receptacle, 33 insertion port, 34
... Opening of the insertion port, 36 ... Base, 37 ... Operation member, 3
8: connecting member, 45: locking member, 61: plug contact portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope image pickup apparatus provided with an image pickup device attached to an eyepiece of an endoscope for picking up an endoscope image or an electronic endoscope provided with an image pickup device at an end of the endoscope. In an endoscope connector device for connecting a plug provided on a mirror to a receptacle and transmitting information from the above-described image pickup device to a video processor, a contact surface of the plug is substantially flat, and a contact of a plug main body is provided. An operation unit for providing a projection on a part other than the surface, providing a lock mechanism on the video processor side other than the plug to engage with the projection and holding the plug in the receptacle, and further releasing a locked state of the lock mechanism. Is provided on the video processor side as well.