JP2006075341A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope permitting accurate positioning and disposition of illumination lenses without wasting illumination light while securing the narrow diameter with a relatively simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The illumination lenss 34 stored in illumination lens storage apertures 36 formed in a distal end body 31 of an insertion part of the endoscope to be inserted into the body cavity are not a circular shape and have both ends in the longitudinal direction. The illumination lens storage aperture 36 has pawls 81 for positioning the illumination lens 34 by making the longitudinal both ends of the illumination lens 34 abut thereon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope in which an illumination lens is arranged around an objective lens at a distal end portion of an insertion portion.

In general, an endoscope includes an operation unit for an operator to hold and operate, and an insertion unit for insertion into a body cavity. The distal end of the insertion portion has a higher density of various members such as an objective lens for observing the inside of the body cavity, an imaging device such as a CCD as an imaging means, and an illumination lens for illuminating the inside of the body cavity than other parts. It is a place where it is placed, and the size and structure of each member are subject to various restrictions. The observation objective lens should be circular when viewed from the front, but the illumination lens does not necessarily have to be circular, but should be arranged around the objective lens. There has been proposed an illumination lens member which is arranged around the objective lens as a non-circular shape when viewed from the front.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-33665 (unpublished)

  In the conventional endoscope, the illumination lens arranged around the objective lens is fitted into a housing hole formed in the main body member at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and is fixedly bonded to the housing hole. For this reason, the mounting position of the illumination lens depends on the work of assembling and bonding in the storage hole, and the mounting position is slightly different.

  As described above, in the conventional one, the illumination lens may be bonded and fixed while being shifted from the original mounting position in the process of assembling and bonding. However, the lighting lens is shifted from the original mounting position to the inner position. If fixed, the illumination light may be cut by the opening edge of the storage hole. In addition, the distribution of the illumination light with respect to the objective lens may deviate from the original angle.

  In the application proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-33665, a claw is provided on the circular opening edge of the storage hole, and the circular peripheral portion of the illumination lens is applied to the claw for positioning. Even in this case, there is a drawback that the illumination light around the circular shape is blocked by the nail portion, and the amount of illumination light is impaired accordingly.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems. The object of the present invention is to accurately position and arrange the illumination lens without waste of illumination light while ensuring a small diameter with a relatively simple configuration. It is to provide an endoscope that can be used.

The invention according to claim 1 is the illumination lens storage hole formed in the member constituting the distal end portion of the insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity and the member constituting the distal end portion or another member incorporated in the member. And an illumination lens that is housed in the lens housing hole and has a non-circular and longitudinal end, and a claw that is provided in the illumination lens housing hole and that contacts and positions the longitudinal end of the illumination lens. An endoscope characterized by comprising.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the illumination lens is arranged so that a longitudinal direction of the illumination lens intersects one diameter direction of an observation objective lens incorporated in the tip portion. Endoscope.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the positioning claw is provided at a front opening end of the illumination lens housing hole, the illumination lens is inserted into the illumination lens housing hole, and a longitudinal end thereof is used for the positioning. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the endoscope is positioned in contact with the nail.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately position and arrange the illumination lens in such a manner that the illumination light is not wasted while having a relatively simple configuration.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire endoscope. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 includes a long insertion portion 2 and an operation portion 3 provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and the operation portion 3 is provided with a universal cord 4. Yes. A connector 5 to be described later is provided at the extended tip of the universal cord 4, and the endoscope 1 can be connected to a light source device (not shown) by this connector 5. Further, a cable 7 leading to a video connector 6 that can be connected to the video processor is connected to the connector 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 2 includes a hard distal end portion 11 disposed at the distal end thereof, a bending portion 12 provided following the rear end of the distal end portion 11, and a rear end of the bending portion 12. Subsequently, the flexible tube portion 13 having flexibility is provided.

  The operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1 is formed with a grip portion 3a that is gripped when the operator holds the endoscope 1, and a portion of the operation unit 3 located above the grip portion 3a An air supply / water supply operation button 15 and a suction operation button 16 for performing a suction operation are provided. The head of the operation unit 3 is provided with a plurality of remote switch buttons 17 for remotely operating the video processor described above.

  Further, a pair of angle knobs 18 a and 18 b are provided on the side surface portion of the operation unit 3 as operation members for use in bending the bending portion 12 of the insertion portion 2. In this embodiment, each angle knob 18a, 18b is provided with a brake knob 19a corresponding to the angle knob 18a and a brake lever 19b corresponding to the angle knob 18b as a brake member for locking to the operation position. Yes. A treatment instrument insertion port 20 is provided at a portion located below the grip portion 3a.

  Next, the configuration of the distal end portion 11 in the insertion portion 2 will be specifically described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion main body (a leading frame member) 31. Various members are assembled to the tip body 31. The tip body 31 is formed as an integral member. A first mounting hole 35 for incorporating an objective lens unit 32 (to be described later) in the distal end portion main body 31 and two second mounting holes 36 as illumination lens housing holes for individually incorporating a pair of illumination lenses 34 are provided in the first mounting hole. The second mounting holes 36 are provided so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the shape of the first attachment hole 35 is a perfect circle when the tip end body 31 is viewed from the front. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the second mounting hole 36 has a non-circular shape having both ends in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the shape of the illumination lens 34 described later. Here, the illumination lens 34 has a shape obtained by cutting out a peripheral portion of a perfect circle, and is so-called a semicircular shape or a crescent shape. Further, the portions of the second mounting hole 36 that are chords are symmetrically arranged so as to face the first mounting hole 35, and are disposed adjacent to the left and right of the first mounting hole 35.

  In other words, each of the two second mounting holes 36 is formed in a semicircular or crescent shape having an irregular shape (non-circular shape) that is not a perfect circle, and the chord thereof is in the radial direction (diameter direction) of the first mounting hole 35. ) Are arranged at right angles to. For this reason, the longitudinal direction of the second mounting hole 36 extends long in a direction perpendicular to the diameter direction of the first mounting hole 35, the width is narrow on the left and right, and both ends in the longitudinal direction extending vertically are positioned. It has a shape to be used. The illumination lens 34 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the illumination lens 34 intersects one diameter direction of the observation objective lens 45 incorporated in the distal end portion 11. For this reason, the illumination lens 34 is arranged so that a straight line connecting the optical axis center of the illumination lens 34 and the optical axis center of the observation objective lens 45 intersects the longitudinal direction of the illumination lens 34.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion of the objective lens unit 32 is fitted into the first attachment hole 35 and is fixedly bonded to the distal end portion main body 31. Further, the left and right second mounting holes 36 form illumination lens accommodation holes for fitting and accommodating the illumination lenses 34, respectively. The illumination lens 34 is bonded to the second mounting hole 36 and fixed in a sealed state.

  The distal end portion of the light guide fiber bundle 37 is fitted into the second mounting hole 36 at the rear side of the illumination lens 34, and the light guide fiber bundle 37 is fixed to the distal end portion body 31 with an adhesive. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the objective lens unit 32 includes a lens frame 41 and an image sensor holder (frame) 42, and the distal end portion of the image sensor holder 42 is disposed on the outer periphery of the rear end portion of the lens frame 41. The cover is fitted and both are fixed by the adhesive 43 after positioning adjustment. The lens frame 41 located on the front end side holds the objective lens group 45, and the image pickup device holder 42 located on the rear end side holds the image pickup lens 46 and the image pickup device 47 such as a CCD and holds the image pickup unit 48. It is composed.

  In front of the imaging lens 46, a thin plate-like mask 51 is provided for cutting the flare of the observation light and regulating the imaging area. Since the mask 51 restricts the imaging region, the position of the optical axis direction and the position around the optical axis must be determined. For this purpose, it is applied to a stepped wall surface 52 formed inside the image sensor holder 42, positioned in the optical axis direction and around the optical axis, and then bonded and fixed thereon. In this case, since the distance (distance) in the optical axis direction between the mask 51 and the imaging lens 46 must also be determined, an interval ring 53 that restricts the distance is interposed between the mask 51 and the imaging lens 46. Yes.

  Before the mask 51 and the spacing ring 53 are attached to the image sensor holder 42, the outer shapes are aligned and bonded together, and the mask 51 and the spacing ring 53 are assembled in advance to form an integrated unit 54. This pre-assembled unit 54 is fitted into the image sensor holder 42 and bonded to be assembled.

  Therefore, compared with the case where the mask 51 and the spacing ring 53 are separately assembled and adhered to the image pickup device holder 42, the protrusion of the adhesive can be avoided and the observation light is not cut by the protrusion of the adhesive. Further, the entire unit 54 can be assembled accurately. For this reason, the error in the optical axis direction due to the adhesive can be avoided and the position in the optical axis direction is accurately determined. Further, since the mask 51 and the spacing ring 53 are assembled as a unit 54 and the enlarged unit 54 is assembled to the image sensor holder 42, the assembling workability is improved and the assembling work can be easily performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portion of the imaging unit 48 is surrounded by a cylindrical tip end cover (second tip frame) 61 attached to the tip end main body 31. The front end cover 61 is positioned by fitting the front end portion thereof to the outer peripheral portion of the rear end of the front end portion main body 31, and both are fixed by soldering or bonding in this positioning state. The rear end portion of the front end cover 61 is fitted to the front end portion of the first joint ring (piece) 62 located at the forefront of the bending portion 12, and is fixed to the first joint ring 62 by soldering or bonding. .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to determine the position when the tip cover 61 and the first joint ring 62 are fitted together, a projection 64 protruding inward is formed on the tip cover 61, A positioning hole 65 into which the protrusion 64 is fitted is formed on the first joint ring 62. Then, the protrusion 64 and the hole 65 are fitted together so that the tip cover 61 and the first joint ring 62 are relatively positioned, and both are fixed by soldering or bonding. Two or more pairs of protrusions 64 and holes 65 may be provided. As described above, since the tip cover 61 and the first node ring 62 are positioned and fixed by the protrusion 64 and the hole 65, the configuration is simplified and the diameter is reduced as compared with the case where other members such as a positioning pin are used. Can be achieved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to determine the position when the front end portion of the front end portion cover 61 and the rear end portion of the front end portion main body 31 are fitted together, it protrudes inward to the fitting portion of the front end portion cover 61. A protrusion 66 is formed, and a positioning hole 67 into which the protrusion 66 is fitted is formed in the rear end portion of the tip end body 31. By fitting the projection 66 and the hole 67 together, the tip cover 61 and the tip body 31 are positioned before they are fixed by soldering or bonding, and the two can be connected and fixed by their positional relationship. As described above, since the tip cover 61 and the first node ring 62 are positioned and fixed by the projection 66 and the hole 67, the configuration is simplified and the diameter is reduced as compared with the case where other members such as a positioning pin are used. Can be achieved.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the coupling means extends the tip of the first node ring 62, and the extended portion 62a also serves as a part of the tip cover 61 described above. It can also be applied to structures. That is, the extension portion 62a of the first joint ring 62 is fitted and fixed to the rear end portion of the tip portion cover 61 fitted to the tip portion main body 31. The tip cover 61 shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the tip body 31 by a pin 69.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a hole 68 serving as an internal observation window is formed in the middle of the extension 62 a of the first node ring 62 or the tip cover 61 described above. The first node ring 62 is formed with a cut and raised piece 63 for fixing the tip of the angle wire 71 by brazing including soldering, and the hole 68 can be seen through the position of the cut and raised piece 63. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 5B, the hole 68 as the internal observation window is long in the axial direction of the distal end portion 11 in order to make it easy to look into the connecting portion of the angle wire 71.

  Since the internal observation hole 68 is formed in the middle of the extension 62a of the first joint ring 62 or the tip end cover 61 in this way, a tool is inserted from the front to perform brazing work, deburring after polishing, polishing, etc. Cleaning up can be easily observed visually.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, even when the first joint ring 62 is extended to form the extension portion 62 a, the positioning hole 67 formed in the rear end portion of the tip portion main body 31 or the tip portion cover 61 is also formed. A projection 66 to be fitted is formed. As shown in FIG. 6, the projection 66 and the positioning hole 67 have one or more pairs. Here, the projections 66 and the positioning holes 67 are arranged in a bilaterally symmetrical manner in an upward direction. For this reason, both can be assembled without error in the vertical positional relationship between the tip body 31 and the first joint ring 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer cover 77 is covered from the distal end portion 11 to the curved portion 12 of the insertion portion 2, and the distal end portion of the outer cover 77 covers the outer periphery of the distal end portion main body 31. The yarn 78 is tightened and an adhesive 79 is applied to the yarn winding portion.

  Next, the mounting structure of the illumination lens 34 will be described. The second mounting hole 36 for fitting the illumination lens 34 is formed in the distal end portion main body 31 as shown in FIG. That is, the second mounting hole 36 has a non-circular shape having a narrow left and right width corresponding to the illumination lens 34 and long in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second mounting hole 36 is formed so as to penetrate backward from the tip of the tip portion main body 31 while maintaining its shape. However, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, claw-like protrusions 81 protruding toward the central axis of the hole are integrally formed at both ends in the vertical direction of the opening of the second mounting hole 36. Yes.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the inner ends of the protrusions 81 are all inclined, and the angle θ between the two inclined inner end faces 82 is 90 degrees. The protrusion 81 is not formed in the peripheral part of the second mounting hole 36 other than this. That is, the second mounting hole 36 is parallel to the center axis of the hole and has the same diameter over the entire length except for the portion where the projection 81 is formed. In addition, although the protrusion 81 was formed integrally with the front-end | tip part main body 31, you may make it provide in another member or the other member attached to the front-end | tip part main body 31, and to form.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination lens 34 is inserted from the rear side of the second mounting hole 36, positioned against the claw-shaped protrusion 81, and bonded and fixed to the second mounting hole 36. Further, a fiber bundle 37 as an illumination light guide is inserted into the second mounting hole 36 to the back of the illumination lens 34 and is fixedly bonded to the second mounting hole 36.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the fiber elements of each fiber bundle 37 are rearranged over the entire rear surface of the illumination lens 34 in accordance with the shape of the second attachment hole 36 into which the fiber bundle 37 is inserted. It is arranged in a dense state.

  The shape of the illumination lens 34 is formed in a semicircular or crescent shape having an irregular shape (non-circular shape) that is not a perfect circle, and is formed in accordance with the shape of the second mounting hole 36 into which the illumination lens 34 is fitted. Here, as shown in FIG. 15, it is the shape which cut off the circular periphery, and has the shape which positions a string inside. The shape of the illumination lens 34 is not limited to this shape, and may be other non-circular shapes such as an oval, an ellipse, a rectangle, and a trapezoid.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, an inclined surface 84 having an inclination angle corresponding to the inclined inner end surface 82 of the projection 81 is formed at the front end edge in the longitudinal direction of the illumination lens 34. The illumination lens 34 is positioned in the second mounting hole 36 in contact with the inclined inner end face 82 of the protrusion 81.

  FIG. 12 is a front view of the distal end portion 11 with the illumination lens 34 attached to the second attachment hole 36, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the illumination lens 34 is fitted into the second attachment hole 36. Is shown.

If the illumination lens 34 is fixed while being displaced from the original attachment position, the illumination light is cut by the opening edge of the attachment hole, or the light distribution of the illumination light to the objective lens is deviated from the original angle. Inconvenience occurs.
However, in this embodiment, when the illumination lens 34 is brought into contact with the protrusion 81 of the second attachment hole 36, the attachment position of the illumination lens 34 is determined on the optical axis. In this embodiment, these situations can be avoided. Further, the positioning of the illumination lens 34 does not depend on the operation of bonding the illumination lens 34 to the second mounting hole 36, and the position of the illumination lens 34 is determined by abutting the illumination lens 34 against the protrusion 81. Therefore, the mounting and fixing position of the illumination lens 34 is accurately determined, and the assembly work of the illumination lens 34 is facilitated.

  Further, the projection 81 for positioning the illumination lens 34 is disposed at a corner portion located above and below in the longitudinal direction of the illumination lens 34 and deviated from the central region of the illumination lens 34. Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the illumination lens 34 are places where there is little influence on the illumination light distribution, and there are few vignetting points. It is also a place where there is room for arrangement.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the projection 81 does not interfere with main light that irradiates the observation field through the illumination lens 34. Moreover, as in the case where a claw is provided on the entire periphery of the circular opening and the periphery of the illumination lens is positioned against the claw and positioned, the illumination light around the circular opening is shielded by the claw portion. Waste that impairs the amount of light can also be avoided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the illumination lens 34 is inserted into the second mounting hole 36 from the rear. However, the illumination lens 34 is inserted from an opening formed on the side of the second mounting hole 36, and the second mounting hole 36 is inserted. It may be a horizontal insertion type that is attached at the attachment position 36 and covered with a cover over the opening. The illumination lens housing hole in this method does not form a perfect hole, but in the present invention, such an illumination lens housing hole is also used as the illumination lens housing hole. In other words, the illumination lens storage hole means that the illumination lens is inserted and stored in a predetermined position.

  17 to 19 show other structures of the tip portion 11. The distal end portion main body 31 of the distal end portion 11 includes a first leading frame 91 into which the objective lens unit 32 is incorporated and a cylindrical second leading frame 92, and between the first leading frame 91 and the second leading frame 92. Half-moon-shaped lens mounting spaces 94a and 94b are formed, and the non-circular illumination lens 34 as described above is incorporated in each of the lens mounting spaces 94a and 94b to constitute an illumination lens unit.

  Each illumination lens 34 is formed in a half-moon shape filling the half-moon-shaped lens mounting spaces 94a, 94b, and is fitted into the lens-mounting spaces 94a, 94b as shown in FIG. The illumination lens 34 is soldered to 93. The peripheral surface of the illumination lens 34 is subjected to metallization processing so that it can be soldered to the mounting ring 93 which is another member. Examples of this processing method include metal plating, metal vapor deposition, and sputtering.

  The first front frame 91, the attachment ring 93, and the illumination lens 34 are completed in advance as a single unit as shown in FIG. 18, and the integrated illumination lens unit is assembled to the tip portion 11. Since the soldering work and flux cleaning work of the unit part can be completed in advance, the subsequent assembly work is easy.

  FIG. 20 shows another arrangement structure of the image sensor holder 42 in the distal end portion 11. That is, the image sensor holder 42 has a cross-sectional shape in which the left and right portions of a circle are cut, and the upper and lower portions are left as a circle. Further, the center P of the image sensor holder 42 is made to substantially coincide with the center of the tip end body 31. The position of the optical axis L of the image pickup lens 46 and the image pickup element 47 exists apart from the position of the center P of the tip end body 31. Therefore, since the imaging lens 46, the imaging device 47, and the imaging device holder 42 that holds them can be arranged by effectively using the space of the distal end portion body 31, the diameter of the distal end portion 11 can be reduced.

  21 to 23 show the configuration of the light guide fiber bundle. Two fiber bundles 37 corresponding to each illumination lens 34 at the distal end portion 11, and four fiber bundles 96 a, 96 b, 96 c between the bending portion 12, the flexible tube portion 13, and the universal cord 4 of the insertion portion 2. , 96d, and the light guide tube 86 of the connector 5 is combined into one. Except for the distal end portion 11, the insertion portion 2 and the universal cord 4 have a circular cross-sectional shape and are divided into four parts, so that the disposition and flexibility are enhanced.

  At the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 2, two are distributed to the left and right illumination lenses 34. At this stage of distribution, the cross-sectional shape remains circular, but is rearranged according to the shape of the illumination lenses 34a and 34b and arranged over the entire back surface of the illumination lenses 34a and 34b. For this reason, illumination light can be efficiently irradiated using the whole illumination lens 34.

  The illumination lens 34 may be replaced with a transparent member that has been subjected to a light diffusing treatment (for example, a grainy surface) so that illumination light is distributedly irradiated.

  24 to 26 are examples in which a wireless ID tag (RF-ID) 101 is incorporated in the connector 5 provided in the universal cord 4. The wireless ID doug 101 is a member in the connector 5 (see FIG. 26) or the exterior resin member 102 of the connector 5 (see FIG. 25) so that the communication surface 103 is immediately inside the back side of the exterior resin member 102 of the connector 5. ). This wireless ID tag 101 is capable of two-way communication with an external receiver, and stores and transmits information such as its own serial number and model type, or information such as a cleaning history.

  Next, the shield structure in the video connector 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the video connector 6 has a structure in which a circuit board 111 is arranged in an exterior case 110, and a contact point exposed to the outside as shown in FIG. A portion 112 is provided. The outer case 110 includes a shield case 115 and a resin case 116 covering the shield case 115. The shield case 115 is electrically connected to the board GND 117 of the circuit board 111.

  As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, metal connection caps 121 a and 121 b are provided at the front end of the cable 7, and the rear connection cap 121 b is attached to the rear end of the resin case 116. It is connected to the formed connecting cylinder part 122 using a metal connecting fitting 123. A folding tube 124 is provided in the vicinity of the tip connection portion of the cable 7, and the folding tube 124 is fixed to a metal fitting 125 that is fastened to the connection metal fitting 123.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the cable 7 includes a first outer layer tube 131 formed by a flex, a copper wire blade, and a resin outer shell (not shown). The flex and the copper wire blade constitute a shield layer of the cable 7. The first outer layer tube 131 is electrically connected to the connection base 121a by being connected and fixed to the connection base 121a.

  A plurality of types of signal cables 132 are inserted into the inner holes of the cable 7, and various types of signal lines 133 are inserted into the signal cables 132 as appropriate. Each signal line 133 is connected to the circuit board 111.

  The signal cable 132 is provided with an exterior shield 134 as necessary. The outer sheath of the signal line 133 is also provided with a shield (not shown) according to its use.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the shield layer of the cable 7 is electrically connected to the connection fitting 123 through a conductive member such as the connection base 121. One end of a metal leaf spring 141 is in contact with the other end surface of the connection fitting 123 and is conductive. The leaf spring 141 is attached so as to be electrically connected to the shield case 115 by a screw 142. With this assembly structure, the outer shield layer of the cable 7 is electrically connected to the shield case 115 of the video connector 6 to construct a ground path, and the ground of the video connector 6 is strengthened by adding this ground path.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the outer shield 134 of the signal cable 132 is placed on the outer periphery of a conductive taper tube 145 that is integrated with the conductive ferrule 144 of the video connector 6, and is tapered by a conductive nut 146. It is fastened to the taper outer peripheral surface of the tube 145. Since the taper tube 145 is electrically connected to the conductive ferrule 144, the exterior shield 134 of the signal cable 132 is electrically connected to the shield case 115 of the video connector 6 to establish a ground path.

  As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the shield 135 incorporated in the exterior shield 134 of the signal cable 132 is exposed inside the connector, and the exposed portion of the shield 135 is soldered to the conductive ferrule 144. . The conductive ferrule 144 is fastened by a conductive pressing plate 147. The holding plate 147 is fixed to the video connector 6 with screws 148.

  The shield 135 incorporated in the signal cable 132 is conducted to the holding plate 147, and the holding plate 147 is conducted to the conductive ferrule 144. That is, the shield 135 incorporated in the signal cable 132 is electrically connected to the exterior shield 134 of the signal cable 132 to have the same potential, and the GND of the video connector 6 is strengthened.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be applied to other forms.

  <Appendix> According to the above description, the following items or items obtained by appropriately selecting and combining these items can be obtained.

1. In an endoscope in which a bending portion is bent by an angle wire arranged in an insertion portion, a first joint ring of a bending portion located behind an imaging device installed in a distal end portion or a member connected to the first joint ring An endoscope characterized by connecting a distal end of the angle wire to the wall and providing a viewing window on the wall portion of a member forming at least a part of the exterior portion of the distal end portion so that the connection portion can be observed from the outside. .
2. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window is a hole that is cut out and opened in a wall portion of a cover of an exterior portion at a distal end portion.
3. The endoscope according to item 1 or 2, wherein the member forming the viewing window is a wall portion obtained by extending the first joint ring of the curved portion forward.

(Problems to be solved by the invention of the appendix)
In general, an insertion portion of an endoscope includes a distal end portion, a bending portion, and a flexible tube portion, and the bending portion is bent by an angle wire arranged in the insertion portion. Conventionally, in order to reduce the diameter of the insertion portion, particularly the distal end portion, the distal end of the angle wire avoids an imaging device such as a CCD, and the first joint ring of a curved portion located behind the imaging device that swells greatly To be fixed by soldering.

  However, since the position where the tip of the angle wire is fixed to the first joint ring of the curved portion is the first joint ring behind the imaging device, a tool is inserted from the front to perform soldering work and deburring after soldering. I had to do some work such as polishing.

  Therefore, it is very difficult to solder the tip end of the angle wire to the first joint ring and clean up after soldering, and it is also very difficult to inspect the final state after soldering. Met.

(Purpose / effects of supplementary notes)
The invention of the supplementary note aims to solve the above problems. According to each appended invention, the connection work can be easily performed while observing the fixed portion of the tip of the angle wire through the observation window provided in the first joint ring. It is also easy to check the connection state after work.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an entire electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front-end | tip part in the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front-end | tip part in the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front-end | tip part in the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. (A) The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the node ring part of the curved part in the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope, (b) is a top view of the hole part provided in the node ring part. The cross-sectional view of the node ring portion of the bending portion in the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the member which forms the front-end | tip part main body in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The front view of the member which forms the front-end | tip part main body in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the part of the 2nd attachment hole of the member which forms the front-end | tip part main body in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope along the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which passes through the part of both the 2nd attachment holes of the member which forms the front-end | tip part main body in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The front view of the member which forms the front-end | tip part main body in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The front view of the front-end | tip part in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope along the line BB in FIG. 3. The front view of the illumination lens integrated in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The side view of the illumination lens integrated in the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The front view of the illumination lens unit integrated with the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the said electronic endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the said illumination lens unit. The front view of the front-end | tip part which shows the other example of the arrangement structure of the image pick-up element holder integrated in the said front-end | tip part. The cross-sectional view of the image pick-up element holder part which shows the other example of the arrangement structure of the image pick-up element holder integrated in the said front-end | tip part. The cross-sectional view of the said front-end | tip part in the back of the said image pick-up element holder. Explanatory drawing of the structure of the light guide fiber bundle incorporated in the said electronic endoscope. The cross-sectional view of the said curved part in the back of the said image pick-up element holder. The top view of the connector provided in the universal cord of the electronic endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the said connector. The cross-sectional view of the connector. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a video connector of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a video connector of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a video connector of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a video connector of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the video connector of the electronic endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 2 ... Insertion part, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Universal cord 5 ... Connector, 6 ... Video connector, 7 ... Cable, 11 ... Tip part 12 ... Bending part, 13 ... Flexible pipe part, 31 ... tip body 32 ... objective lens unit, 34 ... illumination lens, 35 ... mounting hole 36 ... mounting hole, 37 ... light guide fiber bundle, 41 ... lens frame 42 ... imaging device holder

Claims (3)

A member constituting the distal end portion of the insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity;
An illumination lens housing hole formed in a member constituting the tip or another member incorporated in the member;
A non-circular illumination lens housed in the lens housing hole and having both ends in the longitudinal direction;
A claw that is provided in the illumination lens housing hole and that contacts and positions the longitudinal end of the illumination lens;
An endoscope characterized by comprising:   2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination lens is arranged so that a longitudinal direction of the illumination lens intersects one diameter direction of an observation objective lens incorporated in the distal end portion.   The positioning claw is provided at a front opening end of the illumination lens housing hole, the illumination lens is inserted into the illumination lens housing hole, and a longitudinal end thereof is positioned in contact with the positioning claw. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the endoscope is configured as described above.

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