JP2007007322A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope in which an imaging unit is not easily affected by the heat generation of an LED unit and a sufficient current can be made to flow to the LED unit. <P>SOLUTION: In the endoscope provided with a liquid flow path 7 for distributing liquid in a distal end part main body 3, the liquid flow path 7 is provided with a pipeline 17 for distributing the liquid and the pipeline 17 is provided with a heat radiation means composed of a coarse surface 19 or recessed and projected parts 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having a liquid flow path for allowing a liquid to flow through a tip body.

  For example, in a medical endoscope, an illumination window and an observation window are provided on a distal end body provided on the distal end side of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, and an air supply / water supply conduit and a treatment instrument insertion channel are provided. It is inserted. The illumination window is optically connected to a light guide fiber as an illumination optical system, and the observation window is provided with an imaging unit including a solid-state imaging device that converts an observation image into an electrical signal.

  Then, the inside of the body cavity is observed with a solid-state imaging device while illuminating with an illumination optical system, and air / water is supplied through an air / water supply pipe as necessary, or a treatment tool is inserted through a treatment tool insertion channel. Can be treated.

  In addition, an endoscope in which a light emitting diode unit (hereinafter referred to as an LED unit) as a light emitting portion is provided at the distal end portion of an insertion portion instead of a light guide fiber that illuminates the body cavity is known (for example, Patent Document See 1.)

  However, although the LED unit generates heat, there is a limit to the outer diameter of the tip portion, and thus the LED unit must be disposed close to the imaging unit in terms of layout. The solid-state imaging device constituting the imaging unit has a problem that when heated to a certain temperature or higher, noise increases and the image becomes rough. Therefore, there is a problem that a sufficient current cannot be supplied to the LED unit in order to prevent the solid-state imaging element from being heated to a certain temperature or higher.

Therefore, in the endoscope shown in Patent Document 1, an air / water supply conduit is piped between the image pickup unit and the LED unit, and the image pickup unit is affected by heat by taking heat from the LED unit by air supply or water supply. In other words, a partition member is provided between the imaging unit and the LED unit to block heat from the LED unit so that the imaging unit is hardly affected by heat.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-216113

  However, as in the endoscope shown in Patent Document 1, an air / water supply conduit is piped between the imaging unit and the LED unit, and heat from the LED unit is taken away by the air or water supply, and the imaging unit is affected by heat. Those that are difficult to receive will not be effective unless they are constantly aired or watered. In addition, the one provided with a partition member that blocks the heat from the LED unit is provided with components for the air supply / water supply conduit and the treatment instrument insertion channel along with the illumination window and observation window at the distal end of the insertion portion. There is a problem that the outer diameter of the distal end portion of the endoscope becomes thick.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which an imaging unit is hardly affected by the heat generated by the LED unit and can flow a sufficient current to the LED unit. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope having a liquid channel that circulates a liquid in a distal end portion main body, and has a conduit that circulates the liquid in the liquid channel, A heat dissipation means is provided in the pipe.

  A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the heat dissipating means of the first aspect is a pipe line itself in which the pipe cross-sectional shape is uneven.

  A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the liquid channel according to the first aspect gradually increases from the liquid inlet side and gradually decreases from the middle toward the outlet side.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the distal end main body according to the first aspect is connected via a bending portion including a bending tube portion provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion and a net-like body covering the bending tube portion, and the bending The tube portion and the net-like body are directly coupled to the tip body by soldering, brazing, welding, or the like.

  5. An endoscope having a distal end main body on the distal end side of the insertion portion, wherein the distal end main body has a shape in which a plurality of columnar bodies having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape are arranged in the axial direction, and the columnar body on the distal end side. An LED unit as a light emitting portion is provided on the base, and other parts are provided on the columnar body on the base end side.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the columnar body on the distal end side according to the fifth aspect is a circuit board.

  A seventh aspect is characterized in that a heat insulating material is provided between the columnar body on the distal end side and the columnar body on the proximal end side of the fifth aspect.

  An eighth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a water cooling jacket for refluxing the liquid is provided between the columnar body on the distal end side and the columnar body on the proximal end side of the fifth aspect.

  According to the present invention, the imaging unit is less affected by the heat generated by the LED unit and allows a sufficient current to flow through the LED unit by providing the heat radiating means in the conduit of the liquid channel that circulates the liquid in the tip body. There is an effect that can be.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion portion, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the conduit, and FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a distal end portion body 3 made of a hard member is provided on the distal end side of the endoscope insertion portion 1 via a bending portion 2. The bending portion 2 includes a bending tube portion 2a made of a metal strip-shaped spiral cylindrical body, a metal mesh body 2b provided outside the bending tube portion 2a, a synthetic resin material and rubber provided outside the mesh body 2b. And a coating layer 2c. A front end cover 4 made of a synthetic resin material is provided at the front end of the front end portion body 3 so as to cover it.

  The distal end body 3 is provided with an illumination window 5, an observation window 6, a liquid flow path 7 and a treatment instrument insertion channel 8 which will be described later. The illumination window 5 has a lens 9 attached to the front end cover 4, and an LED unit 10 as an illumination light emitting unit provided in the front end main body 3 is provided opposite to the lens 9. The LED unit 10 is electrically connected to an electric wire 12 in a channel 11a housed in the endoscope insertion portion 1.

  The observation window 6 has an objective lens 13 attached to the tip cover 4, and a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is connected to the objective lens 13 via a relay lens (not shown) provided on the tip body 3. The imaging unit 15 is provided so as to face each other. Therefore, the LED unit 10 and the imaging unit 15 are provided close to each other in parallel inside the tip body 3. Furthermore, the imaging unit 15 is electrically connected to the electric wire 16 in the channel 11b built in the endoscope insertion portion 1.

  The liquid channel 7 is formed by a pipe line 17 penetrating the inside of the tip body 3 from the base end part toward the tip part in a substantially U shape, and the inlet side 17a of the pipe line 17 is connected to the forward pipe line 18a. The outlet side 17b is connected to the return line 18b. An inlet side 17a of the pipe line 17 is provided in parallel with the LED unit 10, an outlet side 17b is provided in parallel with the imaging unit 15, and close to both units. Further, the forward duct 18 a and the return duct 18 b are built in the endoscope insertion portion 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the pipe 17 that forms the liquid flow path 7 provided in the tip body 3 is formed with a rough surface 19 as a heat dissipation means by blasting or etching. As shown in FIG. 3B, the surface area is increased by forming irregularities 20 as heat radiation means on the outer surface. And it is comprised so that the front-end | tip part main body 3 can be cooled efficiently with the liquid (cooling water) which distribute | circulates the pipe line 17. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the proximal end side of the endoscope insertion portion 1 is connected to the operation portion 21. A small pump unit 22 is provided inside the operation unit 21. The discharge side of the small pump unit 22 is connected to the forward pipeline 18a built in the endoscope insertion portion 1, and the suction side is connected to the return pipeline 18b. Then, after the liquid flows from the small pump unit 22 to the liquid flow path 7 of the distal end main body 3 via the forward pipe 18a, it returns to the small pump unit 22 via the return pipe 18b.

  A universal cord 23 is connected to the operation unit 21, and the universal cord 23 is connected to a power supply device 25 via a connector 24. The power supply device 25 is connected to a video processor 27 via a video cable 26, and the video processor 27 is connected to a monitor 29 via a video cable 28. The power supply device 25 is connected to a suction pump 31 via a suction tube 30, and the suction bottle 31 is connected to the suction pump 31. The power supply device 25, the video processor 27, the monitor 29, the suction pump 31 and the suction bottle 32 are mounted on a gantry 34 having casters 33.

  According to the above-described configuration, the cooling liquid is discharged from the small pump unit 22 by driving the small pump unit 22 provided in the operation unit 21, and the liquid is the forward pipe line built in the endoscope insertion unit 1. It is guided to the tip end body 3 through 18a. Since the distal end body 3 is provided with the conduit 17 of the liquid flow path 7, the liquid flows from the inlet side 17 a of the conduit 17 toward the outlet side 17 b, cools the distal end body 3, and then returns. It returns to the small pump unit 22 via the pipe line 18b, and the tip part main body 3 is cooled when the liquid recirculates.

  The tip body 3 is provided with an LED unit 10 as a heat source, but is provided with a conduit 17 through which liquid flows close to the LED unit 10 and the imaging unit 15, and the conduit 17 has a heat dissipation means. Since the rough surface 19 or the unevenness 20 is provided, the tip body 3 can be efficiently cooled. Therefore, heat generated from the LED unit 10 can be prevented from moving to the imaging unit 15. Therefore, the imaging unit 15 is not easily affected by the heat generated by the LED unit 10, and a sufficient current can flow through the LED unit 10.

  FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal side view of the endoscope insertion portion of the second embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the forward duct 18 a and the return duct 18 b in which the endoscope insertion section 1 is built are formed of a metal strip-shaped spiral cylinder constituting the bending section 2 inside the bending section 2. It is bonded to the inner surface of the bending tube portion 2a by a heat conductive adhesive 35.

  According to this configuration, the heat of the forward pipe 18a and the return pipe 18b is radiated from the curved pipe part 2a, and the substantial heat radiation area of the forward pipe 18a and the return pipe 18b can be expanded, so that the tip body 3 can be efficiently used. There is an effect that it can be cooled.

  FIG. 6 is a vertical side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion of the third embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, the distal end portion of the bending tube portion 2 a made of a metal strip-shaped spiral cylindrical body constituting the bending portion 2, that is, the distal end portion of the most advanced side piece 36 and the metal mesh body 2 b, is the distal end portion main body 3. It is directly coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the solder by soldering, brazing or welding. Further, the end portion of the curved tube portion 2a, the most distal end piece 37, and the end portion of the metal net 2b are directly coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end cap 38 of the flexible tube portion 1a by soldering, brazing or welding. Has been.

  According to this configuration, the heat of the tip body 3 can be dissipated from the curved tube portion 2a, the mesh body 2b, and the tip base 38, so that the substantial heat radiation area of the tip body 3 can be expanded. There is an effect that it can be cooled.

  FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion of the fourth embodiment. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, the forward pipe 18 a connected to the inlet side 17 a of the pipe 17 of the liquid flow path 7 and the return pipe 18 b connected to the outlet side 17 b are built in the endoscope insertion portion 1. Yes. The forward pipe 18a and the return pipe 18b are formed in the small diameter portion 39 in the bending portion 2, and are formed in the large diameter portion 40 in the flexible tube portion 1a.

  According to this configuration, the inside of the bending portion 2 is a narrow space due to the presence of the angle wire 41, the angle wire guide 42, and the like, but since the forward pipeline 18a and the return pipeline 18b are formed by the small-diameter portion 39, piping is performed. Space can be secured. Moreover, since the flexible pipe portion 1a is formed in the large diameter portion 40, the substantial heat radiation area of the forward pipe line 18a and the return pipe line 18b can be enlarged, and the cooling can be efficiently performed.

  FIG. 8 is a longitudinal side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion of the fifth embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, an annular groove 41 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end main body 3, and the annular groove 41 is covered with a cylindrical body 42 that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end main body 3. Accordingly, a liquid annular channel 43 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end body 3.

  The channel 17 of the liquid channel 7 is formed with a channel expanding portion 44 whose cross-sectional area gradually increases from the inlet side 17 a connected to the outgoing channel 18 a, and the maximum expanded portion is a part of the liquid annular channel 43. It is connected to the. The pipe 17 connected to the other part of the liquid annular channel 43 is formed with a channel reducing part 45 whose sectional area is gradually reduced toward the outlet side 17b, and the maximum reduced part is the return pipe 18b. It is connected to the. Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the liquid channel 7 gradually increases from the liquid inlet side 17a and gradually decreases from the middle toward the outlet side 17b.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the vortex from being generated by the flow path expanding portion 44 and the flow path reducing portion 45 of the pipe line 17 of the liquid flow path 7, and the tip body 3 can be efficiently cooled.

  FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion of the sixth embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 9, a spiral groove 46 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end main body 3, and the spiral groove 46 is covered with a cylindrical body 47 fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the tip end main body 3. Accordingly, a liquid spiral channel 48 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end body 3. An inlet side 48a of the liquid spiral flow path 48 is connected to the outgoing line 18a, and an outlet side 48b is connected to the return line 18b.

  According to this configuration, the liquid spiral channel 48 is formed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the tip end body 3, and there is an effect that the tip end body 3 can be efficiently cooled. In addition, generation | occurrence | production of a vortex can be prevented by forming the flow path width of the liquid spiral flow path 48 to 3 times or less of the flow path width of the going pipe 18a and the return pipe 18b.

  FIG. 10 is a longitudinal side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion of the seventh embodiment, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 10, the distal end portion main body 50 provided on the distal end side of the endoscope insertion portion 1 has a thin first columnar body 51 with a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and a second thick wall with a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The columnar bodies 52 are arranged in the axial direction. The front surface and the outer peripheral surface of the first columnar body 51 are covered with a tip cover 4 made of a synthetic resin material, and the outer peripheral surface of the second columnar body 52 is covered with a coating layer 2 c constituting the curved portion 2.

  An LED unit 53 as a light emitting unit is provided to protrude from the front surface of the first columnar body 51 of the tip body 50, and a lens 54 is provided on the tip cover 4 facing the LED unit 53. The LED unit 53 is directly mounted on a circuit board 51 a formed on the front surface of the first columnar body 51.

  An imaging unit 55 having a solid-state imaging element such as a CCD is provided on the second columnar body 52 of the tip body 50. The front end portion of the imaging unit 55 passes through a through hole 51 b provided in the first columnar body 51 and faces the objective lens 56 provided in the tip cover 4. The inner diameter of the through hole 51b provided in the first columnar body 51 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the imaging unit 55, and a gap is formed between the two. The first columnar body 51 and the imaging unit 55 are Thermally separated. In addition, 57 is an air / water supply conduit, and 58 is a treatment instrument insertion channel.

  According to this configuration, the tip main body 50 is separated into the first columnar body 51 and the second columnar body 52, the LED unit 53 is provided in the first columnar body 51, and the second columnar body 52 is imaged. Since the unit 55 is provided, heat generated from the LED unit 53 can be prevented from moving to the imaging unit 55. Therefore, the imaging unit 55 is hardly affected by the heat generated by the LED unit 53, and a sufficient current can flow through the LED unit 53.

  FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal side view of the distal end portion of the endoscope insertion portion according to the eighth embodiment. The same components as those in the first and seventh embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, a heat insulating material 59 and a water cooling jacket 60 are interposed between the first columnar body 51 and the second columnar body 52 constituting the tip body 50. Further, the heat insulating material 59 is in close contact with the front surface of the second columnar body 52, and the water cooling jacket 60 is in close contact with the back surface of the first columnar body 51.

  The first columnar body 51 of the tip body 50 is provided with an LED unit 53 that projects as a light emitting unit, and the second columnar body 52 is provided with an imaging unit 55 having a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD. . The front end portion of the imaging unit 55 passes through the heat insulating material 59, the water cooling jacket 60, and the through holes 59 a, 60 a, 51 b provided in the first columnar body 51 and faces the objective lens 56 provided in the tip cover 4. Yes. The inner diameters of the through holes 59a, 60a, and 51b are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the imaging unit 55, and a gap is formed between them. The first columnar body 51 and the imaging unit 55 are thermally separated. Yes. Further, the inlet of the water cooling jacket 60 is connected to the cooling water going-out pipe 61a, and the outlet is connected to the cooling water return pipe 61b.

  According to this configuration, the tip end main body 50 is separated into the first columnar body 51 and the second columnar body 52, and the heat insulating material 59 is provided between the first columnar body 51 and the second columnar body 52. Therefore, the heat generated from the LED unit 53 can be prevented from moving to the image pickup unit 55. Therefore, the imaging unit 55 is hardly affected by the heat generated by the LED unit 53, and a sufficient current can flow through the LED unit 53.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The longitudinal section side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. The embodiment is shown, (a) (b) is a cross-sectional view of a pipeline. The block diagram of the endoscope apparatus which shows the embodiment. The vertical side view of the curved part of the endoscope insertion part of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 6th Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 7th Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal side view of the front-end | tip part of the endoscope insertion part of the 8th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope insertion part, 3 ... Tip part main body, 7 ... Liquid flow path, 10 ... LED unit, 15 ... Imaging unit, 17 ... Pipe line, 19 ... Rough surface, 20 ... Concavity and convexity

Claims (8)

In an endoscope having a liquid flow path for distributing liquid to the tip body,
An endoscope characterized in that a conduit for circulating a liquid is provided in the liquid passage, and a heat radiating means is provided in the conduit.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating means is a pipe itself in which the pipe cross-sectional shape has irregularities.   2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the liquid channel gradually increases from the liquid inlet side and gradually decreases from the middle toward the outlet side.   The distal end portion body is connected via a bending portion including a bending tube portion provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion and a net-like body covering the bending tube portion, and the bending tube portion and the net-like body are connected to the tip end. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is directly coupled to the main body by soldering, brazing, welding, or the like. In an endoscope having a distal end portion main body on the distal end side of the insertion portion,
The distal end body has a shape in which a plurality of columnar bodies having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape are arranged in the axial direction, a light emitting diode unit as a light emitting section is provided on the columnar body on the distal end side, and other components are provided on the columnar body on the proximal end side An endoscope provided with   The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the columnar body on the distal end side is a circuit board.   The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein a heat insulating material is provided between the columnar body on the distal end side and the columnar body on the proximal end side.   The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein a water cooling jacket for refluxing liquid is provided between the distal end side columnar body and the proximal end side columnar body.

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