JP2009261830A - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To balance defogging performance and washing performance of an observation optical system. <P>SOLUTION: On the outer surface of a cover glass 34 disposed at the tip portion of an electronic endoscope 10, a thin film 35 varying to be hydrophilic on a low temperature side and to be hydrophobic on an elevated temperature side with a predetermined phase transition temperature as a boundary. A holding frame of the cover glass 34 is provided with a heater 42 for heating the thin film 35. A temperature sensor 43 provided near the cover glass 34 detects the temperature of the thin film 35. A power control part 51 controls power to be supplied to the heater 42 so as to keep the thin film 35 to be at a predetermined temperature not lower than the phase transition temperature. In response to push-in of an air-supply and water-supply button, a CPU 47 operates the power control part 51 to make the thin film 35 hydrophobic. The thin film 35 is effectively washed in the hydrophobic condition. In observation when the air-supply and water-supply button is not operated, the power control part 51 is not operated, so that the temperature is lowered to make the thin film 35 hydrophilic to obtain fogging prevention performance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and particularly to an endoscope apparatus provided with an air / water supply apparatus.

  Endoscopic devices are widely used in the medical field. The endoscope apparatus performs observation and processing in the body cavity from the distal end portion of the insertion section by inserting a long and thin insertion section into the body cavity. Since the inside of the body cavity is in an environment of a temperature of about 37 ° C. and a humidity of about 100%, the outer surface of the observation optical system is clouded by the humidity and the temperature difference, which makes it difficult to see the observation image. Yes. Therefore, conventionally, by forming a water-repellent (hydrophobic) coat on the outer surface of the observation optical system, the water adhering to the outer surface is made into polka-dot droplets to improve the water drainage.

  Further, generally, body fluid or the like may adhere to the outer surface of the observation optical system when inserted into a body cavity, which may hinder observation. A water supply nozzle is provided. The outer surface of the observation optical system is washed and dried by washing water and air ejected from an air / water feeding nozzle. When a water-repellent coating is applied to the outer surface of the observation optical system as described above, the cleaning water sprayed from the air / water supply nozzle to the outer surface becomes droplets of droplets and is easily repelled from the outer surface. However, there is a problem that the droplets remaining on the outer surface without being repelled aggregate in a polka dot shape and partially cloudy.

In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed to perform hydrophilic treatment on the outer surface of the observation optical system (see Patent Document 1). In this way, by applying hydrophilic treatment to the outer surface of the observation optical system, the droplets adhering to the outer surface are diffused over the entire surface and so-called wettability is improved, so that fogging is prevented.
JP 2006-282 A

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, when the outer surface of the observation optical system is made hydrophilic, an antifogging effect can be obtained, but water repellency cannot be obtained. There is a problem that the droplets adhering to the outer surface of the liquid are difficult to be blown off and the cleaning performance is deteriorated. That is, in the conventional technology, the antifogging performance and the cleaning performance are incompatible with each other, and there is a problem that when the cleaning performance is improved, the antifogging performance is reduced, and when the antifogging performance is improved, the cleaning performance is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of achieving both an antifogging performance and a cleaning performance of an observation optical system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope apparatus of the present invention reversibly changes between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity on the outer surface of the observation optical system disposed at the distal end portion of the endoscope. A thin film is provided.

  In addition, it is preferable that the said thin film changes a property reversibly between hydrophilic property and hydrophobicity with temperature.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said thin film changes to hydrophilicity in a low temperature side, and hydrophobicity in a high temperature side with a phase transition temperature as a boundary. For example, the thin film is made of Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further comprise temperature control means for setting the thin film to a predetermined temperature.

  In addition, air / water supply means for ejecting air or wash water toward the outer surface of the observation optical system, operation means for starting the ejection of air or wash water by the air / water supply means, and operation of the operation means Accordingly, it is preferable to further include operation control means for operating the temperature control means.

  Moreover, it is also preferable that the thin film has properties reversibly changed between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity by electromagnetic waves. In this case, it is preferable to provide an electromagnetic wave irradiation means for changing the properties of the thin film by irradiating the thin film with an electromagnetic wave.

  According to the present invention, since a thin film whose properties reversibly change between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is provided on the outer surface of the observation optical system, both the antifogging performance and the cleaning performance of the observation optical system are achieved. be able to.

  In FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 2 includes an electronic endoscope 10, a processor device 11, a light source device 12, an air / water supply device 13, and the like. The air / water supply device 13 includes a pump 13a built in the light source device 12 and a water supply tank 13b that stores wash water and supplies water. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a flexible insertion portion 14 that is inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 15 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 14, and a processor device 11 and a light source device 12. And a universal cord 16.

  A distal end portion 17 having a built-in CCD 40 (see FIG. 3) as an image sensor is connected to the distal end of the insertion portion 14. Behind the distal end portion 17 is provided a bending portion 18 connecting a plurality of bending pieces. The bending portion 18 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions when the angle knob 19 provided in the operation portion 15 is operated and the wire inserted in the insertion portion 14 is pushed and pulled. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 17 is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  The base end of the universal cord 16 is connected to the connector 20. The connector 20 is a composite type, and in addition to the processor device 11 being connected to the connector 20, a light source device 12 and an air / water supply device 13 are connected.

  The processor device 11 supplies power to the electronic endoscope 10 via a transmission cable inserted into the electronic endoscope 10, controls the driving of the CCD 40, and transmits an imaging signal output from the CCD 40 via the transmission cable. The received image signal is subjected to various signal processing to generate image data. The image data generated by the processor device 11 is displayed as an observation image on a monitor 21 connected to the processor device 11 by a cable. The processor device 11 is electrically connected to the light source device 12 via the connector 20 and controls the operation of the endoscope device 2 in an integrated manner.

  The operation unit 15 is used for air supply / water supply by air or cleaning water supplied from a forceps port 22 through which various treatment instruments having injection needles, high-frequency scalpels, and the like are inserted, and an air supply / water supply device 13 are inserted. An air / water supply button 23, a freeze button 24 for freezing an observation image displayed on the monitor 21, and the like are provided.

  An air / water supply conduit 41 (see FIG. 3) to which air or washing water is supplied from the air / water supply device 13 is inserted into the electronic endoscope 10. The front end side of the air / water supply conduit 41 communicates with the air / water supply nozzle 33 (see FIG. 2), and the proximal end side is the air supply conduit 41a (see FIG. 3) and the water supply conduit 41b (see FIG. 3). ) And is connected to the air / water supply device 13 via the air / water supply button 23. The air / water supply button 23 is formed with a hole communicating with the air supply line 41a. Since air is always supplied from the pump 13a to the air supply line 41a, the air supply line 41a is connected by closing the hole of the air supply / water supply button 23, and air is ejected from the air supply / water supply nozzle 33. When the air / water supply button 23 is further pushed in, the air supply line 41a is closed, and the air supplied from the pump 13a flows into the water supply tank 13b. This air pushes the cleaning water in the water supply tank 13b, so that the cleaning water flows into the water supply pipe 41b, and the cleaning water is ejected from the air / water supply nozzle 33.

  In FIG. 2, an observation window 30, an illumination window 31, a forceps outlet 32, and an air / water supply nozzle 33 are provided on the end surface 17 a of the distal end portion 17. The observation window 30 is disposed at the center on one side of the end surface 17a. Two illumination windows 31 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the observation window 30, and irradiate illumination light guided from the light source device 12 through the light guide 60 (see FIG. 3) to the site to be observed in the body cavity. The forceps outlet 32 is connected to a forceps channel disposed in the insertion portion 14 and communicates with the forceps port 22 of the operation portion 15. The tips of various treatment tools inserted through the forceps port 22 are exposed from the forceps outlet 32. The air / water supply nozzle 33 ejects air or wash water supplied from the air / water supply apparatus 13 toward the observation window 30 in accordance with the operation of the air / water supply button 23 of the operation unit 15 as described above.

  The observation window 30 is provided with a translucent cover glass 34, and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (hereinafter abbreviated as PIPAAm), which is a temperature-responsive polymer, is provided on the outer surface of the cover glass 34. A translucent thin film 35 that is chemically fixed by surface treatment is formed. PIPAAm is a temperature-responsive polymer that undergoes a phase transition by thermal stimulation, and has a property of becoming hydrophilic on the low temperature side and water repellency (hydrophobic) on the high temperature side with the phase transition temperature of 32 ° C. . A heater 42 (see FIG. 3) for heating the thin film 35 is provided around the cover glass 34, and a temperature sensor 43 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the vicinity of the heater 42. As will be described later in detail, the observation window 30 is cleaned in a state where the temperature of the thin film 35 is set to the phase transition temperature or more and the thin film 35 is water-repellent.

  In FIG. 3, an objective lens 44 is disposed behind the cover glass 34. In the present embodiment, the cover glass 34 and the objective lens 44 constitute an observation optical system. A CCD 40 is disposed at the imaging position of the objective lens 44. The CCD 40 includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed photoelectric conversion elements, photoelectrically converts light incident through the observation optical system, and outputs it as an imaging signal. Although illustration is omitted, on the light receiving surface of the CCD 40, a color filter (for example, a primary color filter in a Bayer array) including a plurality of color segments is arranged. In place of the CCD, another image sensor such as a CMOS sensor may be used.

  The CCD 40 is connected to a timing generator (TG) 45 and an analog signal processing circuit (AFE) 46 provided in the operation unit 15 of the electronic endoscope 10. The TG 45 generates a drive pulse (vertical / horizontal scanning pulse, reset pulse, etc.) for the CCD 40 and a synchronization pulse for the AFE 46 based on control from the CPU 47 provided in the operation unit 15, and inputs it to the CCD 40 and the AFE 46. .

  The AFE 46 includes a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 48, an automatic gain control circuit (AGC) 49, and an analog / digital converter (A / D) 50. The CDS 48 performs correlated double sampling processing on the imaging signal output from the CCD 40 and removes reset noise and amplifier noise generated in the CCD 40. The AGC 49 amplifies the image signal from which noise has been removed by the CDS 48 with a predetermined gain. The A / D 50 converts the imaging signal amplified by the AGC 49 into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits and inputs the digital signal to the processor device 11 via the connector 20 described above.

  The operation unit 15 is provided with a power control unit 51. The power control unit 51 controls the power supplied to the heater 42 based on the detection data of the temperature sensor 43 input to the CPU 47. The heater 42 is composed of a heating wire wound in a coil shape around a holding frame (not shown) that holds the cover glass 34. When the air / water button 23 is pressed and the operation is started by the CPU 47, the power control unit 51 sets the temperature of the thin film 35 on the cover glass 34 to a predetermined value equal to or higher than the phase transition temperature (for example, 36 ° C.) The temperature of the heater 42 is kept constant so that the thin film 35 maintains water repellency. In this embodiment, the heater 42, the temperature sensor 43, and the power control unit 51 correspond to the temperature control means described in the claims, and the CPU 47 corresponds to the operation control means described in the claims.

  The air / water supply button 23 generates an operation signal when pressed, and inputs this operation signal to the CPU 47. The CPU 47 operates the power control unit 51 in response to the input of the operation signal from the air / water supply button 23 to heat the thin film 35 by supplying power to the heater 42 to make the thin film 35 water repellent. The washing water ejected from the air / water feeding nozzle 33 is sprayed onto the thin film 35. At this time, since the thin film 35 is water repellent, the washing water is repelled as droplets on the thin film 35. Since these droplets are easily blown off even during air supply, cleaning is effectively performed. In the present embodiment, the air / water supply button 23 corresponds to the operation means described in the claims.

  On the other hand, when the CCD 40 performs observation through the observation window 30, the air / water supply button 23 is released and no operation signal is input to the CPU 47. In this case, since the power control unit 51 does not operate and power is not supplied to the heater 42, the thin film 35 is lowered to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature and becomes hydrophilic. At this time, since the droplets remaining on the thin film 35 are diffused over the entire surface of the thin film 35, an anti-fogging effect is obtained and a good observation image is obtained.

  The processor device 11 is provided with a CPU 52, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 53, a digital / analog converter (D / A) 54, and the like. The CPU 52 communicates with the CPU 47 of the electronic endoscope 10 and the CPU 55 of the light source device 12 and controls the operation of the processor device 11. Based on the control of the CPU 52, the DSP 53 performs color separation, color interpolation, gain correction, white balance adjustment, gamma correction, image enhancement processing, and the like on the imaging signal input from the AFE 46 of the electronic endoscope 10 to obtain image data. Is generated. The D / A 54 converts the image data generated by the DSP 53 into an analog signal and outputs it to the monitor 21. In this way, an image observed by the electronic endoscope 10 is displayed on the monitor 21.

  The light source device 12 includes a CPU 55, a light source 56, a light source driver 57, a diaphragm mechanism 58, a condenser lens 59, and the like. The CPU 55 communicates with the CPU 52 of the processor device 11 and controls the light source driver 57 and the diaphragm mechanism 58. The light source 56 includes a xenon lamp or a halogen lamp, and is driven and controlled by a light source driver 57. The aperture mechanism 58 is disposed on the light exit side of the light source 56 and increases or decreases the amount of light incident on the condenser lens 59. The condenser lens 59 condenses the light that has passed through the aperture mechanism 58 and guides it to the incident end of the light guide 60 of the electronic endoscope 10 connected to the light source device 12. The light guide 60 is inserted from the proximal end of the electronic endoscope 10 to the distal end portion 17, and the emission end is connected to each illumination window 31 described above.

  When observing the inside of a body cavity with the endoscope device 2 configured as described above, the electronic endoscope 10, the processor device 11, the light source device 12, and the monitor 21 are turned on, and the electronic endoscope is turned on. The insertion part 14 of the mirror 10 is inserted into the body cavity, and an image (observation image) in the body cavity imaged by the CCD 40 is observed on the monitor 21 while illuminating the body cavity with illumination light from the light source device 12.

  Usually, since the inside of the body cavity is in an environment of a temperature of about 37 ° C. and a humidity of about 100%, when the insertion portion 14 of the electronic endoscope 10 is inserted into the body cavity, the temperature of the distal end portion 17 is within the body cavity. Water droplets due to water vapor adhere to the observation window 30 and the like due to the temperature difference and the humidity lower than the temperature. At this time, since the thin film 35 on the cover glass 34 of the observation window 30 is lower than the phase transition temperature 32 ° C. and is hydrophilic, as shown in FIG. The droplet 70 diffuses over the entire surface. Thereby, an anti-fogging effect is obtained and a good observation image is obtained.

  When body fluid or the like adheres to the thin film 35 due to the use of the electronic endoscope 10 and stains that hinder observation are generated, the user operates the air / water supply button 23 to supply the air / water supply nozzle 33. The thin film 35 can be cleaned by ejecting air and cleaning water from. When the air / water supply button 23 is pushed, the cleaning water is supplied. At this time, the air / water supply button 23 generates an operation signal and inputs it to the CPU 47. In response to the input of the operation signal, the CPU 47 operates the power control unit 51 when water is supplied from the air / water supply device 13 to heat the thin film 35 by supplying power to the heater 42, and repels the thin film 35. Make it aqueous. At this time, cleaning water is ejected from the air / water feeding nozzle 33 to the observation window 30, but as shown in FIG. 4B, the droplet 71 adhered on the thin film 35 has a large contact angle with the surface. As a result, the water drainage is improved. Since the droplet 71 is easy to receive air blown from the air / water supply nozzle 33 during air supply, it is easily cleaned and dried.

  Thereafter, when the push of the air / water supply button 23 is released, the operation of the power control unit 51 stops. The temperature of the thin film 35 drops below the phase transition temperature due to the stop of the heater 42, the cooling effect due to water supply, and the cooling effect due to the heat of vaporization of the droplets. At this time, although there is a concern that the observation window 30 may be clouded due to a temperature difference between the body cavity and the thin film 35, the thin film 35 becomes hydrophilic, so that an antifogging effect is obtained and a good observation image is obtained. It is done. Even if the temperature of the thin film 35 rises due to the temperature in the body cavity and becomes water-repellent, the thin film 35 has a small temperature difference from the inside of the body cavity. can get.

  As described above, in the endoscope apparatus 2 of the present invention, the surface of the cover glass 34, which is the outer surface of the observation optical system, has temperature responsiveness and is between hydrophilicity and water repellency (hydrophobicity). Since the thin film 35 that changes in the above is formed, it is possible to achieve both the antifogging performance and the cleaning performance. That is, at the time of cleaning, the thin film 35 can be made water-repellent to improve the cleaning performance, and the temperature of the thin film 35 immediately after insertion of the insertion portion 14 or after the cleaning becomes low and hydrophilic. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the cover glass 34 is provided on the observation window 30. However, the objective lens 44 may be exposed from the observation window 30 without providing the cover glass 34. In this case, since the surface of the objective lens 44 is the outer surface of the observation optical system, the thin film 35 may be formed on this surface.

  In the above embodiment, the heater 42 is provided on the holding frame of the cover glass 34 in order to heat the thin film 35. However, the heater 42 is not provided, and the light from the light source device 12 is electronically transmitted by a light guide or the like. It is good also as a structure which heats the thin film 35 with the radiant heat by guide | inducing to the front-end | tip part 17 of the endoscope 10, and irradiating the said holding frame.

  Furthermore, a heating device for heating the thin film 35 may not be provided. In this case, the temperature of the thin film 35 is changed by receiving heat in the body cavity, but the temperature in the body cavity is about 37 ° C., which is higher than the phase transition temperature (32 ° C.) of the thin film 35. When time passes sufficiently, the thin film 35 becomes water-repellent beyond the phase transition temperature. By cleaning the thin film 35 in this state, high cleaning performance can be obtained. After washing, the thin film 35 becomes hydrophilic when the temperature is lowered, so that anti-fogging performance is obtained.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the thin film 35 is formed using the material which changes reversibly between hydrophilicity and water repellency by temperature stimulation, this invention is not limited to this, Electromagnetic waves (visible light) Or a material that reversibly changes between hydrophilicity and water repellency by electrical stimulation. FIG. 5 shows a case where the thin film 80 is formed on the outer surface of the cover glass 34 using, for example, titanium oxide which is a kind of photocatalyst as a material that reversibly changes between hydrophilicity and water repellency by electromagnetic wave stimulation. An example of the configuration of the endoscope apparatus will be shown. Titanium oxide has a property of being modified from water repellency (hydrophobic) to hydrophilic when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  In the vicinity of the cover glass 34, a light emitting diode (LED) 81 that emits ultraviolet rays is disposed instead of the heater 42 and the temperature sensor 43. The LED 81 is controlled to emit light by the CPU 47 and irradiates the thin film 80 with ultraviolet rays when observed by the CCD 40. Thereby, the thin film 80 changes to hydrophilicity and antifogging performance is obtained. In addition, since it is the same as that of the said embodiment about another part, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, the LED 81 corresponds to the electromagnetic wave irradiation means described in the claims.

It is an external view which shows the endoscope apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the end surface of the front-end | tip part of an electronic endoscope. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of an endoscope apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the thin film to which the droplet adhered, (A) is sectional drawing when a thin film is hydrophilic, (B) is sectional drawing when a thin film is water-repellent. It is a schematic block diagram of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Endoscope apparatus 10 Electronic endoscope 11 Processor apparatus 12 Light source apparatus 13 Air supply / water supply apparatus 14 Insertion part 15 Operation part 17 Tip part 23 Air supply / water supply button 30 Observation window 33 Air supply / water supply nozzle 34 Cover glass 35 Thin film 40 CCD
42 heater 43 temperature sensor 47 CPU
51 Power control unit 70, 71 Droplet 80 Thin film 81 Light emitting diode

Claims (8)

  An endoscope apparatus comprising a thin film whose properties reversibly change between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity on an outer surface of an observation optical system disposed at a distal end portion of an endoscope.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thin film has a property that reversibly changes between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity depending on temperature.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thin film changes to a hydrophilic state on a low temperature side and hydrophobic on a high temperature side with a phase transition temperature as a boundary.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the thin film is made of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide.   The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising temperature control means for setting the thin film to a predetermined temperature.   According to the operation of the air supply / water supply means for injecting air or wash water toward the outer surface of the observation optical system, the operation means for starting the injection of air or wash water by the air supply / water supply means, and the operation means The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising operation control means for operating the temperature control means.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thin film has properties that reversibly change between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity due to electromagnetic waves.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit that changes the properties of the thin film by irradiating the thin film with an electromagnetic wave.

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