JP3607843B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope capable of reducing the outer diameter of an insertion portion of an endoscope having an observation visual field in a perspective direction or a side viewing direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, endoscopes having an elongated insertion portion have been widely used for examinations of organs in a body cavity or inside a plant in the medical field and the industrial field.
[0003]
In this type of endoscope, not only a normal-type endoscope having an observation visual field direction forward, but also a perspective endoscope having an observation visual field direction obliquely forward, or a side-view type having a visual field direction laterally. Endoscopes are also used.
[0004]
In such a perspective-type endoscope or a side-view type endoscope, the light from the emission end face of the light guide fiber disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion in parallel with the insertion portion is transmitted with respect to the longitudinal axis direction of the insertion portion. Therefore, it is necessary to shape the outgoing end face in a state bent in the observation visual field direction in order to face the observation visual field direction obliquely forward or laterally.
[0005]
Therefore, for example, in the perspective type configuration endoscope disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-168708, a light guide fiber inserted into an endoscope insertion portion covered with a hard outer tube is used as an observation optical system lens. The inner tube and the outer tube that house the group are pressed and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the pressing member provided with the distal end portion of the light guide fiber at the distal end of the inner tube and the inner tube It is pressed and fixed in a state of being bent obliquely forward by the peripheral surface.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the bending radius of the light guide fiber cannot be made smaller than a certain value, the light guide fiber does not break at the distal end of the insertion portion, and it is necessary to maintain a posture that is bent flexibly toward the viewing field. As disclosed in the above prior art, a space for securing a bent portion of the light guide fiber is required.
[0007]
As a result, in the perspective type endoscope or the side type endoscope, it is difficult to reduce the outer diameter of the insertion portion because it is necessary to secure a bending space for the light guide fiber.
[0008]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of reducing the outer diameter of an insertion portion in a perspective-type or side-view type endoscope.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light guide fiber that emits light over the entire length in the longitudinal axis direction of a cylindrical member constituting an exterior of an endoscope insertion portion in an endoscope that performs observation in a perspective direction or a side view direction. Is provided.
[0010]
In such a configuration, since the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion emits light in a wide range and the observation visual field direction in the perspective direction or the side view direction is illuminated in a wide range, it is not necessary to bend the light guide fiber in the visual field direction.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a perspective rigid endoscope.
The perspective rigid endoscope 1 has an insertion part 2, an eyepiece part 3, a connector 4 for connecting a light guide cable, etc., and the distal end surface 2a of the insertion part 2 is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the observation visual field direction. Has been.
[0012]
The connector 4 faces an incident end face of a light guide fiber 10 to be described later. A light guide cable extending from a light source device (not shown) is connected to the connector 4, and illumination light from the light source device is incident on an incident end face (not shown) of the light guide fiber 10 facing the connector 4. Is incident on.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of the insertion portion 2. The insertion portion 2 includes an outer tube 5 as a cylindrical member formed in a cylindrical shape, and an inner tube 6 inserted and inscribed in the outer tube 5, and the observation optical system lens group 7 is accommodated in the inner tube 6. Has been. The distal end surfaces of the outer tube 5 and the inner tube 6 are formed on the same surface on the distal end surface 2 a of the insertion portion 2.
[0014]
The outer tube 5 includes a stainless inner tube 8, a transparent resin outer tube 9, and a light guide fiber 10 that is interposed between the tubes 8 and 9 and extends from the connector 4. The light guide fiber 10 is disposed over the entire length from the eyepiece 3 side of the outer peripheral tube 9 to the distal end of the insertion portion 2.
[0015]
The light guide fiber 10 is formed from a resin material, and countless fine bubbles 10a are formed inside. When illumination light is incident from the incident end face of the light guide fiber 10, a part thereof is emitted from the emission end face 10b at the tip, and the remaining illumination light is caused by the fine bubbles 10a at the positions of the respective fine bubbles 10a. Diffused in all directions. As a result, the insertion portion 2 emits light over the entire length of the distal end surface and the longitudinal axis, and naturally the illumination light is also emitted in the observation visual field direction.
[0016]
In such a configuration, a light guide cable extending from a light source device (not shown) is connected to the connector 4 provided on one side of the eyepiece 3 of the perspective rigid endoscope 1, and the connector 4 When the illumination light is supplied from the incident end of the light guide fiber 10 facing the light, the illumination light is guided along the light guide fiber 10 toward the distal end of the insertion portion 2, and more than half of the illumination light is The remaining illumination light emitted from the emission end face 10 b at the tip is diffusely reflected by the fine bubbles 10 a provided in the light guide fiber 10 and diffused in the outer peripheral direction of the insertion portion 2.
[0017]
As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 2 emits light in a wide range, and the observation visual field direction of the perspective endoscope 1 is illuminated. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure a space for bending the distal end portion of the light guide fiber 10 in the observation visual field direction at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2, and the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced accordingly.
[0018]
3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 3 is an overall schematic view of the perspective rigid endoscope main body and the cover sheath, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the cover sheath. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure same as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0019]
The perspective rigid endoscope 11 according to the present embodiment is configured such that an endoscope main body 12 and a cover sheath 13 as a cylindrical member can be separated, and a light guide is provided on the proximal end side of the cover sheath 13. A connector 4 is formed so that the incident end face of the fiber 10 is exposed, and a cover glass 14 is attached to the distal end face of the cover sheath 13.
[0020]
As in the first embodiment, the outer tube 8 of the cover sheath 13 is formed in a three-layer structure, and a light extending from the connector 4 side between the inner peripheral tube 8 and the transparent outer tube 9. A guide fiber 10 is interposed.
[0021]
An inner tube 6 that also serves as an insertion portion provided in the endoscope body 13 is detachably attached to the cover sheath 13. The cover sheath 13 can be made disposable.
[0022]
According to such a configuration, the cover sheath 11 is made disposable so that in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, the inner tube 6 is not exposed to the outside during operation, and thus disinfection and sterilization are unnecessary. Thus, the disinfection and sterilization process can be simplified.
[0023]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the outer tube 5 omits the outer tube 9, and the light guide fiber 10 is circled around the inner tube 8 using an adhesive or the like. A two-layer structure arranged in a tubular shape may be used.
[0024]
Further, the light guide fiber 10 may be formed from a phosphorescent resin that emits light over the entire length in the longitudinal axis when irradiated for a certain period of time. In this case, since it is not necessary to supply illumination light to the light guide fiber 10, the connector 4 provided in the eyepiece 3 is not necessary.
[0025]
Further, the outer peripheral tube 9 may be structured so that only the tip end side is transparent, or the fine bubbles 10a are formed only on the tip end side of the light guide fiber 10 so that the vicinity of the tip portion emits light intensively. .
[0026]
Further, the inner peripheral tube 8 constituting the outer tube 5 may be made of resin, and the outer peripheral tube 9, the light guide fiber 10, and the inner peripheral tube 8 may be integrally formed. Further, the endoscope employed is not limited to a perspective endoscope, but may be a side endoscope.
[0027]
By the way, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, with respect to the incident surface 34 a of the inner tube 34 that accommodates the observation optical system lens group 33 provided on the distal end surface 32 a of the insertion portion 32 of the perspective endoscope 31. When the exit end surface 35a of the light guide fiber 35 is obliquely processed in a substantially right angle direction, the convex portion A is formed on the distal end surface 32a. Therefore, the convex portion A is easily caught during insertion, and the operator can insert it. Attention was necessary at the time.
[0028]
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the emission end face 10 b of the light guide fiber 10 facing the distal end face 2 a of the insertion portion 2 of the perspective endoscope 1 is used as each element constituting the light guide fiber 10. The inclination angle of the tip surface of the line 10c is kept as it is, and the pointed portion 10d is disposed on the extension line L of the incident surface 6a of the inner tube 6 that accommodates the observation optical system lens group 7.
[0029]
Then, a transparent resin 15 is filled in a gap portion between the tip surface of each element wire 10 c and the extension line L, so that the emission end surface 10 b of the light guide fiber 10 is the same as the incident surface 6 a of the observation optical system lens group 7. A surface.
[0030]
As a result, since no projection is formed on the distal end surface 2a of the insertion portion 2 of the perspective endoscope 1, good insertability can be obtained.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the light guide fiber 10 is disposed concentrically around the inner tube 6 that houses the observation optical system lens group 7, as in FIG. The pointed portion 10d of each strand 10c constituting the light guide fiber 10 is disposed on the extension line L of the incident surface 6a of the inner tube 6, and between the tip surface of each strand 10c and the extension line L. Filling the gap with the transparent resin 15 makes the exit end face 10 of the light guide fiber 10 and the incident face 6a of the inner tube 6 the same plane, thereby improving the insertability.
[0032]
[Appendix] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.
1) In an endoscope that performs observation in a perspective direction or a side viewing direction, a cylindrical member that constitutes the exterior of the endoscope insertion portion is provided by a transparent member, and light is emitted over the entire length in the longitudinal axis inside the cylindrical member. An endoscope characterized in that a light guide fiber is provided.
In such a configuration, since the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion emits light in a wide range and the observation visual field direction in the perspective direction or the side view direction is illuminated in a wide range, it is necessary to bend and shape the light guide fiber at the tip portion. Disappear.
[0033]
2) In the perspective type endoscope or the side type endoscope, a light guide fiber that emits light over the entire length in the longitudinal axis direction is incorporated in a transparent cover sheath that is detachably covered on the endoscope insertion portion. Endoscope.
In such a configuration, in addition to the effect of (1), by disposing the cover sheath, it is not necessary to sterilize the endoscope insertion part that is not exposed to the outside during operation, and the sterilization sterilization process is simplified. Can be
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion emits light in a wide range, it is possible to illuminate the observation direction of the perspective-type or side-view type endoscope. Since there is no need to bend and mold at the tip of the section, it is not necessary to provide a bending space for the light guide fiber to bend and fit in the required direction without breaking at the tip of the insertion section. The diameter can be further reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a perspective rigid endoscope according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a distal end portion of the rigid endoscope. FIG. 3 is a perspective rigid endoscope according to a second embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the cover sheath. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the distal end portion of the perspective rigid endoscope according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of a perspective rigid endoscope according to another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a front view taken along arrow VIII in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of a conventional perspective rigid endoscope. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the perspective rigid endoscope.
1,11 Perspective rigid endoscope 5 Outer tube (tubular member)
13 Cover sheath (tubular member)
10 Light guide fiber

Claims (1)

An endoscope that performs observation in a perspective direction or a side view direction, wherein a light guide fiber that emits light over the entire length in the longitudinal axis direction is disposed on a cylindrical member that constitutes the exterior of the endoscope insertion portion. Endoscope.

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