JPH0268024A - Endoscope with gravitational direction indicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the title device from which the gravitational direction at the tip of the title endoscope can be accurately grasped by providing a gravitational direction indicating member, the position, etc., of which are changeable, for the tip side of a linear member in a gravity working direction and making the gravitational direction indicating member appear in an observing visual field by an observing window. CONSTITUTION:Since a wire member 26 has moderate flexibility, the member 26 bends in the gravitational direction with its dead weight and the weight of a spherical indicating member 28. Light emitted from the lamp of a light source device is transmitted by a light guide 14 and emitted from an emitting edge surface to the front of the observing visual field. Further, the image of a part in the angle of visibility alpha in an illuminated object is image-formed on the incident edge surface of an image guide 18 by an objective optical system 17 in an observing window 16. Further, the image is transmitted to a base edge side by this image guide 18, and the images of the wire member 26 bent in the gravitational direction and the indicating member 28 fitted to the tip of the member 26 appear in a visual field 29 together with the image of a pipe to be inspected 32. Thus, the gravitational direction at an inserted tip part 9 can be accurately grasped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope equipped with a gravitational direction indicating VR position capable of forming an image representing the gravitational direction within an observation field of view.

[Prior Art] Generally, in an endoscope, the direction of the distal end of the insertion section is not specified, so the vertical direction of the displayed image does not necessarily match the direction of gravity of the observed visual field image.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-63110 proposes an endoscope in which a device for indicating the direction of gravity is provided between the objective optical system and the image transmission system at the distal end of the endoscope. In this endoscope, an object image passing through the objective optical system is first formed on the gravity direction indicating device. Then, the target image on this gravity direction indicating device is formed on the end face of the image transmission system 1-! l
Ru. From here, the target image and gravity indicating image come together to create an inkstone.

It is now possible to understand.

Here, as the vehicle power direction indicating device, there are those using steel balls and those using liquid.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example described above, it is necessary to provide a lens system for forming the target image on the gravitational direction indicating device on the end face of the image transmission system, making the configuration complicated.

Furthermore, since the gravity indicating image is formed together with the target image at the end face of the image transmission system, if a steel ball is used, the image will partially hide the target image. For this reason, the steel ball must be as small as possible.

Furthermore, when a liquid is used, it has an adverse effect such as distortion on the observed image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a gravity direction indicating device that has a simple configuration and can accurately determine the direction of gravity at the tip of an endoscope without adversely affecting the quality of the image. The purpose is to provide an endoscope equipped with

[Means for solving the problem] A linear member extending in front of the observation window at the distal end of the endoscope, and a gravity direction indicating member whose position etc. changes in the direction in which gravity acts on the distal end side of the linear member. is provided, and this gravity direction indicating member appears within the observation field of the first observation window.

[Effect 1] The distal end of the linear member is made flexible so that it bends due to gravity and faces in the direction of gravity, so with a simple configuration, it can be easily adjusted from its orientation in the endoscopic image through the observation window. You can easily know the direction of gravity.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 relate to a first actual flow example of the present invention.
The figure shows the distal end side of the endoscope of the first embodiment, and the second figure shows the endoscope of the first embodiment.
The overall structure of the embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 1 (equipped with a gravity direction indicator) has an elongated insertion section 2, an operation section 2 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 2, and an operation section 2 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 2. , an eyepiece section 4 provided at the rear end of this operation section 3
and a light guide cable 5 extending outward from the side of the operating section 3.

A connector 6 that can be connected to a light source device (not shown) is removed at the end of the light guide cable 5.

The insertion section 2 includes a flexible section 7 formed of a flexible member;
A bendable curved portion 8 formed on the front end side of this flexible portion 7
and a hard tip forming portion 9 formed at the front end of this curved portion 8.
It consists of By rotating the angle knob 11 provided on the operation section 3, this curved section 8 can be
Can be curved in any direction.

A centering device 13 can be attached to the tip component (tip section) 9 via a centering device attachment fitting 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a light guide 14 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 2. As shown in FIG.

This light guide 14 is composed of a fiber bundle,
The light guide 14 inserted through the insertion section 2 is inserted through the light guide cable 5 extending outside from the operation section 3, and its input end is connected to the connector 6). However, the light 8!, not shown, appears at this incident end. Illumination light emitted from a lamp within the device is supplied. This supplied illumination light is transmitted by this light guide 14, and the tip surface (
The light is emitted from the output end (tA end surface) toward the object in front.

An observation window 16 is formed in this tip member 15 by a through hole formed adjacent to the through hole to which the tip surface of the light guide 14 is fixed, and behind the J bar glass that closes this observation window 16. An objective optical system 17 is fixed, and this objective optical system 1
An observation optical system is formed by fixing the distal end side of the image guide 18 so that the distal end surface (incidence end) of the image guide 18 that transmits an optical image faces the position of the focal plane 7.

The image guide 18 is composed of a fiber bundle, and transmits an optical image formed at the input end by the image guide 18 as an image transmission system to the output end surface on the eyepiece 4 side.

An eyepiece lens 19 is disposed opposite to the output end surface of the image guide 18, so that an image transmitted through this single eyepiece lens can be observed under magnification.

A male thread 21 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip member 15,
By screwing into this male thread 21 a female thread 22 provided on the inner circumferential surface of a centering device fitting 12 having a substantially cylindrical shape, this centering device fitting 12 can be detachably attached to this tip member 15. Further, this centering device mounting bracket 12 is designed to allow a centering device 13 in the form of a gourd to be attached by screwing or other means.

By the way, the centering device mounting bracket 12 has a large diameter portion 24 formed in a step-like manner on the distal end thereof, and a gravity direction indicating device 25 is fixed to the large diameter portion 24 .

That is, a through hole is provided at one location in the large diameter portion 24 to form a hole 41.
The rear end side of a flexible wire member 26 constituting the force direction indicating device 25 is inserted, and a stopper member 27 is fixed to the rear end of the inserted wire member 26.

The wire member 26 extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction of the endoscope 1, and the gravity direction indicating device 25 is constituted by a spherical indicating member 28 attached to the tip of the wire member 26.

The tip of the gravity direction indicator @25 is based on the objective optical system 17 located inside the observation window 16? The length of the wire member 26, its degree of flexibility, and the mass of the indicator member 28 are set so that it falls within the BI viewing angle α.

For example, if the wire member 26 is not bent but extends straight, the indicator member 28 at the tip thereof will be at the observation viewing angle α
As it enters the interior, the weight of the indicator member 28 causes it to open as shown in FIG. If 8tl Ul 26 is bent,
The indicator member 28 at the bent tip is also placed within the observation viewing angle α, and therefore, when observed with the naked eye from the eyepiece 4, the indicator member 28 is bent into the observation field 29 due to gravity as shown in FIG. The distal end portion of the wire member 26 and the indicator member 2
8 and can be observed.

Further, the indicating member 28 is set to a size that is based on the size of the sphere, that is, the diameter value, so that the size of the object can be measured by comparison.

In addition, at the rear end of the tip part shrine 15, joint pieces 30, 30. ... are connected in tandem in a flexible manner, and the outer periphery thereof is covered with a soft cover member 31.

The material of the wire member 26 is steel, SU
It can be formed using a spring made of steel such as S, a tightly wound spring, a wire made by twisting normal thin wires, a rod, or a wire material.

A manner in which an object is observed using the first embodiment configured in this manner will be described below.

FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. 1' The state in which the distal end side of the first embodiment is inserted into the tube 32 to be inspected as an object to be observed 1-0 At this time, the wire member 26 has an appropriate flexibility. Since it has a spherical indicator member 28, it bends in the direction of gravity due to its own weight and the weight of the spherical indicator member 28. In this case, light emitted from a lamp equipped with a light source (not shown) is transmitted by the light guide 14 and emitted from the output end face toward the front of the observation field. However,
An image of a portion of the illuminated object within the viewing angle α is transmitted to the image guide 18 by the objective optical system 17 within the observation window 16.
At the same time, the images of the Y-V member 26 and the spherical indicator member 28 which are bent within the viewing angle α are also formed on the incident end surface of the image guide 18 .

The image is then transmitted to the proximal end side by this image guide 18, magnified by the eyepiece lens 19 of the eyepiece section 4, and shown in the field of view 29 together with the image of the tube to be inspected 32 in the direction of the small force. An image of the bent 94-7 member 26 and the indicator member 28 attached to its tip is displayed. Therefore, this field of view 2
The direction of gravity in the inserted distal end 9 can be accurately determined by the direction in which the indicating member 28 is deflected and displaced within the distal end 9 .

According to the first embodiment, the direction of the vehicle force on the endoscope tip 90 can be accurately determined by the simple structure of fixing the wire member 26 and the indicating member 28 to the centering device bracket 12. can. Furthermore, since no modifications have been made to the structure of the observation optical system, the quality of the observed image will not deteriorate.

Further, in comparison with the diameter of the indicator member 28, if there is a flaw, crack, rust, etc. on the pipe 32 to be inspected, the size thereof can be measured.

Incidentally, as the indicating member 28, for example, a lamp may be incorporated and covered with a transparent cover.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment is an electronic endoscope 41, and this electronic endoscope 4
1 is an image guide 1 in the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment.
8, a CCD 42 as a solid image element is arranged on the focal plane of the objective optical system 17. A signal line 43 is connected to the C0D 42, this signal line 43 passes through the insertion section, and a universal cord 44 extends from the operation section 3.
The light guide 14 and the light guide 14 are inserted through the inside and connected to the connector 45. The connector 45 is detachable and connectable to the video processor 46, and by connecting the connector 45, the signal ¥A43 is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit 47. By this signal processing circuit 47, (CCD
42, the photoelectrically converted signal is subjected to video signal processing to generate a predetermined video signal, which is input to a color monitor 48, so that the silver image can be displayed in color on a monitor screen 49.

By connecting the connector 45 to the video processor 46, illumination light is supplied from the light source device 51 to the incident end surface of the light guide 14. In other words, the white light from the lamp 52 passes through the condenser lens 53 and is condensed and irradiated onto the incident end face of the light guide 14 .

Since the electronic endoscope 41 does not use the image guide 18 but instead uses a CCD 42, it goes without saying that the eyepiece 4 is not provided.

The rest of the structure is similar to that of the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment, and the same members are given the same reference numerals.

In other words, the centering device mounting bracket 12 attached to the distal end portion 9 is equipped with a gravity direction indicating device 25 consisting of a wire member 26 and an indicating member 28.

According to this embodiment, the monitor screen 4 of the color monitor 48
As shown in FIG.
Since the image of the pointing member 28 attached to the tip is displayed, the direction of gravity of the tip 9 can be accurately determined based on the bending direction.

In other words, the wire member 26 and the indicating member 28 are fixed to the centering device mounting bracket 12 as in the first embodiment.ff! With this unique configuration, the direction of gravity at the distal end portion 9 of the endoscope can be accurately determined.

Also, no changes were made to the structure of the observation optical system! Therefore, the quality of the observed image is not deteriorated. Further, by comparing the diameter of the indicating member 28 with the part to be inspected, the length can be measured, and the extent of the flaw, crack, rust, etc. can be determined.

FIG. 6 shows the front end side of a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the gravity direction indicating device 61 is fixed to a distal end hood 62 attached to the distal end portion 9 of the endoscope.

The tip hood 62 has a female thread 63 on its inner circumferential surface, and can be detachably fixed to the tip 9 by screwing into the male thread 21 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tip 9.

A wire member 2
The rear end of 6 is fixed by brazing or other means. At the tip of the wire member 26, an indicating member 2 having an oblong spherical shape, for example, is attached.
8' is attached to form a gravity direction indicating device 61.

For example, the long axis of this elliptical sphere is set to Dl and the short axis is set to D2, and by comparing them, it is possible to know the size of flaws and other defects.

The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the wire member 26 and the indicator member 28
' is attached to the hood 62, and the direction of gravity on the tip 9 can be accurately determined with a structure that is roughly simpler than that of the first and second embodiments. Furthermore, since no modifications have been made to the structure of the observation optical system, the quality of the observed image will not deteriorate. Furthermore, the size of dents, cracks, rust, etc. can be determined based on the reference size of the indicating member 28'.

FIG. 7 shows the main parts of a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this modification, for example, instead of the tip hood 62 that can be attached to the endoscope tip 9 shown in FIG. 6, a gravity indicating device 61 is attached to an optical adapter 71 that is detachably attached.

The optical adapter 71 is provided with a female thread 63 similar to the tip hood 62, and can be attached to the male thread 21 of the tip 9 using the female thread 63. An optical system 72 for changing the angle of view is attached to the through hole in the portion facing the observation window 16. Further, an optical rod 74, for example, is attached to the through hole facing the output end face of the light guide 14, so that illumination light can be output through the optical rod 74.

Further, as in the third embodiment, the rear end of the wire member 26 constituting the gravity direction indicating device 61 is fixed to one location on the outer periphery of the optical adapter 71.

The rest of the structure is the same as that of the third embodiment, and the effects are also the same.

FIG. 8 shows the main part of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the gravity direction indicating device 25 is connected to the endoscope tip 9.
’ is attached as is.

At this tip 9', a gravity direction indicating device 25 is provided which includes a flexible wire member 26 extending directly in the optical axis direction and a spherical indicating member 28 attached to the tip of the wire member 26.
is fixed.

The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the screw 21 is not provided around the outer periphery of the tip 9'.

According to this embodiment, the wire member 26 and the indicator member 28
is directly fixed to the endoscope tip 9', and the direction of the vehicle force at the tip 9' can be accurately determined with a simpler configuration. Also, since no changes have been made to the structure of the observation optical system,
The quality of the observed image will not deteriorate. Further, due to the diameter of the indicating member 28, it is not possible to compare the size of the rust, etc., and it is possible to know the size of the rust.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the main parts of the fifth practical example of the present invention (FIG. 9 is the cross section taken along line AA' in FIG. 10).

) In this embodiment, the gravity direction indicator @81 is made detachable.

In this embodiment, as shown in the front view of FIG.
For example, a screw hole 82 is provided on the front end surface of the wire member 26 constituting the gravity indicating device 81. A hard part is provided at the end, and this hard part is provided with a male screw 83 that is screwed into the screw hole 82. Therefore, the gravity indicating device 81 can be detachably attached to the distal end portion 9'.

The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment. In addition to the effect described in the first embodiment, the effect of this embodiment is that when there is no need to know the direction of gravity, by removing the device and observing it, it is possible to prevent the field of view from being obstructed.

FIG. 11 shows the main parts of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is an example in which the indicating member 85 is rotatable relative to the rigid wire member 26'.

An indicator member 85 is attached to the tip of the rigid wire member 26' so as to be rotatable in the axial direction. Further, the center of gravity of the indicating member 85 is provided at a position offset from the axis of the wire member 26', and an indicator 86 is provided on the side in the direction of gravity on a straight line connecting the center of gravity and the axis. This wire part @26
The base of ' is fixed to the endoscope tip 9' or a hood (shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 11).

The other configurations are almost the same as those of the first to fifth embodiments.

With this configuration, the instruction member 85 rotates due to gravity, and the first
As shown in FIG. 2, the direction of the m force can be determined by the position of the index 86.

Furthermore, when the sizes [)a and [)b of the instruction 1 member 85 are known, it is possible to compare and measure the size of the object. Therefore, the size of the flaw, the size of the rust, etc. can be roughly known.

13 and 14 show the main parts of a modification of the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Each variant has an indicator member 8 at the distal end of the rigid wire member 26'.
This is an example in which 7 is movable.

In FIG. 13, an indicator member 87 is attached to the tip of the wire member 26' via a flexible linear member 89, such as a common nylon thread. Moreover, in FIG. 14, the wire member 2
6' and an indicating member 87 are connected by magnetic force, and the indicating member 87 does not separate from the wire member 26'.
It can rotate.

In either case, the indicating member 87 moves in the direction of gravity, so the direction of gravity can be determined from its position.

Furthermore, when the size D I+ of the pointing member 87 is known, it is possible to compare and measure the size of the Q object. Therefore, the size of flaws, the size of rust, etc. can be roughly used.

FIG. 15 shows the main parts of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a gravity direction indicating device 93 can be inserted into a channel 92 of an endoscope 91.

The endoscope 91 of this embodiment is an endoscope provided with a channel 92, in which a wire member 2 is inserted.
6, and an instruction member 2 attached to the tip of this wire member 26.
8 and a guide member 94 attached to the rear end of the wire member 26 can be inserted through the gravity direction indicating device 93.

The guide member 94 has a slightly higher hardness than the 9117 member 26, and is designed to be able to be inserted into the channel A/channel 92 without bending. Note that this guide member 94 can also be formed using a material with a small friction coefficient (for example, a material made of fluororesin).

The rest of the structure is the same as in each of the embodiments described above.

As an effect of this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above-mentioned embodiment, when inserting the endoscope 91 into an object, as shown in FIG. 15, the direction of gravity is indicated. ! Place 93 on channel 92
Stored inside? The wire member 26 can be inserted in a state of I- or close to this, that is, a state in which the wire member 26 does not protrude. Thus, by drawing out the guide member 971 forward after insertion, it can be used as a gravity direction indicating device 93.

Different embodiments can be constructed by partially combining the embodiments described above, and these also belong to the present invention.

For example, in the first embodiment, if the distal end portion of the wire member 26 is made to bend in the direction of gravity at its lower end, this distal end functions as an indicating member that indicates the direction of gravity. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessarily necessary to provide an indicator 28 or the like at the tip. Further, the rear end side of the wide V member 26 does not necessarily have to be flexible.

[Advantageous Effects of the Invention 1] As described above, according to the present invention, there is a gravity direction indicating member that changes its position in the direction in which gravity moves toward the distal end side of the linear member that extends in front of the observation window at the distal end of the endoscope. Since the small force direction indicating means is formed by providing a small force direction indicating means, it is possible to know the direction of gravity that is being applied to the distal end of the endoscope with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure on the tip side of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the external shape of the first embodiment. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the observation field in the case of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the display side of the monitor screen in the second embodiment. 1 is an explanatory drawing, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the tip side of the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the tip side of a modification of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the tip side of the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is an exploded view showing the distal end side of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10 is a front view of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the distal end side of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. A schematic configuration diagram showing the main parts of the sixth embodiment, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the observation field of the sixth embodiment, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are the tips of a modification of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Show your side? I Schematic Configuration Diagram FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing the main parts of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Endoscope 4... Eyepiece part 9...-Tip (configuration) part 16... Observation window 12... Centering device mounting bracket 17... Objective optical system 18
...Image guide 25...Gravity direction indicating device 26...Wire member 28...Indicator shrine Figure 7 Figure 11 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 14 Procedure width correction Natsume (spontaneous) 1. Indication of the incident Patent Application No. 220626 of 1988 2. Name of the invention Endoscope equipped with a gravity direction indicating device 3. Person making the correction Relationship with the incident

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope in which an observation window is provided at the distal end of the endoscope, comprising: a linear member extending to a position in front of the observation window; and a linear member provided at the distal end side of the linear member, and a gravity direction indicating member formed such that its position changes in the direction in which it acts, and the change in position can be perceived as an endoscopic image through the observation window. Equipped with an endoscope.