JPH0420324A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the transfer to a state in which a subject can be correctly observed in a short period of time without using a high capacity pump by providing a small- aperture nozzle apertured to the size to allow an air and water feed region to be reduced to the optically effective region of an observation window at the end face of the front end hard part of the scope. CONSTITUTION:The small-aperture nozzle 3 and a large-aperture nozzle 4 are provided at the end face in the front end hard part 2 of the endoscope. The small-aperture nozzle 3 is apertured to the size to allow the air and water feed region to be reduced to the optically effective region 5a of the observation window 5. The feed air or water is eventually injected to the optically effective region 5a of the observation window 5 by the small-aperture nozzle 3 constituted in such a manner. The injection pressure of the pump equipped to the device body increases greatly and a washing effect improves as compared to heretofore even if a pump having a high capacity is not used as the above-mentioned pump. In addition, the optically effective region 5a which is optically necessary is emphatically washed. The dirt, water drops, etc., particularly on the optically effective region of the observation window are, therefore, removed in a relatively short period of time and the transfer to the state to allow correct observation is possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an endoscope device used, for example, to observe the inside of a body cavity of a living body, and particularly relates to improvements in air and water supply functions.

(Prior art) Conventionally, this type of endoscope device has air supply φ to the end surface of the rigid tip part.
A nozzle for water supply is provided, and dirt, water droplets, etc. on the observation window are removed by air or water sprayed from the nozzle.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of conventional endoscope devices of this type, the opening of the nozzle is made large so that air or water can be supplied to the entire observation window. Or, the injection pressure of the water supply was weak, and dirt, etc., could not be completely removed. In particular, if dirt or the like remains in the optically effective area of the observation window, it becomes difficult or impossible to observe the subject.

Therefore, in the past, in order to improve the injection pressure of air or water, it was considered to use a pump with a high capacity, but in this case, the size of the pump would be increased, and the entire endoscope system would be damaged. This will cause a problem of increased size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an air/water supply function that allows the subject to be properly observed in a short time without using a high-capacity pump. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic device equipped with the following features.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optically effective area of the observation window in the air/water supply area on the end surface of the rigid tip part of the endoscope. It is characterized by having a small opening nozzle with an opening size that can be narrowed down.

(Function) With the configuration of the endoscope device according to the present invention, air or water is sprayed to the observation window using a small opening nozzle that can narrow down the air and water supply area to an optically effective area particularly required for observation. Therefore, even if a high-capacity pump is not used, the injection pressure will be greater than that of the conventional method, and the cleaning effect will be improved. Furthermore, optically necessary areas are focally cleaned. Therefore, it is equipped with an air/water supply function that can quickly bring the subject into a state where it can be observed correctly.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an outer tube of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope device of this embodiment has a small opening nozzle 3 and a large opening nozzle 4 provided on the end face of the rigid distal end portion 2 of the endoscope 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the small opening nozzle 3 has an opening size that allows the air and water supply area to be narrowed down to the optically effective area 5a of the observation window 5. On the other hand, the large opening nozzle 4 has an opening size such that the air/water supply region covers the entire observation window 5, as shown in FIG.

Such a small opening nozzle 3 and a large opening nozzle 4 are connected to the rigid tip part 2, the angle part 6, and the guiding part 7 of the endoscope 1.
, the operating section 8 and the universal code 9 are marked red on the device body 10.
It is something that will be communicated.

As shown in FIG. )1
It is branched on the device main body side via a common connection part via 2. In this embodiment, the nozzle selection valve 11- and the A/W selection valve 12 are provided inside the operating section 8, and the nozzle selection valve 11 is switched by the switch 8a on the operating section 8, and the A/W selection valve 12 is switched by the switch 8b. The W selection valve 12 is configured to switch.

” In the configuration of this embodiment, which is like a double series, the operating section 8
By operating the upper switches 8a and 8b, the size of the nozzle opening can be selected for both air supply and water supply. In other words, if you want to supply air from the small opening nozzle 3, use the nozzle selection valve]
1 to select the small opening side and the A/W selection valve]
2 to select the air supply side. Further, if it is desired to switch to water supply using the small opening nozzle 3, the water supply side may be selected using the A/W selection valve 12 while the small opening side is selected using the nozzle selection valve 1]-.

Conversely, when it is desired to supply air from the large-opening nozzle 4, the large-opening side may be selected using the nozzle selection valve 11, and the air supply side may be selected using the A/W selection switch 12. Also, if you want to switch to water supply using this large opening nozzle 4, select the large opening side with the nozzle selection valve 11, and then use the A/W selection valve 1.
2 to select the water supply side.

For this reason, with the configuration of this embodiment, the small opening nozzle 3 supplies air or water to the optically effective area 5a of the observation window 5. Therefore, even if a high-capacity pump is not used as a pump provided in the main body 1-0 of the apparatus, the injection pressure is significantly greater than that of the conventional apparatus, and the cleaning effect is improved. In addition, the optically necessary optically effective area 5a is intensively cleaned.

Of course, it is better to remove dirt, water droplets, etc. from the entire area of the observation window 5 in order to further observe the subject, so it is better to supply air or water from the large-opening nozzle 4.

In this way, the subject image incident through the observation window 5 is sent as an electrical signal from the endoscope 1 to the apparatus main body ]0, and when the subject image is displayed on the monitor 10a of the apparatus main body ]0, If the object cannot be observed correctly due to dirt on the observation window 5, simply select the switches 8a and 8b on the operation unit 8 and press the air/water supply switch 8c to quickly return to a state where the object can be observed correctly. It will be possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the endoscope device of the present invention uses the small opening nozzle to narrow down the air and water supply area to the optically effective area of the observation window. If you are unable to observe the subject correctly due to the camera, by blowing air or water through the small opening nozzle, dirt, water droplets, etc. can be removed in a relatively short time, especially in the optically effective area of the observation window, and the object can be observed correctly. It has the advantage of being able to transition from state to state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the external appearance of an endoscope device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. Figure 3 shows air supply and
It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a water supply pipe. 1... Endoscope 2... Rigid tip part 3...
- Small opening nozzle 4... Second opening nozzle 5... Observation window 6... Angled part 7... Guide part
8...Operation unit 9...Universal 1
0...Device main body 1...Nozzle selection valve 2...A/W selection valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An endoscope device characterized by comprising a small opening nozzle with an opening size that can narrow down the air and water supply area to the optically effective area of the observation window on the end surface of the rigid tip part of the endoscope scope. .