JPH07327916A - Visual field direction varying type endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an operator to freely change over visual field directions even during use by making part of incident rays entering from a transparent window arranged at the end of an insertion part incident selectively on an objective optical system to obtain a specified visual field range and providing the above endoscope with a driving means for controlling driving of a visual field changing means. CONSTITUTION:This endoscope is provided with an image pickup part 19 having objective optical system 16, a prism 17 as an optical path changing optical member and a solid-state image pickup element 18 on the inner side of an observation/illumination window 26. This observation/illumination window 26 is composed of a nearly semicircular direct viewing window 26a arranged nearly orthogonally with the axial direction of the insertion part and a nearly semicircular diagonal viewing window 26b arranged adjacently to this direct viewing window 26a in a direction diagonal with the axial direction of the insertion part. The image pickup part 19 is provided with a turning shaft 20 in a direction nearly orthogonal with the axial direction near the operator side end and is fixed with one-end parts of driving wires 21, 22 for changing over the visual field as transmission means at the top and bottom ends. These wires 21, 22 are inserted into the insertion section and are connected at the other end to a visual field direction operating knob as the driving means of the operation section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a view direction variable endoscope capable of changing the view direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many endoscopes using a solid-state image pickup device as an image pickup means have been proposed. When this solid-state image sensor is used, it has various advantages such as easy recording and displaying as a still image, and further miniaturization can be achieved with the progress of high integration technology. It is in the situation of being put to practical use.

By the way, in the case of imaging and displaying a target region in a body cavity, when imaging a predetermined visual field direction, for example, a lateral region of a direct-viewing type, it is necessary to bend the bending portion, but it bends. A side-view type may be required in the body cavity where there is no space. Similarly, when a side-view type is used, the direct-view direction may not be imaged in some cases.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience,
There is a conventional example disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28964. In this conventional example, a tip portion including a solid-state image pickup device and an image pickup optical system is detachably mounted so that the tip portion having a desired visual field direction can be mounted and used.

In the conventional example, since the image pickup optical system and the solid-state image pickup device are required for the direct-view type and the side-view type, respectively, there is a drawback that the cost increases. For this reason, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-203230, one image pickup unit is detachable from both the direct view and side view directions.
We have proposed an electronic endoscope that can be used for both direct-viewing and side-viewing at low cost.

The above is not limited to an endoscope having a flexible insertion portion, and is the same in a rigid endoscope used in endoscopic surgery. That is, the objective optical system and the like are either fixed in the visual field direction or the above-described attachment / detachment method in order to selectively use the direct view and the perspective view according to the application.

[0007]

In the case of the detachable type of the objective optical system and the image pickup device described above, it is actually necessary to replace the objective optical system and the image pickup device after they are mounted and fixed at the time of use, considering the time and labor of the patient. Is difficult and as easy to use as the fixed ones. Therefore, in order to obtain a visual field in the desired direction, the endoscope must be tilted or rotated regardless of whether it is a fixed type or a detachable type.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the visual field direction of the endoscope can be freely changed not only before use but also during use such as inspection according to the use and the observation target. It is an object of the present invention to provide a variable-viewing-direction endoscope that can be switched to.

[0009]

A variable view direction endoscope according to the present invention includes an objective optical system for entering a subject image and an image pickup means for picking up the subject image formed by the objective optical system. A variable view direction endoscope disposed inside, wherein a transparent window is disposed from the tip surface of the tip of the insertion portion to a side part in the vicinity of the tip, and a part of light rays incident from the window. Is selectively made incident on the objective optical system to form a visual field range, and a drive means for driving and controlling the visual field direction changing means for the selection.

[0010]

With the structure of the present invention, a part of the light rays incident from the transparent window disposed from the tip end surface of the insertion portion to the middle of the side portion near the tip is selectively selected by the visual field direction changing means. And the image formed by this imaging optical system is captured by the image capturing means. In order to change the visual field direction, by driving the visual field direction changing means by the driving means, at least a part of the light beam incident on the objective optical system is changed from that before the driving, so that the visual field direction is changed and the objective optical system is changed in this state. The image pickup means receives the light beam from the system and takes an image. For this reason, the visual field direction of the endoscope can be freely switched not only before use but also during use such as an inspection according to the application and the observation target.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is an overall external view of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 1 (b) is an enlarged perspective view of a distal end of an endoscope insertion portion. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an operation of changing the field of view of the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of a signal processing circuit.

The view direction variable endoscope 1 constituting the endoscope apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A has a structure in which a plurality of view directions can be switched. As this endoscope, an electronic endoscope, for example, a video rapascope (electronic rigid endoscope) having a hard insertion portion will be described as an example. The endoscope 1 has an imaging unit that integrally rotates an objective optical system and an imaging unit at the tip of the insertion section.

The endoscope apparatus 10 includes an endoscope 1 having an image pickup means, a video processor 11 for processing a signal picked up by the image pickup means, and an endoscopic image upon receiving an output of the video processor 11. A monitor 12 for displaying and a light source device 13 for supplying illumination light to a subject via the endoscope 1.
And have.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the endoscope 1 is provided with an elongated and hard insertion portion 2 and a large diameter operation portion 3 which is continuously provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 2. There is. A flexible cord 4 is extended laterally from the operation portion 3, and the cord 4
Is provided with a connector 5 at the end. This connector 5
Are connected to the light source device 13.
A signal cord 7 extends from the proximal end of the endoscope operating portion 3, and a connector 8 is provided at the end of the signal cord 7. The connector 8 is adapted to be connected to the video processor 11. In addition to the monitor 10, a VTR deck, a video printer, a video disk, and the like (not shown) can be connected to the video processor 11. The cord 4 and the signal cord 7 extending from the endoscope may be integrated and branched from either connector.

A hard tip 1 which is the tip of the insertion section 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, 4 has a tip forming member 15, and this tip forming member 15 is provided with an observation / illumination window 26.

A light distribution lens (not shown) is mounted inside the observation / illumination window 26, and a light guide (not shown) made of a fiber bundle is connected to the rear end of the light distribution lens. The light guide is inserted through the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and the cord 4 and connected to the connector 5. The illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 13a in the light source device 13 is incident on the incident end of the light guide. The light distribution lenses are arranged on, for example, both sides of an image pickup unit described later.

Inside the observation / illumination window 26,
Objective optical system 16 and prism 1 as an optical path changing optical member
An image pickup unit 19 having a solid-state image pickup device 7 as an image pickup unit and an image pickup unit 7 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the observation / illumination window 26 has a substantially semicircular direct-view window 26 a that is arranged substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion section 2, and an oblique direction with respect to the axial direction of the insertion section 2. And a substantially semicircular perspective window 26b arranged adjacent to the direct-view window 26a in the direction of.

The image pickup section 19 is formed in a unit shape,
The objective optical system 16 is arranged at the forefront, a triangular prism 17 is arranged on the near side of the objective optical system 16, and the surface of the prism 17 different from the surface close to the objective optical system 16 is The solid-state image sensor 18 is arranged substantially parallel to the axial direction of the insertion section 2. Further, the image pickup unit 19 is provided with a rotary shaft 20 in the direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction near the end portion on the proximal side, and the objective optical system 1 is also provided.
A visual field switching drive wire (hereinafter, referred to as a wire) 2 serving as a transmission means at the upper and lower ends on the tip end side where 6 is arranged.
One end of each of 1 and 22 is fixed. The wires 21 and 22 are inserted through the insertion portion 2, and the other ends of the wires 21 and 22 are connected to a visual field direction operation knob 27 as a driving means of the operation portion 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a guide pin 23 is provided inside the insertion portion 2 in the middle of the distal end side of the wire 21 so that the pulling direction of the wire is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion 2. There is. Note that the wires 21, 22 may be electrically pulled or loosened instead of the view direction operation knob 27 that is manually operated.

Further, a signal line 25 is connected to the image pickup section 19 via a circuit board 24 having a peripheral IC chip connected to the connection pins of the solid-state image pickup device 18. The signal line 25 is inserted through the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 and the signal cord 7 and connected to the connector 8.
The solid-state imaging device 18 is driven by the video processor 11 connected via the connector 8, and the output signal of the solid-state imaging device 18 is processed by the video processor 11 as a video signal. ing. The video signal from the video processor 11 is input to the monitor 12 or the like.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the signal processing circuit of the video processor 11. This signal processing circuit receives the output of, for example, the CCD 18 as the solid-state image sensor,
After amplification with an amplifier (not shown), various processes are performed. This signal processing circuit has the configuration shown in FIG. 4 during its processing, and the output of the CCD 18 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 28 and stored in the frame memory 29. Has become. The signal read from the frame memory 29 is processed by the inversion processing circuit 3
After being left-right inverted by 0, the analog signal is returned to the analog signal by the D / A converter 31 and input to the subsequent processing circuit. The inversion processing circuit 30 includes the prism 1
This is for returning the subject image mirror-inverted by 7 to the original image.

In the above structure, the wires 21 and 22 each having one end fixed to the image pickup section 19 are pulled and loosened, whereby the image pickup section 19 rotates about the rotation axis. In FIG. 2, the objective optical system 16 faces the direct-view window 26a, but the imaging unit 19 rotates by operating the wires 21 and 22 and faces the perspective window 26b.

The light beam incident on the objective optical system 16 through the window facing the objective optical system 16 is used as the objective optical system 16.
The optical path is bent by the prism 17 disposed in the optical path between the solid-state image sensor 18 and the solid-state image sensor 18, and an image is formed on the imaging surface of the solid-state image sensor 18. The solid-state image sensor 18 photoelectrically converts incident light and transmits it to the video processor 11 via the signal line 25. The video processor 11 performs various processes such as γ correction and enhancement on the transmitted signal, and then displays it on the monitor 12 as an endoscopic image.

When it is desired to change the visual field direction during the endoscopic examination, the visual field direction can be changed by pulling / relaxing the wires 21, 22 in a predetermined direction. For example, it is possible to freely switch from the direct view shown in FIG. 2 to the perspective view shown in FIG. 3 and from the perspective view to the direct view. When the wire 22 is pulled, the visual field becomes a direct view, and when the wire 21 is pulled, the visual field direction becomes a perspective.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the visual field direction of the endoscope can be freely changed not only before use but also during use such as inspection according to the intended use and the observation target. it can. For example, when searching for a lesion, the view direction can be switched between direct view and strabismus, so the view direction expands, and operations such as rotating and advancing / retreating the scope itself are unnecessary, shortening diagnosis time. Leads to. Further, since only one imaging unit is required, it is possible to reduce the cost compared with a configuration in which a plurality of objects having different visual field directions are arranged and attached.

The light guide is used in the image pickup section 19
The light emitting lens may be guided to the inside of the above, and the light distribution lens may be arranged on the same surface as the objective optical system 16. With this configuration, the same illumination state can always be obtained even when the image pickup unit 19 rotates, and the light guide also has some flexibility, so that it can handle rotation.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the tip of the endoscope insertion portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope of the present embodiment is the first
Instead of the image pickup unit 19 of the embodiment, an image pickup unit 35 is provided except for the prism 17 and a solid-state image pickup element arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion portion. Prism 17
Therefore, the signal processing circuit of the video processor 11 does not include the inversion processing circuit 30 shown in FIG. Other configurations and operations similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

In the above structure, the light beam incident from the direct-viewing or oblique-viewing window facing the objective optical system 16 is directly focused on the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup device 18, and photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup device 18. Video processor 11
To enter. The signal processing circuit of the video processor 11 displays an endoscopic image on the monitor 12 after performing a predetermined process.

The other construction, function and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are perspective views showing the main part and the rotating operation, and FIG. 7 is the tip of the endoscope insertion part. FIG.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, while the image pickup unit 19 of the first embodiment rotates in the direction in which the solid-state image sensor intersects the axial direction of the insertion section, in the present embodiment, the solid-state image sensor rotates substantially parallel to the axial direction of the insertion section. Is configured to.

As shown in FIG. 7, the endoscope 40 of the present embodiment.
Has a configuration capable of switching between direct view and side view.
In the present embodiment, depending on the setting of the rotation angle, it can be applied to switching between side view and perspective view. Direct View Perspective In the present embodiment, the same configurations and operations as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

In the endoscope 40 shown in FIG. 7, an observation / illumination window 41 is arranged at the tip of the insertion portion, and this illumination observation window 41 comprises a direct-view window 41a and a side-view window 41b. The direct-view window 41a is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion portion, and the side-view window 41b connected to the direct-view window 41 is disposed substantially parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion.

Further, at the tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope 40, there is provided an image pickup portion 42 which is rotatably arranged and faces the illumination / observation window 41.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the image pickup section 42 of the present embodiment includes the objective optical system 16 and the prism 17.
The solid-state image sensor 18 is arranged similarly to the first embodiment. The image pickup section 42 is provided in a direction in which the rotation axis 20 is orthogonal to the image pickup surface of the solid-state image pickup element 18, and the image pickup section 42 is so arranged that the wires 21, 22 are substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation axis 20. One end is fixed on both sides of.
The other ends of the wires 21 and 22 are configured similarly to the first embodiment.

With the above construction, the objective optical system 16 of the image pickup section 42 is moved to the direct view window 41a by pulling the wire 22.
(See FIG. 6A). In this state, the solid-state image sensor 18 images the subject in the direct-viewing direction. On the other hand, by pulling the wire 21, the imaging unit 42 rotates and the objective optical system 16 faces the side-view window 41b (see FIG. 6B). In this state, the solid-state image sensor 18 images a subject in the side-view direction.

In this embodiment, it is possible to switch between direct view and side view even during use. The rest of the configuration, functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the tip of the endoscope insertion portion according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that direct view, perspective view and side view can be switched. For this reason, in this embodiment, a mirror or prism as an optical path changing means is used at the tip of the insertion section to change the visual field direction by an operation from the outside such as the operation section. Other configurations and operations similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

In the insertion portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 8, an observation / illumination window 45 is arranged from the tip end surface to the middle of the side portion, and a mirror 46 and an image pickup portion 47 are provided inside the insertion portion tip. Are arranged. In the image pickup section 46, an objective optical system 16 'and a solid-state image pickup element 18 are arranged in order from the front end side so as to be substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion section. The observation / illumination window 45 extends from one end to the middle of the side,
A transparent member having a curved shape is arranged. A mirror 46 is provided between the objective optical system 16 ′ and the observation / illumination window 45.
Is rotatably provided. An end of a mirror driving link 48 is fixed to an end of the mirror 46 on the object side,
A mirror moving arm 49 is rotatably provided at the other end of the drive link 48, and a visual field changing drive wire (hereinafter, referred to as a wire) 50 is provided at the other end of the arm 49. It is fixed. The other end of this wire 50 is
It is configured to be connected in the same manner as the wire of the first embodiment.
One end of a return spring (not shown) whose other end is fixed to the tip forming member 15 is fixed in the middle of the mirror driving link 48. Furthermore, a mechanism that can position the angle of the mirror 46 stepwise may be provided.

The circuit board 24 of the image pickup section 47 is connected to the signal line 25 via a connector 51.

In the above structure, the subject image incident from the observation / illumination window 45 is reflected by the mirror 46 and then focused on the solid-state image pickup device 18 via the objective optical system 16 '. The solid-state image sensor 1 photoelectrically converts an incident image and transmits it to the video processor 11.
In the video processor 11, the input signal is subjected to various kinds of processing including horizontal inversion processing, and then output to the monitor 12.

By pulling the wire 50, the mirror 4
Since the angle of 6 changes, the visual field direction of the solid-state image sensor 18 can be changed. In a state where the mirror 46 is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the insertion portion, the light beam is incident on the objective optical system 16 'without passing through the mirror 46, so that the light is directly viewed. Also, mirror 4
In the state where 6 is 45 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the insertion portion, the direction is side view. Then, when the mirror 46 is between 45 degrees from the axial direction of the insertion portion, it is the perspective direction, and twice the angle of the mirror 46 is the perspective direction angle. The mirror 46 is 45
When it is more than a degree, you can put your eyes behind you.

In this embodiment, the angle can be freely changed from the direct view to the oblique view and the side view, and the degree of freedom in the direction of observation is further widened, and it is easy to use. The rest of the configuration, functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

The present invention can be applied not only to the rigid endoscope but also to the flexible endoscope.

[Supplementary Note 1] In the endoscope with variable visual field direction according to claim 1, the visual field direction changing means is provided so as to fix the objective optical system and the image pickup means and to be rotatable inside the insertion portion. The image pickup unit is configured as described above, and the driving unit drives the image pickup unit to selectively cause a part of the incident light from the window to enter the objective optical system.

[Supplementary Note 1-1] In the endoscope with variable visual field direction according to Supplementary Note 1, the driving means includes a manual or electric direction control hand provided on an operation section connected to the insertion section. The direction control means has one end connected to the direction control means and the other end fixed to the image pickup unit, and the direction changing transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the direction control means to the image pickup unit.

[Supplementary Note 1-2] The variable viewing direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the image pickup unit is configured to be rotated by the driving force of the driving means.

[Supplementary Note 1-3] The variable view direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1-2, wherein the image pickup unit is in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the insertion portion, and the image pickup surface of the image pickup means. It has a rotating shaft for rotating the image pickup unit so that the angle formed by and the axial direction of the insertion portion changes.

[Supplementary Note 1-4] In the variable visual field direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1-2, the image pickup unit maintains an angle formed between the axial direction of the insertion portion and the image pickup surface of the image pickup means. Has a rotation shaft for rotating the image pickup unit.

[Supplementary Note 1-5] The variable view direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1-2, wherein the image pickup unit is configured to take an image around a central axis substantially orthogonal to the center of the image pickup surface of the image pickup means. It has a rotating shaft for rotating the unit.

[Supplementary Note 2] In the endoscope with variable visual field direction according to claim 1, the visual field direction changing means changes the optical path of a part of the incident light beam from the window to thereby change the objective optical path. An optical path changing means for changing the visual field direction of the system, wherein the driving means drives the optical path changing means to selectively make a part of the incident light from the window incident on the objective optical system. Has become.

[Supplementary Note 2-1] In the endoscope with variable visual field direction according to Supplementary Note 2, the driving means includes a manual or electric direction control hand provided in an operation section connected to the insertion section. The transmission means for changing the visual field direction has one end connected to the direction control means and the other end fixed to the optical path changing means for transmitting the driving force of the direction control means to the optical path changing means.

[Supplementary Note 2-2] The variable viewing direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optical path changing means is configured to be rotated by the driving force of the driving means.

[Supplementary Note 4] The variable view direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optical path of the light beam incident on the objective optical system is between the objective optical system and the image pickup means. An optical path changing optical member that is changed toward the image pickup surface of the image pickup unit is arranged.

[Supplementary Note 4-1] The variable visual field direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the optical path changing optical member is a prism.

[Supplementary Note 5] The variable viewing direction endoscope according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the optical path changing means is a mirror.

[Supplementary Note 6] A variable view direction endoscope in which an objective optical system for entering a subject image and an image pickup means for picking up the subject image formed by the objective optical system are arranged at the tip of the insertion portion. And an image pickup unit that has the objective optical system and an image pickup means and is rotatable integrally with the objective optical system, and a side portion near the tip of the tip of the insertion portion to face the rotating objective optical system. It has a transparent window arranged halfway and a driving means for driving and controlling the rotation direction of the imaging unit.

[Supplementary Note 7] A variable view direction endoscope in which an objective optical system for entering a subject image and an image pickup means for picking up the subject image formed by the objective optical system are arranged at the tip of the insertion portion. The transparent window disposed from the tip surface of the tip of the insertion portion to the side portion near the tip, and a part of the light beam incident through the window between the objective optical system and the window. The optical system includes an optical path changing unit that is incident on the objective optical system and is rotatably provided, and a driving unit that drives and controls a rotation direction of the optical path changing unit.

[0058]

As described above, according to the variable view direction endoscope of the present invention, the view direction of the endoscope can be changed according to its use and observation object not only before use but also during use such as inspection. Thus, there is an effect that the viewing direction can be freely switched.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 1A is an overall external view of the endoscope device, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a distal end of an endoscope insertion portion.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of changing the visual field of the endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of a signal processing circuit.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion according to the second embodiment.

6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment, and FIG.
(A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the principal part and rotation operation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 16 ... Objective optical system 17 ... Prism 18 ... Solid-state image sensor 19 ... Imaging part 20 ... Rotation axes 21, 22 ... Wire 26 ... Observation / illumination window 26a ... Direct view window 26b ... Perspective window 27 ... View direction operation Operating knob

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kotaro Ogasawara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiko Mochida 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ichiro Funabashi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Uehara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Sakamoto 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Hideki Koyanagi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A view direction variable endoscope in which an objective optical system for entering a subject image and an image pickup means for picking up a subject image formed by the objective optical system are arranged inside a distal end of an insertion portion. A transparent window arranged from the tip surface of the tip of the insertion portion to a side part in the vicinity of the tip, and a part of light rays incident from the window are selectively made incident on the objective optical system to form a visual field range. A visual field direction variable endoscope comprising: a visual field direction changing unit; and a driving unit that drives and controls the visual field direction changing unit for the selection.