JPH0747050A - Photographing device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To establish a sealing structure which has waterproofness as well as a heat resistance and damp-proofness. CONSTITUTION:A camera adapter 6 is coupled with the foremost part of the camera head of photographing device for endoscope, and therein a rotary ring 14 for adjustment of diopter is installed in its lens barrel 11 in such a way as capable of rotational sliding in the circumferential direction. A ring-shaped resilient member A17 for waterproofing and a ring-shaped resilient member B18 for damp-proofing are in dual structure installed as sealing members at the two ends of the slide part between these lens barrel 11 and rotary ring 14, and thereby the watertightness and airtightness inside of the device in the slide part are maintained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope image pickup apparatus for picking up an endoscopic observation image, and more particularly to an endoscope image pickup apparatus having an elastic sealing member at a sliding portion or a detachable portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope image pickup apparatus for picking up an endoscope observation image by connecting to an eyepiece portion of an endoscope has been widely used in the medical field, industrial field and the like. An endoscope image pickup device is generally provided with a sliding portion such as a diopter adjustment ring for adjusting diopter, and also has an attaching / detaching portion for attaching members such as a detachable adapter and a connector. Some have. A sealing member such as an elastic O-ring is provided on the sliding part and the attaching / detaching part by being pressed by a pressing member, and the watertightness of the inside of the endoscope imaging device at the sliding part and the attaching / detaching part is provided.
It is designed to be airtight.

For example, in the medical field, in recent years, an autoclave has been used in which an apparatus is placed in an atmosphere of pressurized high temperature saturated steam for sterilization, and has an autoclave resistance having a heat resistant structure and a moisture proof structure. Medical devices are desired. Therefore, even in an endoscope imaging device used in the medical field, in order to provide a heat-resistant structure and a moisture-proof structure to have autoclave resistance, a heat-resistant and moisture-proof sealing member is provided at the sliding portion and the detachable portion. Is desired.

[0004]

An annular elastic member such as an O-ring is used as a sealing member provided at a sliding portion or a detachable portion in an endoscope image pickup device. The member was moisture permeable and did not have moisture resistance. In addition, in the endoscope imaging device used in the medical field, cleaning and disinfection are performed with various chemicals and sterilizing gas, but with the annular elastic member conventionally provided in the sliding part and the detachable part, various chemicals are used. A suitable material having heat resistance and moisture resistance, which is resistant to sterilizing gas and sterilizing gas, has not been used.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope image pickup apparatus having a sealing structure which is waterproof and surely has heat resistance and moisture resistance. There is.

[0006]

The present invention relates to an endoscope image pickup apparatus for picking up an endoscopic observation image, and at least a first sealing elastic member having a waterproof property and a second sealing member having a moistureproof property. The double sealing structure in which the elastic member is disposed is provided, and the sealing structure having the waterproof property and the moisture proof property is surely configured.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of a camera adapter provided at the distal end of the endoscope imaging apparatus. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the sliding portion (X portion) in FIG.

The endoscope image pickup apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is for connecting to the eyepiece section 2 of the endoscope or the like to pick up an endoscope observation image, and is a camera head detachable from the eyepiece section 2. 3, a signal cable 4 extending from the rear of the camera head 3, and a connector portion 5 connected to the rear end of the signal cable 4. The endoscope imaging apparatus 1 is connected to a video processor (not shown) via the connector section 5, and processes the image signal of the captured endoscopic observation image as a video signal to display the observation image on a monitor or the like. It can be displayed.

In this embodiment, a camera adapter 6 is connected to the tip of the camera head 3, and this camera adapter 6
The camera head 3 is attached to the eyepiece 2 via the. The camera adapter 6 for mounting on the eyepiece
Can also be provided integrally with the camera head 3.

The structure of the tip of the image pickup device including the camera adapter 6 is shown in the sectional view of FIG. The camera adapter 6 is configured by disposing an optical system 13 held by a lens frame 12 in a lens barrel 11.

A rotary ring 14 for diopter adjustment is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel 11 so as to be rotatable and slidable in the circumferential direction, and a cam pin 15 is provided on the lens frame 12 so as to project to the outside. It is engaged with a cam groove 16 formed by the lens barrel 11 and the rotary ring 14. By rotating the rotary ring 14, the cam pin 15 moves along the cam groove 16, whereby the lens frame 12 moves in the optical axis direction as shown in the upper and lower parts of the figure to adjust the diopter. There is.

At the sliding portion between the rotary ring 14 and the lens barrel 11, a waterproof ring-shaped elastic member A17 and a moisture-proof ring-shaped elastic member B18 are doubly arranged at both ends as sealing members. It is arranged. An enlarged view of this sliding portion (X portion) is shown in FIG.

The annular elastic member A17 is made of a material such as silicon rubber or fluororubber as a waterproof sealing member. The annular elastic member A17 made of these materials has resistance to chemicals and sterilization gas.

On the other hand, the ring-shaped elastic member B18 is a sealing member having a moisture-proof property, and ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, various rubbers obtained by kneading a super absorbent polymer, and PTFE.
It is made of a material such as various rubbers coated with (tetrafluoroethylene).

The annular elastic member A17 and the annular elastic member B18 are designed to maintain the watertightness and airtightness of the inside of the device at the sliding portion.

As described above, the annular elastic member A17 made of a waterproof material is arranged outside the sealing structure, and the annular elastic member B18 made of a moistureproof material is arranged inside the sealed structure. Therefore, it becomes possible to form a hermetically sealed structure that has heat resistance and moisture resistance and is resistant to chemicals and sterilization gas. This allows the endoscope imaging device to have autoclave resistance,
It becomes possible to sterilize and disinfect by an autoclave.

The sealing structure using the annular elastic member provided in this embodiment is not limited to the sliding portion of the diopter adjusting rotary ring,
The same effect can be obtained by providing the other sliding portion or the detachable portion on which a member such as a detachable adapter or connector is mounted. Further, the annular elastic member is not limited to the structure in which the waterproof member and the moisture-proof member are provided in duplicate, and may be a structure in which the moisture-proof annular elastic member is provided in double.
Similarly, it can be waterproof and moisture-proof.

4 to 8 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tip portion of a device including a camera adapter provided in an endoscope image pickup device, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a sliding portion (X portion) of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a first modified example of the moisture-proof sealing member provided in the sliding portion, and FIG. 7 is provided in the sliding portion. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a second modified example of the moisture-proof sealing member, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a third modified example of the sealing member provided in the sliding portion.

The second embodiment is an example in which, in the sliding portion of the apparatus, only the waterproof sealing member functions at a normal temperature, and the moisture-proof sealing member functions at a predetermined temperature or higher. is there.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the tip of the image pickup device including the camera adapter. The camera adapter 21
As in the first embodiment, an optical system 13 held by a lens frame 12 is arranged in the lens barrel 11, and an outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel 11 has a rotary ring for diopter adjustment. 14 is provided so as to be rotatable and slidable in the circumferential direction.

The sliding portion between the rotary ring 14 and the lens barrel 11 is provided with a waterproof sealing member 22 and a moistureproof sealing member 23, which are doubly aligned at both ends. An enlarged view of this sliding portion (X portion) is shown in FIG.

The waterproof sealing member 22 is composed of an annular elastic member having a waterproof property, and is made of a waterproof material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber.

On the other hand, the moisture-proof sealing member 23 is composed of an elastic member 24 having an annular shape and a V-shaped cross section, and a shape memory material 25 provided along the inner cavity of the elastic member 24. . The elastic member 24 is formed of a moisture-proof material such as ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, various rubbers obtained by kneading a super absorbent polymer, or various rubbers coated with PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene). The shape memory material 25 is made of metal, resin, rubber or the like in which the shape that changes with temperature is stored, and the angle in the cross section forms an angle of α1 as shown in FIG. 5 (a) at normal temperature (normal temperature). , When the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature (high temperature), it is opened as shown in Fig. 5 (b) and α2 (α1 <
The shape is memorized to be α 2).

In the illustrated example, the moisture-proof sealing member 23
The shape memory material 25 is arranged so that the shape memory material 25 is on the inner side in consideration of moisture resistance, but when a shape memory material having moisture resistance is used, the shape memory material 25 is arranged in the opposite direction to improve the sealing performance. You can also do so.

The other parts are constructed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and their explanations are omitted.

In the structure of this embodiment in which the waterproof sealing member 22 is arranged outside the sealing structure and the moisture-proof sealing member 23 is arranged inside the sealing structure as described above, the waterproof sealing member 22 is normally used (at room temperature). Only the sealing member 22 functions and is waterproof (watertight)
Is maintained. At this time, since only the waterproof sealing member 22 presses and seals the sliding portion, the frictional resistance is low and the slidability is good. Further, in an atmosphere of pressurized high temperature saturated steam during sterilization by an autoclave, the shape memory material 25 of the moistureproof sealing member 23 is deformed as shown in FIG. 5B, and the moistureproof elastic member 24 is rotated. It is pressed by 14 and the lens barrel 11. In this way, the moisture-proof sealing member 23 functions under a high temperature above the predetermined temperature, and the moisture-proof property (airtightness) is surely secured.

As described above, the waterproof elastic member is arranged outside the sealing structure, and the moistureproof elastic member is arranged inside so that the moistureproof elastic member functions only at a high temperature. By doing so, it is possible to configure a sealed structure that can ensure waterproofness during normal use and surely moistureproofness at high temperature pressure sterilization by an autoclave, etc. It becomes possible to do. As a result, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when a plurality of sealing members are provided in the sliding portion to ensure the sealing performance, the frictional resistance between the sealing member and the sliding surface is increased. Since it is possible to prevent the problem that the sliding force deteriorates due to a large rotation force and a large amount of rotational force, it is possible to maintain a good sealing property as well as a good sliding property, and to construct a sliding part with good operability. it can.

Next, modified examples of the sealing member provided on the sliding portion are shown in FIGS.

The moisture-proof sealing member 31a of the first modification shown in FIG. 6 is an annular hollow moisture-proof elastic member 32, and an annular M-shaped cross section arranged so as to abut against the moisture-proof elastic member 32. And a shape memory material 33 having a shape. The shape memory material 33 can be deformed in the axial direction along the sealing member disposing hole depending on the temperature. Although not shown, the waterproof sealing member is provided similarly to the second embodiment.

During normal use (at room temperature), as shown in FIG. 6A, the shape memory material 33 has a contracted shape, and the moisture-proof elastic member 32 includes the rotary ring 14 and the lens barrel 11.
It is not in contact with the sliding surface of and and is free from the sliding surface. On the other hand, at the time of sterilization by an autoclave or the like (at high temperature), as shown in FIG. 6B, the shape memory material 33 is deformed so as to extend in the axial direction, and the moisture-proof elastic member 32 is pressed against the sliding surface. Moisture resistance is secured.

A moisture-proof sealing member 31b of a second modified example shown in FIG. 7 is an annular moisture-proof elastic member 34 and a spring-shaped shape memory material 35 which is fixed to the rotary ring 14 at one end and is deformable in the axial direction. And a pressing member 36 connected to the other end of the shape memory material 35, and the pressing member 36 is in contact with the moisture-proof elastic member 34. Although not shown, the waterproof sealing member is provided similarly to the second embodiment.

In normal use (at room temperature), as shown in FIG. 7A, the shape memory material 35 has a contracted shape, and the moisture-proof elastic member 34 includes the rotary ring 14 and the lens barrel 11.
It is not in contact with the sliding surface of and and is free from the sliding surface. On the other hand, at the time of sterilization by an autoclave or the like (at high temperature), as shown in FIG. 7B, the shape memory material 35 is deformed so as to extend in the axial direction, and the moisture-proof elastic member 34 is pressed against the sliding surface. Moisture resistance is secured.

A moisture-proof sealing member 31c of a third modified example shown in FIG. 8 is provided so as to overlap a ring-shaped moisture-proof elastic member 37 having a V-shaped cross section and an outer peripheral portion of the moisture-proof elastic member 37. The waterproof elastic member 38 and the shape-memory material 39 provided along the inner cavity of the moisture-proof elastic member 37. The shape memory material 39 stores the shape so that the angle in the cross section opens and closes depending on the temperature, as in the second embodiment.

In normal use (at room temperature), as shown in FIG. 8A, the shape memory material 39 is in a closed shape, and the moisture-proof elastic member 37 includes the rotary ring 14 and the lens barrel 11.
It is not in contact with the sliding surface of and and is free from the sliding surface. In this state, only the waterproof elastic member 38 is in contact with the sliding surface, and the waterproof property is ensured.
On the other hand, during sterilization by autoclave (at high temperature),
As shown in FIG. 8B, the shape memory material 39 is deformed into an open shape, and the moisture-proof elastic member 37 is pressed against the sliding surface to secure the moisture-proof property.

Also in each of the above-mentioned modified examples, it is possible to construct a sealed structure which can ensure waterproofness during normal use and can reliably ensure moisture resistance during high temperature pressure sterilization by an autoclave or the like. .

Here, a structural example of the material of the member in the sealing structure is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. As shown in FIG.
In the sealed structure using the ring 51, the inner member B
The material of each member is selected so that the coefficient of thermal expansion of (the lens barrel 11 in the above embodiment) 53 is larger than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer member A (the rotating ring 14 in the above embodiment) 52. For example, the member A is made of stainless steel (SUS), the member B is made of aluminum, the member A is made of aluminum, the member B is made of resin such as polysulfone, or the member A is made of aluminum and the member B is made of quartz glass.

With this structure, the member A
The strain caused by the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the member B and the member B can be absorbed by the O-ring, and compared with the O-ring groove depth d1 at room temperature in FIG. 9A, when sterilized by an autoclave or the like in FIG. When the O-ring groove depth d2 at high temperature is small,
Since the relationship of d1> d2 is established, the tightening margin of the O-ring is increased during high temperature pressure sterilization by an autoclave or the like, and more effective sealing can be performed. In addition, since the size of the normal tightening margin can be set at room temperature, the assemblability can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, also in the sealing structure using the gasket-like sealing member 54, the same effect can be obtained by setting the materials of the members A52 and B53 as in the case of FIG. can get.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, in the sliding portion or the like which rotates or reciprocates as in the above-mentioned embodiment, O
Even when the ring 55 is used to form the sealing structure, the same effect can be obtained by setting the materials of the members A52 and B53 as in the case of FIG. In addition, since the normal tightening margin can be set at room temperature, the amount of actuating force of the sliding portion can be reduced and the slidability can be kept good.

By the way, in the hermetically sealed structure, the hermeticity can be improved by applying grease to the hermetically sealing member. 12 and 13 show configuration examples of the sealing structure in which grease is applied to the sealing member.

The first example shown in FIG. 12 is an example of a double sealed structure using an O-ring, in which a greased O-ring 56 is provided as an inner sealing member, and an outer sealing member is provided. As a result, a greaseless O-ring 57 to which no grease is applied is arranged.

With this structure, it is possible to prevent the grease from seeping out of the joint portion 58 to the outside due to a change in pressure during sterilization by an autoclave and improve the sealing performance. .

The second example shown in FIG. 13 is an example in which the O-ring and the flat plate sealing member are used as a double sealing structure, and the greased O-ring 56 coated with grease is used as the inner sealing member. An outer flat plate sealing member 5 is provided.
Reference numeral 9 is configured by using a product to which grease is not applied. With such a configuration as well, it is possible to prevent the grease from seeping out from the coupling portion 58 to the outside as in the first example of FIG. 12 and improve the sealing performance.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an endoscope image pickup apparatus having a sealed structure that is waterproof and surely has heat resistance and moisture resistance.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a camera adapter provided at the distal end of the endoscope imaging device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a sliding portion (X portion) in FIG.

4 to 8 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the tip portion of the device including the camera adapter provided in the endoscope imaging device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a sliding portion (X portion) in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modified example of the moisture-proof sealing member provided in the sliding portion.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modified example of the moisture-proof sealing member provided in the sliding portion.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the sealing member provided on the sliding portion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration example of material of a member in a sealing structure using an O-ring.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration example of a material of a member in a sealing structure using a gasket-like sealing member.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a structural example of the material of the member in the case where a sealing structure is formed by using an O-ring in a sliding portion that rotates or reciprocates.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a first example of a sealing structure in which grease is applied to a sealing member.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a second example of a sealing structure in which a sealing member is greased.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 ... Camera head 6 ... Camera adapter 11 ... Lens barrel 12 ... Lens frame 14 ... Rotating ring 17 ... Waterproof annular elastic member 18 ... Moisture-proof annular elastic member

Front page continuation (72) Kenji Omachi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Shinkichi Tanizawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optics Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masao Uehara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Hagiwara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optics Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscopic image pickup apparatus for picking up an endoscopic observation image, wherein at least a first sealing elastic member having a waterproof property and a second sealing elastic member having a moisture-proof property are arranged in a double seal. An endoscope imaging apparatus having a structure.