JPH1176151A - Endoscope tip part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide an endoscope by which a proper light distribution characteristic can be obtained by arranging at least two or more kinds of illuminating means different in a light distribution characteristic in an endoscope tip part. SOLUTION: In an endoscope device, one end of an inserting part 5 inserted into an observing object is connected to a tip part 11. An LED 13 as an illuminating means to illuminate the observing object and an objective optical system 14 to form an image of the observing object are arranged in the tip part 11, and an image pickup means 15 composed of a solid image pickup element (CCD) to convert a formed image into an electric signal is arranged on the rear end of this objective optical system 14. The LED 13 is composed of two LEDs 13a and 13b, and the first LED 13a is bright in a central part, but lacks in illuminance of a peripheral part, that is, an LED of a spot illuminating type where a lens is attached to a tip front face is used, and the second LED 13b is bright in a peripheral part, but lacks in illuminance of a central part, that is, an LED of a diffusive illuminating type where a lens is not attached to a tip front face is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an endoscope end portion having a small lamp for illuminating an observation field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is mainly inserted into a body cavity of a living body or a narrow duct, and is used for observation and treatment of a body cavity, observation and repair of a duct and the like.

Normally, since there is no light inside a body cavity or a duct, the end of the endoscope has an illuminating means for illuminating an observation visual field. Illumination means include those that guide illumination light to the end of the endoscope through a light guide fiber in which optical fibers are bundled, and those that include a small lamp at the end of the endoscope.

[0004] Above all, the end-lamp type endoscope using a small lamp as an illuminating means is less expensive than an endoscope using a light guide fiber, and the length of the insertion portion (light Since the brightness is not affected by the length of the guide fiber, there is an advantage that the insertion portion can be freely lengthened.

There are many types of lamps used for lighting,
When classified according to the light distribution characteristics, that is, the angle of the irradiated light, a spot illumination type that distributes light in a narrow range while suppressing light diffusion by a lens provided in front of the lamp, and a diffuse illumination that distributes light in a wide range. And type.

For this reason, the lamp is selected in consideration of its light distribution characteristics so as to match the observation area of the endoscope to be incorporated. Usually, only one lamp is used to select the observation area of the endoscope. Uniform illuminance cannot be obtained over the entire area.

[0007] For example, when an endoscope incorporating a spot illumination type lamp is inserted into a duct or the like, the observation area has a depth, and the image becomes darker toward the hand. Conversely, when an endoscope incorporating a diffused illumination type lamp is inserted into a conduit, only the proximal side can be observed.

Various solutions have been devised to solve these problems. For example, JP-A-7-275200 discloses that
Using a light emitting diode (LED) as a small lamp, L
It is described that by arranging an illumination optical system such as a lens on the front side of the ED, the light distribution angle of the illumination light emitted from the LED is adjusted.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-276532 discloses a method in which a reflector is provided on the back side of a lamp, and the reflector is irradiated with light from the lamp to reflect the light, thereby indirectly illuminating an observation area. It is described that an appropriate light distribution that can be easily obtained is obtained.

[0010]

However, as described above, if a lens or a reflector is provided to obtain an appropriate light distribution characteristic, the endoscope becomes expensive.

[0011] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope which can obtain appropriate light distribution characteristics at low cost.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, a distal end portion of an endoscope according to the present invention is characterized by having at least two or more types of illumination means having different light distribution characteristics. (Operation) With the above configuration, appropriate light distribution characteristics that are easy to observe can be obtained by combining illumination means having different light distribution characteristics.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an electric system of the endoscope system in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the LEDs at the distal end of the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the LEDs at the distal end of the endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope device 2 for capturing an image of an observation object and a video for converting an electric signal output from the endoscope device 2 into a video signal. It comprises a processor 3 and a monitor 4 for displaying a video signal from the video processor 3.

The endoscope apparatus 2 includes an insertion section 5 for insertion into an object to be observed and an operation section 6 for operating the endoscope apparatus 2.
And a cord 7 extended from the operation unit 6, and a connector 8 for attaching and detaching the cord 7 and the video processor 3.

The insertion portion 5 has a bendable flexible portion 9 extending from the operation portion 6 and a tip end side of the flexible portion 9 and perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion 5.
Section 10 having flexibility to bendable in any direction
And a tip portion 11 further located at the tip than the bending portion 10
And is composed of

An operation wire (not shown) having one end connected to the distal end portion 11 and the other end connected to two angle knobs 12 provided on the operation portion 6 is inserted into the insertion portion 5. Have been.

The angle knob 12 is provided rotatably with respect to the operation unit 5, and the operation wire is connected to the angle knob 1
The pull operation is performed by the rotation of 2. That is, when the operation wire pulls the distal end portion 11, the bending portion 10 bends, and the distal end portion 1 is bent.
One direction can be determined.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion 11 is provided with an LED 13 as an illuminating means for illuminating the observation object, and is provided with an objective optical system 14 for forming an image of the observation object. At the rear end of the objective optical system 14, an image pickup means 15 including a solid-state image pickup device (CCD) for converting an image formed by the objective optical system 14 into an electric signal is provided.

The signal line 16 and the LED 13 of the imaging means 15
Is connected to the video processor 3 via the insertion section 5, the operation section 6, and the cord 7. The video processor 3 supplies power to the LED 13 via a lead wire, controls light emission of the LED 13, transmits a driving signal to the imaging unit 15 via a signal line 16, and A signal (output signal) is received, processed into a video signal, and transmitted to the video monitor 4, and can be remotely operated by a switch 18 provided on the operation unit 6.

Next, a specific arrangement of the image pickup means 15 and the LED 13 at the distal end portion 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. The LED 13 includes a first LED 13a and a second LED 13a.
As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting directions of the LEDs 11 b are parallel to the axis of the distal end 11.
Is provided within. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The EDs 13a and the second LEDs 13b are arranged alternately and radially, each of which has a total of four pieces arranged in a conformal manner.

First LED 13a in the present embodiment
Is a spot illumination type LED in which the central portion is bright, but the illuminance of the peripheral portion is insufficient, that is, a lens is provided on the front surface of the chip.

More specifically, a metal header type LED in which a convex lens made of epoxy resin is integrally arranged on the front surface of the LED chip, or the LED chip is solidified with epoxy resin or the like, and the convex lens is formed with the epoxy resin. An epoxy resin embedded LED or the like is used. Also,
The second LED 13b in this embodiment is a diffused illumination type LED in which the peripheral portion is bright but the illuminance at the central portion is insufficient, that is, the front surface of the chip has no lens. Specifically, a chip LED or the like in which an LED chip is solidified with an epoxy resin or the like is used.

(Operation) When the endoscope system 1 is used for observing the inside of a pipe or the like, first, the video processor 3 supplies power to the LEDs 13a and 13b via the lead wire 17, and the LEDs 13a and 13b The reflected light incident on the objective lens system 14 is converted into an electric signal by the imaging unit 15 while emitting light to illuminate the observation area.

The electric signal is output to the video processor 3 via the signal line 16 and the video processor 3
Is converted into an image signal and output to the monitor 4. The observer operates the angle knob 12 while observing the image on the monitor 4, pushes the tip 11 into the inside of a pipe or the like while deciding the direction of the tip 11, and places the tip 11 on the target observation object (position). ).

When the distal end portion 11 is pushed in, and when observing an object (position) to be observed, a diffuse illumination type LED 13b having a wide light irradiation angle mainly illuminates the hand side and a spot having a narrow light irradiation angle. Since the illumination type LED 13a mainly illuminates the far side from the hand side, the entire observation area is uniformly illuminated.

(Effects) According to the present embodiment, appropriate light distribution characteristics that are easy to observe, that is, uniform illuminance can be obtained over the entire observation area, so that a lens separate from the lamp as in the related art can be obtained. There is no need to provide a reflector or a reflector. Therefore,
An endoscope having appropriate light distribution characteristics can be manufactured at low cost and in a small size. In this embodiment, the LED
Although two types are used, three or more types of LEDs may be arranged.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a spot illumination type LED 19 with a convex lens and a diffuse illumination type LED 20 without a convex lens are mounted on the same substrate. They are arranged and solidified integrally with a resin such as epoxy, and both are contained in one package 21. In the present embodiment, one pair is provided at the tip of the tip 11 so that the package 21 faces the object optical system 14 therebetween. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effect) LED of spot lighting type;
Since the diffuse illumination type LED is housed in the same package, the assemblability of the end portion of the endoscope is improved. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3) As shown in FIG. 6, this embodiment is of a spot illumination type, which is a substantially rectangular and plate-like LED 22 when viewed from the front, and a diffuse illumination type which is an approximately rectangular shape. The plate-like LEDs 23 are alternately arranged on a substrate (not shown), and the substrate is fixed to the distal end portion 11. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effect) Since the planar LED can be easily mounted on the substrate and the substrate on which the LED is mounted can be easily assembled to the front end portion, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. . Other effects are described in Embodiment 1.
Is the same as

(Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a plate-shaped LED 2 of a spot illumination type is used.
4, and a plate-like LED 25 of a diffuse illumination type
Is a fan shape, and two LEDs 24 and two LEDs 25 are arranged in total. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first and third embodiments.

(Effect) According to the present embodiment, in the case where the location of the LED is limited to the ring-shaped portion between the observation optical system and the distal end portion, the shape of the LED is adjusted along the shape of the ring-shaped portion. With a fan shape, L
Since the EDs can be arranged at a high density, it is possible to contribute to miniaturization of the tip. Other effects are similar to those of the first and third embodiments. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the total number of the LEDs 24 and 25 is four, but a plurality of (eight in FIG. 8) LEDs 24 and 25 may be arranged as shown in FIG. The effect is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

(Embodiment 5) L in the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 9, the ED has a plurality of spot illumination type LED chips (not shown) and a diffuse illumination type LED chip (not shown) on a donut-shaped substrate whose center part coincides with the center of the objective optical system. (Not shown) are alternately arranged, and the whole is solidified with a resin such as epoxy to form one donut-shaped package 26. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effect) According to the present embodiment, high-density mounting of LED chips is possible, and L
The ED can be easily assembled. Other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 6) This embodiment relates to FIG.
As shown in the figure, a plate-shaped LED 27 having a chamfered portion C,
28 (dashed lines indicate LEDs incorporated in LEDs 27 and 28
Indicates a chip. ) Are arranged circumferentially around the observation optical system.

LED 27 is a spot illumination type, LED
Reference numeral 28 denotes a diffused illumination type, and LEDs 27 and 28 include:
LE on the circumference around the objective optical system 14
When D27 and D28 are equiangularly arranged, chamfered portions C are formed at two corners (ridges) on the objective optical system 14 side of the LEDs 27 and 28.

The angle and amount of the chamfer C are determined by the LEDs 27, 2
8 so that the LED chips and electrodes incorporated therein are not affected, and when the adjacent LEDs 27 and 28 come close to or come into contact with each other, the LEDs 27 and 28 are arranged in order on the circumference. To the extent that the outer diameter (ie the inner diameter of the tip) when arranged in
And Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first and third embodiments.

(Effect) By chamfering the LEDs, the distance between the LEDs can be reduced. Therefore, as compared with the case of the third embodiment, more LEDs can be mounted in the same outer diameter of the tip portion, so that the illumination light amount can be increased. In addition, since the same number of LEDs can be mounted within a small inner diameter, the outer diameter at the tip can be further reduced. The other effects are the same as those of the first and third embodiments.

(Embodiment 7) In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a chamfered portion C similar to that in the sixth embodiment is formed for the spot illumination type LED 29 and the diffuse illumination type LED 30 and the corners (ridges) on the inner diameter side of the tip portions 11 of the LEDs 29 and 30 are formed. ) Also formed a chamfered portion C.

The angle and amount of the chamfer C are determined by the LEDs 29, 3
Within the range that does not affect the chip or electrode built in 0,
In addition, the inner diameter of the distal end portion 11 is set to an extent that can be set to the minimum. Other configurations and operations are described in Embodiment 6.
Is the same as

(Effect) Since more LEDs can be mounted in the same outer diameter of the tip than in the case of the sixth embodiment,
The amount of illumination can be increased. In addition, since the same number of LEDs can be mounted within a small inner diameter, the outer diameter at the tip can be further reduced. Other effects are similar to those of the first, third, and sixth embodiments.

(Eighth Embodiment) The present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope according to the present embodiment. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 31 is provided with an angle knob (see FIG. 1).
A shaft 32 serving as a center of rotation of the wire, a base end of a cord 33 made of a conductive material such as metal is fixed, and a jitter made of a conductive material such as metal grounded to other parts not shown. And a cover 36 made of a non-conductive material such as plastic, which covers the jitter 34 and positions and fixes the jitter 34 and the switch 35.
And more.

A CCD cable 37 for transmitting a drive signal for driving the image pickup unit 15 (see FIG. 2) and transmitting an output signal from the image pickup unit 15 is provided inside the operation section 31. A switch cable 38 runs from the switch 35 to the video processor 3 (see FIG. 2).

Normally, since the imaging unit 15 is driven at a high clock frequency, the electromagnetic field noise generated from the CCD cable 37 induces surrounding metal members, and the induced metal members cause stronger electromagnetic field. Generates noise.

In the operation unit 31 according to the present embodiment, since the switch 35 and the CCD cable 37 are close to each other, if the switch 35 is not grounded at all, strong electromagnetic noise is generated from the switch 35.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the switch 35
And the above-mentioned jitter 34 were connected by a ground wire 39, and both were set to the same potential. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

(Operation) According to the present embodiment, since the switch 35 is grounded to the jitter 34, it is difficult to receive high frequency induction.

(Effect) Even if the switch 35 receives the electromagnetic field noise, no further strong electromagnetic field noise is generated. Although the endoscope apparatus in each of the above embodiments has only a function of observing an observation target, the endoscope tip according to the present invention has a channel for inserting forceps and the like. The present invention may be applied to an industrial endoscope apparatus having a channel for inserting a probe or the like for repair into a medical endoscope apparatus.

(Supplementary Note) The present invention includes the following configurations. (1) An endoscope end portion provided with a plurality of lamps for illumination, wherein at least two or more types of lamps having different light distribution characteristics are arranged.
(2) An endoscope distal end portion according to the above configuration (1), wherein at least two or more types of lamps having different light distribution characteristics are arranged as a set of packages.
(3) The lamp of the above configuration (2) is a light emitting diode (LE)
D) The endoscope end portion, which is characterized in that: (4) It has an objective optical system at the tip of the elongated insertion part and an LED.
In an endoscope that uses a light source as an illumination light source, the LE
D is a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and at least two ridges on the objective optical system side are chamfered. (5) The LE of the above configuration (4)
D. The endoscope end portion according to D, wherein a chamfer is also applied to a ridge opposite to the objective optical system. (6) LE
An endoscope in which the shape of D is provided in a donut shape around the center axis of the endoscope or the center axis of the objective optical system. (7) An operation portion made of a molding resin having a non-conductive appearance, a conductive member fixed only from the molding resin, and an electronic endoscope in which a cable having a high clock frequency passes inside the operation portion. An electronic endoscope operating unit, wherein the conductive member is connected to a grounded member in the operating unit to have the same potential in the mirror operating unit.

[0051]

According to the present invention, a simple structure can be realized without using an expensive optical system such as an illumination lens and a reflector.
It is possible to obtain an illumination means having an appropriate light distribution that is easy to observe.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an electric system of the endoscope system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing another example of the arrangement of LEDs according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing an arrangement of LEDs according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an operation unit of an endoscope according to an eighth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope system 2 Endoscope apparatus 11 Tip part 13a Spot illumination type LED 13b Diffuse illumination type LED

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope end portion having at least two or more types of illumination means having different light distribution characteristics.