JPS61267725A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain efficient observation by fitting a conical surface-like mirror to the leading end of an endoscope which is a pipe-like body to be tested to observe the whole periphery in the pipe and forming an operating means for moving the mirror position and enabling the front of the insertion part of the endoscope to be directly observed. CONSTITUTION:The slide member 7 fitting a conical surface-like mirror 11 is fitted to the leading end part 2 of the insertion part 1 of the industrial endoscope, the center axis of the mirror is made to coincide with the optical axis of the lens 3 set up on the leading end of the insertion part 1 and a sliding member 7 is engaged with the insertion part so as to be optionally slided. An aperture part 12 is formed on the side periphery of the member 7, light irradiated from a light guide 4 is passed through the insertion part 1 so that the whole surface of the inner periphery of the pipe can be positively observed by the mirror 11, and the mirror 11 is made to approach an objective lens 3 by an operation wire 10 coupled with a pin 8 to observe the light reflected by the mirror 11. When the front of the insertion part 1 is to be observed, the mirror 11 is separated from the objective lens 3 by operating the wire 10 and the irradiated light is sent from the aperture part 12 to the front side to observe the body to be tested. Thus, both the side and front of the pipe can be observed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope used, for example, when performing an intraductal examination.

[Conventional technology]

'Traditionally, an endoscope was used to perform an intraluminal examination.

A system is known in which a conical mirror is attached to the tip of the tube, and the entire circumference of the tube is observed simultaneously in full view over 3600 mm (Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-104959, Utility Model Application Publication No. 59/1989). (Refer to Publication No.-60651).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Although it is true that the above observation method allows observation from the front as a panoramic vinyl, it has the disadvantage that the observed image is distorted and difficult to see. On the other hand, it is not possible to directly view the inner surface of the tube with a direct-viewing endoscope alone;
difficult to observe.

The present invention was made by focusing on these problems.
To provide an arm that can be observed by easily switching between a lateral front view and a direct front view.

[Means for solving the problems and their effects] The present invention provides a movable conical mirror 11 at the distal end 2 of the endoscope insertion section 1, and a mirror 11 with a conical surface facing the distal end. This endoscope can be used by selectively moving the mirror 11 between a position where the sides of the insertion section 1 are observed from the front with a panoramic bin and a position where the front of the insertion section 1 is observed directly. .

〔Example〕

#! Figures 1 to 8g and 4 show a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment shows the case of an industrial endoscope for inspecting the inside of various pipes. That is, 1 in FIG. 1 is a long and flexible insertion section of the endoscope, and the distal end 2 of this insertion section 1 is provided with an objective lens 3 . This objective lens 3.
The optical axis of . . . coincides with or is parallel to the long axis of the insertion section 1. Furthermore, a plurality of light guides 4 are arranged around the objective lenses 3 . . . and emit illumination light forward of the tip 2 . Further, a solid-state image sensor 5 is installed at the imaging position of the objective lens 3. The solid-state image sensor 5 converts the optical image formed by the objective lens 3 into an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to an image processing circuit (not shown) through a signal line 6. And monitor TV (
Not shown. ), the image is now displayed on the screen.

On the other hand, a cylindrical slide member 7 is slidably fitted into the distal end portion 2 . This slide member 7 is provided with a bottle 8 facing inward. The pin 8 moves along a long groove 9 formed on the outer periphery of the tip portion 2, and the tip of the operating wire 10 is connected to this. The operating wire 10 is electrically connected to the proximal side through the insertion portion 1, and the slide member 1 is moved forward and backward by pushing and pulling the operating wire 10 using an operating means (not shown).

Furthermore, a conical mirror 11 is attached to the tip of the slide member 7.

This mirror 11 has its apex side directed toward the distal end surface of the distal end portion 2, and its central axis coincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 3. The cone angle of the mirror 110 is 90°.

Some parts of the slide member 7 are opened. Illumination and observation are performed through this opening 12.

When observing the sides as a panoramic view from the front (with the above-mentioned endoscope), pull the operation wire 10 to move the slide member 2 backward as shown in FIG. Perform it in a state close to, that is,
The illumination light emitted from the light guide 4 is reflected laterally by the mirror 11, and illuminates the inner surface of the tube, for example. Further, the reflected light from the illuminated inner surface of the tube is reflected again by the mirror 11 and enters the objective lens 3 . Lima'
) *Using the reflection of Mi5-zx, the intracanal aspect can be observed from the front as a panoramic view.

On the other hand, when observing directly, the operating wire 10
is pushed in, and the slide member 7 is pushed out and moved forward as shown in FIG. When the mirror 11 is separated in this way,
The opening 12 widens forward and the illumination light emitted from the light guide 4 does not pass through the mirror 11 but directly passes through the opening 12 to illuminate the inside of the tube in front. Further, reflected light from the illuminated front periphery of the inside of the tube can be directly observed through the opening 12 without going through the mirror 11 through the objective lens 3 .

In this way, by simply moving the slide member 7 by remote control on the hand side, observation can be easily switched between front view observation of the side of the insertion section 1 and direct view observation of the front periphery.

Note that the opening 12 may be made of a transparent member. Furthermore, an image guide may be used as an observation means in place of the solid-state image sensor 5, and observation may be made from the eyepiece on the hand side.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a drive source 15 for moving the slide member 7 is incorporated into the tip portion 2. And this drive source 15
For example, a solenoid, a motor (for example, used as a drive source for a screw feeder), or a shape memory alloy (which expands and contracts when energized to obtain driving force) may be used.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there is no single step for moving the mirror 11 along the optical axis of the objective lens 3, but there are nine steps for retracting the mirror 11 to the side of the optical axis. In other words, the mirror 11 is biased toward the rotating shaft 2o supported on the side of the tip 2.
The objective lens 3 is rotated by the rotating shaft 20f (4-ta) to select the front position and the retracted position of the objective lens 3. The figure shows a fourth embodiment ψ of the invention. In the third embodiment, a rack 22 and Ichiro's bevel gears 23 and 24 are provided as the operation drive means on the third implementation side, and the rack 22 is operated by an operation wire 25. In addition,
In place of the bevel gears 23, 14, for example, helical gears may be used.

Furthermore, other mechanical means may be used as the operation drive means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily select and observe the front view using the hanorama and crystals of the side periphery and the direct view of the front periphery. Furthermore, with the panoramic camera, when the image is distorted and difficult to see, it can be observed directly, and on the other hand, when the tubular inner circumferential wall needs to be viewed from the front, it can be viewed from the front. Finally, good observation results can be obtained by easily selecting each observation and complementing its respective deficiencies.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the tip of the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the tip;
Figures 3 and 4 are each 1g! FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the second embodiment near its tip, FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the third embodiment near its tip, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view of the distal end thereof, the Ks figure is a plan view of the mirror operating means in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the operating means. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Insertion part, 2... Tip part, 7... Slide member. 10... Operation wire, 11... Mirror, 25...
operating wire. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi 1i41 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 9J 6 Figure 71i

Claims (1)

[Claims] A position that is movably provided at the tip of the insertion tube and faces the tip and allows for frontal observation with a panoramic view of the side on the optical axis of the objective lens, and a different position that allows direct viewing of the front of the insertion tube. A conical mirror that allows you to freely select the observation position,
An endoscope comprising means for selectively operating the mirror between the front observation position and the direct observation position.