CN115087388A

CN115087388A - Endoscope with a detachable handle

Info

Publication number: CN115087388A
Application number: CN202180012871.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 小向牧人
Original assignee: Fujifilm Corp
Current assignee: Fujifilm Corp
Priority date: 2020-02-12
Filing date: 2021-02-05
Publication date: 2022-09-20
Also published as: JPWO2021161902A1; JP7324928B2; WO2021161902A1

Abstract

The invention provides an endoscope which can prevent the generation of facula caused by illumination light reflected in a nozzle and obtain a good observation image. An endoscope (10) is provided with an observation window (34), illumination windows (44, 46) arranged around the observation window (34), and a nozzle (40) having a fluid ejection opening (52) opening toward the observation window (34), on a distal end surface (28) of a distal end portion body (30) of an insertion portion (12), the nozzle (40) having an irradiated surface to which illumination light emitted from the illumination window (46) is irradiated, at least a part of the irradiated surface including a scattering suppression portion (58A) composed of a mirror surface, the scattering suppression portion (58A) reflecting the illumination light in a direction different from that of the observation window (34).

Description

Endoscope with a detachable handle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope in which an observation window, an illumination window, and a nozzle for ejecting a fluid are disposed on a distal end surface of an insertion portion.

Background

An observation window for taking in subject light from a region to be observed and an illumination window for emitting illumination light to the region to be observed are disposed on a distal end surface of an insertion portion of an endoscope. A nozzle (also referred to as a fluid ejection nozzle or an air/water feeding nozzle) that ejects a fluid (for example, water or air) toward the observation window in order to remove attached matter such as a body fluid attached to the observation window is disposed on the distal end surface.

In the endoscope disclosed in patent document 1, in order to prevent a part of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window from reflecting on the outer surface of the nozzle and entering the observation window, the outer surface of the nozzle is formed of a color having a low reflectance of visible light. Specifically, examples are shown in which the outer surface of the nozzle is colored with a black paint, formed of a material such as a black resin, or subjected to black chrome plating. According to this endoscope, reflection of the illumination light on the outer surface of the nozzle is prevented by the above-described example, and thereby the influence on the observation image due to the reflection can be eliminated.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese Kokai publication Sho-61-13822

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the endoscope disclosed in patent document 1 has the following problems. That is, if the endoscope is continuously used, the paint or the like formed on the outer surface of the nozzle is easily detached due to deterioration. In this case, reflection of the illumination light on the outer surface of the nozzle cannot be sufficiently prevented, and the reflected light of the illumination window reflected on the outer surface of the nozzle enters the observation window, resulting in occurrence of flare in the observation image and failure to obtain a good observation image.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope capable of preventing occurrence of flare due to illumination light reflected by a nozzle and obtaining a good observation image.

Means for solving the technical problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope including an elongated insertion portion to be inserted into a body, the endoscope including a distal end portion body disposed on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the distal end portion body having a distal end surface, an observation window provided on the distal end surface, an illumination window disposed around the observation window, and a nozzle having a fluid ejection port opening toward the observation window, the nozzle having an irradiated surface to which illumination light emitted from the illumination window is irradiated, at least a part of the irradiated surface including a scattering suppression portion composed of a mirror surface, the scattering suppression portion reflecting the illumination light in a direction different from that of the observation window.

In one aspect of the present invention, the nozzle preferably has an opening end surface provided around the fluid ejection port, and at least a part of the opening end surface is a scattering suppression portion.

In one aspect of the present invention, the scattering prevention section is preferably formed of an inclined surface inclined with respect to the distal end surface, and the scattering prevention section reflects the illumination light toward the distal end side of the insertion section, i.e., forward.

In one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the illumination device further includes a plurality of illumination windows, and the surface to be illuminated is illuminated with illumination light emitted from an illumination window located at a position closest to the nozzle among the plurality of illumination windows.

In one aspect of the present invention, the nozzle is preferably a metal powder injection molded article, and the outer surface of the nozzle has a scattering suppression portion that is mirror-finished at least in part.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of flare due to illumination light reflected by the nozzle and obtain a good observation image.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall view of an endoscope according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a distal end surface of an insertion portion of the endoscope shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the front end face shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the front end portion 22 taken along the line IV-IV of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the fluid ejection port of the nozzle viewed from the front.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an endoscope according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an overall view of an endoscope 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the endoscope 10 includes an elongated insertion portion 12 inserted into a subject; an operation portion 14 provided at the base end of the insertion portion 12; a universal cable 16 for connecting the endoscope 10 to system components such as a light source device, a processor device, and an air/water supply device, which are not shown.

The insertion portion 12 has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis a, and includes a soft portion 18, a bending portion 20, and a distal end portion 22 in this order from the proximal end toward the distal end.

The flexible portion 18 is flexible and can be bent in any direction along the insertion path of the insertion portion 12. The bending portion 20 is bent in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by operating the

corner knobs

24 and 26 provided rotatably on the operation portion 14, and the direction in which the distal end portion 22 faces can be changed in any direction. The distal end portion 22 includes a distal end portion main body 30 (see fig. 2) disposed on the distal end side of the insertion portion 12, and the distal end portion main body 30 has a distal end surface 28.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the distal end portion 22 in an enlarged manner, and fig. 3 is a front view of the distal end portion 22 as viewed from the longitudinal axis a (see fig. 1). Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion 22 taken along the line IV-IV in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 4, the distal end portion 22 includes a distal end portion main body 30 made of a hard material such as metal and holding various components disposed at the distal end portion 22, and a distal end cover 32 made of an insulating resin material and covering a distal end surface 30A and a distal end outer peripheral surface 30B of the distal end portion main body 30. Fig. 4 shows a tip portion 42A of an air/water supply channel 42 connected to a nozzle 40 and accommodating a lens barrel 38 constituting an observation window 34 and an optical system 36 of an observation unit, as a unit held by the tip end main body 30 and the tip end cover 32.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the distal end surface 28 is formed on a surface of the distal end side of the distal end cover 32. The distal end face 28 is configured with a substantially circular flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a as a base, and the

observation window

34, 2

illumination windows

44 and 46 arranged around the observation window 34, the treatment instrument outlet 48, and the nozzle 40 are arranged at predetermined positions on the distal end face 28. Note that symbol C shown in fig. 2 and 3 indicates the center of the distal end surface 28.

The observation window 34 is a component of an observation unit for acquiring an image of a region to be observed, and takes in subject light from the region to be observed to a solid-state imaging element or a video conductor, not shown, via an optical system 36 shown in fig. 4. The image captured by the observation unit is transmitted to the processor device as an observation image.

The circular surface 34S of the observation window 34 is formed of, for example, a flat surface, and is arranged perpendicular to the optical axis D of the observation portion. The center of the surface 34S is disposed at a position offset from the center C of the distal end surface 28 toward the peripheral edge of the distal end surface 28. The optical axis D is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis a.

The

illumination windows

44 and 46 are components of an illumination unit for illuminating the region to be observed, and illuminate the region to be observed with illumination light transmitted from the light source device.

The

circular surfaces

44S, 46S of the

illumination windows

44, 46 are formed of flat surfaces, for example, and are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a. The centers of the

surfaces

44S and 46S are disposed at positions offset from the center C of the distal end surface 28 toward the peripheral edge of the distal end surface 28, and are disposed at positions facing each other with the surface 34S of the observation window 34 interposed therebetween.

The treatment instrument outlet 48 communicates with the treatment instrument inlet 50 of the operation unit 14 via a treatment instrument insertion channel (not shown) inserted through the insertion portion 12 (see fig. 1). Therefore, the treatment instrument introduced from the treatment instrument introduction port 50 is led out from the treatment instrument outlet port 48 through the treatment instrument insertion passage.

A suction channel (not shown) is connected to the treatment instrument insertion channel, and suction operation from the treatment instrument outlet port 48 is performed through the suction channel by operation of a suction button 54 of the operation unit 14 (see fig. 1).

The nozzle 40 is made of, for example, stainless steel, and is a Metal powder Injection molded article (hereinafter, also referred to as a Metal Injection nozzle) manufactured by Metal powder Injection Molding (MIM). Metal powder injection molding is a manufacturing method of mixing metal powder with a binder, performing injection molding, degreasing the binder, and then sintering to manufacture a metal product. As shown in fig. 4, the nozzle 40 manufactured by this manufacturing method has a base end portion 40A and a tip end portion 40B, and the shape including the base end portion 40A and the tip end portion 40B is formed in an L shape.

The base end portion 40A constitutes a connecting portion connected to a tip end portion 42A of the air/water feeding channel 42, and is connected to the air/water feeding device via the air/water feeding channel 42. The cross section of the conduit 41A of the base end portion 40A perpendicular to the axis of the conduit 41A is formed in a circular shape, and the center E of the circular shape is disposed at a position offset from the center C (see fig. 3) of the distal end surface 28 toward the peripheral edge of the distal end surface 28 and at a position closer to the illumination window 46 among the

illumination windows

44 and 46.

The duct 41B of the distal end portion 40B is formed in a rectangular shape in cross section perpendicular to the axis of the duct 41B, and a fluid ejection port 52 opening toward the observation window 34 is formed at the distal end of the duct 41B.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the fluid ejection port 52 as viewed from the front.

As shown in fig. 5, the fluid ejection port 52 is formed as a rectangular opening in the same manner as the cross-sectional shape of the conduit 41B (see fig. 4). The nozzle 40 has a frame-shaped opening end surface 58 provided around the fluid ejection port 52. As will be described later, the end surface of the right half area of the opening end surface 58 in fig. 5 close to the illumination window 46 (see fig. 3) constitutes a scattering suppression portion 58A, and the end surface 58B of the left half area other than the scattering suppression portion 58A is a pearskin-like surface as a base of the nozzle 40.

According to the endoscope 10 configured as described above, when the leak hole (not shown) of the air/water feeding button 56 formed in the operation portion 14 (see fig. 1) is closed with a finger, the gas from the air/water feeding device is ejected from the fluid ejection port 52 of the nozzle 40 toward the surface 34S of the observation window 34. When the air/water feeding button 56 is pressed by a finger closing the leak hole, the cleaning liquid from the air/water feeding device is ejected from the fluid ejection port 52 toward the surface 34S of the observation window 34. In addition, as a procedure for cleaning the observation window 34, for example, after the cleaning liquid is ejected from the fluid ejection port 52 to remove the adhering substances such as blood and body fluid adhering to the surface 34S of the observation window 34, the gas is ejected from the fluid ejection port 52 to remove the cleaning liquid remaining on the surface 34S of the observation window 34.

However, in the endoscope 10 of the embodiment, the respective components (the observation window 34, the nozzle 40, the

illumination windows

44 and 46, and the treatment instrument outlet port 48) disposed on the distal end surface 28 are disposed in proximity to each other with the diameter of the distal end portion 22 reduced. With this arrangement, the illumination light emitted from the

illumination windows

44 and 46 is easily applied to the nozzle 40 as the observation field of view of the observation window 34 is widened or the illumination light distribution of the

illumination windows

44 and 46 is widened. Further, the reflected light of the illumination light reflected by the nozzle 40 enters the observation window 34, and a problem that a flare is generated in the observation image and a clear observation image cannot be obtained easily occurs.

In particular, the nozzle 40 used in the endoscope 10 of the embodiment is a metal injection nozzle, and the outer surface of the nozzle 40 is formed of a pearskin-like surface. Therefore, when the nozzle 40 is irradiated with the illumination light emitted from the

illumination windows

44 and 46, the reflected light is diffusely reflected by the outer surface (pear skin-shaped surface) of the nozzle 40, and therefore the diffusely reflected light is easily incident on the observation window 34, and the above-described problem is further emphasized.

Therefore, in the endoscope 10 according to the embodiment, in order to prevent the occurrence of flare of the observation image due to the reflected light reflected by the nozzle 40, the surface of the outer surface of the nozzle 40 irradiated with the illumination light emitted from the illumination windows 44 and 46 (hereinafter referred to as "irradiated surface") is formed of the scattering suppression section 58A subjected to mirror finishing, and the orientation of the surface (mirror surface) forming the scattering suppression section 58A is determined so that the reflected light of the illumination light reflected by the scattering suppression section 58A is reflected in a direction different from the direction of the observation window 34.

Specifically, in the endoscope 10 according to the embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the opening end surface 58 which is a part of the outer surface of the nozzle 40, a region which is one-side half on the side close to the illumination window 46 (hereinafter referred to as "right-side half region") is a region (irradiated surface) which is irradiated with the illumination light from the illumination window 46, and a region which is the other-side half on the side (hereinafter referred to as "left-side half region") is a region which is not irradiated with the illumination light from the

illumination windows

44 and 46. Therefore, of the open end surfaces 58, the base (pearskin surface) of the nozzle 40 remains as it is with respect to the end surface 58B in the left half region, and the end surface in the right half region which is the surface to be irradiated is the scattering suppression part 58A formed of a mirror surface. The opening end surface 58 of the nozzle 40 is formed by an inclined surface inclined with respect to the distal end surface 28 so that the reflected light of the illumination light reflected by the scattering suppression portion 58A (mirror surface) is reflected toward the distal end side, i.e., the front side, of the insertion portion 12 (see fig. 1).

Here, the opening end face 58 of the nozzle 40 is described, and as shown in fig. 4, the opening end face 58 including the scattering suppression portion 58A is configured as an inclined face inclined at an acute angle of θ ° with respect to the distal end face 28 when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis a. Thus, as indicated by the arrow F direction, the reflected light of the illumination light reflected by the scatter suppression section 58A is reflected toward the front side, which is the distal end side of the insertion section 12 (see fig. 1), and is therefore prevented from entering the observation window 34.

As described above, according to the endoscope 10 of the embodiment, the irradiation surface of the nozzle 40 is configured by the scattering suppression portion 58A (mirror surface), and the reflected light of the illumination light irradiated to the irradiation surface is reflected in a direction different from the observation window 34, whereby the reflected light is configured not to enter the observation window 34, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of flare due to the illumination light reflected by the nozzle 40 and obtain a good observation image.

The inclination angle (θ °) of the opening end surface 58 shown in fig. 4 is preferably 50 ° or more and 60 ° or less, for example. By setting the angle to 60 ° or less, the reflected light of the illumination light reflected by the scattering suppression section 58A can be efficiently reflected forward. By setting the angle to 50 ° or more, the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection port 52 can be efficiently ejected toward the observation window 34.

In the embodiment, only the right half area of the opening end surface 58 is formed by the mirror surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the entire surface of the opening end surface 58 (i.e., the right half area and the left half area) may be formed by the mirror surface. The scattering suppression part 58A (mirror surface) is preferably formed on the entire surface of the surface to be irradiated, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be formed on at least a partial region of the surface to be irradiated. For example, in the embodiment, the configuration in which the scattering suppression part 58A is formed in the entire right half region is exemplified as a preferable embodiment, but the scattering suppression part 58A may be formed only in a part of the right half region. In this case, a better observation image can be obtained than in a configuration without the scattering suppression section 58A.

In the embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied when a part (right half area) of the opening end face 58 of the nozzle 40 is a surface to be irradiated is shown as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied when other part or all of the opening end face 58 of the nozzle 40 is a surface to be irradiated or when part or all of the outer surface other than the opening end face 58 of the nozzle 40 is a surface to be irradiated. In any case, at least a part of the surface to be irradiated with the illumination light is made to be the scattering suppression part 58A formed of a mirror surface, and the reflected light of the illumination light is reflected by the scattering suppression part 58A in a direction different from the observation window, whereby occurrence of flare due to the illumination light reflected by the nozzle 40 can be prevented and a good observation image can be obtained.

In the embodiment, the endoscope 10 including the 2

illumination windows

44 and 46 is exemplified, but the number of the illumination windows is not limited to 2, and the present invention can be applied to an endoscope including 1 or 3 or more illumination windows.

In the embodiment, the metal injection nozzle manufactured by metal powder injection molding is exemplified as the nozzle 40, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the present invention can be applied to a nozzle manufactured by bending a pipe material.

However, the metal injection nozzle has an advantage that the load on the subject can be reduced because the amount of protrusion from the front end surface 28 can be reduced as compared with the nozzle of the tube material. On the other hand, since the outer surface of the metal injection nozzle has a pearskin-like surface, there is a problem that flare due to diffuse reflection is easily generated as described above. Therefore, by adopting the present invention to such a metal injection nozzle, in addition to the original effect of reducing the burden on the subject, the present invention can obtain the effect of preventing the occurrence of flare due to the illumination light reflected by the nozzle 40 and obtaining a good observation image.

Further, although flare of this material is generated when the surface 34S of the observation window 34 is a flat surface, flare is more likely to be generated when the surface 34A is a convex lens, and therefore the present invention is more effective as a flare countermeasure for a convex lens.

The endoscope according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and some improvements or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Description of the symbols

10-endoscope, 12-insertion section, 14-operation section, 16-universal cable, 18-flexible section, 20-bending section, 22-tip section, 24-corner knob, 26-corner knob, 28-tip section, 30-tip section body, 30A-tip section, 30B-tip section outer peripheral surface, 32-tip end cover, 34-observation window, 34S-surface, 36-optical system, 38-lens barrel, 40-nozzle, 40A-base end section, 40B-tip section, 41A-tube, 41B-tube, 42-air/water supply channel, 42A-tip section, 44-illumination window, 44S-surface, 46-illumination window, 46S-surface, 48-treatment instrument outlet port, 50-treatment instrument inlet port, 52-fluid jet port, 54-suction button, 56-air/water feeding button, 58-open end face, 58A-scattering suppressing part, 58B-end face.

Claims

1. An endoscope having an elongated insertion portion to be inserted into a body,

the endoscope includes a distal end portion main body disposed on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the distal end portion main body having a distal end surface,

an observation window, an illumination window arranged around the observation window, and a nozzle having a fluid ejection opening that opens toward the observation window are provided on the distal end surface,

the nozzle has an irradiated surface to which the illumination light emitted from the illumination window is irradiated,

at least a part of the irradiated surface includes a scattering suppression section formed of a mirror surface,

the scattering suppression section reflects the illumination light in a direction different from the observation window.

2. The endoscope of claim 1,

the nozzle has an opening end surface provided around the fluid ejection port,

at least a part of the opening end surface is the scattering suppressing portion.

3. The endoscope of claim 1 or 2,

the scattering suppression portion is constituted by an inclined surface inclined with respect to the distal end surface,

the scattering suppression section reflects the illumination light toward the front end side of the insertion section.

4. The endoscope of any one of claims 1 to 3, being provided with a plurality of said illumination windows,

the illumination target surface is irradiated with illumination light emitted from an illumination window at a position closest to the nozzle among the plurality of illumination windows.

5. The endoscope of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the nozzle is a metal powder injection molding product,

the scattering suppression section is formed by mirror-finishing at least a part of an outer surface of the nozzle.