DE102011011086A1 - Endoscope with a shaft tube and head piece for it - Google Patents

Abstract

An endoscope (1) with a shaft part (2) which is traversed by an optical system (21) and a light guide (13) and at the proximal end of which a head piece (3) is attached, in which a head piece is attached to the optical system (20 , 21) coupled video camera (11) and an LED light source (17) coupled to the light guide (12, 13) are arranged, is characterized in that the head piece (3) on a coupling surface (4) penetrating the endoscope (1) rotatably about the axis of the optical system (20, 21) is attached to the shaft part (2) that the distal end face of the proximal light guide (12) arranged in the head piece (3) and the proximal end face of the light guide (13) arranged in the shaft part (2) ) are designed concentrically ring-shaped with the same radius and that the LED light source (17) is coupled to the ring-shaped proximal end face of the proximal light guide (12).

Description

The invention relates to an endoscope referred to in the preamble of claim 1 and a head piece for it.

In endoscopes with the video camera positioned proximally, it is often placed in a separable header which may be removable for cleaning and maintenance or interchangeable to select another combination. An LED light source, which is increasingly used in endoscopes, is also well located in this header, e.g. B. also with regard to the supply connections.

The DE 10 2008 055 629 A1 shows a generic endoscope showing this construction. However, this known construction has a number of disadvantages. The light guide is routed around the coupling point outside of the endoscope. This results in a technically complex construction. The camera is not rotatable relative to the shaft part, which is disadvantageous in an endoscope with a laterally looking lens. Furthermore, the arrangement of the LED-LED light source in the header causes problems in dissipating the heat generated.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the problems mentioned in a generic endoscope.

This object is achieved with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and claim 6.

According to the invention, the head piece is rotatably coupled to the shaft part. This eliminates the known problems with oblique-looking endoscopes, in which when changing the line of sight by rotating the shaft part, the image is rotated and the camera can be rotated accordingly to raise the image again. On the coupling surface of the endoscope continuous light guide is separated, wherein both optical fiber parts form matching aligned rings on the coupling surface, which allow independent of the rotational position, a light transmission. The coupling of the LED light source to the annular end face of the proximal light guide results in a distribution of the LED light source over a ring of larger circumference. A strong heat concentration is thereby avoided and the resulting heat can be dissipated more easily. The head piece can be easily removed to z. B. to connect with another shaft part, or to make it easier to clean.

Advantageously, the features of claim 2 are provided. This makes it possible that the light conveyed by the light guide is transmitted through the coupling surface, so the separation point between the proximal and the distal light guide on a larger cross-sectional area and thus with lower light density. The losses occurring at this point therefore have less effect, as well as disturbing mismatches. Heat losses from light losses at this point are also reduced. If the entire proximal light guide, which runs in the head piece, is of a larger cross-section, the problems with the coupling of the light on its proximal end face are also correspondingly reduced.

The LED light source can be z. B. in the axial direction radically coupled to the end face of the proximal light guide. Advantageously, however, the features of claim 3 are provided. A beam deflecting device, the z. B. by prisms or with a bent light guide can be realized, allows an arrangement of the LED light source radially outside the proximal light guide. This means that the LED light source is located on a larger radius and thus has more space available. According to claim 4, the LED light source forming individual LEDs can thus be arranged at a greater circumferential distance. This facilitates the construction and in turn, in turn, the heat dissipation, since z. B. larger heatsink are possible.

Advantageously, according to claim 5, an elastic seal is provided, which is arranged in the region of the coupling between the light guide and the optical system and due to their elasticity ensures a very good light-tight seal to effectively suppress the disturbing over-irradiation of the light.

An inventive head piece is specified in claim 6.

In the drawing, the invention is shown for example and schematically. Show it:

1 an axial section through an inventive endoscope in the region of the coupling point and

2 an enlarged view of the light guide of the endoscope of 1 ,

1 shows an endoscope 1 , consisting of a shaft part 2 and a head piece 3 in a coupling surface 4 separable collide.

The shaft part 2 is of a housing shown in dashed lines 5 surrounded and the headboard 3 from a housing also shown in dashed lines 6 , In the area of the coupling surface 4 grasp that casing 6 of the head piece 3 with a flange 7 over the housing 5 of the shaft part 2 and thus conveys a rotary guide, which is a clean guided rotation of the parts 2 and 3 of the endoscope 1 enable against each other. A locking device, not shown, can releasably secure the illustrated rotatable connection.

The rotation takes place about the axis of an optical system consisting of two parts, namely one in the head part 3 arranged lens 20 and one in the shaft part 2 arranged image ladder 21 , The objective 20 has a proximal system tube 8th and the picture director 21 has a distal system tube 9 on. In the illustrated embodiment are in the system pipes 8th and 9 each heavily schematized lenses 10 indicated. In this case, the image guide 21 in its proximal, to the coupling surface 4 lying end part as eyepiece and be formed in the main part of its length as an image guide with rod lenses. In a manner not shown, the system tubes 8th and 9 be closed at its ends lying to the coupling surface with windows to the sensitive image conductors 20 and 21 seal.

The objective 20 is the lens of a camera 11 , At the distal, in 1 not shown distal end of the shaft part 2 , sitting in front of the end of the picture ladder 21 , z. B. in the tail of the distal system tube 9 , an unillustrated further lens, the objective of the endoscope 1 , which is aligned diagonally, so z. B. at an angle of 30 ° to the axis of the image guide looks. The image taken by this lens is through the optical systems 20 and 21 transferred to the proximal end, passing through the proximal end of the proximal system tube 8th is formed. There is the video camera 11 arranged, which is connected to unillustrated lines outside for image transmission. Between the picture leaders 20 and 21 the image must be transmitted without interference even at different angles of rotation. This is an exact coaxial alignment of the two system tubes 8th . 9 , required.

Outside the system pipes 8th and 9 run concentrically formed optical fiber parts in the form of an outside of the proximal system tube 8th arranged proximal light guide 12 and one outside the distal system tube 9 arranged distal light guide 13 , In the exemplary embodiment, all optical fibers are formed as glass fiber bundles, which are arranged rotationally symmetrical.

The distal light guide 13 is, as shown, of relatively small thickness. The proximal light guide 12 is much thicker. To compensate for this is at the proximal end of the distal light guide 13 a cone ring 14 arranged in the proximal light guide 12 on a large surface incoming light after passing through the gap on the coupling surface 4 with a correspondingly large cross section and conical to the smaller cross section of the distal light guide 13 reduced. This cone ring is preferably like this 2 shows with conical fibers 15 trained and thus works very low loss. It can be integral with the distal light guide 13 or be designed as an independent component.

At the gap between the proximal light guide 12 and the cone ring 14 can be attached to the coupling surface 4 Light out to the inside and through the gap between the system pipes located there 8th and 9 inside the optical system 20 . 21 reach. This would lead to strong light transmission of the transmitted image. To prevent this is in the gap between the system pipes 8th and 9 an elastic seal in the form of the illustrated, z. B. made of rubber O-ring 16 arranged.

At the coupling surface 4 lie in the illustrated arrangement, the distal end face of the proximal light guide 12 and the proximal end face of the cone ring 14 facing in a circular manner. At the distal end surface of the proximal light guide 12 However, also isolated spaced light sources may be arranged in each rotational position of the cone ring 14 would be caught.

In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end surface of the proximal light guide is also 12 formed as a coaxial circumferential ring. There is an LED light source 17 coupled, which is also arranged annularly and is advantageously provided with heat sinks, not shown.

In the embodiment, the light source via a prismatic ring 18 and an intermediate ring 19 that both z. B. made of glass, coupled at right angles. The LED light source 17 therefore radiates radially inwards, after deflection in the prism 18 parallel to the axis through the light guide 12 . 13 to radiate. The parts 17 . 18 and 19 may each be annular, or as a single circumferentially spaced components. This is especially true for the LED light source 17 to, which advantageously consists of individual LEDs, which at a distance of z. B. 20 ° are arranged.

In a further, likewise very advantageous embodiment, instead of the LED light source 17 initially another prism to be arranged, which deflects the light direction again in the axial direction. This prism could then be connected by an LED light source radiating in the axial direction. All these possibilities can be advantageous, in particular with regard to the heat dissipation from the LEDs, that is to say the arrangement of heat sinks opposite to an equally possible arrangement of LEDs directly on the end face of the proximal light guide 12 ,

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008055629 A1 [0003]

Claims (6)

Endoscope ( 1 ) with a shank part ( 2 ) generated by an optical system ( 21 ) and a light guide ( 13 ) and at the proximal end of a head piece ( 3 ) in which one of the optical system ( 20 . 21 ) coupled video camera ( 11 ) and one to the light guide ( 12 . 13 ) coupled LED light source ( 17 ) are arranged, characterized in that the head piece ( 3 ) at one endoscope ( 1 ) passing through coupling surface ( 4 ) about the axis of the optical system ( 20 . 21 ) rotatable on the shaft part ( 2 ) is attached, that the distal end face of the head piece ( 3 ) arranged proximal light guide ( 12 ) and the proximal end face of the in the shaft part ( 2 ) arranged light guide ( 13 ) are formed concentrically annular with the same radius and that the LED light source ( 17 ) to the annular proximal end face of the proximal light guide ( 12 ) is coupled. Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the distal end face of the proximal light guide ( 12 ) is greater than the cross section of the distal light guide ( 13 ) at a distance to the coupling surface ( 4 ), the proximal end region ( 14 ) of the distal light guide ( 13 ) is widening in cross-section in the proximal direction. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LED light source ( 17 ) via a beam deflecting device ( 18 ) to the light guide ( 12 ) is coupled. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the LED light source ( 17 ) has individual, circumferentially distributed LED's. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the region of the coupling surface ( 4 ) an elastic seal ( 16 ) between the light guide ( 12 . 13 . 14 ) and the optical system ( 20 . 21 ) is arranged. Headpiece ( 3 ) of an endoscope ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1-5.

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