DE7440701U - Endoscope, especially laryngoscope and epipharyngoscope - Google Patents

Description

Dp. Hugo Wiicken : ":: '". ':'":" .I . DipK-lng. Thomas WHcken \. ^: \. ^: ' A.. :!. '! '-' _{h B n}

D.pl.-Chem. Dr. Wolfgang Läufer '' 0 5. ÜBL IJJft 24 Lübeck, Breite Strasse S2-B4

Applicant: Richard Wolf GmbH, 7134 Knittlingen, Pforzheimer Str.

Endoscope, especially laryngoscope and epipharyngoscope

The invention relates to an endoscope, in particular a laryngoscope and epipharyngoscope, consisting of an endoscope shaft with a light guide running through this and from a lens through which the examination field can be viewed under illumination is.

Endoscopes of the special type mentioned are intended, among other things, to simplify the observation and examination of the larynx and epipharynx, because the previously used examination methods with mirrors, optics and the like require a special manual Assume the skill of the examining doctor, sometimes would not be feasible in the case of anatomical abnormalities, often do not allow optimal results to be achieved and no or only difficult documentation, for example with Examinations with the mirror is the case.

Accordingly, the object of the invention to provide 'a particular SITUATE as a laryngoscope or Epipharyngoskop CD Neten endoscope with which in a simple manner the investigation

of the larynx and other body cavity areas can be carried out, with a detailed inspection should be given above all after a visual inspection of the examination field. Furthermore, in endoscopes of this type, the distal optical window or the exit window of the objective should be kept free from misting due to water precipitation.

To solve this problem, the aforementioned endoscope according to the invention is designed so that a magnifying lens that can be adjusted proximally between two end positions is integrated into the optics, such that the magnifying lens is in front of a focal point of the optics in one end position and behind this focal point in the other end position lies.

This gives the possibility that a clear examination of the area to be viewed, for example the vocal cord level, can initially take place with a relatively low magnification and thus a large image angle. If the examiner wants to examine a detail more closely, he adjusts the magnifying glass system in the appropriate sense, then, as the angle of view becomes smaller, an increasing enlargement of the detail possibly representing a pathological finding can be brought about. This enables extremely precise observation and examination while largely avoiding misdiagnosis.

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Practical experience has shown that especially during examinations of the mouth and throat, the patient's breath, fogging of the viewing window or lens This means that the quality of the image to be viewed suffers, since the surface is deposited as water Loss of light in the optical path and, among other things, impairment of the image due to optical distortion conditional.

In order to avoid disadvantages of this type is according to the invention taken when endoscopes with a viewing window so that the window is heated by an electrical heating conductor to be connected via a proximal terminal to a Heizstroniquelle _h.

If a condensation of moisture is to be expected on the window, the heating conductor is preferably supplied with heating current in a controllable manner, around the temperature of the window or at least; the window area facing the examination room to a temperature value which is above the dew point temperature of the patient's breath. This means that the Lens window or the viewing window and its otherwise repeatedly required cleaning avoided.

7440701 04/30/75

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing. Show it:

Figure 1 is a partially shown longitudinal section through a designed as a laryngoscope Endoscope,

FIG. 2 a plan view of the distal end of the endoscope,

FIG. 3 shows a section through the endoscope shaft in the area of the viewing window,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the viewing window with an applied heating wire and

FIG. 5 schematically one of the possible arrangements for the magnifying glass.

The instrument shown in Figure 1 consists of a shaft 1, in which the optics made up of lenses are housed in an optics tube 2. Via the viewing window 3 and the deflection prism 4, the image light reaches the eyepiece 5 via the optics, which is connected to a conventional eyepiece funnel 6.

7440701 30.0i.75

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The light required for viewing the image comes from a light projector, not shown, via the Connection piece 7 and the fiber optic cable 8 to the distal end of the instrument, where the light guide to form two plane-ground light exit surfaces 9 on both sides of the window is divided. Deviating from the shown continuous course of the light guide 8, this can also be at the proximal end of the Endoscope be separated so that the light guide in a known manner with the help of a coupling piece to the instrument is to be connected.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the axially adjustable magnifying lens 10 is located between the eyepiece 5 and the last lens 11 of the Image optics, in such a way that the magnifying glass lens at an end position a in front of the focal point B there of the optics and at the other possible end position b is behind this focal point. According to optical laws, this means that, on the one hand, a strong Magnification with a small angle of view for a detail enlargement and on the other hand a small one for an overview Magnification can be set at a large angle of view.

The magnifying glass 10 can optionally be continuous or discontinuous by a suitable adjusting mechanism mechanically or by motor can be adjusted axially in order to

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To be able to adjust the magnification factor. One possibility for mechanical lens adjustment is shown in FIG. 1.

There the magnifying glass 10 is held in a piece of pipe 12, aas again in a fixed guide tube 13 coaxial therewith is guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis 14. This structure will also coaxially encompassed by an axially immovable adjusting tube, which around the axis 14 by means of an adjusting lever 16 can be twisted.

An adjusting pin 17 attached to the inner circumference of the adjusting tube 15 grips through a circumferential groove in the guide tube 13 and engages otherwise with its free end in an adjustment groove that is formed on the outer circumference of the pipe section 12 and seen in the development must have an axial component. if this development of the adjustment groove has a straight incline, a relatively short angle of rotation is achieved for adjusting the magnifying glass between its two possible end positions. On the other hand, there is also the possibility that the adjustment groove, also in the settlement on a. Seen level, at its end areas a comparatively has a slight slope in order to ensure a relatively sensitive setting in the area of the possible end positions of the lens.

If one rotates the adjusting tube 15 with the lever 16 , the lens 10 is axially adjusted in one direction or the other depending on the rotation , for example to get into the end position a or b shown in Figure 5 with the associated magnification factors . As has already been said , in addition to the purely mechanical adjustment of the Lupon lens, other adjustment principles can also be considered.

Instead of the manual control shown, a micro geared motor with a corresponding ballast can also be used, for example. Adjustment of the magnifying glass from the outside by means of a magnetic field can also be considered. Such a system would have the advantage that there are no sealing problems that are known to play a special role in endoscopes.

The fogging of the viewing window in the usual way consists of glass and otherwise also through the objective lens

V- can be represented by itself, this could avoid

|! that the window over one with its free end on the window

directed air duct 18 is constantly flushed with air. This tube runs inside or outside the shaft 1 and via the connection hose 19 to an air connection 20 on the

Connection piece 7, where optionally an air pump, a pressure

gas bottle or the usual gas supply of a clinic connected can be.

With particular advantage, however, the fogging of the window 3 can also be prevented by the fact that the Window is heated with an electrical heating conductor, which can be connected to a heating current source via a connection on the proximal side is. For this purpose, electrical contacts 21 which are insulated from this can be provided on the connecting piece 7 are, which with running through the hose 19 and the shaft 1, electrical lines 22 are connected to the heating conductor 23.

If only electrical heating of the window 3 is to be considered, the air connection 20 and the pipe can of course omitted. In addition, there is also the possibility that the electrical contact for the heating conductor is also in the cold light connection can be integrated so that only the end of the fiber optic cable is plugged into a modified cold light projector must be in order to bring light, heating current and / or air through appropriate lines to the instrument tip at the same time to be able to.

For the type of training | and attachment of the heating conductor there are a number of different possibilities. For example, the heating conductor can be positioned on the outside or inside

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Directed surface of the window 3 are applied, while the heating conductor on the other hand also in the viewing window can be embedded by melting. Di & Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the heating conductor runs around the center of the window 3 at a distance in the manner of a loop and is applied to the window. · Another The possibility is that the viewing window is held in an annular insulating body while the heating conductor is on or in this insulating body. This embodiment could offer advantages insofar as the heating conductor is not located directly in the optical beam path.

Furthermore, the procedure could also be that the heating conductor the viewing window 3 in the manner of a thin and transparent layer covering. For this purpose, the heating conductor could consist of a metal layer vapor-deposited on the window exist. On the other hand, an electrically conductive paint can also be used. If the light losses in these embodiments are felt to be too large, there is of course also the possibility that the layered heating conductor only partially covers the viewing window, preferably as a partial ring area on the outside of the window.

As FIG. 2 clearly shows in particular, the exit surface of the light guide 8 is in the immediate vicinity of the outlook window 3. This ensures that

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the light guide outlet is also in the temperature range of the heating conductor 23 and thus also a Fogging of the light guide exit surfaces is largely avoided. On the other hand there is also the possibility / that the distal exit surfaces of the light guide heated with at least one separately provided electrical heating conductor in order to avoid fogging of these exit surfaces.

It should also be pointed out that instead of the endoscope optics made up of lenses, fiber optics known per se can also be used, in which case a flexible shaft can be used instead of the rigid shaft 1. In this case, a lens would be assigned to the proximal end of the fiber optics, which in principle takes over the function of lens 11 as the last lens of the optics, so that here, too, there is again the possibility of the magnifying lens 10 in an end position in front of a focal point the optics and comes to lie behind this focal point at a different end position. ,

Furthermore, the magnifier lens can also be constructed by cementing several lenses to form a lens combination. As an alternative or in addition, further lenses can also be assigned to the magnifying glass or the Linsenkoir.bination inter alia, the task of optical correction and the like, whereby one then comes to a lens group.

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Claims (11)

PMvnhinwlttt ,, η t J i I Ji «I Applicant: Richard Wolf GmbH, 7134 Knittlingen, Pforzheimer Str. 22 Claims 1. Endoscope, especially laryngoscope and epipharyngoscope, consisting of an endoscope shaft with a light guide running through it and an optical system through which the examination field is to be considered under illumination, characterized in that in the optics one proximal point between two End positions adjustable magnifying lens is integrated, so that the magnifying lens at an end position in front of a focal point the optics and at the other end position behind this focal point lies. 2. Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized by a mechanical Adjusting mechanism coupled with the magnifying glass for the purpose of mechanical or motorized adjustment of the magnification factor through axial Displacement of the magnifying glass. 3. Endoscope, consisting of an endoscope shaft with a light guide running through this and an optical system on the distal side is completed with a viewing window, in particular according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the Fensteijmit an electrical heating conductor that can be heated via a connection on the proximal side to a heating current source is to be connected. - 2 - 7440701 30.ot.75 ι, ι) ι, J 4. Endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating conductor is applied to the surface of the window facing outwards or inwards. 5. Endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating conductor is embedded in the window. 6 "Endoscope according to claims 3 to 5, characterized in that that the heating conductor consists of at least one electrical heating conductor wire with a high specific resistance and according to Art a loop runs around the center of the window at a distance. 7. Endoscope according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heating conductor consists of a vapor-deposited onto the window Metal layer. 8. Endoscope according to claim 7, characterized in that the transparent metal layer is at least the viewing window partially covered, preferably in the form of a Partial ring on the outer circumference of the window. \ 9. Endoscope according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the distal-side exit surface \ of the light guide lies in the area of influence of the heatsealing band. 7440701 30.0175 10. Endoscope according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the distal-side exit surface of the light guide with
at least one separately provided electrical heating conductor can be heated. 11. Endoscope according to one or more of claims 1 to 10 / characterized in that the heating conductor lies on or in an insulating piece, which is used as a socket for the window and / or serves for the exit surface of the light guide. 7440701 04/30/78