JP2000047121A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device wherein an decrease of the illuminating light guantity transmitted from an illuminating optical system of an endoscope to an illuminating optical system of an optical adapter is minimized when the optical adapter is fitted at the endoscope tip part, and the illuminating light emitted from the illuminating optical system of the endoscope is prevented from being made incident on an observing optical system thereof. SOLUTION: An illuminating light incidence end aperture 37, which is located on the side of a base end part of an illuminating light transmission lens 34 and guides illuminating light emitted from an endoscope side illuminating optical system to an adapter side illuminating optical system, covers the whole surface of the emitting end face of an illumination lens 26 arranged on the tip face side of a light guide fiber 25 of the endoscope 1, and also a spacing D from the end face of the illuminating light incidence end aperture 37 to the end face of the optical lens 31 of the adapter side observing optical system 30 is set larger than a spacing C from the end face of the optical lens 31 of the adapter side observing optical system 30 to the end face of the illuminating light transmission lens 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus having a detachable optical adapter at the distal end of an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a slender insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity to observe organs in the body cavity or to perform various treatments and treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary. Endoscopes that can be used are widely used. Also,
These endoscopes are used not only for medical purposes but also for industrial purposes, such as for observation and inspection inside pipes of boilers, machines and chemical plants, or inside engines.

In the endoscope used as described above, an image pickup device such as a charge-coupled device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) is disposed at the tip of the insertion portion, and an endoscope image formed on the image pickup device is monitored. There is an electronic endoscope that projects an image on a screen and performs observation.

[0004] In the past, industrial electronic endoscopes of the type having a tip optical adapter have been known. And an optical adapter that converts the observation depth
It was removable.

As shown in FIG. 21, an optical adapter 100 provided with an adapter-side observation optical system 101 and an adapter-side illumination optical system 102, and the optical adapter 100 is detachably attached to the endoscope-side observation optical system 111 and the endoscope. In an endoscope apparatus having an endoscope 110 provided with a mirror-side illumination optical system 112, a cross-sectional shape of a light guide fiber 113 constituting an illumination optical system 112 provided on the endoscope side on an emission end side. 22B, for example, as shown in FIG. 22B, the shape of the incident end side of the illumination optical system 102 on the optical adapter side covers the entire exit side end surface of the light guide fiber 113 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 22A, the optical member 103 formed in a substantially D-shape is formed by bonding flat portions of the optical member 103 to each other, or as shown in FIG. It was arranged a circular optical member 104 that covers the entire side end face.

[0006]

However, FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22C, the distance A from the exit end of the light guide fiber 113 to the observation optical system 101 of the optical adapter 100 is changed from the illumination optical system 102 in the optical adapter 100 to the observation optical system. The interval B up to 101 is much smaller. Therefore, the optical adapter 100
When the optical adapter 100 is attached to the endoscope 110,
If there is a slight gap between the rear end face of the illumination optical system 102 and the front end face of the illumination optical system 112 of the endoscope 110, the illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber 113 passes through this gap. The light enters the observation optical system 111 of the endoscope 110 to cause flare and ghost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when an optical adapter is attached to the end of an endoscope, the amount of illumination transmitted from the illumination optical system of the endoscope to the illumination optical system of the optical adapter. The illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system of the endoscope is incident on the observation optical system of the endoscope, causing flare and ghost, etc., and obstructing the observation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus for preventing such a situation.

[0008]

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
An endoscope having an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, and an observation optical system and an illumination optical system which are detachably attached to a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope and face the observation optical system and the illumination optical system of the endoscope. An optical adapter having a system, comprising: an entrance end opening for guiding light emitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system to the optical adapter-side illumination optical system; The exit end face of the system is inscribed or formed so as to completely cover the exit end face, and the distance from the entrance end opening to the optical adapter side observation optical system is adjusted from the optical adapter side illumination optical system to the optical adapter side observation. It is set wider than the distance to the optical system.

According to this configuration, when the optical adapter is connected and fixed to the endoscope, a reduction in illumination light transmitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system to the optical adapter-side illumination optical system is minimized. Even when the illumination light emitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system leaks toward the observation optical system, the illumination light is sufficiently attenuated while passing the distance from the entrance end opening to the optical adapter-side observation optical system. To prevent light from entering the endoscope-side observation optical system.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a configuration of an endoscope apparatus. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. As shown in the longitudinal sectional view of FIG.
It mainly comprises an endoscope 1 and an optical adapter 3 which is detachable from a distal end portion 2 of the endoscope 1. The optical adapter 3 appropriately changes the optical characteristics of the endoscope-side observation optical system 20 provided in the endoscope 1.
For each type of the optical adapter 3, the adapter-side observation optical system 3
0 is different. Therefore, by appropriately selecting and replacing the optical adapter 3, the optical characteristics such as the viewing angle, depth, or viewing direction of the endoscope observation optical system 20 provided in the endoscope 1 are converted to a desired state. It is possible to do.

A C (not shown) is attached to the distal end 2 of the endoscope 1.
An endoscope-side observation optical system 20 for forming an observation image on an imaging surface of a CD or an end face of an image guide fiber is arranged. The endoscope-side observation optical system 20 includes a first lens frame 21 and a second lens frame 22 provided with a plurality of optical lenses 23,..., 23. These lens frames 21, 2
Numeral 2 is integrally fixed to the distal end member 24 constituting the distal end portion 2 with an adhesive or a screw.

A light guide fiber 25 constituting an endoscope-side illumination optical system for transmitting illumination light, which is positioned adjacent to the endoscope-side observation optical system 20, is bonded and fixed to the distal end component 24. Have been. An illumination lens 26 is disposed on the distal end surface of the light guide fiber 25.

On the other hand, the optical adapter 3 is an adapter-side observation optical system 3 formed by disposing a plurality of optical lenses 31.
The optical adapter main body 32 has a nut-shaped member 33 which is a connecting member for connecting and fixing the optical adapter main body 32 to the distal end portion 2.

An illuminating light transmitting lens 34 constituting an adapter-side illuminating optical system for transmitting illuminating light, which is located adjacent to the adapter-side observation optical system 30, is fixed to the optical adapter body 32 by bonding.

A female screw portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nut-shaped member 33, and this female screw portion is screwed into a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end component member 24. Thereby, the optical adapter 3 is integrally fixed to the distal end portion 2.

Then, the optical adapter main body 32 is screwed and fixed to the distal end portion 2 via a nut-shaped member 33, so that the optical adapter main body 32 and the distal end constituting member 2 are fixed.
4 and the optical axis of the adapter-side observation optical system 30 of the optical adapter 3, the optical axis of the endoscope-side observation optical system 20 of the endoscope 1, and the light of the endoscope-side illumination optical system. The optical axis of the guide fiber 25 coincides with the optical axis of the illumination light transmission lens 34 of the adapter-side illumination optical system.

The outer peripheral surfaces of the optical adapter body 32 and the distal end member 24 have positioning planes 32a, 24a.
a are formed respectively, and the optical adapter body 3
By mounting the optical adapter main body 32 on the distal end component 24 with the positioning plane 32a of the second and the distal end component 24 being aligned with each other, the rotation direction of the optical adapter main body 32 and the distal end component 24 is adjusted. Positioning is being performed.

As shown in the front view of FIG. 1, a plurality of optical lenses 3 constituting the adapter-side observation optical system 30 are shown.
A front end lens 35 having a substantially D-shaped cross section is disposed on the front end side of the lens 1, and the flat portions of lens members having a substantially D-shaped cross section are disposed on the front end side of the illumination light transmission lens 34. Are connected to each other to form an illumination tip lens 36 formed into a figure eight shape. The illumination tip lens 36 has a light distribution characteristic suitable for the optical specifications of the adapter-side observation optical system 30. In order to avoid interference between the observation end lens 35 and the illumination end lens 36, the illumination lens 26 is arranged laterally with respect to the plane portion of the observation end lens 35.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the light guide fiber 25 on the exit end side is formed in a slender, substantially D-shape, and a flat portion is provided to face the endoscope-side observation optical system 20. ing. The cross-sectional shape of the illumination lens 26 arranged on the distal end face side of the light guide fiber 25 is formed substantially in the same manner as the cross-sectional shape of the light guide fiber 25 on the emission end side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination light transmitting lens 3
The illumination light entrance end opening 37 for guiding illumination light emitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system to the adapter-side illumination optical system which is located at the base end side of the endoscope 4 has a cross-sectional shape of the light guide of the endoscope 1. Illumination lens 2 arranged on the end face side of fiber 25
6 is an elongated shape having a curved surface portion at both ends which does not interfere with the adapter-side observation optical system 30. The illumination light transmission lens 34 and the illumination tip lens 36 It is set to be narrow and narrow with respect to the width dimension and the length dimension.

That is, the distance from the end face of the illumination light entrance end opening 37 to the adapter is smaller than the distance C from the end face of the optical lens 31 of the adapter side observation optical system 30 to the end face of the illumination light transmission lens 34 (illumination tip lens 36). The distance D to the end surface of the optical lens 31 of the side observation optical system 30 is set large, and the illumination light incident end opening 37 has a size that completely covers the entire distal end surface of the illumination lens 26 of the endoscope 1. Has become.

Thus, when the optical adapter 3 is mounted on the distal end portion 2 of the endoscope 1, the light guide fiber 2
The illumination light transmitted through the illumination lens 5 and emitted from the illumination lens 26 enters the illumination light transmission lens 34 via the illumination light entrance end opening 37. Further, even if a small gap is formed in the contact surface between the optical adapter main body 32 and the distal end component member 24, the illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber 25 leaks out from this gap, and the endoscope side observation optical system 20 and the adapter-side observation optical system 30 through the illumination light incident end opening 37 even when the light exits toward the adapter-side observation optical system 30.
Is sufficiently secured, the light leaked from the light guide fiber 25 reaches the end face of the optical lens 31 of the adapter-side observation optical system 30 from the end face of the illumination light incident end opening 37. And the light does not enter the endoscope-side observation optical system 20 and the adapter-side observation optical system 30.

As described above, the entire front end surface of the illumination lens constituting the endoscope side illumination optical system of the endoscope is covered by the illumination light entrance end opening constituting the adapter side illumination optical system of the optical adapter, and the illumination is performed. Since the distance D from the light entrance end opening to the adapter-side observation optical system is set to be sufficiently larger than the distance C from the adapter-side observation optical system to the illumination light transmission lens, the light is emitted at the mounting portion between the optical adapter and the endoscope. Even if there is light leaking from the illumination optical system of the endoscope toward the observation optical system through the gap between the mounting surface of the optical adapter and the endoscope, the light The light is attenuated from the end surface of the light entrance end opening toward the end surface of the optical lens of the adapter-side observation optical system, and can be prevented from entering the observation optical system. This eliminates flare and ghosting.

FIGS. 4 to 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view for explaining another configuration of the endoscope apparatus. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in the present embodiment, when the optical adapter 3 is attached to the distal end portion 2 of the endoscope 1, the optical adapter main body 3 is mounted as in the first embodiment.
The endoscope-side observation optical system 20 is attached to the distal end surface of the distal end member 24 instead of making the distal end member 24 come into contact with the distal end member 24.
Is formed so as to surround the first lens frame 21, and the distal end surface of the distal end projection 24 b is brought into contact with the proximal end surface of the optical adapter main body 32. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the provision of the distal end protruding portion surrounding the endoscope-side observation optical system allows the mounting of the optical adapter when the optical adapter is mounted.
The peripheral portion of the observation optical system abuts before the peripheral portion of the illumination optical system, thereby preventing a gap from being formed between the observation optical system of the optical adapter and the observation optical system of the endoscope.

Further, since the contact surface when the optical adapter is attached to the distal end of the endoscope is only the peripheral portion of the observation optical system, the area of the contact surface is reduced, and the surface accuracy of the contact surface is reduced. The formed gap can be suppressed.

8 to 11 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view for explaining another configuration of the endoscope apparatus. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line H-H, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 8, and FIG.
It is -J sectional drawing. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, in the present embodiment, the optical adapter 3 is connected to the distal end 2 of the endoscope 1.
When it is mounted on the peripheral part of the observation optical system and the illumination optical system as in the first embodiment, the peripheral part of the distal end member 24 escapes to the peripheral part of the illumination optical system. A portion 24c is provided, and only the distal end surface of the peripheral portion of the observation optical system of the distal end component member 24 is the optical adapter main body 32.
To be in contact with the base end face. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

With this, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, when the optical adapter is attached, the peripheral part of the observation optical system comes into contact before the peripheral part of the illumination optical system. It is possible to prevent a gap from being formed between the observation optical system of the optical adapter and the observation optical system of the endoscope by abutting before the peripheral portion of the optical system.

FIGS. 12 to 14 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another configuration of the endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 1
2 is a sectional view taken along line KK of FIG. 2, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line LL of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the present embodiment, when the optical adapter 3 is attached to the distal end portion 2 of the endoscope 1, the optical adapter 3 is provided on the distal end surface of the distal end component 24 as in the second embodiment. Instead of abutting the distal end surface of the distal end projection 24b on the proximal end surface of the optical adapter main body 32, the distal end projection 24b is engaged with an engagement hole 32b provided in the optical adapter main body 32, and The distal end surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the engagement hole 32b. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, the distal end protruding portion around the observation optical system of the endoscope is arranged in the engaging hole provided in the optical adapter, so that the optical adapter and the endoscope can be connected to each other. Light leaking from the gap between the mounting surface with the endoscope toward the observation optical system can be reliably prevented from entering the observation optical system.

As an endoscope that uses a motor to bend the bending section, a detachable servo-operated insertion tube for borescopes or endscopes disclosed in JP-A-5-207968, and JP-A-2-164330. Discloses a bending operation device for an endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209,878. In the servo-operated insertion tube disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-207968, a tilting lever (so-called joystick type) is used as a bending operation switch. In addition, a plate-type switch using pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is used in the bending operation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-164330.

In the tilting lever, the lever is large at a time.
Alternatively, when it is desired to bend quickly, an operation of tilting the lever large or quickly can be performed to easily and instantly perform the bending operation. However, when the bending angle is small, or when the bending operation is to be performed slowly or fine adjustment is desired, the operating resistance and the backlash of the shaft portion of the lever may be reduced.
Due to the long rod-like shape, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform an operation of slightly bending, that is, a fine adjustment by applying an excessive force.

On the other hand, in the plate type, it is possible to make a large or fast bending, or to make a small or slow bending (fine adjustment) depending on the strength of the pressing force at the time of operating the switch. In particular, by setting the pressing force to be weaker in advance, it is possible to perform the bending operation small or slowly, so that the fine adjustment is easily performed. However, the magnitude of the pressing force for pressing the switch depends on the sense of the operator. Therefore, it is more difficult to perform a bending operation at an intended angle only by pressing once when bending a large or early part, as compared with a tilting lever.

For this reason, when performing the bending operation, it is easy to perform both the operation of bending large or quickly and the operation of bending small or slowly, and a bending operation switch with good operability has been desired.

FIGS. 15 to 19 relate to an endoscope apparatus provided with a bending operation switch capable of smoothly bending the bending portion and having good operability. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a bending operation switch, FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of the bending operation switch, and FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation switch, and FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a second operation switch.

As shown in FIG. 15, the endoscope apparatus comprises an electronic endoscope (hereinafter abbreviated as an endoscope) 50 having a CCD 51 built in at the distal end, a lamp 61 as a light source and the CCD 51.
A camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 62 for generating an image signal transmitted from the camera unit into a video signal; a control unit 60 including a power supply circuit 63 for supplying power to the lamps 61 and CCU 62 and a circuit board described later; It mainly comprises a monitor 70 for displaying a video signal transmitted from the CCU 62.

The endoscope 50 has an elongated insertion portion 55,
An operation portion 56 provided at a base end portion of the insertion portion 55, and a universal cord 5 extending from a side portion of the operation portion 56
7 and a connector 58 provided at the end of the universal cord 57.

The endoscope 50 and the control unit 6
0 is detachably connected via the connector 58. The insertion portion 55 is configured by connecting a rigid distal portion 71, a plurality of bending pieces 74 in a rotatable manner, and a flexible bending portion 72 and a flexible soft portion 73 in this order from the distal end side. Have been. The distal end portion 71 is provided with a CCD 51 constituting an observation optical system and an illumination lens 52 constituting an illumination optical system.

A signal line 53 extending from the CCD 51 and a light guide 54 facing the illumination lens 52 are inserted into the insertion portion 55. The signal line 53
Transmits the image signal from the CCD 51 to the CCU 62,
The light guide 54 transmits the illumination light of the lamp 61 to the illumination lens 52.

A first motor 81 is provided inside the operation unit 56.
And a second motor 82. This motor 8
A worm gear 83 is provided on each of the drive shafts 1 and 82, and a gear 86 provided integrally with the first wire drum 84 and the second wire drum 85 meshes with the worm gear 83.

Angle wires 87 for bending operation are wound around the wire drums 84 and 85, respectively. The distal end of the angle wire 87 is fixed to a bending piece 74 located at the forefront of the bending portion 72.

By driving the motors 81 and 82 to rotate the wire drums 84 and 85, the angle wire 87 wound on the wire drums 84 and 85 moves to bend. 72 performs a bending operation.

Reference numeral 88 denotes a circuit board for controlling the driving and operation of the motors 81 and 82 disposed in the operation section 56. The types of the motor include a DC motor, an AC motor, a stepping motor, and an ultrasonic motor.

As shown in FIG. 16, the operation section 56 has a bending operation switch 9 near a portion gripped by an operator (not shown).
0 is provided. The bending operation switch 90 includes a tilt-type first operation switch 91 that freely tilts in the directions of the arrows x and y, and a pressing-type second operation switch 92 that is disposed on a shaft 93 of the first operation switch 91. It is constituted by. A root portion of the first operation switch 91 is provided with, for example, a flexible rubber cap 93a that has a waterproof and dustproof function and is deformable and does not hinder the movement of the first operation switch 91.

As shown in FIG. 17, output signals output from the first operation switch 91 and the second operation switch 92 are input to a control circuit 88a of a circuit board 88, and are passed through a drive circuit 88b. The worm gear 83 is driven to rotate the worm gear 83.

As shown in FIG. 18, the first operation switch 91
Are rotatably supported in the x and y directions by a first shaft 95 and a second shaft 96, respectively. These shafts 95 and 96 are provided with variable resistors 95a and 96a, respectively. . Thus, the tilt angle of the first operation switch 91 is output to the circuit board 88 as an electric signal by the variable resistors 95a and 96a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, the second operation switch 92 includes a plurality of support members 97 disposed inside the shaft portion 93, a rotating ball 98 rotatably supported by the support members 97, A ring member 99 having a through hole 99a formed in a central portion for holding the rotating ball 98 so as not to fall outside.

The rotation of the rotating ball 98 is detected by a first roller 98a and a second roller 98b arranged in contact with the rotating ball 98. The first roller 98a and the second roller 9
The rotation amount of the rotating ball 98 detected by the rotation ball 8b is output to the circuit board 88 as an electric signal such as a pulse signal by rotation detection means 94 provided in each of the rollers 98a and 98b. The mechanism of the rotation detecting means 94 includes a magnetic type, an optical type (photo interrupter) and the like.

The bending operation switch 9 configured as described above
The operation of 0 will be described. At the time of normal inspection, the first operation switch 91 is operated. Then, the tilt angle of the first operation switch 91 is output from the variable resistors 95a and 96a to the circuit board 88 as an electric signal. The circuit board 88 drives the motors 81 and 82 based on the input signals to cause the bending portion 72 to perform a bending operation, and inserts, guides, and observes the distal end portion 71 in a desired direction.

When observing the whole, the bending angle of the bending portion may be increased or the bending operation may be performed relatively quickly.
In this case, the first operation switch 91 is operated. This first
The operation switch 91 enables the operator to make a large or quick curve with a single operation.

On the other hand, when the region to be observed is small or a detailed inspection is required, the bending angle of the bending portion may be reduced and the bending portion may be operated slowly. In this case, the second
The operation switch 92 is operated. This second operation switch 9
In 2, the rotating ball 98 is rotated by a fingertip. Since the bending angle of the rotating ball 98 changes little by little even when it is rotated many times, fine adjustment of the bending angle can be easily performed.

That is, when performing an endoscopic examination with the endoscope apparatus of the present embodiment, the first operation switch 91 used to apply a large or quick bending operation and the second operation switch 91 used to perform fine adjustment. The operation with the operation switch 92 can be performed in combination.

As described above, the bending operation switch for bending the bending section is integrally provided with the first operation switch used when the bending operation is performed large or fast and the second operation switch used for performing the fine adjustment. With the provision of
The operation for applying the bending operation large or fast and the operation for fine adjustment can be easily achieved by using one bending operation switch. As a result, an endoscope apparatus suitable for any examination is provided.

Further, since the bending operation of the bending portion in the vertical and horizontal directions and the change of the bending angle or the bending operation at different bending speeds can be performed with one bending operation switch, the bending operation can be stably performed. At the same time, operability with one hand can be greatly improved.

Another configuration of the bending operation switch will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the second operation switch 92a is provided on the upper surface of the first operation switch 91.
Is provided. The second operation switch 92a includes a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber (not shown) and a knob 12 for instructing a bending operation.
1. A pointing device including a harness 122 used for wiring.

That is, by applying a force for instructing the bending operation to the knob 121, an instruction signal is generated from the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber. The direction and amount of pressing force applied to the knob 121 are reflected in this instruction signal. Therefore, while fine adjustment can be performed by operating the knob 121 with a light pressing force, a stronger pressing force is applied to the knob 121 so that the bending operation can be performed to a certain extent or faster according to the pressing force. It is.

As the pointing device, a pointing device mass-produced for a personal computer or the like and marketed is used. Further, instead of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber constituting the second operation switch 92a, a four-way switch using a magnetic field detection method or a metal contact may be used.

Thus, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiment, a bending operation switch can be provided at low cost by using a pointing device for a personal computer as the second operation switch.

Also, by changing the pressing force applied to the knob of the second operation switch, the magnitude and speed of the bending operation can be changed, so that the bending operation of the bending portion to a certain extent can be performed only by operating the second operation switch. It can be carried out.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention as described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) An endoscope provided with an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, and detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope, facing the observation optical system and the illumination optical system of the endoscope. In an endoscope apparatus including an observation optical system and an optical adapter having an illumination optical system, an entrance end opening for guiding light emitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system to the optical adapter-side illumination optical system,
The exit end face of the endoscope side illumination optical system is inscribed or formed so as to completely cover the exit end face, and the distance from the entrance end opening to the optical adapter side observation optical system is set to the optical adapter side illumination optical system. An endoscope apparatus which is set to be wider than an interval from a system to the optical adapter side observation optical system.

(2) In an endoscope having a bending operation switch for bending the bending portion provided in the insertion portion, the bending operation switch has an operation lever which can be tilted, and the operation lever can be tilted according to the inclination of the operation lever. An endoscope provided with a first operation switch for generating a signal for bending a bending portion, and a second operation switch for generating a signal for bending the bending portion by pressing the first operation switch integrally.

(3) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the bending operation of the bending portion can be finely adjusted by the second operation switch.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the optical adapter is attached to the end of the endoscope, the amount of illumination light transmitted from the illumination optical system of the endoscope to the illumination optical system of the optical adapter is reduced. Minimize the decrease, and prevent the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system of the endoscope from entering the observation optical system of the endoscope, causing flare and ghost, etc., and hindering the observation. The endoscope apparatus which performs the above can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 1;

4 to 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another configuration of the endoscope device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 4;

8 to 11 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another configuration of the endoscope apparatus.

9 is a sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG. 8;

12 to 14 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another configuration of the endoscope apparatus.

13 is a sectional view taken along the line KK of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line LL of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 15 to 19 relate to an endoscope apparatus provided with a bending operation switch which can smoothly perform a bending operation of a bending section and has good operability, and FIG. 15 shows a configuration of the endoscope apparatus. Figure

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a bending operation switch.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of a bending operation switch.

FIG. 18 illustrates a configuration of a first operation switch.

FIG. 19 illustrates a configuration of a second operation switch.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the bending operation switch.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 relate to a conventional embodiment,
FIG. 21 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the configuration of the endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of FIG. 21;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 3 ... Optical adapter 20 ... Endoscope side optical system 25 ... Light guide fiber 26 ... Illumination lens 30 ... Adapter side optical system 34 ... Illumination light transmission lens 36 ... Illumination tip lens 37 ... Illumination light incidence End opening

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H040 BA09 BA21 CA11 CA12 CA23 DA03 DA12 DA19 DA42 DA43 DA52 GA02 4C061 AA00 AA29 BB02 CC06 DD03 FF35 FF40 JJ06 JJ11 LL02 NN01 PP11 PP19

Claims (1)

[Claims] An endoscope having an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, and an observation detachably attached to a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope and facing an observation optical system and an illumination optical system of the endoscope. An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system and an optical adapter having an illumination optical system. The endoscope further comprising: an entrance end opening for guiding light emitted from the endoscope-side illumination optical system to the optical adapter-side illumination optical system; A size that inscribes or completely covers the exit end face of the side illumination optical system, and sets the distance from the entrance end opening to the optical adapter side observation optical system from the optical adapter side illumination optical system to the optical system. An endoscope apparatus characterized in that it is set wider than the distance to the adapter-side observation optical system.