JP2000098262A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by providing the endoscope with a power source switch in a position where the putting out of a lamp with the hand fingers holding the endoscope is possible without a malfunction at the time of manipulation of another switch. SOLUTION: The endoscope 1 is provided with the power source switch 11 of a battery type light source 4 on the top surface of a manipulation part 3 via a cylindrical part 12 on the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope 1, by which the erroneous depressing of the power source switch 11 at the time of manipulation of the other switch constituting an endoscope system is averted and the deliberate depressing of the power source switch 11 is made possible at the time of putting out of the lamp. As a result, the operability at the time of manipulation of the endoscope 1 by clamping the manipulation part 3 of the endoscope 1 may be improved and the consumption of the power source may be reduced as far as possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly, to an endoscope provided with a switch for turning on or off a lamp of a battery type light source in an operation section of the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, endoscopes are widely used in medical and industrial fields. In this endoscope, since a site to be diagnosed or inspected is inside a living body, or inside a plant, equipment, or the like, a means for illuminating the site to be inspected is required. For this reason, in a general endoscope, a light source device is prepared as an external device of the endoscope, and illumination light from a lamp in the light source device is guided to a light guide fiber provided in the endoscope. The illumination light guided by the light guide fiber is emitted from the illumination window on the distal end side of the insertion section to illuminate the inspection target site.

The above-mentioned light source device generally turns on a lamp inside the light source device using a power supply supplied from a commercial power supply. As a power source for the endoscope, a small battery-type light source using a battery such as a dry battery is used as a power source as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-000494. There has been proposed one that is detachably attached to a part.
An endoscope to which such a battery-type light source can be attached,
It is easy to carry and can be used in places where there is no power supply, so it is suitable for use in emergencies or outdoors.

The above-mentioned conventional endoscope equipped with a battery-type light source uses a battery such as a dry battery. Therefore, if the lamp is lit for a long time, the battery is consumed greatly, and the endoscope gripping portion is held. During the operation of the endoscope while holding the operation unit also serving as, there is a possibility that the battery runs out and observation becomes impossible.

[0005] Therefore, when the operation of the endoscope is not required or the operation of the endoscope is completed while the endoscope is being operated while holding the operation section of the endoscope, the operation can be performed. As long as the lamp was turned off.

[0006] For this reason, a lamp which can be easily turned off when the endoscope is operated by gripping the operation section of the endoscope is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-122072 and Japanese Patent Application No. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-253770, a switch-operation ring for turning on / off a lamp is provided at an end to which a battery-type light source is detachably attached. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-260, there has been proposed an apparatus in which a power switch for turning on / off a lamp of a battery-type light source is provided near an operation unit of an endoscope to which the battery-type light source is attached.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned JP-A-9-122
No. 072 and Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-253770, for example, there are two hands when the operation part of the endoscope is gripped with one hand and the suction operation is performed with one hand. It is not easy to operate the switch operating ring to turn off the lamp because the light is blocked. In addition, since there is not always an assistant at that time, the surgeon feels inconvenience and turns off the lamp when the hand becomes empty. In addition, in the case of emergency, there is often no assistant, so the operator had to perform the turning off operation of the lamp while operating the endoscope by grasping the operation unit of the endoscope by itself. .

[0008] A problem of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 7-122084 is that a switch for turning on and off the lamp of the battery-type light source is provided in the vicinity of the operation unit to which the battery-type light source is detachably connected. When grasping and operating the endoscope, the fingers that grasp the operation section of the endoscope are in a position that can be easily reached, and if you are treating the affected part while operating the endoscope, carelessly If the lamp is turned off by touching the switch, an unexpected accident such as incision of a part other than the affected part may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a power switch of a battery-type light source is provided on the outer surface of an operation unit of an endoscope, and when another switch is operated, the power switch is pressed by mistake. Operability when grasping the operation part of the endoscope and operating the endoscope by arranging it at a position where the power switch can be consciously pressed when the lamp is turned off. The purpose is to improve.

[0010]

An endoscope according to the present invention has an elongated insertion section and an operation section provided at a rear end of the insertion section, and illuminates an object to be detected. Endoscope body having a light guide fiber for guiding illumination light to be emitted, a lamp detachably attached to the endoscope body and supplying illumination light to a light incident end of the light guide fiber, and a power supply for supplying power to the lamp An endoscope comprising: a battery-type light source having: a switch for turning off a closed circuit including the lamp and the power supply of the battery-type light source. The switch is provided at a position different from the position at which the other switches are arranged.

In the endoscope according to the present invention, the power switch of the battery type light source is provided on the outer surface of the operation unit of the endoscope and at a position different from a position where other switches constituting the endoscope system are arranged. When operating the endoscope, the power switch is not pressed by mistake, and when the lamp is turned off, the power switch can be pressed consciously, so that the operation section of the endoscope is grasped and held. Operability when operating the endoscope is improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an endoscope system for bronchi, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the endoscope shown in FIG. An explanatory diagram showing
4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the switches of the endoscope in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the battery type light source and the power switch in FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit in FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of an endoscope provided with a contact on a side of an operation unit on a rotation axis side of the bending operation lever of FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a battery type light source and a power switch of FIG. It is. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an endoscope for bronchi.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion section 2 and an operation section 3 formed at an end of the insertion section 2 on the base end side. And the endoscope body 1
A water-tight battery-type light source 4 having a substantially T-shaped lamp and a battery, which will be described later, which is detachably connected to the side of the operation unit 3 of A.

The insertion portion 2 has a distal end portion 5 provided at a distal end, a bendable bending portion 6 provided at a rear portion of the distal end portion 5, and an elongated long portion provided at a rear portion of the bending portion 6. And a flexible portion 7 having flexibility.

An endoscope 1 is provided on the insertion section 2 side of the operation section 3.
Is provided.

The upper side of the grip 3a (the rear end of the operation unit 3)
, A suction button 8 for operating a suction device (not shown) and a release switch 7 for stopping the image near the suction button 8 are provided orthogonal to the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the operation unit 3, When the grip part 3a of the endoscope 1 is gripped by the left hand, it is arranged at a position where it can be easily operated with the index finger.

By appropriately operating the suction button 8, a body fluid or the like in the body cavity can be sucked through a suction channel (not shown) and a suction mouthpiece.

A bending operation lever 10 for bending the bending portion 6 is provided on the outer surface of the operation portion 3 on the right side of the suction button 8 and the release switch 9. By operating, the bending section 6 bends. A treatment tool insertion port is provided on the rear end side of the grip portion 3a.

A power switch 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided on a top surface of the operation section 3 via a cylindrical section 12.

The power switch 11 is for turning on and off the lamp of the battery type light source 4.
When operating the endoscope 1 by gripping the grip portion 3a of the endoscope, the endoscope is set so as not to be easily depressed, and as a position more difficult than the ease of operating the suction button 8 and the release switch 7. It is arranged on the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the main body 1A and on the top surface of the operation section 3 via the cylindrical section 12.

Next, the bronchial endoscope system 21 will be described with reference to FIG.

The endoscope system 21 includes the endoscope body 1
A; and the battery type light source 4 which is detachably attached to a side portion of the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1 and supplies illumination light;
A control device 23 that performs signal processing on the image pickup means of the endoscope 1 via a universal cord 22 extending from the side of the operation unit 3 to the outside, and a video process circuit 24 built in the control device 23 A color image recorder 25 for recording a color image based on the processed video signal, a video tape recorder (hereinafter, VTR) 26 for recording the video signal, a color monitor 27 for displaying the color image, and an electronic device for converting the color image into a file. And a file device 28.

The battery type light source 4 condenses the light of the lamp 31 by the lens 32 and supplies the light to the light incident end face of the light guide fiber 33 to be guided. The illumination light guided from the rear end side of the light guide fiber 33 is emitted from the light distribution lens 34 fixed to the illumination window at the distal end portion 5 of the insertion section 2.

The illuminated subject image such as a diseased part is formed at an image forming position by an objective lens 35 attached to an observation window provided on the distal end surface adjacent to the illumination window. A solid-state image sensor 36 such as a CCD is disposed at the image forming position. The subject image is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal, and is amplified by an amplifier circuit board 37 disposed on the back surface of the solid-state image sensor 36. You.

The amplifier circuit board 37 has a signal line 38
And a dummy line 39 for removing noise. These signal lines 38 and 39 are connected from the connector 22a to an input terminal of the video process circuit 24 via a scope cable (not shown) connected to the connector 22a. Then, noise is removed from the input electric signal, a predetermined signal processing is performed, and a video signal is generated.

The video signal is supplied to the color image recorder 25 and the VTR 2 under the control of the controller 23.
6, the monitor 27, and the electronic file device 28 are selectively output.

The release switch 7 described above with reference to FIG.
Is the signal line 4 through which the universal cord 22 is inserted.
A release signal is input to the video processing circuit 24 according to 0a and 40b, and the video processing circuit 24 freezes an image when the release signal is input.

The still image is selectively recorded on the color image recorder 25, the VTR 26, and the electronic file device 28 under the control of the control device 23.

At the tip 5 of the insertion section 2, an objective lens 35 for forming a subject image on the solid-state image sensor 36 and an amplifier circuit board for amplifying a signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor 36 as described above. 37, and a light distribution lens 34 for irradiating illumination light guided from the rear end side of the light guide fiber 33 toward a subject such as an affected part.

On the other hand, the base end of the light guide fiber 33 is fixed to a light guide base (not shown) in the operation section 3 and guides illumination light from the battery type light source 4.

The battery type light source 4 has a lamp portion 4a and a battery portion 4b provided with the lamp 31 and a battery (hereinafter, power supply) 41 as described above, and is provided on the side of the endoscope body 1A. The portion is detachably attached in a substantially T-shape.

The battery-type light source 4 includes a power switch 1
1, a lamp 31 and a power supply 41 constitute a series circuit 42 (the dotted line in the figure).

The series circuit 42 is provided with a contact 43 at the connection between the side of the operation section 3 of the endoscope main body 1A and the battery type light source 4.
And the lamp 31 and the power supply 41 are connected to the contact 4
4 are connected. Therefore, when the power switch 11 is turned off by pressing down, the lamp 31 is turned off and the power supply 4 is turned off.
Eliminating wear and tear of many patients or extending the operation time of the endoscope can be achieved.

The operation of the endoscope 1 constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 3, when the endoscope 1 is operated,
First, the grip part 3a of the operation part 3 is gripped by the middle finger 45, the ring finger 46, and the little finger 47, the thumb 48 is placed on the finger rest part 49 of the bending operation lever 10, and the index finger 50 is
, And put its fingertip on the suction button 8 which is usually used frequently.

When a suction operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 4, the suction device (not shown) is activated by pressing the index finger 50 placed on the suction button 8 as it is.

When the image on which the imaging signal from the solid-state imaging device 36 is projected is to be stopped, the release switch 7 can be pressed with the fingertip of the index finger 50 as shown in FIG.

When the lamp 31 is turned off, the fingertip of the index finger 50 placed on the suction button 8 is lifted and placed on the power switch 11 of the operation unit 3 as shown in FIG. 6, and the power switch 11 is pressed. To do it.

Generally, it is difficult for a human hand to move the forefinger 50 and the middle finger 45 in the opening direction around the third joint, and the opening angle is not so large. The turned-on power switch 11 is difficult to operate as shown in FIG.

As described above, since the suction button 8 and the release switch 7 are provided in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal center line of the operation unit 3, the index finger 50 and the middle finger 45 are opened for button operation. Operation is not necessary, and the index finger 50
Is merely pulled to the base side of the finger, so that the finger reaches both the suction button 8 and the release switch 7, and there is no possibility that the finger is changed or that the finger is forced. However, the power switch 11 is harder to press as compared with the suction button 8 and the release switch 7, and the power switch 11 may malfunction due to the conscious lifting of the index finger 50 to the top surface of the operation unit 3. Not to be.

As a result, the power switch 11 of the battery type light source 4 is not touched by hand when operating other switches on the outer surface of the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1, and the lamp 31 is turned off. Power switch 1
By arranging the endoscope 1 at a position where the endoscope 1 can be pressed, the operability of the endoscope 1 can be improved.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of the series circuit 42 of the battery-type light source 4 described with reference to FIG.

In the endoscope 1 using the battery-type light source 4 having such a series circuit 42, the user holds the holding section 3a of the endoscope 1 and operates the operating section 3 to move the insertion section 2 of the patient. Turning off the power supply 41 that illuminates the affected part of the patient during insertion or treatment or observation in a body cavity may be dangerous.

However, when the brightness of the illumination does not necessarily require the same illuminance as when observing, for example, when the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity, it can be inserted even if the inside of the body cavity is somewhat dark.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a power switch 11 which can be switched in three stages is provided, and two contacts 51 and 52 are provided in parallel with the power switch 11 to constitute an equivalent circuit 42a. I do. One contact 51
Reduces the current flowing through the lamp 31 through the resistor 53 to reduce the illuminance of the lamp 31, and the other contact 5
2 forms an open circuit so that the lamp 31 can be turned off.

When operating the endoscope 1 while gripping the grip 3a of the endoscope 1 including the equivalent circuit 42a, if the brightness of the illumination is not necessarily required to be the same as the illuminance at the time of observation, By switching the power switch 11a to the contact point 51, the irradiation light of the lamp 31 can be reduced.

When the lamp 31 is turned off while the bending portion 6 of the insertion section 2 is bent and the patient's diseased part is observed, the lamp 31 is turned off while the patient is searching for the diseased part. The distal end portion 5 of the endoscope 1 may be separated from the affected part, and the operation may have to be performed again, or a danger may be caused when the curved part 6 is treating the affected part in a curved state.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the side surface 3 of the operation portion 3 forming the rotation shaft 10a of the bending operation lever 10 is formed.
b, the endoscope 1 is provided with contacts 55 and 56 that are in sliding contact with the inner surface 10b of the bending operation lever 10 on the rotation axis side.

These contacts 55 and 56 constitute an equivalent circuit 42b including a lamp 31 and a power supply 41 described later.

This contact point 55 is a rotation range of the bending operation lever 10 on the side surface 3b of the operation section 3, and when the bending operation lever 10 is operated upward with the thumb 48,
The bending operation lever 10 is provided so as to be in contact with the inner surface 10 b of the bending operation lever 10 on the rotation axis side.
When the thumb 0 is operated with the thumb 48 and moved downward, it is provided so as to come into contact with the inner surface 10b of the bending operation lever 10 on the rotation axis side. When the bending operation lever 10 is not moved at all, the bending operation lever 10 is in the neutral position.

The equivalent circuit 4 including these contacts 55 and 56
As shown in FIG. 10, 2b is provided in parallel with a series circuit to which the lamp 31 and the power supply 41 are connected. Of the lamp 31 and the power supply 41 by the sliding contact of the inner surface 10b of the lamp 3, the power switch 11 is turned off even if the power switch 11 is turned off.
1 is not turned off. That is, when the bending operation lever 10 is operated, the lamp 31 is always lit.

For example, as described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the middle finger 45, the ring finger 46, and the little finger 47 hold the grip 9 of the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1 and the thumb 48 is bent.
The user places the index finger 50 on the suction button 8 which is frequently used.

Next, the finger rest 49 of the bending operation lever 10
The thumb 48 is moved to operate the bending operation lever 10 to bend the bending portion 6 of the insertion section 2 to observe the affected part of the patient, that is, when the bending operation lever 10 is in the up state or the down state. At this time, the contact point 55 or 56 contacts the inner surface 10b of the bending operation lever 10 on the rotation axis side, and a closed circuit is formed between the lamp 31 and the power supply 41, so that the lamp 31 continues to light.

Thus, even if the power switch 11 is pressed by mistake, the operation of the endoscope 1 can be continued without turning off the lamp 31 while the bending operation lever 10 is being operated. The operability of the mirror 1 can be improved.

In the endoscope system 21, the image from the solid-state imaging device 36 is projected by using the monitor 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Using a liquid crystal display, the endoscope body 1A
May be configured to project an image from the solid-state imaging device 36.

In addition, if the endoscope is used only for observation, the color image recorder 25, the VTR 26, the electronic file device 28, etc. are not required, and the universal cord 22 is not required. I do not care.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the first embodiment, the power switch 11 is formed on the top surface of the operation unit 3 and operated by the index finger 50. In the present embodiment, the power switch 11 is moved in the upward direction of the bending operation lever 10. Power switch 11
Is pressed by the thumb 48 to turn on and off the lamp 31. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.
1 will be described.

The power switch 11 is located on the outer surface of the operation unit 3 facing the inner surface of the bending operation lever 10 on which the finger rest 49 is formed. When the bending operation lever 10 is rotated, the bending operation lever 10 is provided at a position where the bending operation lever 10 does not hide below the bending operation lever 10.

The endoscope 1 constructed as described above is, for example,
The operator grips the grip 9 of the operation unit 3 of the endoscope with the middle finger 45, the ring finger 46, and the little finger 47 and moves the thumb 48 to the bending operation lever 1.
The user places the index finger 50 on the suction button 8 which is frequently used.

Next, the finger rest 49 of the bending operation lever 10
The bending operation lever 10 is raised by moving the thumb 48 placed on the upper part of the insertion section 2 to bend the bending section 6 of the insertion section 2.

Subsequently, when the power switch 11 is operated, the thumb 48 is slid from the finger pad 49 or the thumb 4
8 is moved to the power switch 11 for operation.

Since the range in which the thumb 48 can be moved is limited as compared with the other fingers, the power switch 11 cannot be pressed unless the thumb 48 is moved to the power switch 11 with consciousness.

Thus, since the power switch 11 does not malfunction, the operation of the endoscope 1 can be continued without turning off the lamp 31, and the operability of the endoscope 1 can be improved. .

The power switch 11 is located on the outer surface of the operation unit 3 opposite to the inner surface of the bending operation lever 10 on which the finger contact unit 49 is formed, and is turned in the rotation direction for lowering the bending operation lever 10. Further, when the bending operation lever 10 is rotated, the bending operation lever 10 may be provided at a position where the bending operation lever 10 does not hide below the bending operation lever 10.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a switch button of a power switch of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The above-described first and second embodiments
In the embodiment, the power switch 11 is disposed at a position different from the position where another switch, for example, the release switch 7 or the suction button 8 is disposed, and the thumb 48 or the index finger 50 is consciously placed on the power switch 11. In this embodiment, a groove is formed in a range that can be easily reached, the power switch 11 is disposed inside the groove, and an unnecessary portion is formed by a relatively simple structure. In such a case, a malfunction of the power switch 11 can be avoided as much as possible. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the description is omitted, and only the power switch 11 that is different will be described.

A recess 60 is formed on the outer surface of the operation unit 3 to which a finger gripping the grip unit 3a of the operation unit 3 can reach, so that a fingertip can be just inserted into the depression. Has formed.

The power switch 11 includes a finger pressing portion 61 formed of an elastic member, and a substrate 63 having an inner surface of the finger pressing portion 61 and lead wires 62a and 62b connected to the back surface.
It is composed of

The finger pressing portion 61 is fitted to and protrudes from an opening peripheral end 60 a formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion 60, and its upper surface 61 a is formed on the operating portion 3 on which the concave portion 60 is formed.
It is formed lower than the peripheral outer surface. In this embodiment, the entire outer surface of the operation unit 3 around the recess 60 is higher than the surface of the finger pressing unit 61 of the power switch 11.

At the center on the inner surface side of the finger pressing portion 61, a convex portion 65 provided with a conductive rubber 64 for a switch is formed so as to face the substrate 63.

A substrate 63 provided on the inner surface side of the finger pressing portion 61 is attached to the periphery of the bottom surface of the finger pressing portion 61, and a conductive pattern 66 for a switch is formed in the center thereof. Have been.

With the above configuration, when the surgeon presses down and presses the finger pressing portion 61 with the fingertip inserted into the recessed portion 60, the conductive pattern 66 formed on the substrate 63 and the inner surface of the finger pressing portion 61 are formed. The conductive rubber 64 makes contact and conduction.

For this reason, the lead wire 62a and the lead wire 62
The conduction of the power switch 11 is performed by conducting with the terminal b.

With such a configuration, when the endoscope 1 is operated by grasping the grasping portion 3a of the endoscope 1, even if the recess 60 is accidentally reached, it is easy to use the fingertip. When the power switch 11 cannot be pressed and the lamp 31 is turned on and off, the surgeon is consciously pressing and pressing the finger pressing portion 61 with the fingertip inserted into the concave portion 60, thereby pressing the power switch 11 down. Since the power switch 11 is not pressed by mistake, the operation of the endoscope 1 can be continued without turning off the lamp 31 and the operability of the endoscope 1 can be improved. Can be.

The power switch 11 formed in the recess 60 is provided at a position where the finger cannot easily reach, as in the endoscope 1 according to the first and second embodiments described above. The power switch 11 may of course be configured.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a switch button of a power switch of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the recess 60 provided with the power switch 11 described in FIG. 12 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 3 with a slope, and the power switch 11 is also formed obliquely. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

The recess 60 is provided with the grip 3 a of the operation unit 3.
On the outer surface of the operation unit 3 to which the finger for gripping the finger reaches, the diagonal step is formed diagonally in such a size that the fingertip can just be inserted. The tip of the finger 70 for operating the power switch 11 is It is formed so as to be lower than the rear end side (root side).

On the other hand, the power switch 11 provided inside the recess is also formed obliquely from the outer surface around the operation section 3 where the recess 60 is formed.

With such a configuration, when the endoscope 1 is operated by grasping the grasping portion 3a of the endoscope 1, even if the recess 60 is accidentally reached, the power can be easily supplied with the fingertip. When the switch 11 cannot be pressed and the lamp 31 is turned on and off, the operator presses the finger pressing portion 61 with the fingertip inserted into the recessed portion 60 and presses the power switch 11 down. Since the power switch 11 does not malfunction, the operation of the endoscope 1 can be continued without turning off the lamp 31, and the operability of the endoscope 1 can be improved.

[Appendix] (Appendix 1) An endoscope having a slender insertion section and an operation section provided at the rear end of the insertion section, and having a light guide fiber for guiding illumination light for illuminating the test section. An endoscope comprising: a mirror main body; a lamp which is detachably attached to the endoscope main body and supplies illumination light to a light incident end of the light guide fiber; and a battery type light source having a power supply for supplying power to the lamp. A switch for turning off a closed circuit composed of the lamp and the power supply of the battery-type light source, on the outer surface of the operation unit of the endoscope, and a position where another switch for operating the endoscope is arranged; Is an endoscope provided at different positions.

(Additional Item 2) A light guide fiber for illuminating the object to be inspected, an endoscope having an image pickup device for imaging the object to be inspected, and a light incident end of the light guide fiber detachably attached to the endoscope. An endoscope comprising a battery-type light source having a lamp for supplying illumination light to the unit, wherein the battery-type light source is electrically connected to the lamp and a power source, and a switch for releasing the electrical connection is provided by the endoscope. An endoscope, wherein the endoscope is arranged at a position distant from a portion to which another switch of the endoscope operation of the operation unit is attached.

(Additional Item 3) The additional switch for the endoscopic operation is a suction button.
An endoscope according to claim 1.

(Additional Item 4) The endoscope according to Additional Item 2, wherein the other switch for operating the endoscope controls an electric device connected to the endoscope. .

(Supplementary Note 5) The switch for releasing the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply may be arranged such that a finger holding the operation unit is located at a position that is worse than the ease with which other switches can be operated. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the endoscope is characterized in that:

(Supplementary Note 6) The switch is installed in a recess provided on the outer surface of the operation unit of the endoscope, and the pressing surface of the switch is installed lower than the outer surface of the operation unit around the recess. 6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein

(Additional Item 7) The additional item, wherein the switch for releasing the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply is arranged within a reach of a finger for operating a knob for bending an insertion portion of the endoscope. 3. The endoscope according to 2.

(Additional Item 8) An additional item 7 is characterized in that the switch for releasing the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply is disposed above a knob that bends the insertion portion of the endoscope.
An endoscope according to claim 1.

(Additional Item 9) An additional item 7 is characterized in that the switch for releasing the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply is disposed below a knob for bending an insertion portion of the endoscope.
An endoscope according to claim 1.

(Supplementary Note 10) The switch may be installed in a recess provided on the outer surface of the operation unit of the endoscope, and the pressing surface of the switch may be installed lower than the outer surface of the operation unit around the recess. The endoscope according to claim 7, characterized in that:

(Additional Item 11) The endoscope according to Additional Item 7, wherein the switch is arranged in a range that can be operated by a thumb of a finger holding an operation unit.

(Supplementary note 12) The electric connection between the lamp and the power supply, wherein the lamp, the power supply, and a switch for canceling the electric connection between the lamp and the power supply are connected in series. Endoscope.

(Additional Item 13) The additional item 12 is characterized in that a circuit for reducing the light amount of the lamp is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the lamp and the power supply and a switch for releasing the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply. The endoscope as described.

(Appendix 14) The insertion section is bent in conjunction with the rotation of a knob that bends the insertion section of the endoscope in a series circuit of the lamp and the power supply and a switch that releases the electrical connection between the lamp and the power supply. 13. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein a circuit for preventing the lamp from being turned off even when the switch is released in the state is provided in parallel.

[0093]

As described above, according to the endoscope of the present invention, the switch for turning on / off the lamp of the battery-type light source is provided on the outer surface of the operation section of the endoscope, and is used as another component of the endoscope system. Operate the endoscope by providing the switch at a position different from the position where the switch is arranged, that is, by providing a switch that turns the lamp on and off at a position that cannot be easily operated by a finger gripping the operation unit of the endoscope. Without accidentally pressing the power switch, and when turning off the lamp, by consciously pressing the power switch, improve the operability of the endoscope,
The power consumption can be reduced as much as possible with the fingers holding the operation unit of the endoscope.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a bronchial endoscope system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a side surface holding the endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing operation of a suction button of the endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a release switch of the endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing operation of a power switch of the endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a battery-type light source and a power switch in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the endoscope in which a contact is provided on an operation portion side portion of the bending operation lever on the rotation shaft side in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a battery-type light source and a power switch in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a switch button of a power switch of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a switch button of a power switch of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Battery type light source 7 ... Release switch 8 ... Suction button 10 ... Bending operation lever 11 ... Power switch 31 ... Lamp 41 ... Power supply 49 ... Finger touch part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Adult 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuji Watanabe 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Takashi Suzuki, Inventor 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., (72) Seiichi Hosoda 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. (72) Masaaki Nakazawa, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. (72) Kazutaka Nakachi 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope body having an elongated insertion portion, an operation portion provided at a rear end of the insertion portion, and a light guide fiber for guiding illumination light for illuminating a portion to be inspected, and the endoscope. An endoscope comprising a lamp detachably attached to a mirror body and supplying illumination light to a light incident end of the light guide fiber, and a battery-type light source having a power supply for supplying power to the lamp. A switch for turning off a closed circuit composed of a lamp and the power supply is provided on the outer surface of the operation unit of the endoscope at a position different from a position where another switch for operating the endoscope is arranged. An endoscope characterized by the following.