JP2001000384A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convent the operation input into the enlarged output of a distal end with relatively simple constitution and to improve operability while ensuring miniaturization and weight reduction of the control section. SOLUTION: This endoscope device provided with interior observing function and outputting at the distal end by the input operation of the control section, is provided with a rotatory-displaceable operating lever provided at the handy operating part; a ring body 21 rotatory-energized integrally with the operating lever; and a cam 13 connected to the ring body 21 and rotated around an eccentric shaft provided in a position eccentric from the rotation center of the ring body 21. The cam 13 is so formed that the distance from its rotation center to a tip connecting part which is the output side, is longer than the distance from the rotation center to a ring body connecting part which is the input side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical or industrial endoscope apparatus for observing the inside, and more particularly to an improvement in operability of a hand operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For medical or industrial use, an endoscope device which can be used by being inserted into a bent narrow path for the purpose of observing a part which cannot be observed from the outside, such as inside a pipe or a human body, has been developed. It is heavily used.

[0003] This endoscope apparatus is provided so that the angle at the distal end thereof can be freely displaced up and down and left and right, and can be adjusted by rotating a dial knob of a hand operation section. ing. An operator performs input by rotating the dial knob, and transmits displacement to a wire fixed at one point on the outer periphery of a pulley that rotates integrally with the dial knob. The tip of the wire is attached and fixed to the angle, and the displacement of the wire appears as a change in the direction of the angle.

[0004]

In such an endoscope apparatus, the displacement of the wire is determined by the magnitude of the rotation angle and the diameter of the pulley by the operation input. It must be of a size that can be held and that is easy to operate.

[0005] Therefore, the diameter of the dial knob and the diameter of the pulley are limited, and the diameter cannot be extremely increased. As a result, in order to apply a larger displacement to the wire, it is necessary for the operator to rotate the dial knob to a greater extent, particularly when the dial knob is input while holding the operation unit with one hand. It was bad.

Recently, in addition to the wire operation for controlling the direction of the distal end, a movable optical system is provided at the distal end to move and displace the lens with a wire or the like so as to increase the focal length. There is a need to have a zoom function.

For the purpose of adjusting the movable optical system, use of an operation lever as an input mode different from the dial knob is considered from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous operation.
Also in this case, there is a limit to the rotation angle that is naturally added, and the conventional structure has a problem that a large displacement cannot be transmitted to the wire as an output for an operation input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a purpose of enlarging and converting an output amount of a tip portion with respect to an operation input amount while having a relatively simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus which can improve the operability while ensuring the small size and light weight of the operation unit at hand.

[0009]

In order to satisfy the above object, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention has a function of observing the inside, and performs input operation with a hand operation unit so that the end unit can be operated at the distal end. In the output endoscope apparatus, the hand operation unit is provided with output amount expansion means for expanding an input operation amount and outputting the input operation amount at a distal end portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as the output amount expanding means in the endoscope apparatus according to the first aspect, by combining a plurality of members having different rotation centers, an input operation by rotation or displacement at a hand operation unit is performed. , And output by enlarging the rotation or displacement at the tip.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the endoscope apparatus according to the first aspect, the output amount expanding means includes a member that performs only a linear motion and a member that performs only a rotational motion. By coupling the input operation with a member capable of rotation only, the input operation by rotation or linear displacement at the hand operation unit is converted into linear displacement or rotation and output.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the output amount expanding means in the endoscope apparatus according to the first aspect includes an operation lever provided on a hand operation portion and capable of rotating and displacing, and a rotational bias integrally with the operation lever. And a cam connected to the ring body and having a rotation center at a position eccentric to the rotation center of the ring body, wherein the cam is connected to the ring body on the input side from the rotation center. The distance from the center of rotation to the distal end connecting portion on the output side is longer than the distance to the portion.

According to a fifth aspect, in the endoscope apparatus according to the first aspect, the output amount expanding means includes an operation lever and a positioning mechanism for positioning and holding the operation lever in a plurality of stages.

In order to satisfy the above-mentioned object, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that an optical system including a plurality of optical elements provided relatively reciprocally and a displacement action are input. A first rotating body having a first center that is fixed with respect to the system and having a first center that is immovable with respect to the system; and an extension of the first rotating body that is provided within a circumference having a diameter formed by the first and second centers. A second center, a engaging portion that is engaged with a portion other than the first center, and a displacement action is input, and a distance from the second center to a force point of the rotating body and a first center. A second rotating body having an operating point provided at a separated position and engaged with another driving member, and at least one optical element of the optical system and the operating point. And a member for transmitting displacement by coupling.

By adopting the means for solving such a problem, the operation input amount of the operation unit at hand can be enlarged and converted into the output amount of the distal end portion while having a relatively simple configuration.
The operability can be improved while ensuring the small size and light weight of the operation unit.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus is configured. This consists of a hand operation unit 1 and a tip unit 2
And a power guiding portion 3 connecting the hand operation portion 1 and the distal end portion 2. A power cord 4 extending from the hand operation portion 1 is connected via an adapter 5 to a monitor 6 having a control circuit (not shown). Is done.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hand operation unit 1
From the operation unit case 7 ergonomically designed to be easy to hold by hand, dial knobs 8 and 9 which are doubled up and down
And an operation lever 10 provided with an output amount expanding means described later protrudes.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the dial knobs 8 and 9 that are doubly overlapped is integrally rotated with pulleys 8A and 9A in the operation unit case 7. A wire W is fixed to a part of the outer periphery of each of the pulleys 8A, 9A at one point, and this wire W is connected to the distal end portion 2.

By operating one of the dial knobs 8, the tip 2 is turned, for example, in the vertical direction, and by operating the other dial knob 9, the tip 2 is turned, for example, in the left-right direction. It has become.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the operation lever 10.
And a lever rotation mechanism S which is an output amount expanding means. That is, the first base 11a is provided on the frame 7A formed integrally with the operation unit case 7, and the inner periphery of the second base 11b is fitted around the outer periphery of the first base 11a and fixed to each other. You.

As shown only in FIG. 4, the first base 11
a and a second base 11b, a pipe-shaped shaft 9B connecting the dial knob 9 and the pulley 9A is penetrated, and a shaft 8B connecting the dial knob 8 and the pulley 8A is penetrated into the shaft 9B. Is done.

The lower end face of the second base 11b and the first
Has a predetermined gap with the upper end surface of the base 11a,
Moreover, the eccentric shaft 12 is located at an eccentric position from these center positions.
Are fixedly held to the respective bases 11b and 11a.

The eccentric shaft 12 is engaged with a pivot hole 13a provided in a cam 13 described later. This cam 13
Is in the gap between the bases 11a and 11b, and is supported rotatably with respect to the eccentric shaft 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cam 13 is provided with an escape hole 14 fitted into the outer diameter of the first base 11a. The escape hole 14 is provided with a pivot hole 13a.
The first base 11 is provided when the cam 13 rotates about the pivot hole 13a (that is, the eccentric shaft 12).
This is an escape for a.

Further, a bar mounting portion 15 is integrally provided at a peripheral end portion of the cam 13 through the escape hole portion 14 from the pivot hole 13a, and an end of the bar 16 shown in FIG. The parts are connected.

The other end of the bar 16 has a wire terminal 17
Are connected, and the wire terminal 17 is connected to a wire 18.
Is attached and fixed. The wire 18 extends along the middle portion 3 and is connected to a movable optical system (not shown) provided at the distal end portion 2.

Therefore, the rotational displacement of the cam 13 is
The signal is transmitted to the wire 18 via the wire 6 and eventually drives the movable optical system. Specifically, the lens position of the movable optical system is variably adjusted so that a desired focal length among the set focal lengths can be obtained.

At the peripheral end of the cam 13 from the escape hole 14 through the pivot hole 13a, a protrusion 19
Are provided integrally with each other. The projecting position of the projection receiving piece 20 is at a position shifted by a predetermined amount from a center line CL connecting the pivot support hole 13a of the cam 13 and the bar mounting portion 15, and is inclined at a predetermined angle.

Again, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
A ring body 21 having a predetermined vertical dimension is rotatably fitted around the base 11b. A flange 21a protruding in the radial direction is integrally formed at the lower end of the ring body 21, and a second base 11b of the cam 13 is formed.
It rests on the part protruding from the outer circumference.

A projecting portion 23 having a long hole 22 in the radial direction is integrally formed at a part of the peripheral end of the ring flange 21a. The long hole 22 is provided with the cam 1 in the assembled state.
3 is engaged with the protrusion 19.

The outer periphery of the ring body 21 from the flange 21a to the upper side is fitted into a mounting hole 7a provided in the operation section case 7, and its upper end protrudes from the operation section case 7.

A guide washer 25 is supported along the periphery of the mounting hole 7a of the operation section case 7, and is fixed to the operation section case 7 by a nut 26 shown only in FIG. That is, the operation portion case 7 is provided with a screw portion, into which the nut 26 is screwed, and the guide washer 25 is fixed. On a part of the outer periphery of the guide washer 25, a positioning pin 25a which is formed to rise in the vertical direction is integrally provided.

On the nut 26, the operation lever 10
Some overlap. The operation lever 10 includes a guide hole 27 into which the positioning pin 25a of the guide washer 25 is inserted, and a ring portion 10A whose inner periphery is fitted into the ring body 21;
The outer peripheral end of 0A is provided integrally with and protrudes in the same plane direction as the ring portion 10A, and its distal end portion is formed by a lever portion 10B bent downward.

In other words, the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the ring body 21 is formed as a parallel straight surface 28 by shaving the opposing portion, and the inner periphery of the operation lever ring portion 10A is also in contact with the outer periphery of the ring body 21. The portions having the same radius of curvature and facing each other are formed on parallel straight surfaces 29.

Thus, when the lever portion 10B of the operation lever 10 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the ring body 21 rotates integrally with the operation lever 10. And the ring protrusion 2
Since the projection 19 of the cam projection receiving piece 20 is engaged with the long hole 22 of the third member 3, the rotation of the ring body 21
Rotation.

Due to the assembling structure, the operating lever 10 and the ring body 21 rotate about the central axes of the first and second bases 11a and 11b, while the cam 13 is mounted on the eccentric shaft 1
It rotates around 2. Since the cam 13 has the escape hole 14, the first base 11a of the cam 13 is formed.
There is no hindrance to the rotation with respect to.

The straight surface 2 of the ring body 21
The length dimension of the straight surface 29 in the lever ring portion 10A is (a + α) with respect to the length dimension (a) of 8, and the operation lever 10 side is formed slightly longer than the ring body 21 side. .

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the lever 10 is moved + α in the direction of the straight surface 29 with respect to the ring body 21.
It can be displaced by the minute. Further, a cutout portion 30 formed in a flat shape is provided at a portion on the outer periphery of the ring portion 10A of the operation lever 10 opposite to the lever portion 10B via the central axis, and is provided in the spring 31 here. The pressing spring portion 31a is engaged and elastically presses and biases in the direction of the arrow.

The spring 31 has a ring shape, and the lever 1
0 on the ring portion 10A. Further, the spring 31
The cover 32 is placed on top of the cover 32, and the mounting tool 3
3 and is attached and fixed to the upper end surface of the ring body 21.

That is, the spring 31 and the cover 32 are integrated with the ring body 21 and rotate at the same time, while the pressing spring portion 31a of the spring 31 engages with the notch 30 provided on the operation lever 10 to elastically press. From the position where it is urged, it rotates integrally with the operation lever 10. Usually, between the inner periphery of the lever ring portion 10A and the outer periphery of the ring body 21, the right peripheral surfaces in the drawing come into contact with each other, and the left peripheral surfaces are + α
There is a minute gap.

If the operation lever 10 is artificially pressed and urged in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow, the entire operation lever 10 naturally moves by + α along the straight surfaces 28 and 29, and the inside of the lever ring portion 10A Between the circumference and the outer periphery of the ring body 21, the left peripheral surfaces in the drawing are in contact with each other, and the right peripheral surfaces are changed so that a gap of + α exists between them.

The guide hole 27 is a deformed arc-shaped groove, into which a positioning pin 25a provided on the guide washer 25 is inserted. This positioning pin 25
a is an arc-shaped escape groove 32 provided in the cover 32;
a.

As shown in FIG. 7 again, the guide hole 2
The step 7 is formed at both side ends and a central portion thereof. The upper part of the figure is called a B step part, the central part is called a C step part, and the lower part is called a D step part.

With respect to the arc between the B step and the C step, C
The arc between the step portion and the D step portion is formed to be shifted one step in the radial direction. However, each of the arcs has the same radius of curvature, which also coincides with the radius of curvature of the clearance groove 32a of the cover 32.

When the operation lever 10 is rotated, the lever portion 10B is pushed and urged by a finger in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow, so that the operation lever 10 is pushed by + α minutes against the elastic force of the spring 31. And the rotation is possible.

By rotating the operation lever 10 while pressing it, the guide hole 27 is positioned in the positioning pin 25a.
Is rotated along. Then, because of the shape of the guide hole 27, the pin 25a is temporarily stopped at a portion facing each of the steps B, C, and D, so that a so-called sense of moderation is obtained.

Then, by removing the finger from the operation lever 10 and removing the pressing force, the elastic force of the pressing spring portion 31a acts again to displace the operation lever 10 to the original position by + α.

At the same time, the positioning lever 25a engages with any one of the steps B, C and D of the guide hole 27 to position the operation lever 10. That is, the guide hole 2
The positioning mechanism K with respect to the operation lever 10 is constituted by the positioning pin 25 a and the spring 31.

The lever rotating mechanism S of the operation lever 10 in such an endoscope apparatus operates as described below. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the positioning pin 25a is engaged with the B step of the guide hole 27, and the cam 13 is inclined most leftward in the figure with the eccentric shaft 12 as the center. At this time, one end edge of the escape hole 14 is connected to the first base 11a.
Abutting on the outer periphery, the left peripheral edge of the cam 13 and the ring body 21
(Accurately, the peripheral edges of the ring body flange portion 21a) substantially match.

Therefore, the bar 1 connected to the cam 13
6 is pulled most, and the wire 18 is in the most retracted position via the wire terminal 17 connected thereto. That is, the lens of the movable optical system is most retracted, and thus the focal length is long.

FIG. 8B shows a state in which the positioning pin 25a is positioned at the step C of the guide hole 27 by operating the operation lever 10 described above. In other words, the spring 31, the cover 32, and the ring 21 rotate integrally with the lever 10 by the rotation operation on the operation lever 10. The cam 13 rotates with the rotation of the ring body 21 due to the engagement between the elongated hole 22 of the ring body 21 and the projection 19 of the cam 13.

While the ring body 21 and the like rotate by a predetermined angle around the central axes of the first and second bases 11a and 11b, the cam 13 rotates around the eccentric shaft 12. Move.

Since the distance from the eccentric shaft 12 to the bar mounting portion 15 is set to be larger than the distance from the projection 19 of the cam 13 to the eccentric shaft 12, the projection 13 on the input side of the cam 13 is located on the input side. The rotation angle and the circumference on the side of the bar mounting portion 15 which is the output side are larger than the rotation angle and the circumference on.

That is, the amount of output from the cam 13 appears larger than the amount of operation input to the operation lever 10. The bar mounting portion 15 of the cam 13 rotates by a predetermined angle,
, The wire 18 advances by a predetermined distance Lc, and the lens focal length of the movable optical system is adjusted by one step.

FIG. 8C shows that the operating lever 10 is operated again to position the positioning pin 25a in the step D of the guide hole 27.
Shows a state in which is positioned. Then, from the setting of the position of the eccentric shaft 12 with respect to the cam 13, the output amount of the cam 13 becomes larger than the operation input amount to the operation lever 10, and the bar 1
The wire 18 advances through the predetermined distance Ld via 6, and the lens focal length of the movable optical system is further adjusted by one step.

After all, when the operation lever 10 is operated to adjust the position of the positioning pin 25a from the step B to the step D of the guide hole 27, the rotation angle θ ₀ of the ring body 21 on the input side is adjusted. The rotation angle θ ₁ of the bar mounting portion 15 of the cam 13 on the output side is approximately θ ₁ = (r
₀ / r ₁ ) θ ₀ , which is enlarged.

[0057] Further, the output circumference at the side (travel distance) _{L 1} at this time is a _{L 1 = (r 2 / r} 1) L 0 circumferential length of the input side of the (moving distance) _{L 0} So, it will be expanded. (However, r ₂ > r ₀ >
r ₁ ) As described above, since the hand operating section 1 is provided with the lever rotating mechanism S as the output amount expanding means, the operation angle and the operation amount with respect to the operation lever 10 on the input side are expanded and the wire on the output side is enlarged. Change to the moving distance of 18. That is, the lens focal length of the movable optical system can be adjusted longer with a smaller input operation amount.

Further, since the eccentric shaft 12 is provided on the side opposite to the wire terminal 17 with respect to the center axis of the first base 11a, the area required for the operation of the entire lever rotating mechanism S can be minimized.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

The guide washer 25 illustrated above the ring body 21 described above with reference to FIG.
Since the spring 31 and the cover 32 all use the same components, they are not particularly shown and their description is omitted.

The cam 13A here is provided integrally with a projection 40 projecting downward instead of the bar mounting portion 15 described above. However, there is no change in that the cam 13A is rotatable about the eccentric shaft 12 and that the cam 13A is provided with the projection 19 that engages with the elongated hole 22 provided in the projection 23 of the ring body 21.

[0062] Between the cam 13A and the base 11a,
An auxiliary ring 50 is newly interposed. This auxiliary ring 5
Reference numeral 0 has a disc shape, and a center portion thereof is provided with a hole 51a rotatably fitted to the base 11a.

The auxiliary ring 50 has the hole 51
A relief groove 52 having a radius of curvature larger than a and being cut out in a semicircular arc is provided, and the eccentric shaft 12 protruding from the lower surface of the cam 13A is inserted.

That is, the auxiliary ring 50 is
When the eccentric shaft 12 rotates about the eccentric shaft 12
, And does not hinder the rotational displacement of the auxiliary ring 50.

A projection 54 having an elongated hole 53 which engages the lower projection 40 of the cam 13A is integrally provided on a part of the outer periphery of the auxiliary ring 50. A pulley (not shown) is provided integrally with the auxiliary ring 50, and a wire is engaged with the auxiliary ring 50, for example, for rotating and displacing the tip 2 described above in the up-down direction or the left-right direction.

According to such a configuration, the cam 13A enlarges the rotation angle and the circumferential length (movement distance) of the ring body 21 one step closer to the lower projection 40 side. The engagement of the cam lower projection 40 and the auxiliary ring elongated hole 53 causes the auxiliary ring 50 to rotate integrally.

As described above, the eccentric shaft 12 which is the output side of the cam 13A (also the input side of the auxiliary ring 50)
The distance from the center of rotation of the auxiliary ring 50 to the elongated hole 53 is shorter than the distance from the lower ring to the lower protrusion 40. Therefore, despite the fact that the cam 13A and the auxiliary ring 50 have moved by the same circumferential length, the auxiliary The rotation angle is largely converted in the ring 50.

That is, the rotation angle and the circumference of the auxiliary ring 50 are enlarged with respect to the operation input side of the operation lever 10 (r
₂ / r ₁ ), and a magnification that enlarges the moving distance of the wire that controls the direction of the tip 2 can be obtained.

Although not shown, the auxiliary ring 50 is deformed to provide an elongated hole at the same phase as that of the ring body 21, and a cam 13 A having the same configuration as the auxiliary ring 50 and the base 11 a is provided between the auxiliary ring 50 and the base 11 a. Additional enlargement can be obtained by adding a set of rings 50.

In this way, by increasing the cam 13A and the auxiliary ring 50, the enlargement ratio on the output side of the auxiliary ring 50 with respect to the input side of the operation lever 10 can be sequentially increased.

Although the material of the component parts is not specified in the above-mentioned lever rotating mechanism S, the members which come into contact with each other are made of different materials so that the operation can be performed more smoothly and the operating force can be reduced. Can be achieved. For example, ring body 2
It is optimal to select a stainless steel material as 1 and a brass material as the cams 13 and 13A.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the output amount at the distal end can be enlarged and converted with respect to the operation input amount, and the size and weight of the hand-held operation unit can be ensured while having a relatively simple configuration. In addition, there is an effect that operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an entire endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a hand operation unit of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a hand operation unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lever rotating mechanism according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lever rotation mechanism according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cam according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an assembled state of the lever with respect to the ring according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view for sequentially explaining the operation of the lever rotation mechanism of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a lever rotating mechanism according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hand operation part, 2 ... Tip part, S ... Lever rotation mechanism (output amount expansion means), 10 ... Operation lever, 21 ... Ring body, 13 ... Cam, K ... Positioning mechanism, 27 ... Guide hole part, 25a ... Positioning pin 31a ... Holding spring.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope device having a function of observing the inside and outputting at a distal end portion by performing an input operation at a hand operation portion, wherein an input operation amount is enlarged at said hand operation portion and output at a distal end portion. An endoscope apparatus comprising an output amount expanding means for causing the endoscope apparatus to increase an output amount. 2. An input operation by a rotation or a displacement at a hand operation unit is enlarged to a rotation or a displacement at a tip end and output by combining a plurality of members having different rotation centers as the output amount expanding means. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A means for expanding the output amount, comprising a member for performing only a linear motion and a member for performing only a rotational motion, and connecting these two members by a member capable of only rotating with respect to both members. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input operation by rotation or linear displacement at the hand operation unit is converted to linear displacement or rotation and output. 4. The output amount expanding means is connected to an operation lever provided on a hand operation unit, the operation lever being rotatable and displaceable, a ring body being rotationally biased integrally with the operation lever, and the ring body. And a cam having a rotation center at an eccentric position with respect to the rotation center of the ring body, wherein the cam is closer to the output side from the rotation center than to the distance from the rotation center to the ring body connecting portion on the input side. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance to a certain distal end connecting portion is formed long. 5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output amount expanding means includes an operation lever and a positioning mechanism for positioning and holding the operation lever in a plurality of stages. 6. An optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements provided so as to be relatively movable forward and backward, a first power point provided with a force point to which a displacement action is input, and having a first center immovable with respect to the system. The rotating body, the extension of which is immovable with respect to a system provided inside a circumference having a diameter formed by the point of force and the first center, and is engaged with a portion other than the first center. An engagement portion to which a displacement action is input, and an action point provided at a position separated from the second center by a distance between the power point of the rotating body and the first center and engaged with another driving member, A rotation mechanism comprising: a second rotation body having: a member configured to connect at least one optical element of the optical system and the action point to transmit displacement. Endoscope device.