JP2002058629A - Electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscope which can be operated by an operator without loading a load more than being needed and has excellent operability. SOLUTION: From the lower end part of the inserting part 2 in a direction coaxial with the longitudinal axis direction of an part 3, an inserting part 2 is extended and a universal cord 4 crossing the inserting part 2 in an acute angle is extended. The operation part 3 is formed of an operation part holding area 3a and an operation part operation area 3b. A curving operation knob, a suction button 32, air and water supply button 33, a control switches 34, 35, 36, etc., are mounted on the operation area 3b. A first hood part 37 is equipped in between the suction button 32 and the air and water supply button 33 and enables an operator to discriminate the suction button 32 and the air and water supply button 33 by visual and finger touch feeling. A second hood part 38 projected from the operation part side surface as well as the first hood part 37 is equipped under the air and water supply button 33 and partitions the holding area 3a and the operation area 3b and makes a holding support part to which an operator's finger is engaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope having a treatment instrument insertion port and various operation switches in an operation section, and extending the insertion section and the universal cord from the operation section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an elongated insertion portion has been inserted into a body cavity,
If necessary, insert the treatment tool into the treatment tool channel,
Endoscopes that can perform various examinations and treatments are widely used.
These endoscopes use a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) as an imaging means, and convert the subject image formed on the CCD into an electric signal or an image signal and display the subject image on a monitor screen. There is an electronic endoscope that is designed to be observed by observing.

[0003] This electronic endoscope has a flexible insertion portion, and a bending portion formed by connecting a plurality of bending pieces so as to be able to bend vertically and horizontally and is provided at the insertion portion. There is an object that can be inserted into a closed body cavity. The bending operation of the bending portion is performed by a bending operation knob which is one of operation switches provided on an operation portion also serving as a grip portion located at the proximal end of the insertion portion.

[0004] A universal cord in which a signal cable or a light guide fiber extending from the CCD or the operation switch is inserted extends from the side of the operation unit. A connector is provided at an end of the universal cord, and is detachably connected to a camera control unit (hereinafter, referred to as CCU) as an external device via the connector.

The CCU processes, for example, an electric signal of a subject photoelectrically converted by a light source device (not shown) for supplying illumination light to an electronic endoscope or a solid-state imaging device provided in the distal end of the insertion section. A signal processing device and the like are built in. Therefore, by connecting a universal cord to the CCU via the connector, transmission and reception of electric signals, supply of illumination light, and the like can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional electronic endoscope operating section (hereinafter abbreviated as an operating section) 100 is formed by a gripping portion 101 and an operating portion 102 located near the hand (upper side in the figure). Have been. The operation part 102 includes buttons constituting operation switches such as a suction button 103 and an air / water supply button 104, a bending operation knob 105 which is an operation switch for bending a bending part (not shown) of the insertion part 111, 106 is provided. In addition, gripping part 10
Control switches 107, 108, 109, 110, and the like, which are operation switches for performing control and the like on an endoscope image displayed on a display device (not shown), are provided near the end of 1.

It is desirable that the operation unit 100 be held by the left hand. In other words, the user holds the middle part (not shown) of the insertion part 111 with the right hand, and operates the bending operation knobs 105 and 106 with the finger of the left hand while inserting the insertion part 1.
For example, an operation of guiding the distal end portion 11 to an observation site in a body cavity is performed, or a suction button 103, an air / water supply button 104, and various control switches 107, 108, and 109 are held with the left hand while holding the insertion section 111 with the right hand. , 110 can be operated.

Thus, the user can insert the right hand into the insertion section 1
Since the operation switch can be operated with the finger of the left hand without separating from the insertion part 11, not only the operation of introducing the insertion part 111 to the observation site can be efficiently performed, but also the insertion part 1
The necessity of operating various operation switches of the operation part 102 with the right hand touching 11 is eliminated, and a hygienic configuration is provided.

[0009]

However, as shown in FIG. 5, a universal cord 112 having high elasticity extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the operation section 100. Therefore, when introducing the insertion section 111 into the body cavity, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the operation of twisting 11 in the direction of arrow A is performed, the universal cord 112 is bent so as to wind around the operation unit 100.

Then, since the universal cord 112 has elasticity, the operating cord 100 is restored to the original position from the universal cord 112 bent so as to be wound. A torsional moment is generated to cause the torsion moment. At this time, the surgeon must operate the operation unit 100 against this torsional moment, and there is a problem that an excessive amount of force is required for the operation of the endoscope.

Further, during the observation, for example, when the air supply / water supply button 104 provided on the operation unit 100 is operated, there is a possibility that the suction buttons 103 arranged side by side may be erroneously operated. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an electronic endoscope excellent in operability, which can be operated without putting an unnecessary burden on an operator when operating the endoscope. The purpose is to do.

[0013]

An electronic endoscope according to the present invention comprises:
Air supply / water supply for performing an air supply / water supply operation by extending a universal cord in which an insertion portion inserted toward the observation site and a signal cable or the like extending from an imaging unit built in the insertion portion extend. An electronic endoscope provided with a switch and a bending switch for performing a suction operation and a bending operation knob for performing a bending operation on a bending portion configuring the insertion portion,
The insertion portion and the universal cord intersect at a predetermined angle in the same plane, and an operation portion is disposed at a vertex position formed by the intersection.

In addition, an eave portion is provided in the operation portion to divide the operation portion operation region and the operation portion grip region, and an eave portion is provided between the air / water switch and the suction switch.

According to this configuration, the torsional moment generated from the universal cord is reduced, and the burden on the user when operating the endoscope is reduced, so that the operation is facilitated. Further, the eaves section which divides the operation section operation area and the operation section grip area can accurately hold the operation section. Further, by the eaves provided between the air / water switch and the suction switch, not only the positional relationship between the air / water switch and the suction switch can be visually recognized, but also a reliable operation can be determined by the sense of a finger. I can do it.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope device, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation unit of the electronic endoscope,
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the operation unit, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the operation unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope (hereinafter, abbreviated as an endoscope) 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, a medical endoscope, and has an elongated insertion portion 2 inserted into a body cavity. A slender operating portion 3 serving also as a grip portion disposed on the base end side of the insertion portion 2, and a universal cord 4 extending from the operating portion 3.
It is mainly composed of

An endoscope connector 4a is provided at the base end of the universal cord 4. The endoscope connector 4a has a built-in light source unit, a video processor, an air supply / water supply unit, a suction unit, and the like. The unit 5 is detachably connected to the unit 5. Note that reference numeral 5a is
For example, a liquid crystal monitor on which an endoscope image captured by the endoscope 1 is displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insertion portion 2 extends from the lower end of the insertion portion 2 in the drawing in a direction substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis direction of the operation portion 3. A universal cord 4 intersecting at an acute angle (θ) with the longitudinal axis direction extends.

The insertion portion 2 includes a rigid distal end portion 21 having a built-in image pickup device (not shown) in order from the distal end side, and a bending portion 2 formed by connecting a plurality of bending pieces so as to be capable of bending vertically and horizontally.
2. A flexible tube portion 23 having flexibility is continuously provided.

The operating section 3 is formed by an operating section grip area 3a to be gripped by the operator and an operating section operating area 3b located at the hand side (corresponding to the upper side in the figure). In the operation section operation area 3b, a bending operation knob 31 and a suction button 32 which are operation switches for performing the bending operation of the bending section 22 are provided.
Button switches that constitute operation switches, such as an air / water button 33, or control switches 34, 35, and 36, which are operation switches for controlling an endoscope image displayed on a display device (not shown), are provided in a watertight manner. ing.

A first eave portion 37 is provided between the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33.
The first eave portion 37 is a convex portion for enabling the suction button 32 and the air supply / water supply button 33 to be visually and visually sensed and sensed by a finger. Projecting higher than the height of

Similarly to the first eave portion 37, a second eave portion 38 protruding from the operation portion side surface is provided below the air / water supply button 33 located below the operation portion operation area 3b. Is provided. This second eave portion 38
The operating part gripping area 3a and the operating part operating area 3b are divided, and a protrusion height is set to a height at which an operator's operating part gripping area 3a is gripped, for example, a ring finger is caught, thereby serving as a grip assisting part. .

Reference numeral 39 denotes a treatment tool insertion port for guiding a treatment tool such as forceps into a body cavity through a suction channel.

The operation of the electronic endoscope configured as described above will be described. First, the connector 4a provided at the end of the universal cord 4 extending from the operation unit 3 of the endoscope 1
Is connected to a predetermined position of the observation unit 5. Then, the surgeon grasps the endoscope 1 and inserts the insertion section 2 into the body cavity. At this time, since the operator places the left hand on one side of the operation unit 3 and the other side and the lower side of the second eaves 38 in the drawing, the operator can hold the operation unit 3 in a stable state and perform the insertion operation. .

While observing the endoscope image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 5a in this gripping state, the distal end portion 21 of the insertion section 2 is inserted toward the observation site. At this time, the operator performs the insertion operation while twisting the insertion section 2 as necessary, for example, as indicated by the arrow B, as necessary.

In this embodiment, since the insertion portion 2 extending from the operation portion 3 and the universal cord 4 extend while maintaining the relationship of the acute angle θ, when the insertion portion 2 is twisted, the universal Since the cord 4 moves only around the insertion section 2, the universal cord 4 is not bent so as to apply a load to the operation section 3. That is, the operation can be performed on the operation unit 3 without receiving a twisting moment due to the elasticity of the universal cord 4.

If the distal end portion 21 of the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1 is made to face the observation site, a necessary treatment is performed while observing the endoscopic image of the observation site displayed on the screen. I do. At this time, the surgeon operates operation buttons such as the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33, for example.

At this time, the operator confirms the first eave portion 37 projecting between the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33 with a finger, and thereby the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33 are checked. And the desired operation can be performed by accurately determining the position. That is, the surgeon can reliably and quickly operate the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33 with his left hand without taking his eyes off the endoscope image on the screen.

As described above, the insertion portion and the universal cord extend from the lower end of the insertion portion, and the insertion portion and the universal cord intersect at an acute angle. That is, the insertion portion and the universal cord intersect at an acute angle. By providing the operation portion at the apex position, when the insertion portion is twisted, it is possible to prevent the torsion moment due to the elasticity of the universal cord from acting on the operation portion. As a result, no extra load is applied when operating the operation unit, so that the operability is stabilized.

Further, by providing an eave portion on the operation portion, the operation portion operation region and the operation portion grip region are divided, and the eave portion is used as a grip assisting portion on which an operator puts a finger when gripping the operation portion. This can greatly improve the grip of the operation unit.

Further, by providing an eave portion between the suction button and the air / water supply button, by confirming the position of this eave portion visually or with the sense of a finger, the operator can mistakenly intend. Performing a button operation different from the above can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the suction button 32 and the air / water supply button 33 are distinguished by the eaves 37, 38 protruding from one side surface which is the side surface of the operation unit, and the operation unit grip area 3a The operation section 3 is divided into an operation section 3b and an operation section 3b. As shown in FIG. 3, a step section is provided on the operation section 3 to provide a first eave portion 37a and a second eave portion 38a.
The same operation and effect can be obtained by configuring the above.

Even when the surface of the exterior of the operation unit 3 is formed as a curved surface as shown in FIG. 4, the eaves 37b and 38b are protruded from the surface of the exterior and are fed to the suction button 32. Even when the operation switches such as the air / water supply button 33 are assigned to predetermined positions, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Reference numeral 31a denotes a bending operation switch provided in place of the bending operation knob 31.

The positions of the operation switches are not limited to the vertical positional relationship shown in the figure, but may be, for example, a horizontal positional relationship. In this case, the operation section operation area and the operation section holding area may be divided by a plurality of eaves. Further, the shape of the eaves is not limited to a flat plate shape or a step shape as shown in the figure. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the endoscope is described as a medical electronic endoscope, but is not limited to medical use, and may be an industrial electronic endoscope.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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

(1) A universal cord in which an insertion portion to be inserted toward an observation site and a signal cable or the like extending from an image pickup means built in the insertion portion are extended to perform an air supply / water supply operation. An electronic endoscope provided with an air supply / water supply switch, a suction switch for performing a suction operation, and a bending operation knob for bending a bending portion constituting the insertion portion in the operation portion, wherein the insertion portion and the universal An electronic endoscope in which a code and a code intersect at a predetermined angle in the same plane, and an operation unit is disposed at a vertex formed by the intersection.

(2) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein an eave portion is provided in the operation section, and an operation section operation area and an operation section gripping area are divided.

(3) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein an eave portion is provided between the air / water switch and the suction switch.

(4) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein the eaves portion is a grip assisting portion when gripping the endoscope.

(5) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 3, wherein the eaves are appropriately protruded from an outer surface of the operation unit, and an operation switch arrangement position is allocated.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic endoscope excellent in operability is provided, which can be operated without placing an unnecessary burden on the operator when operating the endoscope. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration example of an operation unit of the electronic endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the operation unit.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 relate to a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation unit when the insertion unit is twisted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 insertion part 3 operation part 3a operation part grip area 3b operation part operation area 4 universal cord 31 bending operation knob 32 suction button 33 air supply / water supply button 37 first eaves part 38 second Eaves part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A universal cord in which an insertion portion inserted toward an observation site and a signal cable or the like extending from an image pickup means built in the insertion portion extend, and the
An electronic endoscope in which an operation section has an air supply / water supply switch for performing a water supply operation, a suction switch for performing a suction operation, and a bending operation knob that bends a bending section constituting the insertion section. An electronic endoscope, wherein a part and the universal cord intersect at a predetermined angle in the same plane, and an operation part is disposed at a vertex position formed by the intersection. 2. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an eave portion is provided in the operation section, and an operation section operation area and an operation section holding area are separated. 3. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an eave portion is provided between the air / water switch and the suction switch.