JP2003021792A - Portable endoscopic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable endoscopic system which has LEDs for illumination at the distal end of an insertion portion of a scope and automatically switches a power source for supplying a driving current to the LEDs for illumination when the output voltage of the power source drops. SOLUTION: An auxiliary power source circuit 110 is connected to between a battery pack 100 of 6V in the output voltage and the LEDs 51 to 56 for illumination in parallel to the battery pack 100. The auxiliary power source circuit 110 has a battery 111 of 3V in the output voltage, an LED 112 for warning and a diode 113. An LED emitting red light is used for the LED 112 for warning. The cathode side of the LED 112 for warning and the cathode side of the diode 113 are connected and the anode side of the LED 112 for warning is connected to the battery 111. The anode side of the diode 113 is connected to the plus side of the battery pack 100 and the minus side of the battery 111 is connected to the minus side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to power supply to illumination means in a portable endoscope configured as a fiberscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a portable endoscope which is constructed as a fiberscope and can be carried around freely. The portable endoscope has an LE, which is a semiconductor light emitting element for illuminating the front, at the tip of an insertion portion inserted into a living body.
A type in which a D (light emitting diode) is arranged has been proposed. This is because the LED consumes less electric power than a halogen lamp or the like, and has an advantage that it has no filament breakage unlike a tungsten lamp and has good durability. A power supply unit in which a battery is arranged is detachably connected to the operation section of this type of portable endoscope, and this battery is used as a power supply for supplying a drive current of the LED. Therefore, such a portable endoscope can be operated even in a place where commercial power cannot be supplied.

[0003]

However, since the power supply capacity of the battery has a life, the above-mentioned illumination means is used while the insertion portion of the portable endoscope is inserted into the patient's body for observation. There is a concern that the supply of the drive current for a certain LED will stop. In that case, the LED may be turned off and the function of illuminating the inside of the living body may not be fulfilled. If the insertion portion cannot be observed in the state of being inserted into the living body, it may hinder the work of taking out the insertion portion.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the safety of a portable endoscope system of a type in which an LED is arranged at the tip of a scope as a light source of illumination light.

[0005]

In a portable endoscope system according to the present invention, at least one semiconductor light emitting element for illumination provided at the tip of the insertion portion of a scope and a drive current for the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination are provided. The auxiliary power supply circuit is provided with a main power supply for supplying power and an auxiliary power supply circuit electrically connected in parallel to the main power supply so as to be interposed between the main power supply and the semiconductor light emitting element for lighting. The auxiliary power supply having an output voltage lower than the output voltage of the main power supply, and a notification unit for notifying a drop in the output voltage of the main power supply. When it descends,
Power is supplied from the auxiliary power source to supply a drive current for the semiconductor light emitting device for illumination, and the notification means is interposed between the semiconductor light emitting device for illumination and the auxiliary power source so as to be connected in series to the auxiliary power source. It is characterized by being.

[0006] Alternatively, the notifying means is a warning semiconductor light emitting element which operates by a drive current supplied from an auxiliary power source, and the notifying means selectively outputs a warning sound when the drive current is supplied. It is a warning sound output means. Alternatively, both the semiconductor light emitting element and the voice output means may be optionally provided as the notification means.

When the notification means is a voice output means, preferably, the auxiliary power supply circuit has a voice stop means for stopping the supply of the drive current to the voice output means and stopping the output of the warning sound. Further, when both the warning semiconductor light emitting element and the warning sound output means are provided as the notification means, preferably, the auxiliary power supply circuit stops the supply of the drive current to the audio output means and outputs the warning sound. It has warning sound stopping means for stopping and warning semiconductor light emitting element driving means for supplying a drive current from the auxiliary power supply to the warning semiconductor light emitting element in conjunction with the operation of stopping the warning sound output of the warning sound stopping means.

[0008] Preferably, the auxiliary power supply circuit, when supplying power for supplying a drive current from the auxiliary power supply to the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination, prevents a current from being supplied from flowing back to the main power supply. Have.

Preferably, the main power source is provided in a battery unit detachably attached to the scope.

Further, the portable endoscope system according to the present invention is for supplying at least one semiconductor light emitting element for illumination provided at the tip of the insertion portion of the scope and a drive current for the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination. A first power supply for supplying power,
When the output voltage of the second power supply whose output voltage is lower than the output voltage of the first power supply and the output voltage of the first power supply drops to a predetermined level lower than the output voltage of the second power supply, the first power supply replaces the first power supply. Power supply switching means for supplying power to supply a drive current from the second power supply to the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination; and that the output voltage of the first power supply has dropped to a predetermined level lower than the output voltage of the second power supply. And a notifying unit for notifying.

As described above, according to the present invention, the drive current is supplied from the auxiliary power supply even if the output voltage of the main power supply for supplying the drive current to the semiconductor light emitting device for illumination drops. Therefore, the illumination light is not suddenly interrupted during observation while the insertion portion of the scope is inserted into the patient's body, and the observation cannot be continued, and the safety of the portable endoscope system is enhanced. At the same time, since the means for notifying the drop in the output voltage of the main power source is provided, the user is informed that the main power source needs to be replaced.

When the warning sound output means is used as the notification means, the warning sound can be stopped by the operator's intention by providing a means for stopping the power supply of the warning sound output means. Therefore, psychological pressure caused by continuous sounding during the operation of the scope is avoided, and concentration on the scope operation is not reduced.

When power is supplied from the auxiliary power source to the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination to supply a drive current, a means for preventing the current output from the auxiliary power source from flowing back to the main power source side is provided. , The main power supply is prevented from being erroneously charged, and the safety is enhanced.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an external appearance of a portable endoscope to which a first embodiment according to the present invention is applied. The portable endoscope 10 includes an operation unit 11 having a rigid structure.
And the insertion part 1 which is a flexible conduit extending from the operation part 11.
2 is provided. In the portable endoscope 10, an image guide fiber bundle (hereinafter, image guide) (not shown) for observing an endoscope image is provided. The tip of the image guide extends to the tip of the insertion section 12,
The base end portion extends to the eyepiece portion 13 provided on the operation portion 11.

A forceps channel insertion opening 15 is provided on the operation section 11 on the insertion section 12 side, and on the eyepiece section 13 side of the operation section 11, the direction of the bending section near the distal end of the insertion section 12 is remotely controlled. An operation culvert 16 is provided to do this.
A suction operation unit 17 for performing a suction operation through the forceps channel is provided near the operation culm 16 in the operation unit 11.

A battery unit 20 is mounted in the mounting opening 14. The battery unit 20 includes a cylindrical housing 21 and a mounting nut 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery unit 20 is attachable to and detachable from the mounting opening 14 by rotating the mounting nut 23.

A warning indicator lamp 18 is provided at a predetermined position away from the grip of the operation section 11. The warning indicator lamp 18 lights up in red when the output voltage of the battery pack provided in the battery unit 20 drops. still,
The battery pack will be described later.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the tip of the insertion portion 12. In FIG. 3, the image guide described above is designated by the reference numeral 40. A tip portion 30 formed of a suitable rigid material, for example, a corrosion resistant metal, is fixed to the opening portion at the tip of the insertion portion 12. A through hole 31 for accommodating the tip of the image guide 40 is formed in the tip portion 30. An objective optical system 41 is provided at the tip of the image guide 40.
Is provided. At the opening of the through hole 31, the objective optical system 4
An observation window 42 is fixed for protecting 1 and preventing foreign matter from entering the inside of the through hole 31.

Further, through holes 32 and 33 are formed in the tip portion 30 along the cross section. Illumination LEDs 51 and 52 are arranged near the open ends of the through holes 32 and 33, respectively. Lighting LEDs 51, 5 in the through holes 32, 33
Divergent optical systems 53 and 54 are provided on the optical path of the emitted light of 2. Wirings W11, W12, W21, W22 are LED5
Wirings extending from the mounting opening 14 (FIG. 1) through a circuit board on the side of the portable endoscope 10 described later for supplying a driving current to the first and the second mounting portions 52, and when the battery unit 20 is mounted in the mounting opening 14, It is electrically connected to a circuit board in the battery unit 20 via contacts (not shown) provided on both the mounting opening 14 and the battery unit 20.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the tip portion 30, schematically showing the relative positional relationship between the respective portions. The discharge hole 43 communicates with a water / air supply passage formed in the insertion portion 12, and compressed air and cleaning water are ejected to remove the fog on the observation window 42 and clean the observation window 42. Also, the forceps channel 44
From the treatment tool, for example, the cup portion of the biopsy forceps is exposed,
The tissue piece of the affected area is cut off and the like. In addition to the illumination LEDs 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 30 is provided with a plurality of illumination LEDs 53 to 56 in an area excluding the observation window 42, the ejection hole 43, and the forceps channel 44.
The configuration of the tip portions 30 of the illumination LEDs 53 to 56 is the same as the configuration of the illumination LEDs 51 and 52 described above.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration for driving the illumination LEDs 51 to 56. In the circuit on the circuit board on the side of the portable endoscope 10, the illumination LEDs 51 to 56 are connected in series. The battery pack 100 (main power supply) provided in the battery unit 20 is composed of a lithium battery, and its output voltage is 6V. Battery unit 2
When 0 is attached to the portable endoscope 10, the battery pack 1
00 and a circuit that drives the LEDs 51 to 56 connected in series, the auxiliary power supply circuit 110 is connected in parallel with the battery pack 100. Furthermore, the battery pack 1
00 and the auxiliary power supply circuit 110 are connected to the booster circuit 120 via the switch 150.

The auxiliary power supply circuit 110 includes a battery 111.
(Auxiliary power source), and a warning LED 112 for displaying a warning,
The diode 113 is provided. A 3 V lithium battery whose output voltage is lower than the output voltage of the battery pack 100 is used as the battery 111, and an LED that emits red light, for example, is used as the warning LED 112. The warning LED 112 is provided in the warning indicator lamp 18 so that the emitted red light can be confirmed from the outside. In the auxiliary power supply circuit 110, the respective elements are connected in series so that the cathode side of the warning LED 112 and the cathode side of the diode 113 are connected, and the anode side of the warning LED 112 is connected to the positive side of the battery 111.
In addition, the diode 1 is provided on the positive side of the battery pack 100.
The anode side of 13 is connected, and the battery 1 is connected to the negative side.
The minus side of 11 is connected.

Battery pack 100 or battery 1
The voltage generated from 11 is boosted to a predetermined voltage value by the booster circuit 120. The booster circuit 120 may be configured as a circuit that boosts an input voltage by switching and outputs the boosted input voltage. For example, a general-purpose booster chopper IC is used.

Lighting LEDs 51 to 56 connected in series
The anode side of is connected to the booster circuit 120, and the voltage boosted to the above voltage value is applied. Lighting LED51
The cathode side of ~ 56 is a bipolar transistor 13
0 collector terminal. A constant current control circuit 1 is provided between the base terminal of the transistor 130 and the booster circuit 120.
40 is connected. The constant current control circuit 140 uses the reference voltage I
It is configured as a known circuit using C and a resistor for current detection, and for example, a general-purpose variable shunt regulator TL431 is used as the reference voltage IC. The constant current control circuit 140 drives the lighting LEDs 51 to 56 at a constant current with a predetermined current value.

The booster circuit 120 and the constant current control circuit 1
Since 40 is configured using a known IC, detailed description of the circuit configuration will be omitted.

A switch 150 is connected between the auxiliary power supply circuit 110 and the booster circuit 120. Switch 150
ON / OFF is controlled in conjunction with the rotation operation of the illumination button 22 of the battery unit 20. When the illumination button 22 is turned on and the switch 150 is turned on, a drive current is supplied through the above-described circuit, and the illumination LEDs 51 to 56
Lights up, the illumination button 22 is turned off, and the switch 15
When 0 is turned off, the supply of drive current is stopped and the lighting L
The EDs 51 to 56 are turned off.

Now, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The output voltage of the battery pack 100 is 6V,
Since the output voltage of the battery 111 is 3V, there is a potential difference between the power supply line from the battery pack 100 and the power supply line from the battery 111 in the auxiliary power supply circuit 110, which is a connection point. Therefore, the battery unit 2
The illumination button 22 of 0 is turned and the switch 150 is turned on.
When the voltage is set to N, the battery unit 2 is connected to the booster circuit 120.
A current is supplied from 0 through the diode 113 and the switch 150. As a result, the lighting LEDs 51 to 56 are turned on.

Since the battery pack 100 is composed of a lithium battery, its output voltage gradually drops. The output voltage of the battery pack 100 is decreasing, and the potential at the point A is a level around 3 V or less, specifically from 3 V to the warning LED.
When the voltage drops to a voltage value obtained by subtracting the forward voltage of 112, the booster circuit 120 starts to be supplied with current from the battery 111. As described above, the warning LED 112 is connected to the battery 111 in series. Therefore, in conjunction with the current supply from the battery 111, the warning LED
A current flows in 112 in the forward direction, becomes active, and red light is emitted. That is, when the output voltage of the battery pack 100 drops to a predetermined lower level than the output voltage of the battery 111, the warning LED 112 emits light,
The battery pack 100 is approaching the end of its life, and the operator is notified via the above-mentioned warning indicator lamp 18 that the battery pack 100 needs to be replaced. Further, when the output voltage of the battery pack 100 drops to a predetermined level, the battery 11 automatically
Since the electric current is supplied from the LED lamp 1, the insertion portion 12 is inserted into the patient's body and the LED 5 for illumination is lit due to the battery running out during observation.
1 to 56 are suddenly turned off, and there is no possibility of becoming unobservable.

The diode 113 is connected to the battery 111.
When the current supply from the battery 111 is started instead of the battery pack 100, the current flows back to the battery pack 100 side and the lithium battery constituting the battery pack 100 is erroneous. The phenomenon of being charged is prevented.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a portable endoscope to which the second embodiment according to the present invention is applied. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. Also in the second embodiment, the portable endoscope 10
The battery unit 20 is removably attached to the attachment opening 14 (FIG. 1), and normally, power is supplied from the battery unit 20 to the booster circuit 120 to illuminate the tip of the insertion portion via the booster circuit 120 and the constant current control circuit 140. LED 51 ~
The configuration in which the drive current is supplied to 56 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the operation unit 1
The warning indicator lamp 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided in FIG.

The auxiliary power supply circuit 210 includes a battery 111.
An illuminated switch 116 including the LED 112 and the switch 115, a diode 113, and a buzzer 114.
With. The LED 112 and the switch 115 are connected in series, and the buzzer 114 and the illuminated switch 11 are connected.
6 are connected in parallel, and the battery 111 and the auxiliary power supply circuit 1
It is interposed between a point A, which is a connection point between the power supply line from the battery pack 100 and the power supply line from the battery 111 in FIG. The illuminated switch 116 is provided as the warning indicator lamp 18 of the operation unit 11, and each time the warning indicator lamp 18 is pressed, the warning LED 112 is turned on and off and the buzzer stop switch 115 is turned on and off.

When the output voltage of the battery pack 100 drops to a level of 3 V or less, more specifically, to a voltage value obtained by subtracting the driving voltage of the buzzer 114 from 3 V, current starts to be supplied from the battery 111 to the booster circuit 120 side. As a result, the buzzer 114 is driven and a warning sound is emitted. That is, in the second embodiment, the battery pack 10
The zero voltage drop is first notified to the operator by a buzzer sound. In addition, here, the drive voltage of the buzzer is the warning LED.
It is higher than the forward voltage of 112.

Then, when the warning indicator lamp 18 is pressed, the buzzer stop switch 115 is turned on in conjunction with the buzzer stop switch 115. When the buzzer stop switch 115 is turned on, the warning LED 112
Is turned on, and the voltage of the level required to drive the buzzer 114 is not supplied. Therefore, the buzzer sound can be stopped by pressing the warning indicator lamp 18 while the buzzer sound is sounding. In addition, even if the buzzer stop switch 115 is turned on and the buzzer sound is stopped, the circuit is turned on by turning on the buzzer stop switch 115,
While the drive current is continuously supplied from the battery 111 to the warning LED 112, the warning indicator lamp 18 is turned on instead of the buzzer sound.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator is notified of the drop in the output voltage of the main power supply that supplies the drive current to the lighting LED, and the auxiliary power supply is used instead of the main power supply. Electric current is supplied. Therefore, the portable endoscope is continuously used without being aware of the drop in the output voltage of the power supply, the illumination light is not interrupted during the operation, and the safety as a medical device is enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a state in which a battery unit is attached to a portable endoscope to which a first embodiment according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a state in which a battery unit is removed from a portable endoscope.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion of the portable endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the front end of the insertion portion of the portable endoscope from the front.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration for supplying a drive current to an illumination LED arranged at the tip of the insertion portion of the portable endoscope.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration for supplying a drive current to an LED for illumination in a portable endoscope to which a second embodiment according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Portable endoscope 20 battery unit 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Lighting LED 100 battery pack 110, 210 Auxiliary power circuit 111 battery 112 Warning LED 113 diode 120 step-up circuit 140 constant current control circuit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. At least one at the tip of the insertion portion of the scope.
And a main power supply for supplying power for supplying a driving current to the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination, and a semiconductor light emitting element for illumination provided between the main power source and the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination. So that the auxiliary power supply circuit electrically connected in parallel to the main power supply, the auxiliary power supply circuit, the output voltage is lower than the output voltage of the main power supply, and the output voltage drop of the main power supply. And an informing means for announcing, when the output voltage of the main power source drops to a predetermined level lower than the output voltage of the auxiliary power source, the drive current of the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination is supplied from the auxiliary power source. Power is supplied to the auxiliary power source, and the notification means is interposed between the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination and the auxiliary power source so as to be connected in series to the auxiliary power source. System. 2. The portable endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit is a warning semiconductor light emitting element that operates by a drive current supplied from the auxiliary power source. 3. The portable endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a warning sound output unit that outputs a warning sound when power is supplied from the auxiliary power source. 4. The notification means includes a warning semiconductor light emitting element that operates by a drive current supplied from the auxiliary power supply, and a warning sound output means that outputs a warning sound when power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply. The portable endoscope system according to claim 1. 5. The auxiliary power supply circuit according to claim 3, further comprising warning sound stopping means for stopping the supply of the drive current to the sound output means and stopping the output of the warning sound. Portable endoscope system. 6. The auxiliary power supply circuit stops the supply of a drive current to the audio output means and stops the output of the warning sound, and a warning sound stop means, and the warning sound stop means outputs the warning sound. 5. A semiconductor light emitting device for warning driving means for supplying a drive current from the auxiliary power supply to the semiconductor light emitting device for warning in conjunction with a stop operation.
The portable endoscope system described in. 7. The auxiliary power supply circuit prevents a current due to the power supply from flowing back to the main power supply when supplying power for supplying a drive current from the auxiliary power supply to the semiconductor light emitting element for illumination. 7. The portable endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising a backflow prevention unit. 8. The portable endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the main power source is provided in a battery unit detachably attached to the scope. 9. At least 1 is provided at the tip of the insertion part of the scope.
A semiconductor light emitting device for illumination, a first power supply for supplying power for supplying a drive current to the semiconductor light emitting device for illumination, and a second output voltage lower than the output voltage of the first power supply. And the output voltage of the first power supply drops to a predetermined level lower than the output voltage of the second power supply, instead of the first power supply, the second power supply replaces the second power supply with the semiconductor light emission for illumination. Power supply switching means for supplying power to supply drive current to the element, and notification means for notifying that the output voltage of the first power supply has dropped to a predetermined level lower than the output voltage of the second power supply. A portable endoscope system characterized in that