JP2005270295A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus which enables an operator to well visually recognize an image of a subject displayed on a liquid crystal display screen. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope apparatus is equipped with an insertion part 11 inserted in a body cavity of the subject, an operational part 12 which is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion part 11 and includes a grasping part 10 for grasping, an image displaying device 3 provided to oppose to an outer peripheral surface of the operational part 12, and first and second connecting parts which are provided on the operational part 12 and support the image displaying device 3 to be opened and closed to the outer peripheral surface of the operational part 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that is compact and suitable for carrying with a small display device.

An endoscope device widely used in the medical field and the industrial field is connected to a stationary television monitor via a cable at a portion corresponding to the eyepiece, and an image sensor such as a CCD is used to obtain an image obtained by the endoscope. The combined image is converted into a signal, and the converted image is supplied to a television monitor at a remote location via a cable and displayed on the screen as an image. There is something.
In addition, an endoscope apparatus has been proposed in which a light source device, a display device such as a small liquid crystal monitor, and a battery that drives the light source, the imaging element, and the liquid crystal monitor are mounted on the endoscope (for example, Patent Documents). 1-3).
JP-A-10-127575 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-9548 (FIG. 1) JP 2000-116599 A (FIG. 1)

  In the conventional video display device, the video display device is installed on the upper part of the endoscope, and displays an image of the subject on the liquid crystal display screen. The surgeon may change the way of holding the endoscope as appropriate depending on the procedure and the method of examination, but the surgeon is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen because the liquid crystal display screen of the video display device has a narrow viewing angle. In some cases, the image of the subject cannot be viewed well.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus in which an operator can satisfactorily visually recognize an image of a subject displayed on a liquid crystal display screen.

As means for solving the above problems, an endoscope apparatus having the following configuration is employed.
That is, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an insertion unit that is inserted into a body cavity of a subject, an operation unit that is connected to a proximal end side of the insertion unit and includes a gripping unit that can be gripped, A display device provided so as to face the outer peripheral surface, and a support unit provided in the operation unit and configured to support the display device so that the display device can be opened and closed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit. Features.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the display device is supported to be openable and closable with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit. Here, when the operator cannot visually recognize the image of the subject displayed on the display device during the operation of the endoscope apparatus, the operator holds the grasping part while holding the grasping part provided on the operation part. The opening / closing angle of the display device can be adjusted by using the fingers of the hand, and the opening / closing angle at which the image of the subject displayed on the display device can be seen well can be obtained. Thereby, even when the endoscope apparatus is being operated, the surgeon can always visually recognize the image of the subject displayed on the display device regardless of the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display screen. Therefore, the operability of the endoscope apparatus is improved.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the support unit can rotate the display device with respect to one direction of the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit, and the first rotation shaft. It is preferable to have a second rotation shaft that enables the display device to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the axis.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the display device, which is closed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit, can be rotated around the two axes of the first and second rotation shafts. However, the degree of freedom for adjusting the display angle of the display device increases. Thereby, the surgeon can visually recognize the image of the subject displayed on the display device better.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the concave portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion and the support portion support the display device so that the display device can be stored in the concave portion.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the display device can be housed in a recess formed in the operation unit, and is supported so that an image of the subject can be pulled out from the operation unit so that an image of the subject can be observed as necessary. . Thereby, by accommodating the display device in the recess, the endoscope device can be miniaturized and the portability is improved.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the first and second rotation shafts are provided separately from the central axis of the display device.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the display device is pulled out from the display device housed in the recess formed in the operation portion, and the display device is rotated around the first and / or second rotation shafts. When the image is adjusted so that it can be observed satisfactorily, the display device is housed in the recess while being rotated around the axis of the second rotation shaft by 180 ° from the state in which the display device is housed. Can be avoided.

  According to the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, the operator adjusts the opening / closing angle of the display device with the hand holding the endoscope during the operation of the endoscope device, and the subject displayed on the display device The opening / closing angle at which the above image can be seen well. Thus, the surgeon can always see the image of the subject displayed on the display device satisfactorily even when the endoscope apparatus is being operated. Therefore, the operability of the endoscope apparatus is improved.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 visualizes and displays an endoscope 1, a light source device 2 that emits illumination light that illuminates the subject, and an image of the subject obtained by the endoscope 1. A video display device (display device) 3 is provided as a main component.
The endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 11 in which a distal end is inserted into an observation site, and an operation portion 12 for bending the distal end of the insertion portion 11. Further, the endoscope 1 has an image pickup device (image pickup means) 4 such as a CCD that receives an image (light) guided by an image guide 11b described later, and a condensing lens that forms an image on a light receiving portion of the image pickup device 4. 4a. The insertion portion 11 has a flexible and elongated shape, and is connected to one end of the operation portion 12. The insertion portion 11 has a hard tip portion 16 located at the tip, and a bending portion 17 provided continuously to the tip portion 16. And a flexible portion 18 provided continuously to the bending portion 17 and connected to the operation portion 12. The distal end portion 16 is provided with an objective lens 19 that forms an image of reflected light from a subject illuminated by illumination light, and an illumination window 16a that emits illumination light. The bending portion 17 and the flexible portion 18 include a light guide 11 a that guides illumination light from the light source device 2 to the distal end portion 16, and an image guide 11 b that guides an image formed on the objective lens 19 to the image sensor 4. ing. Note that the imaging element 4 may be provided at the distal end portion 16 described later.

  The operation unit 12 is a curve for bending the bending portion 17 in a desired direction via the grasping portion 10 for the operator to grasp the endoscope 1 and the two wires 11c passed through the insertion portion 11. And an operation lever 20. The grip portion 10 is formed in a bar shape and can be gripped so as to be wrapped with a thumb and other fingers. The grasping unit 10 includes a suction cap 13 for sucking a liquid such as a body fluid, a forceps insertion port 14 for inserting a treatment tool such as a forceps, and the inside of the endoscope 1 at the time of water leakage inspection of the endoscope 1. A vent 15 for sending air is provided. A suction device is connected to the suction base 13 via a tube (not shown), and body fluid and the like can be sucked through the suction base 13 by operating the suction device. An air supply device is connected to the vent base 15 via a tube (not shown), and by operating the air supply device, air is sent from the vent base 15 to the endoscope 1, and the endoscope 1. Internal water leak inspection can be performed.

In addition, the operation unit 12 is provided with a concave portion 21 that can accommodate the video display device 3 on the outer peripheral surface, and a first connecting portion (support portion) 22 that supports the video display device 3 to the endoscope 1. It has been. The operation unit 12 includes an activation switch 23 that activates the endoscope apparatus and an image recording switch 25b that records an image displayed on the image display apparatus 3 in an image recording apparatus 25 described later.
As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the first connecting portion 22 includes a socket 22A that is a concave portion formed adjacent to the concave portion 21 and is a substantially spherical hole, which will be described later. A cable lead-out hole 22B for drawing the cable 7 to the outside of the endoscope 1 is formed.
Further, a filling member 24 is provided in a gap generated between the cable lead-out hole 22 </ b> B and the cable 7. The filling member 24 is a hollow shaft-like member having a flange portion 24 </ b> A formed at one end, and is configured to engage with the casing of the endoscope 1.

In the operation unit 12, an image recording device 25 that records an image of a subject, an image sensor control circuit 26 that converts the subject image captured by the image sensor 4 into a signal, and an image sensor control circuit 26. And a display element control circuit 27 that visualizes the signal output from the display element and displays the signal on a display element 37 of the video display device 3 to be described later. The battery 5 is a secondary battery that can be repeatedly charged and used, and a battery 5 that supplies power to each part of the light source device 2, the image sensor 4, and the video display device 3 is incorporated in a replaceable manner.
The image recording device 25 is constituted by a memory card, for example, and is built in the endoscope 1 so as to be replaceable.

  The bending operation lever 20 is provided adjacent to the grip 10 so that it can be operated with the thumb of the hand holding the grip 10. The bending operation lever 20 is an L-shape composed of a distal end portion 20a operated by the belly of the thumb holding the gripping portion 10 and a proximal end portion 20b connected to one end of the distal end portion 20a. A base end portion 20b is pivotally supported by 12a and is supported so as to be swingable up and down. The bending operation lever 20 can bend the bending portion 17 freely by pushing and pulling the tip portion 20a up and down with a thumb to apply tension to one of the wires 11c and thrust to the other wire 11c. It is like that.

The light source device 2 includes a light source lamp 31, a hand switch 32 for an operator to arbitrarily turn on / off the light source lamp 31, and a condensing lens 33 that condenses illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 31. ing. Further, the light source device 2 is provided with a connector 2a to which a power supply cable 6 described later is detachably connected. The light source lamp 31, the hand switch 32, and the connector 2a are connected in series by a power supply line 2b built in the light source device 2.
Illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 31 is condensed by the condenser lens 33, guided to the light guide 11a, emitted from the illumination window 16a, and illuminates the body cavity.

  The video display device 3 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, is provided so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 12 by fitting with the first connecting portion 22, and rotates with respect to the endoscope 1. It is configured to be supported as possible. The video display device 3 is provided at one end and is connected to the first connection portion 22, whereby the video display device 3 is supported by the endoscope 1, and a second connection portion (support portion) 35. A video display device main body 38 having a pair of finger hooks 36 projecting from both sides and a display element 37 such as an LCD for displaying an observation image of a subject as a video is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second connecting portion 35 is a shaft-like member, and a spherical stud 35 </ b> A that fits the socket 22 </ b> A is provided at the tip. By fitting the stud 35 </ b> A and the socket 22 </ b> A, a so-called ball joint connection is established between the video display device 3 and the endoscope 1, and the video display device 3 is slidable with respect to the endoscope 1. Become.
Further, the second connecting portion 35 is provided at a position such that the central axis 35 </ b> B is separated from the central axis 3 </ b> A of the video display device 3. Thus, the display device 37 can be prevented from being housed in the recess 21 while the display element 37 faces outward from the endoscope 1.
The finger hook 36 is provided so that it can be operated with the thumb and middle finger of the gripped hand in a state where the grip provided on the operation unit 12 is gripped. The angle of the video display device 3 with respect to the endoscope 1 can be adjusted by the middle finger.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the video display device 3 can be opened and closed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 12 by fitting the first connecting unit 22 and the second connecting unit 35. Thereby, it is comprised so that the display angle of the video display apparatus 3 can be adjusted.

The light source device 2 is connected via a power supply cable 6 that includes a power supply line 31a described later. The feeding cable 6 is fixed to the endoscope 1 side, and a connector 6a is provided at the tip. The connector 6a is detachably connected to the connector 2a of the light source device 2.
The video display device 3 is connected via a cable 7 that includes a power supply line 37a and a signal line S3, which will be described later.

  A power supply line 4 b that supplies power to the image sensor 4 is provided between the image sensor 4 and the battery 5. A power supply line 31 a that supplies power to the light source lamp 31 is provided between the light source device 2 and the battery 5. Is provided. Similarly, a power supply line 41 a for supplying power to the display element 4 is provided between the display element 37 and the battery 5, and power is supplied to the image recording apparatus 25 between the image recording apparatus 25 and the battery 5. A power supply line 45a to be supplied is provided. A power supply line 46 a for supplying power to the image sensor control circuit 26 is provided between the image sensor control circuit 26 and the battery 5, and a display element control circuit is provided between the display element control circuit 27 and the battery 5. A power supply line 47 a for supplying power to the power supply 27 is provided.

  Between the image sensor 4 and the image sensor control circuit 26, a signal line S1 for transmitting a video signal acquired by the image sensor 4 to the image sensor control circuit 26 is provided. The image sensor control circuit 26 and the display element control circuit are provided. 27 is provided with a signal line S2 for transmitting a video signal input to the image sensor control circuit 26 to the display element control circuit 27. Between the display element control circuit 27 and the display element 37, a display line is provided. A signal line S3 for inputting the video signal input to the element control circuit 27 to the display element 31 is provided, and the video input to the image sensor control circuit 26 is provided between the image recording device 25 and the image sensor control circuit 26. A signal line S4 for transmitting a signal to the image recording device 25 is provided.

  In the endoscope device configured as described above, the video display device 3 is supported by the first connecting portion 22 and the second connecting portion 35 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion 12. . As a result, when the operator cannot satisfactorily visually recognize the image of the subject displayed on the video display device 3 during the operation of the endoscope apparatus, the surgeon grasps the grasping part 10 provided in the operation part 12. In this state, the opening / closing angle of the video display device 3 can be adjusted using the fingers of the gripped hand, so that the image of the subject displayed on the video display device 3 can be viewed well. Thereby, the surgeon can visually recognize the image of the subject satisfactorily regardless of the viewing angle of the display element 37 even during operation of the endoscope apparatus. Therefore, the operability of the endoscope apparatus is improved.

At this time, since the first and second connecting portions 22 and 35 are so-called ball joint connections, the video display device 3 can be rotated with respect to the endoscope 1 in various directions. . Accordingly, the degree of freedom for the surgeon to adjust the display angle of the video display device 3 is increased.
Since the finger hooks 36 are provided so as to protrude from both side surfaces of the video display device main body 38, the opening / closing angle of the video display device 3 can be easily adjusted.

Further, since the recess 21 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 12, the video display device 3 is accommodated in the recess 21 when the operation unit 12 is closed. As a result, the endoscope apparatus can be reduced in size, and the video display apparatus 3 can be stored when the video display apparatus 3 is closed with respect to the operation unit 12. Thereby, the endoscope apparatus can be miniaturized and the portability is improved.
Further, the central axis 3 </ b> A of the video display device 3 is provided at a position separated from the central axis 35 </ b> B of the second connecting portion 35. Thereby, it is avoided that the image display device 3 is housed in the recess 21 while the display element 37 faces the outside of the endoscope 1.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component already demonstrated in the said 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the endoscope 1 in the first embodiment, the video display device 3 is supported by a so-called ball joint connection, whereas the second embodiment is different from the second embodiment. In the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the video display device 51 is perpendicular to the first rotation shaft 52 and the first rotation shaft 52 that are rotatable with respect to the endoscope 1. This is a point that is supported by a rotation mechanism (supporting portion) 54 including a second rotation shaft 53 that can be rotated around an arbitrary axis.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the video display device 51 according to the present embodiment has a rotation mechanism 54 that allows the video display device 51 to rotate with respect to the endoscope 1 and a video display device having a display element 37. The apparatus main body 55 is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotation mechanism 54 includes a first rotation shaft 52 that can rotate the video display device 51 in a direction perpendicular to the axis on the peripheral surface of the endoscope 1, and the first rotation shaft 52. A second rotation shaft 53 that allows the video display device 51 to rotate in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation shaft 52 is provided.
The 1st rotation axis | shaft 52 is a convex part provided in the longitudinal direction both sides | surfaces of the rotation mechanism 54, and becomes a structure which engages with the support hole 21B mentioned later.
The second rotation shaft 53 is a cylindrical convex portion provided at one end of the rotation mechanism 54 and is configured to engage with the video display device main body 55.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, an electrode 56 that supplies power and video signals from the endoscope 1 is provided at the proximal end of the rotation mechanism 54. It is provided so as to be electrically connected to an electrode 65, which will be described later, formed in the recess 21 when rotated 90 ° around the axis of the rotation shaft 52.

The video display device main body 55 is formed with a convex portion 61 having a cylindrical shape that engages with the second rotational shaft 53 at one end connected to the rotational mechanism 54, and the second rotational shaft 53 and the convex portion 61. A feeding cable 7 for supplying power and a video signal to the display element 37 is disposed in the opening.
The opening diameter of the convex portion 61 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the second rotating shaft 53, but is slightly larger, and a gap generated when the convex portion 61 and the second rotating shaft 53 are engaged. The O-ring 62 is arranged so that the convex portion 61 can rotate with respect to the second rotation shaft 53. By doing in this way, the airtightness of the electric power feeding cable 7 arrange | positioned inside the convex part 61 and the 2nd rotating shaft 53 is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the video display device 51 can be opened and closed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 12 by a rotation mechanism 54 including a first rotation shaft 52 and a second rotation shaft 53. Thereby, it is comprised so that the display angle of the video display apparatus 51 can be adjusted similarly to 1st Embodiment mentioned above.

  The recess 21 is formed with a support hole 21 </ b> B that is a pair of locking holes that rotatably support the video display device 51 with respect to the endoscope 1, and is in contact with the above-described electrode 56 so as to be endoscopic. An electrode 65 for outputting electric power and a video signal from the mirror 1 to the video display device 51 is provided.

  The endoscope apparatus configured as described above has the same operations and effects as the endoscope apparatus in the first embodiment described above, but the endoscope 1 and the video display apparatus 51 use cables. Therefore, the cable 56 can be prevented from being tangled when the video display device 51 is rotated in various directions with respect to the endoscope 1.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the endoscope apparatus having the structure in which the operation unit 12 is provided with the image recording device 25, the imaging element control circuit 26, and the display element control circuit 27 has been described. The present invention is not limited to the endoscope apparatus having the above-described structure, and can also be applied to an endoscope apparatus having a structure in which the image recording device 25, the imaging element control circuit 26, and the display element control circuit 27 are provided in the video display device 3. .
Further, the video display device 3 is supported so as to be able to be opened and closed upward with respect to the endoscope 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the video display device 3 can be opened and closed in the other direction such as the lower side. It may be supported by.
Further, the structure in which the endoscope 1 and the light source device 2 are connected by the power supply cable 6 has been described. However, the endoscope apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the endoscope apparatus having the above structure, and in the first embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the present invention can be applied to an endoscope apparatus having a structure in which an endoscope 1 and a light source device 2 are integrated.

  The endoscope apparatus of the present invention can be suitably used not only for medical use as described above but also for industrial use.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the endoscope apparatus in 1st Embodiment concerning this invention from the direction different from FIG. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the endoscope apparatus in 1st Embodiment concerning this invention. The 1st connection part in 1st Embodiment concerning this invention is shown, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a top view. It is a top view which shows the video display apparatus in 1st Embodiment concerning this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the video display apparatus of the endoscope apparatus in 1st Embodiment concerning this invention. It is a perspective view of the endoscope apparatus in 2nd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the video display apparatus in 2nd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd rotating shaft in 2nd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the 1st rotating shaft in 2nd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the video display apparatus of the endoscope apparatus in 2nd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the endoscope apparatus which can apply this invention other than embodiment concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Video display device (display device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Holding part 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 21 Recessed part 22 1st connection part (support part)
35 Second connecting part (supporting part)
52 1st rotation axis | shaft 53 2nd rotation axis | shaft 54 Rotation mechanism (support part)

Claims (4)

An insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity of the subject;
An operation unit that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit and includes a gripping unit that can be gripped;
A display device provided to face the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit;
A support unit provided in the operation unit and configured to support the display device so as to be openable and closable with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the operation unit;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:   A first rotation shaft that enables the display unit to rotate the display device with respect to one direction of an outer peripheral surface of the operation unit, and the display device about an axis perpendicular to the first rotation shaft The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second rotation shaft that enables rotation of the endoscope. A recess provided on the outer peripheral surface of the operation portion;
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support unit supports the display device so that the display device can be stored in the recess. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first and second rotation shafts are provided separately from a central axis of the display device.

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