JP2006106166A - Endoscopic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscopic device capable of observation by restraining an increase in the diameter of an imaging adaptor that is removable even if the size of an objective optical system varies. <P>SOLUTION: The adaptor 10 includes: an adaptor-side electrical contact 15 connectable to an insertion side electrical contact 13 disposed in an insertion section 2; an electrical wiring 16 having flexibility and used to electrically connect the adaptor-side electrical contact 15 and an LED illuminating unit 8; and an objective optical system 17 disposed opposite an object to be viewed by the endoscope. The adaptor-side electrical contact 15 is disposed near to the proximal end of the adaptor 10 than the prism 21 of the objective optical system 17. In addition, the uppermost part 15A of the adaptor-side electrical contact 15 is disposed nearer to the central axial line C1 of the adaptor 10 than the lowermost part 21A of the prism 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus in which an imaging adapter in which an illumination unit is arranged is detachably attached to an insertion part that is inserted into a lumen of an endoscopic object.

Endoscope apparatuses used for industrial use and medical use include a long insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen. In such an endoscope apparatus, in order to facilitate observation and imaging by illuminating the observation target in the lumen, the light emitted from an external light source is guided by a light guide such as an optical fiber to the tip of the insertion portion. There has been proposed one that guides light to an illumination optical system disposed in (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Thus, in the case of an endoscope that observes the endoscopic object from the side surface of the insertion portion, the objective optical system disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion includes a prism for bending the optical path by about 90 degrees. And in order to irradiate illumination light from the front end side of an adapter rather than the arrangement | positioning position of a prism, the light guide is distribute | arranged and passed through the back surface side of a prism.

On the other hand, in recent years, an imaging adapter having a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED) and having an illumination unit for irradiating light from the LED is made detachable at the distal end of the insertion unit, depending on the observation object and application. There has also been proposed an endoscope apparatus that is configured such that an optimal one can be selected from a plurality of types of imaging adapters that have different optical systems prepared in advance and can be exchanged.
In the case of such an endoscope, in order to supply power to the illumination unit, it is necessary to provide an electrical contact for connecting the electrical wiring connected to the LED and the wiring arranged in the insertion unit.

However, when electrical wiring is performed on the back surface side of the prism as in the light guide of the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the electrical contact is positioned further outward in the radial direction of the adapter than the prism, and the imaging adapter There is a possibility that the outer diameter of the will become large.
Japanese Patent No. 3372980

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an endoscope apparatus that enables observation while suppressing an increase in diameter of a detachable imaging adapter even if the size of the objective optical system changes. Objective.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope apparatus that includes an illumination adapter and includes an imaging adapter that can be attached to and detached from a distal end portion of an insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen. An adapter-side electrical contact that can be connected to the insertion-portion-side electrical contact disposed in the insertion portion; an electrical wiring portion that has flexibility and electrically connects the adapter-side electrical contact and the illumination portion; An objective optical system facing the endoscopic object, wherein the adapter-side electrical contact is closer to the proximal end side of the imaging adapter than at least a part of the objective optical system and at least one of the adapter-side electrical contacts. The portion is arranged closer to the central axis of the imaging adapter than at least a part of the objective optical system.

  Even if the objective optical system becomes large, this endoscope apparatus adjusts the overlapping state of the objective optical system and the adapter-side electrical contact with respect to the center axis of the imaging adapter, thereby increasing the size of the objective optical system. An increase in the diameter of the imaging adapter can be suppressed within a smaller range.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is the endoscope apparatus, wherein the objective optical system includes a prism that changes an optical path, and the adapter-side electrical contact is closest to the central axis of the imaging adapter. The position of the prism is arranged closer to the center axis of the imaging adapter than a position farthest from the center axis of the imaging adapter.

  In this endoscope apparatus, even if the prism included in the side-view imaging adapter is enlarged, electric wiring can be performed without increasing the adapter outer diameter, and the increase in the diameter of the adapter can be suppressed more suitably. .

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is the endoscope apparatus, wherein an optical path of the objective optical system and a central axis of the imaging adapter are substantially the same, and the most of the adapter-side electrical contacts are A position close to the optical path is arranged closer to the optical path than a position farthest from the optical path of the objective optical system.

  This endoscope apparatus can be electrically wired without enlarging the outer diameter of the adapter even if a part of the objective optical system of the direct-viewing type imaging adapter is enlarged, and it is more preferable to increase the diameter of the adapter. Can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, the increase in diameter of the adapter can be suppressed as much as possible even if the objective optical system is enlarged.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an insertion portion 5 that has a long flexible tube 2 and is inserted into a lumen, and a proximal end of the insertion portion 5. And a box-shaped device main body 6.

  The endoscope apparatus 1 outputs an image signal captured by the insertion section 5 to a signal processing circuit (not shown) installed in the apparatus main body section 6 through a signal line inside the flexible tube 2, and a signal processing circuit. The signal processed in the above is projected as an image on the liquid crystal panel 7 which is an image display means. The apparatus main body 6 incorporates a main power supply circuit (not shown) connected to a battery power supply in addition to a signal processing circuit.

The insertion unit 5 includes an LED illumination unit (illumination unit) 8 and includes an adapter (imaging adapter) 10 that can be attached to and detached from the distal end of the insertion unit 5 that is inserted into the lumen.
More specifically, a connecting plug 11 made of a hard material such as metal is provided at the distal end side of the flexible tube 2, and an adapter 10 is detachably provided at the distal end portion of the connecting plug 11.

The adapter 10 is of a so-called side view type, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adapter 10 further includes a substantially cylindrical adapter body 12 and an insertion portion side electrical contact disposed in the connection plug 11 of the insertion portion 5. 13, an adapter-side electrical contact 15 that can be connected to the electrical connection part 15, an electrical wiring part 16 that has flexibility and electrically connects the adapter-side electrical contact 15 and the LED illumination unit 8, and an objective that faces the object to be viewed And an optical system 17.
The adapter main body 12 is formed with a first side port 12A that supports the objective optical system 17 and a second side port 12B that supports the LED illumination unit 8 that are open on the same side surface.

  The objective optical system 17 includes a first lens 18 that is fixed to the first side port 12A so as to face the object to be viewed, and a CCD unit 20 that supports an image captured by the first lens 18 in the connection plug 11. And a prism 21 for bending the optical path C to approximately 90 degrees so as to be aligned with the central axis C1 of the adapter main body 12.

The prism 21 is a two-surface reflection type including a first prism 22 and a second prism 23 that change the optical path so that light incident from the first lens 18 is in the direction of the central axis C1.
The first prism 22 is disposed on the upper side in FIG. 2 with respect to the central axis C1, and the second prism 23 is disposed on the lower side in FIG. 2 with respect to the central axis C1. When the surfaces of the first prism 22 and the second prism 23 facing each other are the first surface 22A and the second surface 23A, respectively, the light incident on the first prism 22 from the first lens 18 is transmitted from the first surface 22A. In addition to being emitted from the second surface 23A of the second prism 23 and reflected by the third surface 23B of the second prism 23 which is below the central axis C1 in FIG. 2, it is emitted from the second surface 23A. The first surface 22A is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical path C so as to be reflected in the direction of the central axis C1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the adapter-side electrical contact 15 includes a disk-like substrate 25 having the electrical wiring portion 16 connected to the center portion, and an anisotropic conductive rubber 26 attached to the substrate. .
The adapter-side electrical contact 15 is located on the proximal end side of the adapter 10 with respect to the prism 21 constituting the objective optical system 17, and the center axis C2 of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 is connected to the center axis C1 of the adapter body 12. They are arranged in parallel.
The uppermost position 15A closest to the center axis C1 of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 is disposed at a distance Δ higher than the lowest position 21A farthest from the center axis C1 of the prism 21 by the distance Δ.

  Here, the anisotropic conductive rubber 26 is configured by embedding conductive members such as nickel particles or gold-plated metal particles in a dot shape in an insulating rubber material such as silicon rubber. . When the rubber material that is an elastic body is pressed in the thickness direction, the anisotropic conductive rubber 26 increases the conductivity between the conductive members that have been densified by the compression deformation, thereby permitting energization in the thickness direction. It becomes like this. At this time, since the rubber material is an insulating member, the insulating state is maintained in directions other than the thickness direction of the rubber material (for example, the circumferential direction).

The LED illumination unit 8 is disposed closer to the distal end side of the adapter 10 than the objective optical system 17, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of LED chips 27, a mounting base 28 on which these are mounted, And a cavity member 30 fixed to the second side port 12B of the adapter main body 12.
Each LED chip 27 is electrically connected to the electrical wiring portion 16 by an LED electrode (not shown).

  The electrical wiring section 16 is arranged in a wiring space 31 provided in the adapter main body 12 on the back side of the prism 21 and the LED lighting unit 8 so as not to overlap the optical path C, and the LED lighting unit 8 is maintained during maintenance. Is stored in a slackened state so that it can be taken out from the second side opening 12B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion portion side electrical contact 13 is arranged at the tip of the connection plug 11, and is electrically conductive with a conductive member 33 connected to the tip of an electric supply wiring 32 connected to an LED power source (not shown). In order to support the member 33 on the connecting plug 11, an insulating member 35 covering the conductive member 33 is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the conductive member 33 is more than the distal end surface 11A of the connecting plug 11 to such an extent that the proximal end surface 26A of the anisotropic conductive rubber 26 can be pressed when the adapter 10 is attached. Is also arranged protruding from the tip side.

According to this endoscope apparatus 1, when the adapter 10 is attached to the insertion portion 5, the tip of the conductive member 33 presses the anisotropic conductive rubber 26, so that the anisotropic conductive rubber 26 becomes conductive in the pressing direction. Thus, the adapter side electrical contact 15 and the insertion portion side electrical contact 13 can be electrically connected.
At this time, since the uppermost position 15A of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 is arranged closer to the central axis C1 than the lowermost position 21A of the prism 21 constituting the objective optical system 17, even if the prism 21 becomes larger, the uppermost position 15A On the other hand, the overlapping state of the prism 21 and the adapter-side electrical contact 15 can be adjusted, and the increase in the diameter of the adapter 10 can be suitably suppressed within a range smaller than the ratio of the prism 21 to be enlarged.
Further, since the insulating member 35 and the anisotropic conductive rubber 26 are in close contact with each other, water leakage from the outside of the adapter 10 to the electrical system inside the adapter 10 can be suitably suppressed.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the wiring space 42 in the adapter 41 of the endoscope apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment has an LED illumination unit 8 as shown in FIG. And the prism 21 is provided on the side surface side.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the electrical wiring portion 16 is arranged above the central axis C <b> 1 of the adapter main body 12 in FIG. 6B so as not to overlap the optical path C.
According to this endoscope apparatus 40, there can exist an effect | action and effect similar to 1st Embodiment. And according to the shape of the prism 21, it can be used properly with the adapter 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to other embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the adapter 46 of the endoscope apparatus 45 according to this embodiment is a direct-view type.

The adapter main body 47 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the first lens 18 included in the objective optical system 48 is fixed to the distal end opening end 47A.
In the objective optical system 48, since the adapter 46 is a direct view type, the prism 21 as in the first embodiment is not provided, and the objective lens group 50 is disposed on the proximal end side of the first lens 18. .

The optical path C of the objective optical system 48 and the center axis C1 of the adapter main body 47 are substantially the same, and the center axis C2 of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the optical path C and the center axis C1. Has been.
Further, the outer peripheral side surface position 15B of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 closest to the optical path C is the distance L so that the adapter-side electrical contact 15-side outer peripheral end 18A of the first lens 18 farthest from the optical path C is closer to the optical path C side. They are spaced apart.
The plurality of LED chips 27 according to the LED illumination unit 51 are arranged around the first lens 18.

  According to the endoscope apparatus 45, even if the first lens 18 of the objective optical system 48 related to the direct-view adapter 46 is increased in size, the increase in the diameter of the entire adapter 46 can be suitably suppressed.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the first embodiment, when the adapter 10 is viewed from the direction of the central axis C1 of the adapter main body 12, the uppermost position 15A of the adapter-side electrical contact 15 is Although arranged so as to be higher than the lowermost position 21A, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lowermost position 21A of the prism 21 reaches the connection position between the electric wiring portion 16 and the adapter-side electric contact 15. It may be arranged on the upper side. In this case, by adjusting the bending state of the electric wiring portion 16, the same operation and effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

In addition, the adapter-side electrical contact 56 in which the electrical wiring portion 16 is spaced apart from one substrate 55 is shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, with the uppermost position 56A being the lowermost position of the prism 21. You may arrange | position so that it may become above 21A.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the adapter-side electrical contact 15 may be disposed on the inner side of the side surface 21 </ b> B of the prism 21. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, the electric wiring portion 16 and the substrate 55 may be arranged so as to overlap with the side surface 21 </ b> B of the prism 21.
Further, in each case described above, the entire adapter-side electrical contacts 15, 56 may be above the lowest position 21 </ b> A of the prism 21.

As shown in FIG. 10, the insertion portion side electrical contact 60 includes a substrate 25 connected to the electricity supply wiring 32, and an anisotropic conductive rubber 26 disposed on the distal end side of the substrate 25. The electrical contact 61 may include a conductive member 33 that is connected to the electrical wiring portion 16 and has a proximal end protruding from the proximal end surface 12C of the adapter body 12 and an insulating member 35 that covers the conductive member. Absent.
In this case, when the adapter 62 is attached to the insertion portion 63, the same operations and effects as in the above embodiment can be achieved.

  Further, in order to increase the amount of light emitted to the endoscopic object, as shown in FIG. 11A, the adapter main body 65 formed so that the second side port 65A extends also to the first side port 12A side. On the other hand, a part of the plurality of LED chips 27 related to the LED illumination unit 66 may be arranged on the side surface side of the first lens 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, an adapter body 66 is formed so that the second side port 66A surrounds the first side port 12A, and the LED chip 27 is formed on the base end side of the first lens 18. The LED lighting unit 68 may be provided. In this case, illumination unevenness with respect to the endoscopic object can be reduced.

  Further, not only when the optical path C and the center axis C1 of the adapter coincide with each other but also when the optical path C and the center axis C1 are deviated, the same operation and effect can be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (a) The perspective view which shows the whole schematic structure of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) The perspective view which shows the insertion part front end side. It is a perspective view which shows the insertion part front end side of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the insertion part front end side of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the adapter side electrical contact and insertion part side electrical contact of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (a) The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the adapter of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) The principal part expanded sectional view which shows the contact state of an adapter side electrical contact and an insertion part side electrical contact. . It is (a) top view and (b) longitudinal cross-sectional view which show the adapter of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the adapter of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The relationship between the uppermost position of the adapter-side electrical contacts and the lowermost position of the prism of the endoscope apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is as follows: (a) When some of the electrical contacts overlap, It is a front view shown in the case of overlapping, (c) when part of the integrated electrical contact overlaps, and (d) when overlapping the electrical wiring of the integrated electrical contact. The relationship between the uppermost position of the adapter-side electrical contacts of the endoscope apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and the side surface and the lowermost position of the prism is as follows. It is a front view shown by (c) When a part of integrated electrical contact overlaps, (d) When it overlaps to the electrical wiring of an integrated electrical contact. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the contact state of the adapter side electrical contact and insertion part side electrical contact of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the insertion part front end side of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 40, 45 Endoscope device 5, 63 Insertion unit 8, 51, 66, 68 LED illumination unit (illumination unit)
10, 41, 46, 62 Adapter (imaging adapter)
13, 60 Insertion portion side electrical contacts 15, 56, 61 Adapter side electrical contacts 16 Electrical wiring portions 17, 48 Objective optical system 21 Prism C Optical path C1 Central axis

Claims (3)

An endoscope apparatus that includes an illumination adapter and includes an imaging adapter that can be attached to and detached from a distal end portion of an insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen.
The imaging adapter is an adapter-side electrical contact that can be connected to an insertion-unit-side electrical contact disposed in the insertion unit;
An electrical wiring portion having flexibility to electrically connect the adapter-side electrical contact and the illumination portion;
An objective optical system facing the endoscopic object,
The adapter side electrical contact is closer to the proximal end side of the imaging adapter than at least a part of the objective optical system, and at least a part of the adapter side electrical contact is more than the at least part of the objective optical system. An endoscope apparatus, characterized in that the endoscope apparatus is disposed on a central axis side of an imaging adapter. The objective optical system includes a prism that changes an optical path,
The position of the adapter-side electrical contact closest to the center axis of the imaging adapter is arranged closer to the center axis of the imaging adapter than the position of the prism farthest from the center axis of the imaging adapter. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1. The optical path of the objective optical system and the central axis of the imaging adapter are substantially the same,
2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position of the adapter side electrical contact closest to the optical path is arranged closer to the optical path than a position farthest from the optical path of the objective optical system. .

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