JP2006122064A - Light source connecting adapter for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source connecting adapter for endoscopes, which adjusts the amount of light entering an illuminating light guide of an endoscope from a light source device accurately and properly according to an observation state, or the like, if the endoscope and the light source device are manufactured by different companies. <P>SOLUTION: A light guide connector receiving part 33 is supported to slide in a direction of the axis line X of a connector receiving hole 23 to an engaging part 31 to the light source device, and slide securing mechanisms 38-42 for securing or releasing the receiving part 33 to/from the engaging part 31 at a plurality of prescribed positions in the middle of the sliding area to the engaging part 31 are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope light source connection adapter used when connecting a light guide connector of an endoscope whose manufacturing company is different to an endoscope light source device.

  Endoscopes generally do not have a built-in light source for illumination, and the incident end connector (hereinafter referred to as “light guide connector”) of the illumination light guide built into the endoscope is connected to the light source device. It is supposed to be. Accordingly, if the endoscope and the light source device used in combination are products of the same manufacturer, the light guide connector of the endoscope can be connected to the light source device without any problem.

  However, since the structure of the connection portion between the light guide connector of the endoscope and the light source device is not standardized by JIS or the like, the light guide connector should be in an appropriate state with respect to the light source device if the manufacturing companies are different. There are many cases where connection is not possible.

Therefore, when the manufacturer of the endoscope and the light source device are different, an adapter tube having a shape that matches the mounting port on the light source device side is used, and the light guide connector of the endoscope is attached to the adapter tube attached to the light source device. The light guide connector is connected to the light source device in an appropriate state (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-4-240434

  When endoscopic observation is performed, the brightness of the subject fluctuates as the distance between the illumination window at the distal end of the insertion portion and the subject fluctuates. It is necessary to adjust the amount of illumination light incident on the endoscope illumination light guide from the apparatus in order to obtain a good endoscope observation image.

  Therefore, in general, the light source device is provided with a dimming function that automatically adjusts the amount of illumination light incident on the illumination light guide of the endoscope from the light source device according to the brightness of the endoscope observation image. If the manufacturer of the endoscope and the light source device are different and a light source connection adapter is used, such a dimming function will not work properly, and the distance between the illumination window and the subject will vary greatly In some cases, a good endoscopic observation image cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the present invention accurately and appropriately determines the amount of illumination light incident on the endoscope illumination light guide from the light source device according to the observation state, even when the endoscope and the light source device manufacturer are different. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope light source connection adapter that can be adjusted.

  In order to achieve the above object, a light source connection adapter for an endoscope of the present invention includes a pair of light source device locking portions that are detachably locked with respect to a connector receiving hole portion of a light source device, and an endoscope In a light source connection adapter of an endoscope provided with a light guide connector receiving portion on which an incident end connector of an illumination light guide is detachably locked, the light guide connector receiving portion is against the light source device locking portion. The light guide connector receiving portion is fixed to the light source device locking portion at a plurality of predetermined positions in the middle of the sliding range with respect to the light source device locking portion. A slide fixing mechanism that can be fixed and released is provided.

  In addition, the slide fixing mechanism is formed on the light guide device receiving portion side and the circumferential groove formed on the light source device engaging portion side of the slide surface of the light guide connector receiving portion and the light source device engaging portion. An engagement pin that is detachably disposed with respect to the circumferential groove, an urging member that urges the engagement pin in a direction to engage the circumferential groove, and an urging force against the urging force of the urging member. You may have a manual operation member for retracting a combined pin to the position which does not engage with a circumferential groove.

  According to the present invention, the light guide connector receiving portion of the light source connection adapter is supported to be slidable in the axial direction of the connector receiving hole with respect to the light source device locking portion, and the light guide connector receiving portion is locked to the light source device. Since it can be fixed to and released from the light source device locking portion at a plurality of predetermined positions in the middle of the slide range relative to the portion, even if the endoscope and the light source device manufacturer are different, The amount of illumination light incident on the illumination light guide of the endoscope can be accurately and appropriately adjusted according to the observation state and the like.

  A light source device locking portion detachably locked to a connector receiving hole portion of the light source device, and a light guide connector in which an incident end connector of an illumination light guide of the endoscope is detachably locked In the endoscope light source connection adapter provided with the receiving portion, the light guide connector receiving portion is slidably supported in the axial direction of the connector receiving hole with respect to the light source device engaging portion, and the light guide connector receiving portion There is provided a slide fixing mechanism that can fix and release the fixing portion with respect to the light source device locking portion at a plurality of predetermined positions in the middle of the slide range with respect to the light source device locking portion.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 2, reference numerals 10 and 20 denote an endoscope and a light source device which are different from each other in manufacturing company. The endoscope 10 has an operation unit 12 connected to a proximal end of a flexible insertion portion 11 and is connected to the light source device 20. An incident end face 15a of the illumination light guide 15 is disposed at the projecting end of a rod-shaped light guide connector 14 (incident end connector) projecting from the connectable connector portion 13. The exit end face 15b of the illumination light guide 15 is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion 11 so as to face the subject.

  A connector receiving hole 23 for inserting the light guide connector 14 of the endoscope 10 is formed through the connector receiver 22 disposed on the front panel of the light source device 20 incorporating the light source lamp 21.

  However, the light guide connector 14 of the endoscope 10, which is different from the light source device 20 and the manufacturer, cannot be set in an appropriate state when directly inserted into the inner diameter of the connector receiving hole 23, so that it is inserted through the light source connection adapter 30. It has become.

  FIG. 3 shows the light source connection adapter 30, and the light source connection adapter 30 of this embodiment includes a light source device locking portion 31 that is detachably locked to the connector receiving hole 23 portion of the light source device 20. The light guide connector 14 of the endoscope 10 is composed of a light guide connector receiving portion 33 that is detachably locked.

  The outer peripheral surface near the tip of the elongated cylindrical portion inserted into the connector receiving hole 23 of the counter light source device locking portion 31 is elastically moved toward the connector receiving hole 23 when inserted into the connector receiving hole 23. A circumferential click groove 32 to be locked is formed.

  On the other hand, in the inner peripheral portion of the hole portion where the light guide connector 14 of the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is inserted, the light guide connector 14 is elastically locked when the light guide connector 14 is inserted. A C-ring 34 is attached.

  The light source device locking portion 31 and the light guide connector receiving portion 33 are configured by connecting a plurality of parts for the sake of manufacturing, but in the drawing, each of the light source device locking portions 31 is configured. The same oblique lines are given to the components, and the same oblique lines are given to the components constituting the light guide connector receiving portion 33 in the direction different from that of the light source device locking portion 31.

  The rear half of the light source device locking portion 31 is formed in a thicker cylindrical shape than the front side, and the light guide connector receiving portion 33 has both an inner periphery and an outer periphery of the rear half of the counter light source device locking portion 31. Are slidably fitted to each other (formed integrally with the rear end side) and supported by the light source device locking portion 31.

  An axial line X (a portion inserted into the connector receiving hole 23 of the light source device locking portion 31 is inserted into the inner peripheral surface of the light source device locking portion 31 fitted on the light guide connector receiving portion 33 on both the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The linear groove 35 is formed in parallel with and engages with the light source device locking portion 31 in the state in which the light source device locking portion 31 is inserted into the connector receiving hole 23. A shaft body 36 projects from the inner cylinder side of the light guide connector receiving portion 33.

  Therefore, the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is slidable in the direction of the axis X within the range in which the engaging shaft body 36 can move within the linear groove 35 with respect to the light source device locking portion 31 and rotates about the axis X. It is not possible.

  In addition, a plurality (five in this embodiment) of circumferential grooves 38 are formed at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the light source device engaging portion 31 fitted to the light guide connector receiving portion 33. An engaging pin 39 detachably engageable with the circumferential groove 38 is attached to the light guide connector receiving portion 33 side so that it can be manually operated.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 illustrating the configuration of the portion. In the cross-sectional portion, the outer peripheral surface in which the circumferential groove 38 of the anti-light source device locking portion 31 is formed and the outside thereof A gap is formed between the light guide connector receiving portion 33 and the inner peripheral surface of the light guide connector receiving portion 33, and the rigid ring 40 is arranged in a state in which it can freely move in the gap.

  The engagement pin 39 screwed and fixed to the ring 40 is disposed in a state in which it protrudes inward from the ring 40 and the tip engages with the circumferential groove 38. The circumferential groove 38 is engaged by an urging O-ring 41 (urging member) made of a resilient rubber material disposed so as to surround the head of the engaging pin 39 in a gap between the outer wall 33 and the outer wall 33. It is energized in the direction of matching.

  Further, on the opposite side of the ring 40 (a position symmetric with respect to the engagement pin 39 by 180 °), a push button 42 whose base portion is screwed and fixed to the ring 40 protrudes from the outer wall of the light guide connector receiving portion 33. The position between the ring 40 and the outer wall of the light guide connector receiving portion 33 that surrounds the shaft portion of the push button 42 is an O for preventing rattling made of an elastic rubber material. A ring 43 is arranged.

  With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, when the push button 42 is pushed from the outside with a fingertip or the like, a gap between the light source device locking portion 31 and the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is thereby caused. The ring 40 is moved inside, and the tip of the engaging pin 39 is disengaged from the circumferential groove 38, and the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is moved in the axis X direction with respect to the light source device locking portion 31. It will be ready to.

  In such a state, the urging O-ring 41 arranged on the engagement pin 39 side is elastically deformed into a collapsed state, and the engagement pin 39 is pushed back to the circumferential groove 38 side. Power increases. Therefore, when the operation of pushing the push button 42 is stopped, the original state shown in FIG. 4 is restored by the urging force of the urging O-ring 41.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, five circumferential grooves 38 are formed at intervals, so that the light guide connector is connected to the light source device locking portion 31 by pressing the push button 42 with a fingertip. By sliding the receiving portion 33, the engaging pin 39 is engaged with any of the five circumferential grooves 38, and the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is fixed to the light source device locking portion 31 at that position. It can be in the state that was done.

  As described above, the slide fixing mechanism that can fix and release the light guide connector receiving portion 33 with respect to the light source device locking portion 31 at a plurality of predetermined positions in the middle of the slide range with respect to the light source device locking portion 31. Is constituted by a circumferential groove 38, an engaging pin 39, a ring 40, an urging O-ring 41, a push button 42, and the like.

  FIG. 6 shows an inner view of the light source connection adapter 30 in a state in which the light source device locking portion 31 is inserted into the connector receiving hole 23 of the light source device 20 and is clicked elastically by the click groove 32. The state where the light guide connector 14 of the mirror 10 is inserted is shown, and the axis X of the anti-light source device locking portion 31 coincides with the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 21, and the light source lamp The illumination light emitted from 21 enters the incident end face 15 a of the illumination light guide 15.

  The light guide connector 14 is elastically click-fixed to the light guide connector receiving portion 33 by a C ring 34, and the push button 42 is pushed to operate the light guide connector receiving portion 33 with respect to the light source device locking portion 31. 1 and 7, the position of the incident end face 15a of the illumination light guide 15 is changed to the axis X by changing the engagement position of the engagement pin 39 with respect to the five circumferential grooves 38 as shown in FIGS. Can change direction.

  In such an operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is set at the foremost position in the slide range, and the incident end face 15 a of the illumination light guide 15 receives the illumination light from the light source lamp 21. In the state of being near the convergence position, the amount of illumination light incident on the illumination light guide 15 from the light source lamp 21 is maximized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the light guide connector receiving portion 33 is set at the end position of the slide range, the amount of illumination light incident on the illumination light guide 15 from the light source lamp 21 is as follows. Be minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the engagement pin 39 is engaged with the circumferential groove 38 at a position in the middle of the slide range, the light of the illumination light incident on the illumination light guide 15 from the light source lamp 21 is obtained. The amount varies stepwise between maximum and minimum.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, as FIG. 8 shows, the rubber material which has elasticity in the fitting surface part of the light source device latching | locking part 31 and the circumferential groove 38 The O-ring 49 made of, for example, may be arranged in a crushed state so that resistance is given to the sliding operation of the light guide connector receiving portion 33 with respect to the light source device locking portion 31.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the use condition of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. 1 is a side view of an endoscope light source device, an endoscope, and a light source connection adapter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. 3 of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. 3 of the operation state of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the use condition of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the use condition of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the light source connection adapter of the endoscope of the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Endoscope 14 Light guide connector (incident end connector)
20 light source device 21 light source lamp 23 connector receiving hole 30 light source connection adapter 31 light source device engaging portion 32 click groove 33 light guide connector receiving portion 34 C ring 38 circumferential groove (slide fixing mechanism)
39 Engagement pin (slide fixing mechanism)
40 ring (slide fixing mechanism)
41 O-ring for urging (slide fixing mechanism) (urging member)
42 Push button (slide fixing mechanism) (manual operation member)
X axis

Claims (2)

A light source device locking portion detachably locked to a connector receiving hole portion of the light source device, and a light guide connector in which an incident end connector of an illumination light guide of the endoscope is detachably locked In the endoscope light source connection adapter provided with the receiving portion,
The light guide connector receiving portion is slidably supported in the axial direction of the connector receiving hole with respect to the light source device locking portion, and the light guide connector receiving portion is slid with respect to the light source device locking portion. A light source connection adapter for an endoscope, comprising a slide fixing mechanism that can be fixed to and released from the light source device engaging portion at a plurality of predetermined positions in the middle of the endoscope.   The slide fixing mechanism includes a circumferential groove formed on the light source device engaging portion side of the slide surface of the light guide connector receiving portion and the light source device engaging portion, and a light guide connector receiving portion side. The formed engaging pin detachably disposed with respect to the circumferential groove, a biasing member for biasing the engaging pin in a direction to engage the circumferential groove, and the biasing member The endoscope light source connection adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a manual operation member for retracting the engagement pin to a position not engaged with the circumferential groove against an urging force.

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