JP2006267166A - Objective section of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an objective section of an endoscope, with which two objective frames incorporating an objective member for imaging an optical image of a subject are airtightly connected and fixed to each other without degrading optical performance. <P>SOLUTION: A covering 16 is provided along the entire circumference of the circumferential face of a boundary between the two objective frames 10 and 14 without a gap so as to extend to the circumferential faces of both the objective frames 10 and 14. The two objective frames 10 and 14 are airtightly fixed to the covering 16 by brazing 20, 21, soldering, or welding. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an objective part of an endoscope disposed at the distal end of an insertion part of the endoscope.

  At the distal end of the insertion part of the endoscope, there is a built-in objective frame containing an objective member for forming an optical image of the subject, but the objective frame is divided into two for convenience of assembly, In many cases, they are integrally connected and fixed during assembly.

There are cases where the objective lens is housed in each of these two objective frames, or the objective lens and the solid-state image sensor are separately housed. In view of the durability when high pressure steam sterilization is performed after use, it is necessary to form an objective unit by fixing two objective frames in an airtight manner by low contact, soldering, welding, or the like (for example, Patent Document 1). 2).
JP-A-2004-681 JP 2000-115594 A

  9 and 10 each illustrate an objective part of a conventional endoscope. In the example of FIG. 9, the front objective frame 91 and the rear objective frame 92 are soldered or soldered at the fitting portion. In the example of FIG. 10, the front objective frame 91 and the rear objective frame 92 are soldered or welded at a gap portion 93 formed at the boundary portion of the outer peripheral surface. It is connected and fixed integrally in an airtight manner.

  However, with such a configuration, in any case, as indicated by an arrow A, the objective frames 91 and 92 are formed by flux vapor, metal powder, and the like that scatter when soldering, soldering, welding, or the like is performed. Intrusion into the interior may damage the internal objective member and reduce optical performance (such as the clarity of the endoscopic observation image).

  Therefore, the present invention provides an objective part of an endoscope capable of airtightly connecting and fixing two objective frames containing an objective member for forming an optical image of a subject without deteriorating optical performance. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the objective part of the endoscope of the present invention has two objective frames containing an objective member for forming a light image of a subject integrally formed by low contact, soldering or welding. In the endoscope objective part that is hermetically connected and fixed and arranged at the distal end of the insertion part of the endoscope, the entire outer peripheral surface of the boundary part between the two objective frames spans the outer peripheral surfaces of both objective frames. A cover ring that covers the circumference without gaps is provided, and the two objective frames are fixed to the cover ring in an airtight manner by soldering, soldering, or welding.

  Then, the step where the side surface of the cover ring abuts is formed on both of the two objective frames, and the wall portion forming the step of each objective frame and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring are soldered or soldered or welded. It may be hermetically fixed.

  Alternatively, the outer peripheral surface of at least one of the two objective frames and the end surface of the cover ring may be airtightly fixed by low contact, soldering, or welding, and in that case, there are two steps where the end surface of the cover ring abuts. It is formed on only one of the objective frames, and the wall forming the step and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring are hermetically fixed by low contact, soldering or welding, and the outer peripheral surface of the other objective frame and the cover ring The end face may be airtightly fixed by soldering, soldering or welding.

  As the objective member, an objective lens may be incorporated in one of the two objective frames, and a solid-state image sensor may be incorporated in the other.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a cover ring that covers the outer peripheral surface of the boundary portion between the two objective frames without gaps over the entire periphery in a state of straddling both outer peripheral surfaces of the two objective frames. Because of the airtight fixing by soldering or welding with the soldering, the two objective frames can be separated from the flux vapor or metal powder that scatters when soldering, soldering or welding is performed. It can be fixed integrally and hermetically connected and fixed without degrading the optical performance.

  An endoscope in which two objective frames containing an objective member for forming an optical image of a subject are integrally and hermetically connected and fixed by low contact, soldering or welding and arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope In the objective part of the mirror, a cover ring that covers the entire outer circumference of the boundary part of the two objective frames across the entire circumference of the two objective frames without any gaps is provided, and each of the two objective frames is covered. And airtightly fixed by soldering or welding.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope. On the distal end surface of the distal end main body 1 connected to the most distal portion of the insertion portion, there are an observation window 2, an illumination window 3, a treatment instrument protrusion 4 and the like. Has been placed.

  FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion, and at the back of the treatment instrument protrusion 4, the distal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion channel 5 that is inserted and disposed throughout the entire length of the insertion section is straight with the treatment instrument protrusion 4. It is connected to the front-end | tip part main body 1 in the state connected to.

  Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote lens groups constituting the objective optical system. The state-of-the-art cover lens 11 is fixed from the outside to the front objective frame 10 formed in a cylindrical shape having steps on the inner and outer diameters. . The rear lens group 12 following the cover lens 11 is three lenses in this embodiment, and is fitted into the front objective frame 10 from the rear and fixed thereto. The rear group lens 12 may be a single lens or the like.

  The imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 13 is arranged at the projection position of the subject by the objective optical systems 11 and 12, and the solid-state imaging device 13 and electronic components arranged adjacent to the rear thereof are located in the rear objective frame 14. It is fixed to.

  And the part near the front-end | tip of such a rear side objective frame 14 is fittingly connected by the outer peripheral part of the part near the rear end of the front side objective frame 10. FIG. 13a is a cover glass of the solid-state imaging device 13, and 15 is a signal cable inserted and arranged over the entire length in the insertion portion.

  With such a configuration, a light image (that is, an endoscopic observation image) of a subject projected by the objective optical systems 11 and 12 forms an image on the imaging surface of the solid-state image sensor 13 and is imaged by the solid-state image sensor 13. It is converted into an electronic signal and sent out through a signal cable 15. The “objective member” in the present invention includes not only the objective optical systems 11 and 12 but also the solid-state imaging device 13.

  FIG. 1 shows an objective unit configured as described above, and a front objective frame is provided at a boundary portion between the front objective frame 10 and the rear objective frame 14 (a boundary portion at a position exposed to the outside). A thin cylindrical cover ring 16 made of metal is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the boundary portion without any gaps in a state of straddling both outer peripheral surfaces of both of the objective frame 10 and the rear objective frame 14. 14 are fixed airtightly by the cover ring 16 and the low contacts 20, 21 respectively.

  The cover ring 16 may be formed so as to be tightly fitted to both the front-side objective frame 10 and the rear-side objective frame 14 without any gap. As a material, for example, a stainless steel pipe material or the like can be used. Note that, instead of the brazing contacts 20 and 21, they may be fixed by soldering or welding.

  In this embodiment, the steps 22 and 23 with which the end face of the cover ring 16 abuts are formed on both the front objective frame 10 and the rear objective frame 14, and the steps 22 and 23 of the respective objective frames 10 and 14. And the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring 16 are hermetically fixed to each other by row contact 20 and 21.

  As a result, the front-side objective frame 10 and the rear-side objective frame 14 are firmly connected via the cover ring 16 and at the same time, the boundary between the exposed portions of the front-side objective frame 10 and the rear-side objective frame 14 on the outer surface. Since the wire is hermetically sealed by the cover ring 16 and fixed by the low contact 20 and 21 from the outside, flux vapor, metal powder, and the like during the low contact operation do not enter the objective frames 10 and 14.

  4 to 7 sequentially show the steps until the front objective frame 10 and the rear objective frame 14 are connected and fixed. As shown in FIG. When the cover lens 11 is fitted and fixed to the portion, the front objective frame 10 is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 5, and the rear group lens 12 is sequentially fitted and fixed in the front objective frame 10.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the cover ring 16 is fitted on the front objective frame 10 so that the end surface is in contact with the wall of the step 22 of the front objective frame 10, and the step of the front objective frame 10 is The wall portion 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring 16 are hermetically fixed by a low contact 20.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the rear objective frame 14 on which the solid-state imaging device 13 or the like is assembled is fitted to the front objective frame 10 from the rear, and as shown in FIG. By fixing the wall portion of the step 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring 16 in an airtight manner with the low contact 21, the front objective frame 10 and the rear objective frame can be obtained without flux vapor or metal powder entering the inside. 14 can be connected and fixed in an airtight manner.

  FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. A step 23 with which the end face of the cover ring 16 abuts is formed only on the rear objective frame 14, and the wall portion and the cover ring 16 forming the step 23 are formed. The front objective frame 10 side is hermetically fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the front objective frame 10 and the end surface of the cover ring 16 by low contact or the like. .

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a configuration in which the outer peripheral surfaces of the two objective frames 10 and 14 and the end surface of the cover ring 16 are hermetically fixed by a low contact or the like may be employed. Absent. However, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which at least one outer peripheral surface of the two objective frames 10 and 14 and the end surface of the cover ring 16 are fixed from the viewpoint of flux vapor intrusion and cover ring 16 positioning.

  Further, the present invention may have a configuration in which the objective optical systems 11 and 12 are attached to the two objective frames 10 and 14, respectively.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the objective unit of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a front view of the insertion part front-end | tip of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the insertion part front-end | tip of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows in order the manufacturing process of the objective unit of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows in order the manufacturing process of the objective unit of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows in order the manufacturing process of the objective unit of the 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows in order the manufacturing process of the objective unit of the 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the objective unit of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the 1st example of the conventional objective part. It is side surface sectional drawing of the 2nd example of the conventional objective part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Front side objective frame 11 Cover lens 12 Rear group lens 13 Solid-state image sensor 14 Rear side objective frame 16 Covering 20, 21 Low contact 22, 23 Level difference

Claims (5)

An endoscope in which two objective frames containing an objective member for forming an optical image of a subject are integrally and hermetically connected and fixed by low contact, soldering or welding and arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope In the objective part of the mirror,
A cover ring is provided that covers the outer peripheral surface of the boundary between the two objective frames across the entire outer peripheral surface of the two objective frames without any gaps. An objective part of an endoscope which is airtightly fixed by contact, soldering or welding.   A step where the side surface of the cover ring abuts is formed on both of the two objective frames, and the wall portion forming the step of each objective frame and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring are soldered, welded or welded. The objective part of the endoscope according to claim 1, which is fixed in an airtight manner.   The objective part of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface of at least one of the two objective frames and the end face of the cover ring are hermetically fixed by low contact, soldering or welding.   The step where the end face of the cover ring abuts is formed only on one of the two objective frames, and the wall forming the step and the outer peripheral surface of the cover ring are hermetically sealed by soldering or welding. The objective part of the endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the objective part of the endoscope is fixed, and the outer peripheral surface of the other objective frame and the end face of the cover ring are hermetically fixed by low contact, soldering, or welding.   The objective part of the endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an objective lens is built in one of the two objective frames as the objective member, and a solid-state imaging device is built in the other.

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