JP2007054215A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which has no drop in the function of an optical fiber bundle otherwise caused by the dew condensation and clouding by completely eliminating the infiltration of steam into the end face of the optical fiber bundle under the sterilization environment of an autoclave. <P>SOLUTION: In the endoscope, the end part of the optical fiber bundle 4 is securely inserted into a cylindrical fiber bundle cap 5 made of a metal and a cover lens 7 is fastened on the tip face of a metallic fiber receiving frame body 6 with a through hole so formed therein as to get the fiber bundle cap 5 securely inserted into it. The fiber bundle cap 5 and the cover lens 7 are joined airtight onto the fiber receiving frame body 6 with respective inorganic materials. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope.

  When steam enters the end face of the optical fiber bundle due to autoclave sterilization (high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization) performed after the endoscope is used to prevent infection via the endoscope, condensation or clouding occurs. The function of an optical fiber bundle will fall remarkably.

Therefore, in the conventional endoscope, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cover lens 92 disposed opposite to the end surface 91 a of the optical fiber bundle 91 is soldered or soldered to the fiber receiving frame 93. By joining by metal joining such as the above, entry of vapor or the like into the end face 91a of the optical fiber bundle 91 from the cover lens 92 side is prevented (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-107121 A

  The exterior 94 of the flexible insertion portion of the endoscope is formed of a microporous elastomer such as polyurethane resin, fluorine rubber, silicon rubber, or the like. In an autoclave sterilization environment, the arrow P It is impossible to prevent the vapor from passing through the exterior 94 portion and entering the endoscope as shown in FIG.

  Then, the vapor that has entered the endoscope through the exterior 94 passes through the insertion portion of the fiber binding cap 95 of the optical fiber bundle 91 with respect to the fiber receiving frame 93 as indicated by an arrow Q, and light is transmitted from behind. The end surface 91a of the fiber bundle 91 may be reached and condensation or fogging may occur.

  The insertion portion of the fiber bundling cap 95 with respect to the fiber receiving frame body 93 is filled with the adhesive 96, but the organic adhesive 96 cannot completely stop the passage of the vapor, so such a phenomenon. Will occur.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which no vapor enters the end face of the optical fiber bundle in an autoclave sterilization environment, and the functional deterioration of the optical fiber bundle due to condensation or fogging does not occur.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention has a through hole in which an end portion of an optical fiber bundle is inserted and fixed in a metal cylindrical fiber binding base, and the fiber binding base is inserted and fixed. In an endoscope having a structure in which a cover lens is fixed to the tip surface of a metal fiber receiving frame formed with a fiber, the fiber binding cap and the cover lens are hermetically sealed with respect to the fiber receiving frame by an inorganic material. It is what is joined to.

  The hermetic joining with the inorganic material may be performed by low welding or welding, and the hermetic joining with the inorganic material between the fiber binding cap and the fiber receiving frame is performed with the rear end portion of the fiber receiving frame and the fiber binding. You may carry out between the outer peripheral surfaces of a nozzle | cap | die.

  The fiber receiving frame is preferably formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of the cover lens, and the fiber receiving frame contains nickel such as an alloy containing iron-nickel-cobalt as a main component. It may be formed of an alloy.

  Further, a sealing means may be provided for hermetically sealing between the outer peripheral surface of the fiber binding cap and the inner peripheral surface of the fiber receiving frame body at a position inside the hermetic joint portion made of an inorganic material. However, it may be an elastic adhesive or an O-ring.

  According to the present invention, the fiber binding cap and the cover lens of the optical fiber bundle are each airtightly bonded to the fiber receiving frame body by an inorganic material, so that the end face of the optical fiber bundle can be used in an autoclave sterilization environment. In this case, no vapor penetrates into the optical fiber bundle, and it is possible to completely prevent the optical fiber bundle from deteriorating due to condensation or fogging.

  The end of the optical fiber bundle is inserted and fixed in a metal cylindrical fiber binding base, and a cover is provided on the front end surface of the metal fiber receiving frame in which a through-hole into which the fiber binding base is inserted and fixed is formed. In an endoscope having a configuration in which a lens is fixed, a fiber binding base and a cover lens are each airtightly bonded to a fiber receiving frame body by an inorganic material.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A rigid distal end main body 2 is connected to the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 1 to be inserted into the body. The exterior 3 is made of a flexible elastomer such as polyurethane resin, fluorine rubber, or silicon rubber.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes an optical fiber bundle formed by bundling thousands of optical fibers having a thickness of several hundredths of a millimeter to transmit illumination light. The optical fiber bundle 4 has an emission end face 4a on the front side. It is attached to the front-end | tip part main body 2 in the state which faced. The present invention can be applied not only to the portion where the optical fiber bundle 4 for illumination is disposed, but also to the portion where the image guide fiber bundle for image transmission is disposed.

  A metal cylindrical fiber binding base 5 made of, for example, a stainless steel pipe material or the like is attached to the exit end of the optical fiber bundle 4, and the optical fiber bundle 4 is inserted into the fiber binding base 5 at that portion. Are in a state of being bonded and fixed.

  Then, the back surface of the cover lens 7 made of an optical glass concave lens or the like is airtight on the front end surface of the metal cylindrical fiber receiving frame 6 in which the through hole into which the fiber binding cap 5 is inserted and fixed is formed. Bonded and fixed.

  The cover lens 7 is bonded and fixed to the fiber receiving frame 6 by applying metal plating to a flat portion formed annularly in the inner region along the outer edge of the back surface of the cover lens 7, and the plated surface and the fiber receiver. The front end surface of the frame body 6 is airtightly sealed over the entire circumference by a joining means made of an inorganic material such as low contact. 11 is the hermetic joint.

  As a result, steam or the like does not enter the interior of the joint between the fiber receiving frame 6 and the cover lens 7 even in an autoclave sterilization environment. Further, as the material of the fiber receiving frame 6, by using a nickel-containing alloy material having a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of the optical glass forming the cover lens 7, for example, iron-nickel-cobalt as a main component, etc. Even if there is a large environmental temperature change due to contact or autoclave sterilization, the hermetic joint 11 is not destroyed.

  Further, the bonding and fixing of the fiber binding cap 5 to the fiber receiving frame 6 is performed by a bonding means made of an inorganic material such as brazing or welding between the rear end portion of the fiber receiving frame 6 and the outer peripheral surface of the fiber binding cap 5. In this state, the entire circumference is hermetically sealed. Reference numeral 12 denotes the hermetic joint.

  As a result, steam or the like does not enter the inside portion of the joint between the fiber receiving frame body 6 and the fiber binding cap 5 even in an autoclave sterilization environment. Even if it enters the inside, it does not enter the exit end face 4a of the optical fiber bundle 4, and the functional degradation of the optical fiber bundle 4 due to condensation or fogging can be completely prevented.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, when using soldering for the airtight junction part 12 of the fiber receiving frame 6 and the fiber binding cap 5, as shown in FIG. In a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the fiber binding base 5 and the inner peripheral surface of the fiber receiving frame 6 located at the inner side of the joint 12 between the fiber receiving frame 6 and the fiber binding base 5, for example, a silicon-based adhesive or the like Alternatively, the adhesive 13 having elasticity as described above may be additionally applied, or as shown in FIG. 3, an O-ring 14 for sealing may be additionally attached to the portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent flux or the like from entering the exit end face 4 a side of the optical fiber bundle 4.

  Further, the fiber receiving frame 6 does not necessarily have a cylindrical shape as in the above-described embodiment, and may be a member in which a through hole into which at least the fiber binding cap 5 is inserted is formed. In addition, the present invention can be applied to portions other than the distal end of the insertion portion.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the endoscope of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the endoscope of the 3rd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the conventional endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Tip part main body 3 Exterior 4 Optical fiber bundle 4a Ejection end surface 5 Fiber binding cap 6 Fiber receiving frame body 7 Cover lens 11 Airtight joint part 12 Airtight joint part 13 Adhesive 14 O-ring

Claims (9)

An end portion of the optical fiber bundle is inserted and fixed in a metal cylindrical fiber binding base, and a front end surface of the metal fiber receiving frame body in which the through hole into which the fiber binding base is inserted and fixed is formed. In an endoscope having a configuration in which a cover lens is fixed,
An endoscope characterized in that the fiber binding cap and the cover lens are each hermetically bonded to the fiber receiving frame body by an inorganic material.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hermetic joining with the inorganic material is performed by low welding or welding.   The airtight joining of the fiber binding base and the fiber receiving frame by the inorganic material is performed between a rear end portion of the fiber receiving frame and an outer peripheral surface of the fiber binding base. 2. The endoscope according to 2.   The endoscope according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the fiber receiving frame is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of the cover lens.   The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the fiber receiving frame is made of an alloy containing nickel.   The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the fiber receiving frame is formed of an alloy mainly composed of iron-nickel-cobalt.   7. A sealing means is provided for hermetically sealing between the outer peripheral surface of the fiber binding cap and the inner peripheral surface of the fiber receiving frame at a position inside the hermetic joint made of the inorganic material. The endoscope according to any one of the above items.   The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means is an elastic adhesive.   The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means is an O-ring.

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