JP2007252809A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which shows an excellent portability by making illuminating light output from a light emitting element enter a proximal end surface of a light guide fiber efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope 1 is equipped with an LED unit 40 which is provided in an operational portion 3 adjacently provided on the proximal end of an insertion portion 2 and has an illuminating part 41 outputting illuminating light, a light guide 34 which is provided in the insertion portion 2 and guides the illuminating light, output from the illuminating unit 40 to the proximal end surface, to the distal end surface, an adjustment screw 9b which is provided in the operational portion 3 and adjusts the position of a central axis of the light guide 34 relative to an optical axis of the illuminating part 41 by moving the position of the proximal end part of the light guide 34, a biasing screw member 9d which biases the distal end surface of the illuminating part 41 to the proximal end surface side of the light guide 34 to bring the output surface side of the illuminating part 41 into close contact with the proximal end of the light guide 34, and a fixing screw member 9c which fixes the biased illuminating part 41 to the proximal end surface of the light guide 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable endoscope that guides light from a light emitting element as illumination light to a light guide fiber.

  Endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. In the endoscope, a diagnosis target or a test target is inside a living body, a plant, or the like. Therefore, in an endoscope, a light source that illuminates a target site is required for observation.

  In a general endoscope apparatus, a light source device is prepared as an external device of the endoscope. The light source device supplies light emitted from a lamp inside the device to a light guide fiber (also referred to as a light guide) provided in the endoscope. The light guide transmits illumination light supplied from the light source device to the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope. The illumination light transmitted by the light guide is emitted from the illumination window and illuminates the target part. The target site illuminated by the illumination light is observed through an observation window adjacent to the illumination window.

  In recent years, there is an endoscope apparatus in which a battery-type light source using a battery such as a dry battery as a power source is integrally fixed to an endoscope. This endoscope apparatus can be used where there is no power source and is easy to carry. For this reason, the endoscope apparatus is used as a portable endoscope apparatus for emergency or home treatment. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope apparatus that suppresses useless power consumption, enables use for a long time with a small battery, and has excellent portability.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an endoscope in which a plurality of white LED elements are controlled to be turned on by a DC power supply means, and emitted light from each white LED element is condensed on a light guide connecting portion by a condenser lens. A light source device is shown.

And in the endoscope apparatus excellent in the portability of patent document 1, it is possible that an LED element is used instead of a light source lamp as a light source.
JP-A-2005-211204 JP-A-11-216114

  However, when the configuration in which the light emitted from the LED element is condensed on the end surface of the light guide by the condensing lens as shown in Patent Document 2 is adopted for the endoscope apparatus of Patent Document 1, the light source unit is large. May adversely affect portability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope having excellent portability in which illumination light emitted from a light emitting element is efficiently incident on a base end surface of a light guide. I have to.

  The endoscope according to the present invention includes an illumination unit including a light emitting element that emits illumination light, and an illumination light that is fixed to a distal end of an insertion unit that is inserted into a body cavity and emitted from the illumination unit toward a proximal end surface. At least one of the illumination unit and the light guide fiber in a direction in which the light guide fiber that guides the light to the distal end surface, the exit surface that emits the illumination light of the illumination unit, and the proximal end surface of the light guide fiber are in close contact with each other And a fixing means for fixing the illuminating unit and the light guide fiber while being urged by the urging means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endoscope excellent in the portability which the illumination light radiate | emitted from the light emitting element which comprises an illumination part injects efficiently into the base end surface of a light guide fiber is realizable.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIGS. 1 to 12 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope as viewed from the back side provided with a bending operation lever, and FIG. 2 has a forceps insertion opening as an operation portion of the endoscope. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the white LED unit, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a state where the light guide receiver is temporarily fixed to the concave portion of the unit body, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the LED receiver is disposed in the sliding hole of the unit main body, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for urging the LED receiver disposed in the sliding hole of the unit main body. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the light guide member is moved to the light guide base end surface side. FIG. Is a diagram showing a state where the contact arranged in the proximal end face.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment includes a video display device 4. The endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 2 to be inserted into an observation site, an operation portion 3 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and a video display device 4 disposed at an end portion of the operation portion 3. It is mainly composed of.

  The insertion portion 2 has an elongated shape having flexibility. The insertion portion 2 is configured by connecting a rigid distal end portion 5, a bendable bending portion 6, and a flexible portion 7 having flexibility and having a proximal end side connected to the operation portion 3 in order from the distal end side. Is done. The distal end surface of the distal end portion 5 is provided with an observation window 5a, an illumination window 5b, and a treatment instrument outlet 5c.

  The operation unit 3 includes a grasping unit 8 for an operator to grasp the endoscope 1 and an operation unit main body 9. The grip portion 8 is formed in a shape that can be gripped so as to be wrapped with the thumb and other fingers. A treatment instrument insertion port 10 for inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps is provided in the middle part of the grip portion 8. The treatment instrument insertion port 10 and the treatment instrument outlet 5c are communicated by a treatment instrument channel tube (not shown) that is inserted through the insertion portion 2.

  The operation unit main body 9 includes a suction cap 11 for sucking a liquid such as a body fluid, a vent cap 12 for supplying air into the endoscope 1 at the time of water leakage inspection of the endoscope 1, and an insertion portion 2. And a bending operation lever 13 for bending the bending portion 6 in a desired direction via an operation wire (not shown) disposed in the.

  One end of a tube (not shown) is connected to the end of the suction base 11. The other end of the tube is connected to a suction device (not shown). Reference numeral 11a denotes a suction button 11a, which is provided on the front surface of the operation unit main body 9 as a root portion of the suction base 11. Therefore, when the user operates the suction device and operates the suction button 11a, the body fluid or the like can be sucked through the suction base 11.

  One end of a tube (not shown) is connected to the end of the vent base 12. The other end of the tube is connected to an air supply device (not shown). Therefore, the user operates the air supply device when performing a water leak inspection of the endoscope 1. As a result, air is sent from the air supply device into the endoscope 1 through the vent hole 12 to perform a water leak test.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bending operation lever 13 is provided so that it can be operated with the thumb of the user who holds the grip 8. The bending operation lever 13 is configured in an L shape, and includes a finger hooking portion 13a located on the back side of the operation portion main body 9, and an arm portion 13b connected to one end of the finger hooking portion 13a.

  The arm portion 13b of the bending operation lever 13 can be rotated by a shaft 14 provided in the operation portion main body 9 to one side of the operation portion main body 9, for example, approximately at the center of the right side as viewed toward the plane of FIG. It is supported by. The bending operation lever 13 moves the operation wire forward and backward by moving the finger hooking portion 13a in the vertical direction in the drawing with the thumb. Accordingly, the bending portion 6 is freely bent in two directions, for example, upward or downward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit main body 9 includes an image switch 15 on the front surface thereof. The image switch 15 is, for example, an image recording switch 15a and an image reproduction switch 15b. The image recording switch 15a outputs an instruction signal for recording an image displayed on the monitor unit 21 of the image display device 4 to an image recording device (not shown) to a control device (not shown). The image reproduction switch 15b outputs an instruction signal for reproducing an image recorded in the image recording device to a control device (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the video display device 4 is a box-shaped device body 18 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a tilt (Tilt) extending so as to form a plane from one side corner of the device body 18. An outer shape is formed by a tilting angle variable lever (hereinafter simply referred to as a tilt lever) 19. The tilt lever 19 is provided so as to protrude from the surface on the back side of the bending operation lever 13 so that the user can operate with the belly of the thumb holding the grip portion 8.

  The apparatus main body 18 includes a monitor unit 21, a POWER indicator lamp 23, a still image recording changeover switch 24, and a moving image recording changeover switch 25 on the upper surface in the drawing, which is one surface thereof. The monitor unit 21 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays an endoscopic image and the like. The POWER indicator lamp 23 is turned on when the power is turned on. The still image recording changeover switch 24 is a switch for setting the endoscope image to be recorded as a still image. The moving image recording changeover switch 25 is a switch for setting an endoscope image to be recorded to a moving image, so-called movie recording.

  The apparatus body 18 includes a power switch (start switch) 22 on one longitudinal side surface thereof, and a battery and a storage medium such as a memory card (not shown) are accommodated in the body on the other longitudinal side surface opposite to the one longitudinal side surface, or An openable / closable lid 26 for taking out is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an image pickup device 31 such as a CCD or CMOS, which is an image pickup means, is built in the operation portion main body 9 constituting the operation portion 3. An objective optical system 32 is provided on the front surface of the image pickup device 31, and a base end surface of the image guide 33 faces the front surface of the objective optical system 32. The front end surface of the image guide 33 faces the observation window 5a.

  A white LED unit (LED unit) 40 that constitutes an illuminating unit including a later-described LED element that is a light emitting element as a light source is built in, for example, the gripping part 8 that constitutes the operation unit 3. The LED unit 40 extends from the base end portion thereof to a power supply lead wire 42a that supplies power to the LED element. The LED element of the LED unit 40 is turned on, for example, when the power switch 22 is in an ON state and in an imaging state. Illumination light emitted from the LED element of the LED unit 40 is transmitted through a light guide fiber (hereinafter abbreviated as a light guide) 34, emitted from the illumination window 5b, and radiates forward. The base end surface of the light guide 34 is disposed to face the illumination unit of the LED unit 40, and the distal end surface faces the illumination window 5b.

The configuration of the LED unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the LED unit 40 includes a unit main body 51 that is an exterior member provided with a cut-out surface 51a in a cylindrical body, a cylindrical light guide receiver 61 having a flange 61a on one end side, and a cylindrical illumination. It is comprised with the LED receiver 71 as a part receiver. The unit main body 51 is an exterior member and includes a recess 52 and a sliding hole 53. The light guide receiver 61 is disposed in the recess 52, and the LED receiver 71 is slidably disposed in the sliding hole 53. The unit main body 51, the light guide receiver 61, and the LED receiver 71 are formed of a hard member with good heat conductivity such as a metal member.

  The unit main body 51 is integrally attached to the frame 8a via the frame attaching screw 9a in a state where the notch surface 51a is in contact with the frame 8a constituting the grip portion 8. The frame 8a also serves as a heat radiating plate that radiates heat generated by the LED elements 42.

  A metal light guide base 36 is disposed on the light guide receiver 61. The light guide base 36 includes an axial hole 36a through which the light guide 34 is inserted and a stepped portion 36b serving as a positioning portion. The light guide 34 is integrally fixed in the axial hole 36a by, for example, an adhesive. And the base end surface which is the illumination part side end surface of the light guide 34 and the illumination part side end surface of the light guide base 36 is comprised by surface matching.

  The step portion 36 b of the light guide base 36 is disposed in contact with the end surface of the light guide receiver 61 on the flange side. As a result, the base end face of the light guide base 36 having the light guide 34 is in a state of protruding a predetermined amount from the base end face of the light guide receiver 61. Reference numeral 37 denotes a covering tube that covers the light guide 34.

  The LED receiver 71 is provided with an illumination unit 41. The illumination unit 41 is disposed on the LED receiver 71 so that the optical axis thereof substantially coincides with the central axis of the LED receiver 71. The illumination unit 41 includes an LED element 42 and a phosphor 43. The LED element 42 is an element that emits blue light, for example. The phosphor 43 is a soft body, and is configured by, for example, applying fluorescent powder to a soft resin member. The LED element 42 emits blue light. The phosphor 43 receives the light from the LED element 42 and emits yellow light. The illumination unit 41 emits pseudo white light by the blue light of the LED element 42 and the yellow light of the phosphor 43.

  As shown in the drawing, the phosphor 43 constituting the distal end surface of the illuminating unit 41 is arranged in close contact with the base end surface of the light guide 34 while being urged. As a result, an air layer is not formed between the phosphor 43 and the base end face of the light guide 34. Further, the central axis of the illumination unit 41 and the central axis of the light guide 34 substantially coincide with each other. Thus, the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 41 is efficiently incident from the proximal end surface of the light guide 34 and transmitted to the distal end surface with minimal incident loss due to irregular reflection.

  A longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove 72, which is a V-shaped circumferential groove for moving the LED receiver 71 disposed in the sliding hole 53 in the direction of the recess 52, is formed at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral surface of the LED receiver 71. Yes.

The configuration of the unit main body 51 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the unit body 51 has a substantially D-shaped cross section.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the unit main body 51 includes a recess 52 set to a predetermined depth dimension in which the light guide receiver 61 is loosely arranged and a sliding hole 53 in which the LED receiver 71 is slidably disposed. Prepare. The sliding hole 53 communicates with the recess 52, and the sliding hole 53 and the recess 52 are formed concentrically.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, three guide receiving position adjusting female screw portions (hereinafter referred to as adjustment holes) 54 communicating with the recess 52 are formed on the side surface of the unit main body 51 at substantially equal intervals. Yes. The central axis of the adjustment hole 54 is configured to substantially intersect with the central axis of the recess 52. In the adjustment hole 54, there is an adjustment screw member constituting the adjustment means, and for example, an adjustment screw 9b having a sharp tip formed with a sharp tip is screwed and arranged.

  On the other hand, the light guide receiver 61 includes a base hole 61b through which the light guide base 36 is inserted. On the outer peripheral surface of the light guide receiver 61, there are provided a circumferential groove 62 that constitutes an adjusting means, and a single cap fixing screw hole 63.

  The central axis of the base fixing screw hole 63 is configured to substantially intersect the central axis of the base hole 61b. The base fixing screw hole 63 communicates with the base hole 61b. For example, a fixing screw member 9 c is screwed and arranged in the base fixing screw hole 63. The fixing screw member 9c screwed to the base fixing screw hole 63 is tightened to press the outer peripheral surface of the light guide base 36 in a state where the light guide base 36 is disposed in a predetermined state in the base hole 61b. . As a result, the light guide base 36 is positioned and fixed with respect to the light guide receiver 61.

  The circumferential groove 62 is formed in a V shape or a concave shape in cross section, and the tip of the adjusting screw 9b is disposed in the circumferential groove 62. The formation position of the circumferential groove 62 is a position where the tip of the adjustment screw 9b is engaged and disposed in the circumferential groove 62 in a state where the flange portion 61a of the light guide receiver 61 is disposed in contact with the end surface of the unit body 51. . That is, the distance from the contact surface of the flange 61a to the center position of the circumferential groove 62 and the distance from the end surface of the unit main body 51 to the center axis of the adjustment hole 54 are set to the same dimension.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7, on the side surface of the unit main body 51, for example, two confirmation holes 55 communicating with the sliding hole 53 and, for example, two illumination portion receiving fixing screw portions (hereinafter, referred to as the following) 56 (described as a fixing hole), one illumination part longitudinal direction position adjusting female screw part (hereinafter referred to as an urging force adjusting hole) 57, and a main body fixing screw part 58 are formed.

The central axis of the confirmation hole 55, the central axis of the fixing hole 56, and the central axis of the biasing force adjustment hole 57 are configured to substantially intersect the central axis of the sliding hole 53.
The confirmation hole 55 is a hole for confirming the close contact state between the phosphor 43 constituting the illumination unit 41 and the base end face of the light guide 34. In the fixing hole 56, a fixing screw member 9c as a fixing means is screwed. In the urging force adjusting hole 57, an urging screw member 9d that constitutes an urging means and has a tip inclined surface 9e is screwed.

  On the other hand, the tip inclined surface 9e of the urging screw member 9d screwed into the urging force adjusting hole 57 is a circumferential groove of the urging means provided in the LED receiver 71 arranged in the sliding hole 53. It is arranged in close contact with the slope 72a of the longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove 72 to be formed. That is, the taper angle of the tip inclined surface 9e of the urging screw member 9d and the angle of the V-shaped groove having the inclined surface 72a of the longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove 72 coincide with each other.

  The LED receiver 71 has an LED recess 71a at the center of the front end surface, and the LED element 42 constituting the illumination unit 41 is fixed to the LED recess 71a. Further, the LED receiver 71 is formed with a through hole 73 in which a pair of electrodes 44 that are connection members for supplying power to the LED element 42 is disposed. The electrode 44 disposed in the through hole 73 has an insulating portion 45 around it. One end of the electrode 44 is connected to a contact portion (not shown) provided in the LED element 42. The power supply lead wire 42 a is electrically connected to the other end of the electrode 44.

  In a state where the tip inclined surface 9e of the urging screw member 9d is disposed in close contact with the inclined surface 72a of the longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove 72, the operator gradually increases the protruding amount of the tip of the urging screw member 9d. Then, the LED receiver 71 is gradually moved to the light guide receiver 61 side as the tip of the biasing screw member 9d protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the sliding hole 53. As a result, the phosphor 43 constituting the illumination unit 41 is pressed (biased) against the base end surface of the light guide 34. Then, the air between the base end face of the light guide 34 and the phosphor 43 is removed as the urging force increases, and the light emitting portion and the base end face of the light guide 34 are in a desired close contact state. That is, the urging screw member 9 d screwed and arranged in the urging force adjusting hole 57 moves the LED receiver 71 in the longitudinal axis direction and presses the phosphor 43 against the base end surface of the light guide 34.

  Then, in a state where the phosphor 43 is biased to the base end surface of the light guide 34, the fixing screw member 9 c screwed into the fixing hole 56 is tightened to position and fix the LED receiver 71 with respect to the unit main body 51. . As a result, the phosphor 43 is held in a state of being biased to the base end surface of the light guide 34.

An assembly example of the LED unit 40 configured as described above will be described.
First, the operator inserts the light guide base 36 provided with the light guide 34 into the base hole 61 b of the light guide receiver 61. Then, the operator brings the stepped portion 36 b of the light guide base 36 into contact with the proximal end surface of the light guide receiver 61. Thereafter, the operator integrally fixes the light guide base 36 to the light guide receiver 61 with the fixing screw member 9c.

  Next, the operator places the light guide receiver 61 in which the light guide base 36 is integrated in the recess 52 of the unit main body 51. Then, the worker makes the flange portion 61 a of the light guide receiver 61 abut on the end surface of the unit main body 51 and temporarily fixes the unit main body 51 to the light guide receiver 61.

  Specifically, first, the operator appropriately moves the tip of the adjustment screw 9 b screwed and arranged in each adjustment hole 54 of the unit body 51 in the direction of the central axis of the recess 52. Then, the tip of each adjustment screw 9 b is disposed in the circumferential groove 62 provided in the light guide receiver 61. Thus, the light guide receiver 61 is disposed and held in the recess 52 by the three adjusting screws 9b in a state where the flange portion 61a is in contact with the end surface of the unit main body 51. In this state, temporary fixing is completed.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the light guide receiver 61 is eccentric with respect to the recess 52 of the unit main body 51, in other words, the central axis of the light guide 34 disposed in the light guide receiver 61. The center of the unit main body 51 is in a misaligned state with a large positional shift.

  Here, the operator performs centering adjustment so that the center axis of the light guide 34 is substantially coincident with the center of the unit main body 51. At this time, in the present embodiment, the operator installs a position adjusting jig (hereinafter abbreviated as a jig) 80 in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51 and fixes it with the fixing screw member 9c.

  The jig 80 includes a jig main body 81 disposed in the sliding hole 53 and an illumination unit 82. The illumination unit 82 includes a cover glass 83, a phosphor 43, and an LED element 42. The jig body 81 has a flange 81a, and when the flange 81a is placed in contact with the end surface of the unit body 51, the front end surface of the cover glass 83 constituting the illumination unit 82 is connected to the light guide 34 and the light guide. It contacts the end face of the base 36. The illumination unit 82 is provided such that its optical axis substantially coincides with the central axis of the jig body 81.

  When performing centering adjustment, first, the operator turns on the LED element 42 of the illumination unit 82 provided in the jig 80. Then, the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 82 is incident from the proximal end surface of the light guide 34 and is emitted from the distal end surface of the light guide 34. At this time, the amount of illumination light emitted from the tip surface of the light guide 34 does not reach a predetermined amount. As described above, this is because the center axis of the light guide 34 and the optical axis of the illumination unit 82 provided in the jig 80 disposed in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51 are misaligned. It is.

  Next, the operator appropriately adjusts the screwing positions of the three adjustment screws 9 b screwed and arranged in the adjustment hole 54. Then, along with the position adjustment, the amount of illumination light emitted from the tip surface of the light guide 34 changes. Here, the operator is in a state where the amount of illumination light emitted from the front end surface of the light guide 34 is the brightest, that is, in a state where the illumination light of the illumination unit 82 is supplied most efficiently to the end surface of the light guide 34. Make adjustments. Then, when the operator determines that the amount of illumination light emitted from the tip surface of the light guide 34 is maximized, the centering adjustment is terminated. At this time, the central axis of the light guide 34 and the optical axis of the illuminating unit 82 are substantially coincident with each other.

  Next, the operator turns off the LED element 42 of the jig 80 and removes the jig 80 from the sliding hole 53. Thereafter, the operator arranges the LED receiver 71 including the illumination unit 41 instead of the jig 80 in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51 as shown in FIG. At this time, the operator confirms the position of the phosphor 43 with respect to the end face of the light guide 34 through the confirmation hole 55. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the phosphor 43 comes close to the end face of the light guide 34, the worker brings the phosphor 43 of the illumination unit 41 into contact with the base end face of the light guide 34.

  Next, the operator tightens the urging screw member 9d screwed into the urging force adjusting hole 57 as shown by the broken line in the drawing. Then, as shown by the solid line in the drawing, a part of the tip inclined surface 9e of the biasing screw member 9d is disposed on the inclined surface 72a of the longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove 72.

  From this state, the operator tightens the urging screw member 9d until a predetermined torque is reached. Then, the LED receiver 71 gradually moves toward the light guide receiver 61 as the urging screw member 9d is tightened as shown by the arrow in FIG.

  As a result, an air layer is gradually formed without forming an air layer between the phosphor 43 and the base end face of the light guide 34. At that time, the operator can check the contact state of the phosphor 43 to the base end surface of the light guide 34 through the check hole 55. Then, the tightening of the biasing screw member 9d by the operator is completed. At this time, the phosphor 43 is configured as a phosphor layer that adheres to the base end face of the light guide 34 with a prescribed urging force, that is, with a prescribed force.

  Here, for confirmation, the operator turns on the LED element 42 of the illumination unit 41 and checks the amount of illumination emitted from the front end surface of the light guide 34. Here, when there is no problem in the amount of illumination light, the operator places the fixing screw member 9c into the fixing hole 56 by screwing, and the LED receiver 71 is integrally fixed to the unit main body 51 with the fixing screw member 9c. The fixing screw 9c first tightens a pointed screw, and then tightens a flat-tip screw to ensure fixation. This is to prevent the LED receiver 71 from being moved in an unintended direction due to the rotational force of the screw at the moment when the tip of the flat-shaped screw contacts the LED receiver 71. As a result, the LED unit 40 including a prescribed phosphor layer between the LED element 42 of the illumination unit 41 and the base end face of the light guide 34 is configured.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the amount of illumination light is slightly decreased, the operator performs fine adjustment of the centering. Thereafter, the operator places the fixing screw member 9c into the fixing hole 56, and the LED receiver 71 is integrally fixed to the unit main body 51 with the fixing screw member 9c to constitute the LED unit 40.

  Finally, the operator attaches the LED unit 40 to the frame 8a with the frame attaching screw 9a. Thereby, the endoscope 1 including the LED unit 40 is configured.

  Thus, by tightening the urging screw member, the LED receiver including the illumination unit is moved to the light guide receiving side. Then, the phosphor constituting the illuminating unit is gradually brought into close contact with the base end face of the light guide. Thus, an air layer is prevented from being formed between the phosphor and the base end surface of the light guide, and the light emitting portion and the base end surface of the light guide can be brought into close contact with each other.

  In addition, by setting a torque for tightening the biasing screw member, a prescribed phosphor layer can be obtained between the base end face of the light guide and the LED element.

  Further, a light guide receiver provided with a light guide fiber disposed in the concave portion of the unit main body is fixed and held by three adjustment screws. Therefore, by appropriately adjusting the three adjusting screws, the fixed holding position of the light guide receiver can be changed and the central axis of the light guide fiber can be adjusted.

  In the present embodiment, a jig is used. However, the centering adjustment and the contact fixing work may be performed simultaneously without using a jig. Then, by configuring the illumination unit as shown in FIG. 13, it is possible to more easily perform the centering adjustment and the contact fixing work.

Another configuration example of the illumination unit 41A will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an LED unit having an illumination unit with another configuration.

  As shown in the figure, the illumination unit 41A of the LED unit 40A includes a cover 46, a phosphor 43, and an LED element 42 that are formed of a thin optical member. The cover 46 is adhesively fixed to the LED recess 71b. In this cover arrangement state, the phosphor 43 is urged (pressed) with a specified force. Therefore, a prescribed phosphor layer is formed between the cover 46 and the LED element 42. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  A position in which the LED receiver 71 is integrally fixed to the unit main body 51 by providing the cover 46 on the illuminating unit 41A, and then the light guide receiver 61 is moved so that the central axis of the light guide 34 matches the optical axis of the illuminating unit 41 Adjustments can be made. At this time, the base end surface of the light guide 34 moves on the cover 46. For this reason, the movement of the light guide 34 surely prevents problems such as the phosphor 43 being peeled off. Other operations and effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, another configuration example of the urging means for urging the phosphor 43 to the end surface of the light guide 34 with a specified force will be described.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of an LED unit provided with a coil spring as urging means, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an LED unit configured by screwing and fixing an LED receiver to the unit body as urging means.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the LED unit 40B of the present embodiment includes an LED receiver 71A in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51A, a coil spring 91 that is a spring member constituting the urging means, an urging means, and a fixing means. And a spring restraining member 92 that also serves as the above. On the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion of the sliding hole 53 provided in the unit main body 51A, a female screw portion 53a serving both as an urging means and a fixing means is provided.

  The LED receiver 71 </ b> A is slidably disposed in the sliding hole 53. The LED receiver 71A includes a spring receiver 74 formed of a convex portion at the center of the base end surface. The spring restraining member 92 has a flange 92a. On the outer peripheral surface of the spring restraining member 92, a male screw portion 92b that is screwed into the female screw portion 53a is provided. A concave portion 92 c in which the coil spring 91 is disposed is provided at the center of the spring holding member 92. The spring restraining member 92 is provided with a through hole 92d communicating with the recess 92c. The power supply lead wire 42a extends through the through hole 92d. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the assembly of the LED receiver 71A to the unit main body 51A will be described.

  First, in performing the assembling work, a unit main body 51A in which the light guide receiver 61 for which the centering adjustment has been completed is disposed in the recess 52 is prepared. Then, the operator arranges the LED receiver 71A in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51A. At this time, the operator confirms the position of the phosphor 43 with respect to the end face of the light guide 34 through the confirmation hole 55. Next, the operator arranges the coil spring 91 in the spring receiver 74, and then arranges the coil spring 91 in the recess 92c of the spring restraining member 92 and extends the power supply lead wire 42a from the through hole 92d. .

  Next, the operator screws the male screw portion 92 b of the spring restraining member 92 into the female screw portion 53 a of the sliding hole 53. Then, the spring holding member 92 is tightened. Then, as the spring holding member 92 is tightened, the coil spring 91 is compressed, and then the LED receiver 71 </ b> A moves to the light guide receiver 61 side by the urging force of the coil spring 91.

As a result, an air layer is gradually formed without forming an air layer between the phosphor 43 and the base end face of the light guide 34. At that time, the operator can check the contact state of the phosphor 43 to the base end surface of the light guide 34 through the check hole 55. If the operator determines that the prescribed phosphor layer is formed between the LED element 42 and the base end surface of the light guide 34, the spring restraining member 92 is tightened without tightening with the fixing screw member 9c. Is completed. At this time, the phosphor 43 is configured as a phosphor layer that adheres to the base end face of the light guide 34 with a prescribed urging force, that is, with a prescribed force.
In this manner, the spring holding member is screwed to move the LED receiver to the light guide receiving side via the coil spring. As a result, it is possible to easily adjust the amount of pressing force that presses the phosphor against the light guide base end surface, so that the working efficiency can be improved.
Other operations and effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the LED unit 40C of the present embodiment, an LED receiver 71B is disposed in the sliding hole 53 of the unit main body 51A. The LED receiver 71B is screwed into the sliding hole 53. The LED receiver 71B includes a male screw portion 75 that doubles as a biasing means and a fixing means that are screwed into the female screw portion 53a on the base end portion side, and torque adjustment such as a mesh wrench (not shown) is possible on the base end surface. It has a pair of recessed part 76 by which the convex part of a tool is arrange | positioned. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the assembly of the LED receiver 71B to the unit main body 51A will be described.

  First, in performing the assembling work, a unit main body 51A in which the light guide receiver 61 for which the centering adjustment has been completed is disposed in the recess 52 is prepared. And an operator arrange | positions the front end side of LED receiver 71B in the sliding hole 53 of 51 A of unit main bodies. Thereafter, the operator uses, for example, a square wrench to screw the male screw portion 75 provided at the base end portion of the LED receiver 71 </ b> B into the female screw portion 53 a of the sliding hole 53.

Next, the operator continues to tighten with the square wrench. Then, the LED receiver 71B moves to the light guide receiver 61 side. As a result, an air layer is gradually formed without forming an air layer between the phosphor 43 and the base end face of the light guide 34. At this time, the operator confirms the position of the phosphor 43 with respect to the end face of the light guide 34 through the confirmation hole 55. When the tightening with the prescribed torque is completed, the phosphor 43 is configured as a phosphor layer that adheres to the base end face of the light guide 34 with a prescribed urging force, that is, with a prescribed force.
Thus, the phosphor layer that adheres with a specified force can be easily configured by screwing the LED receiver with a tool capable of adjusting the torque to press the phosphor against the light guide base end face.

  In addition, by increasing the size of the LED receiver on which the illuminating unit is disposed, the contact area with the unit body can be increased, and the heat generated from the light emitting element can be radiated more efficiently.

  Other operations and effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the light guide receiver that configures the white LED unit.
As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, a tip inclined surface 93 similar to the biasing screw member 9d is provided at the tip of the adjustment screw 9b screwed into the adjustment hole 54 provided in the unit main body 51. Provided. On the other hand, the cap fixing screw hole 63A provided on the outer peripheral side of the light guide receiver 61 is provided with a slope 63b on which the tip inclined surface 93 of the adjustment screw 9b is disposed in close contact.

  In this configuration, the distance from the end surface of the flange 61a that contacts the end surface of the unit main body 51 to the center position of the circumferential groove 63A is set shorter than the distance from the end surface of the unit main body 51 to the central axis of the female screw portion 54. is doing.

  Thus, when the centering adjustment is performed and the central axis of the light guide 34 and the optical axis of the illumination unit 82 are substantially coincident with each other, the flange portion 61 a is reliably applied to the end surface of the unit main body 51. Accordingly, the fixing strength of the light guide receiver 61 with respect to the unit main body 51 can be further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The perspective view which looked at the endoscope from the back side provided with a bending operation lever The perspective view which looked at the operation part of the endoscope from the front side which has a forceps insertion port Sectional drawing explaining the structure of a white LED unit AA line sectional view of FIG. BB sectional view of FIG. CC sectional view of FIG. DD sectional view of FIG. The figure explaining the state which fixed the light guide receptacle temporarily to the crevice of the unit body EE sectional view of FIG. The figure explaining the state which has arrange | positioned the LED receiver in the sliding hole of a unit main body The figure explaining the state which has moved the LED receiver arrange | positioned in the sliding hole of a unit main body to the light guide base end side with the urging | biasing screw member The figure which shows the state by which the soft fluorescent substance which comprises an illumination part was closely_contact | adhered and arrange | positioned at the base end surface of the light guide The figure which shows the LED unit which has an illumination part of another structure. The figure which shows the structure of the LED unit provided with the coil spring as a biasing means. The figure which shows the LED unit comprised by screwing and fixing an LED receiver to a unit main body as an urging means. The figure explaining the other structural example of the light guide receptacle which comprises a white LED unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Video display apparatus 9b ... Adjustment screw 9c ... Fixing screw member 9d ... Energizing screw member 34 ... Light guide 36 ... Light guide base 40 ... LED unit 41 ... Illumination Part 42 ... LED element 43 ... phosphor 51 ... unit body 52 ... recess 53 ... sliding hole 54 ... adjustment hole 56 ... fixing screw hole 57 ... bias force adjustment hole 61 ... light guide receiver 61a ... collar 61b ... hole for base 62 ... Circumferential groove 63 ... Base fixing screw hole 71 ... LED receiver 72 ... Longitudinal adjustment circumferential groove

Claims (10)

An illumination unit including a light emitting element that emits illumination light;
A light guide fiber that is fixed to the distal end of the insertion portion that is inserted into the body cavity and guides the illumination light emitted from the illumination portion toward the proximal end surface to the distal end surface;
An urging means for urging at least one of the illuminating unit or the light guide fiber in a direction in which the emission surface of the illuminating unit that emits illumination light and the proximal end surface of the light guide fiber are in close contact with each other;
A fixing means for fixing the illumination section and the light guide fiber in a state of being biased by the biasing means;
An endoscope characterized by comprising:   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is provided in an operation unit that is connected to a proximal end of the insertion unit. An illumination part receiver provided with an illumination part and having a circumferential groove having a slope on the outer peripheral surface;
A light guide receiver provided with a base end portion of the light guide fiber;
A recessed portion that is built in the operation portion and in which the light guide receiver is disposed, and an exterior member that has a sliding hole that communicates with the recessed portion and in which the illumination portion receiver is slidably disposed.
The urging means is a urging screw member that is screwed into a female screw portion provided on a side surface of the exterior member and has an inclined surface having an angle closely contacting the inclined surface at a tip. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the urging unit is a spring member that urges the illumination unit receiver in the light guide receiving direction. The biasing means is
A male screw part provided in the illumination part receiver;
A female screw portion that is provided in the sliding hole of the exterior member and is screwed with the male screw portion;
The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising: The light guide receiver is loosely fitted to the exterior member,
An adjustment unit is provided in the operation unit, and further includes an adjusting unit that adjusts a position of a central axis of the light guide fiber with respect to a light emitting surface of the illumination unit by moving a position of a base end portion of the light guide fiber. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The adjusting means includes
An adjustment screw member screwed into a plurality of female screw portions provided at three or more at substantially equal intervals on a side surface of the exterior member;
The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein a circumferential groove in which the adjustment screw member is disposed is formed in the light guide receiver. The light guide receiver includes a flange that contacts the end surface of the exterior member,
The distance from the end surface of the exterior member to the central axis of the female screw portion and the distance from the flange end surface of the light guide receiver that contacts the exterior member to the center position of the circumferential groove are set to the same size. The endoscope according to claim 7. In the configuration in which the adjustment screw member is provided with an inclined surface at its tip and also serves as an urging means,
The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein a peripheral groove having an inclined surface on which an inclined surface of the adjustment screw member is disposed is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the light guide receiver. The distance from the end surface of the collar part contacting the exterior member to the center position of the circumferential groove is shorter than the distance from the end surface of the exterior member to the central axis of the female screw part. The endoscope described.

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