JP2008012213A - Endoscope apparatus for magnified observation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus for magnified observations for reliably verifying a site subjected to a microscopic magnifying observation by a normal observation image. <P>SOLUTION: In the endoscope apparatus for magnified observations where an observation window 12 for normal observations for loading an observation image of a subject from a position at a distance from the subject and an observation window 14 for magnified observations for taking in a magnified observation image of the subject by abutting on or approaching very closely to a subject's surface are arranged at a distal end 2 of an insertion portion 1, an observation light axis X in front of the observation window 12 is tilted forward of the observation window 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a normal observation observation window for capturing an observation image of a subject from a position at a distance from the subject, and a microscopic enlarged observation image of the subject in contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject. The present invention relates to a magnifying observation endoscope in which an observing window for magnifying observation for capturing is provided at the tip of an insertion portion.

  A technique for inspecting the presence or absence of a lesion by visually observing the inside of a luminal organ in the body with an endoscope is widely performed. However, even if a lesion is found by such endoscopy, it is often difficult to make a diagnosis as to whether or not the lesion is cancer.

  Therefore, tissues that are considered suspicious by endoscopy are collected using biopsy forceps, etc., but in most cases it is not cancer or anything. It damages the mucous membrane of the lumen wall and causes bleeding.

Therefore, in recent years, an endoscope for magnifying observation that can obtain a microscopic magnified image in a range of less than 1 mm, such as a confocal endoscope, has been developed, and an endoscope can be obtained without collecting a biopsy tissue. It has become possible to diagnose whether or not it is cancer only by direct observation with a mirror (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
JP 2004-344201 A JP-A-2005-80769 JP-A-2005-640

  With a single-function magnifying observation endoscope that can only obtain a microscopic magnified observation image, it is impossible to perform a so-called screening test in which a wide range is observed to find a suspicious part.

  Therefore, the magnifying observation endoscope has a normal observation observation window for capturing an observation image of the subject from a position at a distance from the subject, and the subject in contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject. And a magnified observation window for capturing a magnified observation image of the normal observation window. Microscopic observation is performed.

  However, since there is a parallax between the observation from the observation window for normal observation and the observation from the observation window for magnification observation, when switching from normal observation to magnification observation, it is for normal observation. It is necessary to guide the observation window for magnification observation to the abnormal part found by the screening examination from the observation window.

  However, the microscopic magnified image obtained through the observation window for magnifying observation is at the cellular level and is completely different from the screening examination image. There was a problem in which it was not possible to determine clearly whether the site was broken.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope for magnification observation that can surely confirm a target site for microscopic magnification observation by a normal observation image.

  In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope for magnification observation according to the present invention includes an observation window for normal observation for capturing an observation image of a subject from a position at a distance from the subject at the distal end of the insertion portion. In the magnifying observation endoscope in which the magnifying observation observation window for capturing the magnified observation image of the subject in contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject is arranged, the observation optical axis in front of the normal observation observation window Is tilted toward the front of the observation window for magnification observation.

  The observation window for magnification observation is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the observation window for normal observation is aligned with the axis of the distal end portion of the insertion portion toward the front position of the observation window for magnification observation. On the other hand, it may be arranged obliquely.

  In addition, the observation window for magnification observation is arranged at the tip of the protrusion protruding forward from the observation window for normal observation, and the wall of the protrusion located between the observation window for normal observation and the observation window for magnification observation is It may be formed transparently.

  According to the present invention, the front observation optical axis from the normal observation observation window is tilted toward the front direction of the magnification observation observation window, so that the portion immediately in front of the magnification observation observation window is removed from the normal observation observation window. The observation window for normal observation is used when performing a magnified observation from the observation window for magnification observation on a part suspected of being abnormal in the screening examination from the observation window for normal observation. Can be guided to the position immediately before the observation window for magnified observation without losing sight of the target site, and the microscopic magnified observation can be reliably performed on the site suspected of being abnormal in the screening test. .

  At the tip of the insertion section, a normal observation observation window for capturing an observation image of the subject from a position spaced from the subject, and an enlarged observation image of the subject in contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject In the magnifying observation endoscope in which the magnifying observation observation window is arranged, the observation optical axis in front of the normal observing observation window is tilted toward the front direction of the magnifying observation observation window.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the overall configuration of the endoscope for magnification observation according to the present invention, in which an observation window, an illumination window, and the like are arranged at the most distal end portion of the flexible insertion portion 1 to be inserted into the body. The distal end portion body 2 is connected, and the operation portion 3 in which various operation members are arranged is connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 1.

  A first connector 7 and a second connector 8 which are connected to a video processor 5 and a confocal image processor 6 which are arranged outside the endoscope are connected to the tip of a cord extending from the operation unit 3. Is provided.

  9 is a main monitor for displaying a normal observation image by a video signal output from the video processor 5, and 10 is an enlargement for displaying a microscopic enlarged observation image by a video signal output from the confocal image processor 6. It is an image monitor.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the most distal portion of the insertion portion 1. The distal end of the distal end portion main body 2 is illuminated with an illumination window 11 for radiating illumination light and illumination light emitted from the illumination window 11. A normal observation observation window 12 for taking the observed image of the subject taken from a position at a distance from the subject is arranged side by side obliquely forward. Reference numeral 13 denotes a treatment instrument protrusion. In addition, illustration of an air supply / water supply nozzle etc. is abbreviate | omitted.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes an observation window for magnifying observation that is brought into contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject and captures a microscopic magnified observation image of the subject. The magnifying observation window 14 protrudes forward from the tip surface of the tip body 2. It arrange | positions toward the front end surface toward the front.

  FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the most distal portion of the insertion portion 1, and the magnification observation observation window 14 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the distal end portion main body 2, and the magnification observation observation window 14. A confocal optical system 25 is arranged inside, and the position of the distal end surface 26a of the optical single fiber 26 (single mode fiber) arranged in the back of the confocal optical system 25 and the position of the outer surface of the observation window 14 for magnification observation (or much more). It is set so that it is in a confocal positional relationship with a slightly forward position.

  The distal end surface 26a of the optical single fiber 26 is scanned two-dimensionally on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the confocal optical system 25 by a scanning mechanism 27 using, for example, electromagnetic force, and the inside of the optical single fiber 26 is scanned. When the laser beam transmitted and emitted from the distal end surface 26a is focused on and reflected from a subject near the outer surface of the observation window 14 for magnification observation, the reflected light is reflected from the distal end surface of the optical single fiber 26. Focus on 26a. When a fluorescent dye is dispersed on the mucosal surface of the body, the fluorescence excited by the laser beam becomes the subject.

  Therefore, the reflected light that returns to the base end side through the optical single fiber 26 is displayed at a position corresponding to the scanning motion of the distal end surface 26a, so that the subject near the surface of the observation window 14 for magnified observation is 1 mm or less. It is possible to obtain a clear microscopic magnified observation image of a certain region (for example, a region of 0.5 mm). However, the optical system in the observation window for magnifying observation 14 does not use the confocal optical system 25 in which the tip surface 26a of the optical single fiber 26 is used as a substitute for a pinhole. It does not matter if it can be observed.

  The observation window for normal observation 12 is disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of the tip body 2 toward the front position of the observation window for magnification observation 14, and the observation optical axis X of the observation window for normal observation 12 is shown in FIG. As shown also in FIG. 2, it is in a state of being inclined toward the front direction of the observation window 14 for magnification observation. Z indicates a forward direction (a direction parallel to the axis of the tip portion main body 2) straight from the observation window 12 for normal observation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an objective optical system 21 for obtaining a wide viewing angle (for example, about 100 ° to 140 °) is arranged in the observation window 12 for normal observation. The imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 22 is arranged at the projection position of the subject by 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes a signal cable for transmitting an imaging signal obtained by the solid-state imaging device 22.

  The objective optical system 21 includes a declination prism 21p for deflecting the optical axis, and the observation optical axis X heading forward from the normal observation observation window 12 is the tip at the front of the normal observation observation window 12. For example, it is inclined at about 30 ° with respect to a direction parallel to the axis of the main part 2 (Z direction shown in FIG. 3).

  As a result, the normal observation region obtained through the normal observation observation window 12 includes a straight forward direction Z of the normal observation observation window 12 as shown in FIG. The side wall portion of the protruding portion 2a is included.

  In this embodiment, the wall of the protruding portion 2a of the tip body 2 included in the observation region from the normal observation window 12 is formed of a transparent plastic material (transparent wall portion 15). In addition, the external appearance is illustrated in FIG. As a result, the subject located immediately in front of the observation window for magnification observation 14 that is blocked if the protruding portion 2a is opaque can be observed by normal observation from the observation window for normal observation 12. .

  In this way, a normal examination through the observation window for normal observation 12 enables a screening examination of the front region far from the distal end of the insertion portion 1, and at the same time, the portion immediately in front of the observation window for magnification observation 14 is observed. Since it is included in the screen, when a portion suspected of being abnormal is found in the screening examination from the observation window for normal observation 12 and magnified observation from the observation window for magnification observation 14 is performed on that portion, normal observation is performed. By observing from the observation window 12 for observation, it is possible to guide to the position immediately before the observation window 14 for magnification observation without losing sight of the target part, and the microscopic magnification observation is surely performed on the part suspected of being abnormal in the screening examination. Can be done.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope for magnification observation of the Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing the whole composition of the endoscope for magnification observation of the example of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope for magnification observation of the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Front-end | tip part main body 2a Protrusion part 12 Observation window for normal observation 14 Observation window for expansion observation 15 Transparent wall part 21 Objective optical system 21p Deflection prism 22 Solid-state image sensor 25 Confocal optical system 26 Optical single fiber 26a Tip surface X Observation optical axis Z Forward direction

Claims (3)

A normal observation observation window for capturing an observation image of the subject from a position at a distance from the subject at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an enlarged observation of the subject in contact with or in close proximity to the surface of the subject In an endoscope for magnification observation in which an observation window for magnification observation for capturing an image is arranged,
An endoscope for magnification observation, wherein an observation optical axis in front of the observation window for normal observation is tilted toward the front direction of the observation window for magnification observation.   The observation window for magnified observation is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the distal end portion of the insertion portion is directed toward the front position of the observation window for magnification observation. The endoscope for magnifying observation according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is disposed obliquely with respect to the axis.   The enlarged observation window is disposed at the tip of a protruding part protruding forward from the normal observation window, and is located between the normal observation window and the enlarged observation window. The endoscope for magnifying observation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said wall is formed transparent.

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