JP2009022636A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of performing excellent observation for a long period of time by preventing decrease in an illumination light quantity and the occurrence of image noise caused by heat generated by LED illumination arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion part. <P>SOLUTION: In the endoscope provided with a light-emitting element 6 at the distal end portion 3 of the insertion part, one end portion of a heat-radiating member 21 configured of a plurality of elongated wires is arranged in the vicinity of the light-emitting element 6. The other end portion of the heat-radiating member 21 is arranged at a predetermined position on the proximal end side of the insertion part, and a binding member 60 for binding the wires of the heat-radiating member 21 is provided to a side in the vicinity of the light-emitting element of the heat-radiating member 21. An adhesive 61 is filled on the distal end side from the end part on the proximal end side of the binding member in the distal end portion 3 of the insertion part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope using a light emitting element in an illumination optical system.

  Conventionally, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. In this endoscope, a diagnosis or inspection target is inside a living body, a plant, or the like. For this reason, a light source for illuminating the observation target is necessary.

  In general, in an endoscope apparatus, a light source device is prepared as an external device of the endoscope, illumination light emitted from the light source device is supplied to a light guide provided in the endoscope, and illumination transmitted by the light guide Light is emitted from an illumination window disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope to illuminate the observation site.

  Also, instead of a combination of a light source device that illuminates the observation site and a light guide fiber, an endoscope is also provided in which LED illumination is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion and the observation site is directly illuminated with the light emitted by this LED illumination. Proposed. In this endoscope, an observation site illuminated by LED illumination is imaged with a solid-state imaging device, thereby realizing high functionality with a small diameter and a simple configuration.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-51971 discloses an endoscope that increases the amount of illumination of LED illumination that is illumination means arranged at the distal end of an insertion portion. In this endoscope, the distal end main body is molded from ceramic having heat dissipation, so that heat generated by LED illumination is conducted to the distal end main body.
JP 2002-51971 A (Page 3, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, since the endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-51971 is small, the volume of the tip body is small and the surface area is small. Therefore, the heat generated by the LED illumination may be conducted and the tip body may become hot. And if this tip body becomes high temperature and the LED lighting is exposed to a high temperature, the performance of the LED lighting deteriorates, and it becomes difficult to secure a brightness because a large amount of current cannot flow, and it is difficult for a long time. It becomes difficult to use. In addition, when the heat of the tip main body that has become high temperature is conducted to the CCD, there is a risk that the temperature of the CCD rises, causing problems such as noise in the endoscopic image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents a decrease in the amount of illumination light and generation of image noise due to the heat generated by the LED illumination disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and performs good observation over a long period of time. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope in which a light emitting element is provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion, and one end portion of a heat radiating member made of a plurality of elongated strands is the light emitting element. On the other hand, the other end of the heat radiating member is disposed at a predetermined position on the base end side of the insertion portion, and a binding member for binding the strands of the heat radiating member is provided on the heat radiating member near the light emitting element. Further, the adhesive is further filled in the distal end side than the binding member base end side end portion of the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

  According to this configuration, since heat generated from the light emitting element is conducted to the base end side of the insertion portion by the heat radiating member, reduction in the amount of illumination light and generation of image noise can be prevented, and good observation can be performed for a long time. . In addition, since the distal end portion of the insertion portion is filled with an adhesive, a lens optical system such as an optical lens or a CCD is fixed by the adhesive, and the observation can be prevented from being hindered by a mechanical impact. In this case, when filling the adhesive, there is a concern that the adhesive spreads wet to the proximal end side of the heat dissipation member by capillary action, and adversely affects the bending operation of the insertion portion, in the endoscope of the present invention, Since the strands of the heat dissipating member are in close contact with each other by the constraining member, even if the adhesive spreads wet, the region can be kept within the range of the front end side of the constraining member. Therefore, by appropriately designing the position of the constraining member, it is possible to provide an endoscope that can minimize the influence of the wetting and spreading of the adhesive and can smoothly perform the bending operation.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the tip side end of the binding member is disposed in the adhesive.

  According to this configuration, the binding member can be fixed integrally with the lens optical system. In addition, since all the wire portions exposed on the front end side of the binding member are all fixed by the adhesive, problems such as disconnection occur in the wire portion disposed between the binding member and the adhesive due to mechanical impact. This can be prevented.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that a curved portion is connected to the proximal end side of the distal end portion, and the proximal end side end portion of the binding member is disposed closer to the distal end side than the curved portion.

  In general, the strand portion fixed by the binding member has higher rigidity than the other strand portions. For this reason, when the portion fixed to the binding member is disposed in the bending portion, the bending operation of the bending portion may be hindered. In the endoscope of the present invention, the proximal end side end portion of the constraining member is disposed on the distal end side with respect to the bending portion, so that the curving operation is not hindered by the portion fixed to the constraining member, and smooth bending The operation is performed.

  Here, the “bending portion” refers to a portion that can be bent in a desired direction by an operation of a remote controller or the like. A highly rigid and inflexible tip rigid portion (tip portion) provided with a light emitting element and a lens optical system is connected to the tip side of the bending portion. The boundary portion between the bending portion and the distal end hard portion is defined by a portion that substantially contributes to bending in the bending portion. For example, when the bending portion is constituted by a plurality of bending pieces, when the portion where the bending starts substantially at the boundary portion between the bending pieces is the second bending piece, the tip side end portion of the bending portion (Boundary portion with the tip hard portion) is defined as a boundary portion between the first bending piece and the second bending piece. Therefore, it is only necessary that the base end side end portion of the binding member is disposed on the front end side of the boundary portion between the first bending piece and the second bending piece.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that a plurality of the heat radiating members are provided in the insertion portion, and some of the heat radiating members are bundled by a binding member.

  According to this configuration, since a plurality of heat dissipating members are bundled, the heat dissipating member installation area can be reduced as compared with the case where the heat dissipating members are separately installed. Endoscopes are becoming smaller and more functional, and the density of parts installed inside the endoscope is also increasing. For example, an endoscope that inserts a treatment tool into the insertion portion and performs treatment of the subject using the treatment tool is known. In such an endoscope, It is necessary to install an insertion path (channel) for inserting the treatment instrument and a signal cable for supplying an operation signal to the treatment instrument, and the area for installing the heat dissipation member is particularly small. In such a case, an endoscope having a small size and high heat dissipation efficiency can be provided by adopting the configuration of the present invention in which the heat dissipation members are tightly bundled.

  In the present invention, a plurality of bundles composed of a plurality of heat radiating members bundled by the binding members are provided inside the insertion portion, and the plurality of bundles are equally arranged in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion. Is desirable.

  According to this configuration, the bending operation of the insertion portion can be performed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the insertion portion. In general, when a plurality of heat radiating members are bundled with a binding member, the rigidity of the bundled portion is increased, which affects the bending operation of the insertion portion. In the present invention, since the plurality of bundles in which the heat radiating members are bundled are evenly arranged in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion, even if the bending operation is affected, it occurs evenly in the circumferential direction of the insertion portion. Therefore, the problem that the ease of the bending operation is not biased in a specific direction does not occur, and an endoscope with excellent operability can be provided.

  The number of the heat radiating member bundles is not limited as long as they are evenly arranged in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion, and may be two or three or more. However, since endoscopes often perform bending operations in four directions, front, rear, left, and right, the number of bundles of heat dissipating members is four, such as four or eight, in order to perform the bending operations equally. It is desirable that the number be a multiple of. This number can be appropriately selected depending on the size of the installation area of the heat radiating member, the ease of bending operation (rigidity of the heat radiating member), and the like.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the heat radiating member is bundled by a binding member together with an internal cable disposed inside the insertion portion.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from wetting and spreading to the proximal end side of the heat dissipation member through the gap between the internal cable and the heat dissipation member. Endoscopes are becoming smaller and the density of members disposed inside the insertion portion is also increasing. Therefore, when the gap between the internal cable and the heat radiating member is large enough to cause a capillary phenomenon, the same problem as the wetting and spreading of the adhesive between the strands of the heat radiating member occurs. Therefore, in such a case, it is effective to prevent the adhesive from spreading by close contact between the internal cable and the heat dissipating member and completely closing the gap.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the outer periphery of the internal cable is covered with a metal mesh tube, and the end of the mesh tube is disposed in the adhesive.

  According to this configuration, the mesh tube can be fixed integrally with the binding member and the lens optical system. Moreover, since the tip end side of the mesh tube is fixed, the position of the mesh tube does not shift along the internal cable. Therefore, the internal cable is not cut when the internal cable is pulled in the axial direction, and the internal cable is not worn due to friction between the mesh tube and the internal cable. A mirror can be provided.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that an end portion of the heat radiating member is formed with an integral portion in which the strands of the heat radiating member are integrally bundled.

  According to this structure, the installation area | region of a thermal radiation member can be made small, and a small-sized endoscope with high thermal radiation efficiency can be provided.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the integral part of the heat dissipating member is formed flat along the circumferential direction of the tip part.

  According to this configuration, since the surface area of the heat dissipation member can be increased, heat generated from the light emitting element can be efficiently absorbed. Further, by flattening the heat dissipating member, it is possible to effectively use the space inside the insertion portion, and for example, it is possible to form a channel or the like for inserting the treatment instrument.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the integral part of the heat radiating member and the binding member are arranged with a gap therebetween.

  According to this configuration, the gap portion between the integral portion of the heat radiating member and the binding member is bent, so that the heat radiating member can be easily incorporated into the tip portion.

  In the present invention, a plurality of the heat dissipating members are provided in the insertion portion, and an integral portion in which the strands of the heat dissipating members are integrally bundled is provided at the proximal end of each of the plurality of heat dissipating members. It is desirable that the integrated portions of the plurality of heat dissipating members are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the insertion portion.

  According to this configuration, since the integrated portions of the heat radiating members do not interfere with each other when the insertion portion is bent, the bending operation can be performed smoothly. Moreover, since the integral parts of the heat radiating member do not interfere with each other when the heat radiating member is incorporated into the insertion portion, the assembling work is facilitated.

  In the present invention, the binding member is preferably a heat-shrinkable tube, a rubber tube, a thread, a metal wire, solder, or an adhesive having a higher viscosity than the adhesive filled in the tip portion.

  According to this structure, the strands of a heat radiating member can be reliably stuck. When solder or an adhesive is used as a binding member, when soldering or applying an adhesive, these members may wet and spread toward the base end due to capillary action. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable to use a high-viscosity material as the member to suppress wetting and spreading due to capillary action.

  According to the endoscope of the present invention, the heat generated from the light emitting element can be easily dissipated by the heat dissipating member, and good observation can be performed over a long period of time. In addition, since the lens optical system or the like inserted at the tip portion is fixed by an adhesive, an endoscope that is resistant to mechanical shock can be provided. Furthermore, since a large number of strands constituting the heat dissipation member are tightly bundled by the binding member, the adhesive does not spread between the strands due to capillary action, and a smooth bending operation of the insertion portion can be ensured. .

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an endoscope apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a state in which the apparatus main body is placed when the endoscope apparatus 100 is used.

  The endoscope apparatus 100 includes an endoscope 101 and an apparatus main body 102 connected to the endoscope 101. The endoscope 101 is elongated and has a flexible insertion portion 2, an operation portion 103 having a grip portion 104 connected to the insertion direction base end of the insertion portion 2, and an extension from the grip portion 104 of the operation portion 103. And a universal cord 105 having flexibility.

  The insertion portion 2 includes, in order from the distal end side of the insertion portion 2, a distal end portion 3, a bending portion 4 that is bent, for example, in a vertical / horizontal direction by a bending operation of the bending operation lever 106 of the operation portion 103, and a flexible member. The long flexible tube portion 5 formed in the above is connected continuously, and the base end portion of the flexible tube portion 5 is connected to the operation portion 103.

  An imaging unit having an objective optical system such as an objective lens (to be described later) and an imaging element such as a CCD is disposed inside the distal end portion 3. A signal cable or the like for driving the imaging unit and transmitting / receiving an imaging signal is disposed inside the distal end portion 3, the bending portion 4, and the flexible tube portion 5. Inside, a bending operation wire or the like for bending the bending portion 4 is disposed.

  A bending operation lever (hereinafter referred to as a bending lever) 106 for bending the bending portion 4 is arranged upright on the operation portion 103 so as to be tiltable in at least four directions. The bending lever 106 is connected to the bending portion 4 via a bending unit having the bending operation wire described above.

  The bending lever 106 causes the bending portion 4 to bend in any one of the four directions of up / down / left / right when the tilt direction is changed by the operator. Further, the bending lever 106 bends the bending portion 4 to an angle corresponding to the inclination angle of the bending lever 106 in the inclined direction by changing the inclination angle by the operator. In addition to the curved lever 106, the operation unit 103 is provided with various switches (not shown) for instructing various imaging operations of the imaging unit.

  The above-described signal cable or the like is disposed in the universal cord 105, and one end of the universal cord 105 is connected to the operation unit 103 and the other end is connected to the apparatus main body 102.

  The apparatus main body 102 has, for example, a box shape, and a plurality of electrical components 108 such as a CPU for image processing are fixed inside the apparatus main body 102 covered with an exterior casing 107 configured by, for example, magnesium die casting. A battery unit (not shown) that supplies power to the substrate 109, the apparatus main body 102, and the imaging unit via an illumination cable is disposed.

  A monitor 111, which is an image display unit that has an image display surface 110 that displays an endoscopic image captured by an imaging unit of the endoscope 101 and transmitted via a signal cable, is provided on the exterior casing 107 of the apparatus main body 102. It is fixed.

  The monitor 111 has a hinge or the like so that the back surface 111r of the monitor surface 111m having the image display surface 110 can be opened and closed with respect to one of the six outer surfaces of the exterior casing 107 of the apparatus main body 102, for example, the outer surface 112. Via the outer surface 112 of the apparatus main body 102. The back surface 111r of the monitor 111 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the apparatus main body 102. The monitor 111 may be detachable from the exterior casing 107.

  A cover plate 113 made of, for example, a resin, which is a protective material that covers and protects the image display surface 110 when the endoscope apparatus 101 is not used, is fixed to the monitor surface 111m of the monitor 111. The cover plate 113 is fixed to the monitor surface 111m so that a facing surface 113t of the cover plate 113 facing the image display surface 110 can be opened and closed with respect to the image display surface 110. A back surface 113r of the facing surface 113t constitutes a part of the outer surface of the apparatus main body 102.

  Further, in order to improve the portability of the apparatus main body 102, the outer casing 107 is attached to the outer casing 107 at two points so that the belt 114 for hanging the apparatus main body 102 on the shoulder of the operator is detachable from the apparatus main body 102. It is fixed.

  Further, for example, four leg portions 115 formed of rubber (for example, NBR) for placing the apparatus main body 102 are fixed to at least four sides of the exterior casing 107 of the box-shaped apparatus main body 103. For example, four mounting surfaces 115 a to 115 d are formed on the leg 115 so that the apparatus main body 102 can be mounted in a plurality of directions with respect to the ground surface or the like.

  Next, the detailed structure of the endoscope 101 will be described. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the insertion portion 2, FIG. 4 is a front view and a sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the heat radiating member, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the inner mesh tube and the outer mesh tube, and FIG. 8 is a side view of another configuration example of the outer mesh tube. 4A is a front view when the distal end portion of the insertion portion is viewed from the front, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4C is BB of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 5A and 6A are cross-sectional views in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the heat dissipation member, and FIGS. 5B and 6B are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the heat dissipation member.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope 1 has an elongated insertion portion 2, and the insertion portion 2 is connected in order from the distal end side to a hard distal end portion (hard distal end portion) 3 and a bending piece, for example in the vertical and horizontal directions. A bending portion 4 that bends and a flexible tube portion 5 formed of a flexible tubular member are connected to each other. The distal end portion 3 is provided with an LED illumination unit 7 configured by disposing a plurality of LED chips 6 as light emitting elements, and an observation optical unit 10 configured by disposing a plurality of optical lenses 8a, a CCD 9, and the like. ing.

  The tip 3 includes the first lens frame 11, the second lens frame 55, the CCD receiver 9a, the LED substrate 12, the tip body 52, the first connection tube 13, the second connection tube 14, the third connection tube 15, and a connection fixing member. 17.

  The first lens frame 11, the second lens frame 55, the LED substrate 12, and the tip main body 52 are formed of a metal member having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. On the other hand, the first receiving tube 13, the second connecting tube 14, the third connecting tube 15 and the connecting fixing member 17 constituting the exterior of the CCD receiver 9a and the endoscope 1 are excellent in corrosion resistance such as stainless steel and have a high thermal conductivity. It is made of a low metal member.

  The objective lens group (optical lens 8a) constituting the observation optical unit 10 is fixedly disposed on the first lens frame 11 and the second lens frame 55, and the CCD 9 is fixedly disposed on the CCD receiver 9a. A terminal 9b extending from the CCD 9 toward the base end side is electrically connected to the CCD substrate 9c, and a signal line 9e inserted through the signal cable is electrically connected to the CCD substrate 9c at a predetermined position.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, the LED illumination unit 7 includes an LED chip 6 and an LED substrate 12. The LED board 12 is annular, and, for example, eight counterbore holes 12a are provided at predetermined intervals on a circumference at a predetermined distance from the center. The LED chip 6 is disposed in each of the eight counterbore holes 12a, and the irradiation direction side of the LED chip 6 is covered with a transparent sealing agent 6a.

  On the inner peripheral surface side of the LED substrate 12, a pair of cutout portions 12b for arranging power supply cables 22a and 22b for supplying power are formed. The LED board 12 is provided with a conductive pattern in which electrical contacts (not shown) of the power cables 22a and 22b and the LED chip 6 are in electrical contact, and the conductive pattern and the lead wires 22 of the power cables 22a and 22b. Are electrically connected by solder 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, a distal end main body 52 is provided in contact with the proximal end of the LED substrate 12. The tip main body 52 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a lens frame through hole 52a in which the first lens frame 11, the second lens frame 55, and the CCD receiver 9a in which the objective lens group or the CCD 9 is housed is arranged at the center. . Around the lens frame through hole 52a, there are a predetermined number and a predetermined interval of heat dissipating member disposing through holes 52c in which the bundle members 21 as heat dissipating members for dissipating heat generated from the plurality of LED chips 6 are disposed. A pair of cable through holes 52b through which the power cables 22a and 22b are inserted are formed at predetermined positions.

  The first lens frame 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and concave portions 11a and 11b in which the optical lenses 8a of the observation optical unit 10 are respectively arranged are formed on the distal end surface side and the proximal end surface side of the central portion. The recess 11a and the recess 11b communicate with each other by, for example, a tapered hole 11e having a large opening on the front end side. The base end side of the recess 11b is formed to have a larger diameter than the front end side, and the front end portion of the second lens frame 55 is inserted into this large diameter portion. The second lens frame 55 is tubular and includes a small diameter portion 55a provided on the distal end side and a large diameter portion 55b provided on the proximal end side. The small-diameter portion 55 a holds a concave lens and a convex lens (optical lens 8 a) at the center, and is inserted into the proximal end side end portion of the first lens frame 11. A CCD receiver 9a holding the CCD 9 is inserted into the large diameter portion 55b.

  The bundle member 21 is formed in consideration of flexibility by bundling a plurality of strands having a high thermal conductivity such as a copper wire, an aluminum wire, and a silver wire and having a strand diameter of, for example, 0.1 mm or less. The number of wires and the length of the strands are appropriately set according to the type of endoscope in consideration of both heat capacity and workability.

  In consideration of workability, the distal end side end portion and the proximal end side end portion of the bundled member 21 are configured as a single unitary portion 23 by, for example, solder, brazing, adhesive, or the like. In the present embodiment, there are four integral parts 23 arranged on the distal end side.

  A groove 52 d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip main body 52. A ring-shaped heat dissipating member presser 53 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the groove 52d, and the heat dissipating member disposing through hole in which the bundle member 21 is inserted and disposed in a loosely fit state by a space between the groove 52 and the heat dissipating member presser 53. 52c is formed. Four grooves 52d are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the tip body 52 so as not to interfere with the pair of cable through holes 52b formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the tip body 52. The depth of the groove 52d is smaller than the width in the circumferential direction of the groove 52d, and the integral portion 23 of the bundled member 21 formed flat is disposed between the groove 52d and the heat dissipation member presser 53. The distal end side of the bundle member 21 is fixed to a region surrounded by the heat dissipating member disposing through hole 52c provided in the front end body 52 and the heat dissipating member presser 53 by soldering, brazing, a heat conductive adhesive or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, the first connecting pipe 13 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the heat radiating member presser 53, and the connecting fixing member 17 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the first connecting pipe 13. Yes. The first connecting pipe 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a male screw part 13a that is screwed with a female screw part 17b formed on the connecting and fixing member 17 is formed at a predetermined position in the middle of the outer peripheral surface, and a first end is formed at the base end. The internal thread part 13d screwed together with the external thread part 14a currently formed in the 2 connection pipe 14 is formed.

  The second connecting tube 14 is tubular and includes a large diameter portion 14c provided on the distal end side and a small diameter portion 14b provided on the proximal end side. The first connecting pipe 13 and the third connecting pipe 15 are integrally arranged via the second connecting pipe 14. Specifically, the proximal end portion of the first connecting tube 13 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the large diameter portion 14c of the second connecting tube 14, and the distal end side of the third connecting tube 15 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 14b. An inner peripheral surface is arranged.

  The third connecting pipe 15 is substantially tubular, and the second connecting pipe 14 and the bending portion 4 are integrally disposed via the third connecting pipe 15. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion of the second connecting tube 14 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side of the third connecting tube 15, and the bending portion 4 is configured at a predetermined position of the proximal end portion of the third connecting tube 15. A plurality of bending pieces 4a, an inner blade 4i, a bending rubber 4b, and an outer blade 4c are arranged. The curved rubber 4b and the outer blade 4c are integrally fixed to the third connecting pipe 15 by a bobbin fixing portion 31. Inside the bending portion 4, bending wires 4 d and 4 e are disposed so as to pass through the wire insertion opening 4 t provided on the bending piece, and the bending wires are provided on the wire receivers 15 a and 15 b provided on the third connecting pipe 15. 4e and 4d are respectively fixed. Then, the bending portion 4 is bent by pulling and relaxing the bending wire by the bending operation of the bending operation lever 106 shown in FIG. 1, and the viewing direction of the endoscope can be freely changed. Reference numeral 4d is a downward bending wire, and reference numeral 4e is a right bending wire. In the bending portion 4, in addition to the downward bending wire 4d and the right bending wire 4e, an upward bending wire and a left bending wire are arranged.

  An adhesive 61 is filled inside the tip formed by the tip body 52, the connection fixing member 17, the first connection tube 13, the second connection tube 14, and the third connection tube 15. The adhesive 61 is provided for the purpose of increasing the strength of the tip, improving the impact resistance of the tip, improving heat dissipation, and the like, and an appropriate type of adhesive is selected according to the purpose. For example, a hard adhesive is used to increase the strength of the tip, and a soft adhesive is used to improve the impact resistance of the tip. Furthermore, when aiming at the improvement of heat dissipation, a heat conductive adhesive with high thermal conductivity is used.

  The adhesive 61 is filled on the tip side with respect to the curved portion 4. In the case of the present embodiment, the adhesive 61 is filled more to the distal end side than the distal end side end portion of the third connecting pipe 15, and the distal end portion of the bundle member 21, the distal end portion of the signal cable 9d, the power cable 22a, The tip of 22 b is integrally fixed with an adhesive 61. Here, “the distal end side of the bending portion 4” means at least the distal end side of a portion that substantially contributes to the bending operation of the bending portion 4. In the case of the present embodiment, the bending portion 4 is composed of a plurality of bending pieces. However, since the first bending piece 4a is fixed in the bending portion 4, it is substantially 2 that contributes to bending. It comes from the curved piece. Therefore, from the viewpoint of facilitating the bending operation of the bending portion 4, it is sufficient that the adhesive 61 is filled on the tip side from the boundary portion between at least the first bending piece and the second bending piece, More preferably, the distal end side of the wire insertion port 4t on the most distal end side is filled.

  A binding member 60 that bundles a plurality of strands extending from the integrated portion 23 to the rear side is provided at the distal end portion (near the light emitting element) of the bundle member 21. The binding member 60 is not particularly limited as long as it uses a heat-shrinkable tube, a rubber tube such as silicon rubber, a thread, a metal wire, solder, a high-viscosity adhesive, or the like, and can bind the strands in close contact. The distal end side end portion of the binding member 60 is provided at a position entering the adhesive 61, and the proximal end side end portion is provided on the distal end side with respect to the operating portion of the bending portion 4, but at least the insertion portion distal end portion is provided. The position of the binding member 60 is not particularly limited as long as the adhesive 61 is filled on the distal end side with respect to the bundle member base end side end. For example, the distal end side end portion of the binding member 60 may be disposed closer to the proximal end side than the position where the adhesive 61 is filled. As a result, the strands of the bundle member 21 are brought into close contact with each other, and the adhesive 61 can be prevented from getting wet between the strands due to a capillary phenomenon. Reference numeral 9f denotes a noise-preventing metal reticulated tube covered on the outer periphery of the signal cable 9d. The end of the mesh tube 9f is disposed inside the adhesive 61, and is fixed integrally with the signal cable 9d, the power cables 22a and 22b, and the bundle member 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (c), and 5, both ends of the bundle member 21 are configured as a single unitary part 23 (23 </ b> A, 23 </ b> B) by solder, brazing, adhesive, or the like. The distal end side integrated portion 23A is formed in a flat cross section, and the proximal end side integrated portion 23B is formed in a circular cross section. These shapes can be appropriately changed depending on the size and shape of the internal space of the insertion portion. In the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the bundling member 21, the strands are arranged apart from each other, and a midway portion thereof is bundled in a circular cross section by a binding member 60. A gap is formed between the binding member 60 and the distal end side integrated portion 23A. The binding member 60 may be provided close to the distal end side integrated portion 23A. However, since the gap portion is bent when the clearance is opened, the distal end side integrated portion 23A is easily incorporated into the distal end portion 3.

  Although a rubber tube is used as the binding member 60 in FIG. 5, an adhesive can be used as the binding member 65 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the adhesive 61 is prevented from getting wet by filling the gap between the strands with the adhesive 65. As the adhesive 65, it is desirable to use an adhesive having a viscosity higher than that of the filling adhesive 61 so that the adhesive 65 does not wet and spread between the strands. Also in the example of FIG. 6, it is desirable to form a gap between the region where the adhesive 65 is formed and the distal end side integrated portion 23 </ b> A, so that the distal end side integrated portion 23 </ b> A is assembled into the distal end portion 3. Can be improved. In addition to the adhesive 65, a liquid material such as solder can be used as the binding member. In this case as well, it is desirable that the viscosity of the liquid is made larger than the viscosity of the filling adhesive 60 to prevent the liquid from getting wet.

  In FIG. 4C, the binding member 60 is provided on each of the four binding members 21, but the binding member 60 binds the plurality of binding members 21, or the binding member 21 and an internal cable (signal). The cable 9d and the power cables 22a and 22b) may be bundled together. When the internal space of the insertion portion 2 is narrow, a minute gap may be formed between the bundle members 21 or between the bundle members 21 and the internal cable. By bringing the gap into close contact with the binding member 60, the adhesive 61 can be prevented from getting wet. Further, by bundling the bundling members 21 or the bundling member 21 and the internal cable with the bundling member 60, the space inside the insertion portion 2 can be used effectively, for example, forming a channel or the like for inserting a treatment instrument. It is also possible to do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the four bundle members 21 extending through the rear side through the heat dissipating member disposing through holes 52c, the first connecting pipe 13, the second connecting pipe 14, and the third connecting pipe 15 are: The bending portion 4 is inserted into the flexible tube portion 5. The lengths of the four bundle members 21 inserted and arranged in the flexible tube portion 5 are set to different lengths, so that the proximal end side integrated portion 23 of each bundle member 21 is flexible. Concentration at one place in the pipe portion 5 is prevented.

  The flexible tube 5 includes a spiral tube 5a disposed on the inner peripheral surface side, a mesh tube 5b that covers the spiral tube 5a, and an outer tube 5c that covers the mesh tube 5b. A front cap 5d is disposed on the distal end side of the flexible tube 5, and a mesh tube 5e that covers the front cap 5d and the outer tube 5c is disposed on the outermost peripheral portion of the flexible tube 5. The front cap 5 d is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the fourth connecting pipe 18 that forms the proximal end portion of the bending portion 4. Reference numeral 24 denotes a coil member through which the bending wires 4d and 4e are inserted, and the coil member 24 is integrally joined to a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the front cap 5d by brazing.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the mesh tube 5b and the mesh tube 5e are formed by braiding a bundle of strands in which a plurality of strands made of fine metal wires are arranged. The inner mesh tube 5b and the outer mesh tube 5e have different purposes and uses, and the mesh density also differs depending on the purpose and use. For example, the inner mesh tube 5e is a skeleton member of a sheath tube assembled in a mesh pattern so that the material resin does not enter the gaps of the spiral tube 5a when molding the material resin of the sheath tube 5c, and the outer mesh tube 5e This is a protective member for improving the wear resistance of the flexible tube 5. Therefore, the outer mesh tube 5e needs to have higher strength than the inner mesh tube 5b. For example, the mesh density ρ defined by the following equation (1) has an outer mesh tube 5e as compared with the inner mesh tube 5b. Is bigger.

ρ = (dmn) / (2πD cos θ) (1)
(D: outer diameter of the strand, n: number of strands (number of strands), m: number of strands (number of strands in the strand), D: inner diameter of the mesh tube, θ: knitting of strands Corner)

In FIG. 7, the outer diameter of the strand of the inner mesh tube 5b is d ₁ , the number of strands is 5, the outer diameter of the strand of the outer mesh tube 5e is d ₂ (> d ₁ ), and the strand count is In this example, three elements are used, and other elements, for example, the number of strands of wire and the knitting angle of the strands of wire are shared. In this example, when the inner diameter of the inner mesh tube 5b is D ₁ and the inner diameter of the outer mesh tube 5e is D ₂ , the following expression (2) is established. As a result, the above expression (1) The prescribed mesh density ρ is larger in the outer mesh tube 5e than in the inner mesh tube 5b.

5d ₁ / D ₁ <3d ₂ / D ₂ (2)
(D ₁ : outer diameter of the strand of the inner mesh tube, D ₁ : inner diameter of the inner mesh tube, d ₂ : outer diameter of the strand of the outer mesh tube, D ₂ : inner diameter of the outer mesh tube)

  In the example of FIG. 7, the outer mesh tube 5e can be further improved in wear resistance by increasing the outer diameter of the strand. At this time, by reducing the outer diameter of the strand of the inner mesh tube 5b, the wear resistance can be improved without changing the inner diameter and outer diameter of the flexible tube 5. In FIG. 7, the interval B between the strand bundles 75 of the outer mesh tube 5e is made smaller than the interval A between the strand bundles 72 of the inner mesh tube 5b, thereby reducing the mesh pitch and rubbing the mesh tube 5e. It is possible to prevent fatigue breakage of the strands 73 due to movement of the strands 73.

The outer mesh tube 5e is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 7B, and various modifications can be made based on the above equation (1). For example, in FIG. 8A, the knitting angle θ of the outer mesh tube 5e is made smaller than the knitting angle θ ₀ of the inner mesh tube 5b, and other elements such as the outer diameter of the strand, the number of strands, An example in which the number of lines is common is shown. The mesh tube 5e is produced, for example, by pulling the mesh wire 5b shown in FIG. As the braid angle of the mesh tube decreases, the mesh gap also decreases, and as a result, the mesh density of the mesh tube increases. FIG. 8B shows that the outer mesh tube 5e has a larger number than the inner mesh tube 5b, and other elements such as the outer diameter of the strands, the number of strands, and the bundle of strands. The example which shared the knitting angle is shown. If the density is increased by changing the number of nets and the knitting angle of the mesh tube, the load applied to each strand when the flexible tube 5 is rubbed is reduced, and the wear resistance of the flexible tube 5 is increased. be able to.

  In addition to the above, for example, the wear resistance of the outer mesh tube 5e can be increased by increasing the number of strands of the outer mesh tube 5e as compared to the inner mesh tube 5b. When the number of strands is increased, the mesh pitch is narrowed and the strands are less likely to move. Therefore, the strands are less susceptible to fatigue failure due to the strands moving when the mesh tube 5e is rubbed. Further, for example, the inner mesh tube 5b is made of stainless steel and the outer mesh tube 5e is made of tungsten, so that the wear resistance of the flexible tube 5 can be increased while reducing the cost required for the inner mesh tube 5b. .

  The mesh structure described above can also be applied to the inner blade 4i and the outer blade 4c of the bending portion 4. The inner blade 4i and the outer blade 4c are formed by braiding a bundle of strands in which a plurality of strands made of fine metal wires are arranged, and are similar to the inner mesh tube 5b and the outer mesh tube 5e of the flexible tube 5, respectively. This is because it has a function. Therefore, by making the mesh density of the outer blade 4c larger than the mesh density of the inner blade 4i, the same effect as in the flexible tube 5 can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the heat generated from the LEDs 6 can be easily dissipated by the bundle member 21, and good observation can be performed over a long period of time. Moreover, since the lens optical system etc. inserted in the front-end | tip part 3 are being fixed with the adhesive agent 61, the endoscope strong against a mechanical impact can be provided. Furthermore, since a large number of strands 21a constituting the bundled wire member 21 are tightly bundled by the binding member 60, the adhesive 61 does not spread and spread between the strands 21a due to capillary action, and the insertion portion 2 can be smoothly bent. Operation can be guaranteed.

  In the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, four bundle members 21 are equally arranged in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion 2, but the arrangement and number of the bundle members 21 are not limited to this. . From the viewpoint of effectively using the space inside the insertion portion 2, the number of the bundle members 21 is one or three, or the bundle members 21 are arranged at non-uniform positions in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion 2. Is also possible. However, if a plurality of bundling members 21 are bundled with a bundling member, the rigidity of the bundled portions is increased, and the bending operation of the insertion portion 2 is affected. If it is arranged at a position that is not, there is a possibility that a smooth bending operation cannot be performed in any of the upper, lower, left and right directions. Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the bundled member 21 or those obtained by binding the bundled member 21 with a binding member at equal positions in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion 2. By doing so, it is possible to prevent problems such as the ease of the bending operation being biased in a specific direction and to provide an endoscope with excellent operability. Further, in order to perform the bending operation of the bending portion 4 evenly in the vertical and horizontal directions, the number of the bundle members 21 is desirably a number that is a multiple of four, such as four or eight.

  Next, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the mesh density of the outer mesh tube 5e in the flexible tube 5 is larger than the mesh density of the inner mesh tube 5b, the inner diameter of the flexible tube 5, The wear resistance of the flexible tube 5 can be improved without changing the outer diameter. That is, both the inner mesh tube 5b and the outer mesh tube 5e are formed by braiding a plurality of wire bundles into a mesh shape, but their purposes and uses are different. For example, when the thickness of the strands is increased with emphasis on the function of the outer mesh tube 5e, the inner mesh tube 5b unnecessarily increases the thickness of the mesh tube, and the flexible tube 5 is bent. Will also be affected. On the other hand, when the outer mesh tube 5e is formed of the same thin wire as the inner mesh tube 5b, sufficient wear resistance cannot be obtained, leading to a decrease in reliability of the entire endoscope. Therefore, as in this embodiment, an endoscope that can achieve both downsizing and improved reliability of the endoscope by changing the density of the inner mesh tube 5b and the outer mesh tube 5e according to the purpose and application. A device can be provided.

  In the embodiment described above, the LED is used as the light emitting element, but the light emitting element may be a laser diode or the like. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a schematic perspective view of an endoscope apparatus. It is a schematic perspective view of the use state of an endoscope apparatus. It is longitudinal direction sectional drawing of an insertion part. It is the front view and sectional drawing of the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of an insertion part. It is a schematic block diagram of a heat radiating member. It is a schematic block diagram of the other structural example of a thermal radiation member. It is a side view of an inner mesh tube and an outer mesh tube. It is a side view of the other structural example of an outer mesh tube.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Insertion part, 3 ... Tip part (hard tip part), 4 ... Bending part, 5 ... Flexible tube, 6 ... LED (light emitting element), 9d ... Signal cable (internal cable), 9f ... Reticulated tube, 21 ... Bundling member (heat radiating member), 21a ... element wire, 22a, 22b ... power cable (internal cable), 23 ... integral part, 23A ... distal end integral part, 23B ... proximal end integral part, 60 ... binding member, 61 ... Adhesive, 100 ... Endoscope, 101 ... Endoscope

Claims (12)

  In an endoscope provided with a light emitting element at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, one end portion of a heat radiating member made of a plurality of elongated wires is disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting element, while the other end portion of the heat radiating member is A binding member that is disposed at a predetermined position on the proximal end side of the insertion portion and that binds the strands of the heat dissipation member to the light emitting element vicinity side of the heat dissipation member is provided, and further, a binding member proximal end on the distal end portion of the insertion portion An endoscope characterized in that the distal end side is filled with an adhesive.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a distal end side end portion of the binding member is disposed in the adhesive.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a bending portion is connected to a proximal end side of the distal end portion, and a proximal end end portion of the binding member is disposed closer to the distal end side than the bending portion. .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the heat radiating members are provided inside the insertion portion, and some of the plurality of heat radiating members are bundled together by a binding member. .   A plurality of bundles composed of a plurality of heat dissipating members bundled by the binding members are provided inside the insertion portion, and the plurality of bundles are arranged uniformly in the inner circumferential direction of the insertion portion. Item 5. The endoscope according to Item 4.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating member is bundled by a binding member together with an internal cable disposed in the insertion portion.   The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein a metal mesh tube is coated on an outer periphery of the internal cable, and a tip end portion of the mesh tube is disposed in the adhesive.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an integral part in which the strands of the heat radiating member are integrally bundled is formed at a distal end side end of the heat radiating member.   The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the integral part of the heat radiating member is formed flat along the circumferential direction of the tip part.   The endoscope according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the integral part of the heat radiating member and the binding member are arranged with a gap therebetween.   A plurality of the heat dissipating members are provided inside the insertion portion, and at the base end side end of each of the plurality of heat dissipating members, an integral part in which the strands of the heat dissipating members are integrally bundled is formed, 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of heat dissipating members is provided at different positions in the axial direction of the insertion portion.   2. The inner member according to claim 1, wherein the binding member is a heat-shrinkable tube, a rubber tube, a thread, a metal wire, solder, or an adhesive having a higher viscosity than an adhesive filled in the tip portion. Endoscope.

Images