JP2009136413A - Signal cable for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent twisting of a signal cable from being left when assembling an endoscope. <P>SOLUTION: A linear mark 30 extending in the axial direction is formed on the peripheral surface of a shell tube of the signal cable 26. When assembling the endoscope, a step of soldering the distal end of the signal cable 26 to a circuit board 24 of an imaging unit 16, a step of inserting the signal cable 26 into an insertion part, etc., and a step of soldering the rear end of the signal cable 26 to a connector board 31 of a connector 14 are executed in such a way as to prevent twisting of the signal cable 26 while confirming the mark 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal cable for an electronic endoscope that is connected to an imaging unit provided at a distal end portion of an insertion unit and transmits a signal.

  In the medical field, medical diagnosis using an electronic endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope) is actively performed. The endoscope includes an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient, an operation portion that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion, and a cord that is connected to a processor device and a light source device. An imaging unit having a solid-state imaging device is built in the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the image light of the observed site in the body cavity captured through the observation window provided at the distal end portion is captured by the imaging unit. The image signal is transmitted to the processor device via a signal cable inserted through the insertion unit, the operation unit, and the cord.

  Since the insertion portion and the cord are bent or twisted in various directions when the endoscope is used, the signal cable is also bent or twisted in various directions. Since the tip of the signal cable is soldered to the image pickup unit and the connection portion is not strong in strength, the signal cable may be broken at the connection portion when it is twisted greatly.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for grasping a twisted state of a cord by providing a linear mark on the cord and observing the mark. By operating the electronic endoscope so that the twisted state does not increase, it is possible to prevent a large load from being applied to a built-in object such as a signal cable.
JP-A-8-71035

  By the way, one end (front end) of the signal cable is connected to the image pickup unit, and the other end (rear end) is connected to a connector provided at the end of the cord. In some cases, it was incorporated into an endoscope without being noticed in a twisted state. In this case, if the endoscope is used repeatedly, the twist remaining in the signal cable concentrates on the weakest part and there is a risk of disconnection. Here, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for confirming the twisted state of the cord of the endoscope after assembly, and is not a technique related to the twist of the signal cable at the time of assembly.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a signal cable for an electronic endoscope that can be incorporated in an endoscope without causing twisting to remain.

  The present invention includes a plurality of signal lines that are inserted into an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and that are connected to an imaging unit provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion to transmit signals, and these signal lines The signal cable for an electronic endoscope constituted by an outer covering covering the outer covering is provided with a linear mark extending in the axial direction on the peripheral surface of the outer covering.

  The linear mark may be a printed mark or a groove.

  According to the present invention, since the linear mark is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the jacket, the signal cable can be incorporated into the endoscope while checking the twisted state of the signal cable. Thereby, since a twist does not remain in a signal cable, it can prevent that the disconnection resulting from a twist arises.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope) 10 includes an insertion portion 11 that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient, and an operation portion 12 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 11. , And a cord 13 extended from the operation unit 12. A connector 14 is provided at the tip of the cord 13, and the connector 14 is connected to a processor device and a light source device (not shown). A monitor is connected to the processor device, and an image signal of the observed region captured by the endoscope 10 is displayed on the monitor as an endoscopic image. In addition, illumination light emitted from the light source of the light source device is supplied to the endoscope 10.

  An imaging unit (imaging unit) 16 is built in the distal end portion 15 provided continuously with the distal end of the insertion portion 11. Further, a bending portion 17 in which a plurality of bending pieces are connected is provided behind the distal end portion 15. The bending portion 17 is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions when the angle knob 18 provided in the operation portion 12 is operated and the wire inserted in the insertion portion 11 is pushed and pulled. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 15 is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  The operation unit 12 is provided with a forceps port 19 through which the treatment tool is inserted, and the forceps port 19 is connected to a forceps channel provided in the insertion unit 11. The forceps channel is connected to a forceps outlet provided on the distal end surface 15 a of the distal end portion 15. In addition to the forceps outlet, the distal end surface 15a has an observation window 20 (see FIG. 2) for capturing image light of the observed site in the body cavity, and an illumination window for irradiating the observed site with illumination light from the light source device A nozzle for spraying cleaning water and air for removing dirt on the observation window 20 by operating the air / water supply button is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 16 includes an objective optical system 21 that forms image light of an observation site captured from the observation window 20, and image light that has passed through the objective optical system 21 as a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as “image light”). CCD) 22 and a circuit board 24 on which the CCD 22 is mounted. The optical axis of the objective optical system 21 and the imaging surface of the CCD 22 are in a parallel positional relationship. A drive circuit for driving the CCD 22 is mounted on the circuit board 24, and a plurality of input / output terminals 25 connected to the CCD 22, the drive circuit, and the like are provided.

  Inside the endoscope 10, a signal cable 26 that is inserted through the insertion unit 11, the operation unit 12, and the cord 13 is provided. The signal cable 26 plays a role of transmitting an instruction signal from an imaging control unit provided in the processor device to the imaging unit 16 and transmitting an image signal obtained by the imaging unit 16 to the processor device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the signal cable 26 includes a plurality of signal lines 27, a metal net tube 28 that covers the outer periphery of the signal lines 27 and serves as a shield, and an electric insulation that covers the metal net tube 28. It is comprised from the envelope tube 29 formed with the material. The metal net tube 28 and the jacket tube 29 constitute a jacket. Instead of covering the plurality of signal lines 27 with the metal net tube 28, a metal foil tape may be wound spirally. The signal line 27 is an insulated wire in which a conductor is covered with an insulator.

  A linear mark 30 is printed on the outer peripheral surface of the jacket tube 29 in the axial direction of the jacket tube 29. The mark 30 is straight when the signal cable 26 is not loaded and twisted. The mark 30 is for confirming the twisted state of the signal cable 26 and is visually recognized when the signal cable 26 is incorporated into the endoscope 10.

  Returning to FIG. 2, one end (front end) of the signal cable 26 is connected to the circuit board 24, and the other end (rear end) is connected to the connector board 31 of the connector 14. At one end of the signal cable 26, the jacket is removed in front of the circuit board 24 to expose a plurality of signal lines 27, and the conductor portions of these signal lines 27 are soldered to the plurality of input / output terminals 25, respectively. Yes. Further, at the other end of the signal cable 26, like the one end of the signal cable 26, the jacket is removed in front of the connector substrate 31 to expose the plurality of signal lines 27, and the conductor portions of these signal lines 27 are formed. Each of the plurality of input / output terminals 32 provided on the connector substrate 31 is soldered.

  An operation of assembling the signal cable 26 when assembling the endoscope 10 having the above-described configuration will be described. In the assembling work of the signal cable 26, a tip connecting step of soldering the tip of the signal cable 26 to the circuit board 24, an insertion step of inserting the signal cable 26 into the insertion portion 11, the operation portion 12 and the cord 13, The rear end connecting step of soldering the rear end of the connector 26 to the connector substrate 31 is performed. Although the order of these steps may be arbitrary, the following description will be made on the case where the front end connection step, the insertion step, and the rear end connection step are performed in this order.

  In the tip connection step, the mark 30 is confirmed to make the signal cable 26 untwisted, and the image pickup unit 16 is set to a prescribed posture with respect to the signal cable 26, and a plurality of pieces exposed from the tip of the signal cable 26 in this state. The signal lines 27 are soldered to the input / output terminals 25 of the circuit board 24, respectively. As a result, the signal cable 26 and the imaging unit 16 have a prescribed posture relationship with each other.

  In the insertion process, the rear end of the signal cable 26 is inserted into the insertion unit 11, the operation unit 12, and the cord 13 so that the signal cable 26 is not twisted while checking the mark 30.

  In the rear end connection step, the mark 30 is confirmed to make the signal cable 26 untwisted, and the connector board 31 is placed in a prescribed posture with respect to the signal cable 26. In this state, the signal cable 26 is exposed from the rear end. The plurality of signal lines 27 are soldered to the plurality of input / output terminals 32 of the connector substrate 31, respectively. As a result, the signal cable 26 and the connector board 31 have a prescribed posture relationship with each other.

  The imaging unit 16 and the connector board 31 are fixed to a predetermined position of the endoscope 10, and thus, the signal cable 26 can be incorporated into the endoscope 10 without remaining twisting in the signal cable 26.

  In the above embodiment, the mark provided on the signal cable 26 is printed, but a groove 100 formed on the peripheral surface of the jacket tube 29 as shown in FIG. Further, a ridge formed on the peripheral surface of the jacket tube 29 may be used as a mark. In these cases, the mark does not disappear easily.

  It is preferable that the mark 30 of the above-described embodiment is made conspicuous by being colored in a color different from the peripheral surface of the jacket tube 29. You may provide not only one mark but multiple marks. The signal cable of the present invention is applicable not only to medical electronic endoscopes but also to industrial ones.

It is an external view of an endoscope. It is a figure which shows the signal cable integrated in the endoscope. It is a figure which shows a signal cable. It is a figure which shows the signal cable of another embodiment which made the groove | channel the mark.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 11 Insertion part 15 Tip part 26 Signal cable 27 Signal line 28 Metal mesh pipe 29 Outer tube 30 Mark

Claims (3)

A plurality of signal lines that are inserted into an insertion part that is inserted into the subject and that are connected to an imaging unit provided at the distal end of the insertion part to transmit signals, and an outer covering that covers these signal lines In the signal cable for electronic endoscope composed of
A signal cable for an electronic endoscope, characterized in that a linear mark extending in the axial direction is provided on a peripheral surface of the jacket.   The signal cable for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the linear mark is printed.   The signal cable for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the linear mark is a groove.

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