JP2009195629A - Lighting type light source for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use light inside a room as illuminating light of a subject to be observed by eliminating the use of a battery which makes the preparation, replacement, or management of spare batteries complicated. <P>SOLUTION: A condensing stand 11 includes a large condenser lens 14 (a parabolic mirror is also accepted) for condensing light inside the room, an optical fiber cable 12 which is disposed in a focus position of the condenser lens 14 through a light incident end member 15, and a connector 17 with a coupling optical system 18 mounted on a light emitting end of the optical fiber cable 12. The connector 17 is removably connected to a connector receiver 22 of an endoscope 20 having a coupling optical system 23. In this constitution, the light inside the room which is condensed by the condenser lens 14 is supplied to the endoscope 20 as light for illuminating the subject to be observed. In addition, the connector 17 of the condensing stand 11 and a battery-type light source adapter are selectively connectable to the connector receiver 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a light source unit that can be used for a daylighting light source unit of an endoscope, in particular, a portable endoscope and the like and is necessary for illuminating an object to be observed from the distal end portion of the endoscope.

  An endoscope apparatus irradiates an object to be observed with illumination light from a distal end portion of an endoscope (scope) and optically observes the illuminated object to be observed or electronically using a solid-state imaging device or the like. In general, a light source device that turns on a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp with a commercial power source is used as a supply source of the illumination light.

In recent years, endoscope devices have been increasingly ported to enable use in various places other than well-equipped facilities, bedside use, emergency use, and the like. In this portable endoscope device, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, an endoscope that includes a light source lamp and a battery can be provided in the endoscope, and the light source lamp can be turned on by a battery power source. Done.
JP 2003-319906 A JP-A-2-96109

  However, a conventional endoscope using a battery as a power source for a light source has a relatively short battery life, so a spare battery must always be prepared, and preparation, replacement, and management of the spare battery are complicated. There is a problem that there is. There is also a problem that electrical safety different from that of a commercial power supply must be maintained.

  On the other hand, the room where the endoscope apparatus is used is filled with light from a lighting fixture or the like. If this light can be used as illumination light for an observation object for an endoscope, it is economical and convenient. A high light source device is obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to eliminate the use of a battery that complicates the preparation, replacement, and management of a spare battery, and uses indoor light as illumination light for an object to be observed. An object of the present invention is to provide a daylighting light source unit for an endoscope that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, a daylighting light source unit for an endoscope according to the invention of claim 1 includes a large condensing optical system (condensing lens or concave mirror) for condensing indoor light, A light incident end is disposed at the focal position of the optical optical system, an optical fiber line for transmitting the light collected by the condensing optical system, and a light emitting end of the optical fiber line, and disposed in the endoscope. A coupling optical system for transmitting light to the light guide, and supplying indoor light to the endoscope as illumination light for an object to be observed.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an endoscope in which a battery-type light source adapter that outputs light of a light source by a battery power source is connected to a detachable connection portion, the endoscope has the coupling optical system and It is characterized in that a connecting portion that can be detachably connected to the mirror connecting portion is provided.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the indoor light is collected by the condenser lens or the concave mirror (parabolic mirror), and this indoor light is supplied from the coupling optical system to the light guide in the endoscope via the optical fiber line. The For example, when a condensing lens having a diameter of about 100 mm is used, room light of about 500 lx is collected, and illumination light of about 300 lx can be irradiated from the distal end portion of the endoscope to the object to be observed.

  According to the daylighting light source unit of the endoscope of the present invention, it is not necessary to use a battery as a light source power source, and it is not necessary to prepare, replace, or manage a complicated spare battery. Moreover, there is an effect that indoor light can be effectively used as illumination light for the object to be observed without using electric power, and a light source device with high economy and convenience can be obtained.

  FIGS. 1 to 4 show the configuration of the daylighting light source unit of the endoscope according to the first embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the light source unit of the embodiment has a condensing stand (lens stand). 11 and an optical fiber cable (line) 12. The condensing stand 11 is provided with a large condensing lens 14 having a diameter of, for example, about 100 mm at the top, a condensing portion 11a having an inverted conical space inside, and a support column 11b, for example, a circular bottom plate having a diameter of 100 mm or more. 11c.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a light incident end member 15 of an optical fiber is disposed at the conical apex of the condensing portion 11a which is the focal position of the condensing lens 14 of the condensing stand 11, and this light incident end member. The optical fiber cable 12 is connected to 15. The optical fiber cable 12 is disposed inside the support column 11b and is led out from the lower part of the support column 11b.

  Further, a connector (connecting portion) 17 is provided on the light emitting side of the optical fiber cable 12, and the coupling optics on the condensing stand side so as to be connected to the light emitting end of the optical fiber cable 12 in the connector 17. System 18 is attached. On the other hand, the endoscope 20 is provided with a light guide 21 made of an optical fiber from the distal end portion 20A to the operation portion 20C, and a connector receptacle 22 for detachably connecting the connector 17 to the operation portion 20C. The coupling optical system 23 on the endoscope side is attached in the connector receiver 22. The connector 17 and the connector receiver 22 are detachably connected. For example, the connector 17 and the connector receiver 22 may be simply inserted into a mating male part and female part, or may be screwed into the receiving part. A format etc. can be adopted.

  3 and 4 show a threaded coupling type configuration using a rotating ring. As shown in each figure, a male connector is provided on the outer periphery of the connector receiver 22 of the endoscope 20 (operation unit 20C). A screw portion 22a is formed. On the other hand, a rotating ring 25 having an inner threaded portion 25a is rotatably attached to the connector 17 on the light collecting stand 11 side. Therefore, the optical fiber cable 12 is connected to the endoscope operation unit 20C by rotating the rotary ring 25 and screwing the female screw portion 25a to the male screw portion 22a of the connector receiver 22.

  In the embodiment, a conventional battery-type light source adapter can be detachably connected to the operation unit 20C. That is, as in the prior art, the battery-type light source adapter 27 has a battery 28, a lamp 29, and a coupling optical system 30, and a rotating ring 32 having a female thread portion 32a formed on the inner periphery of the connector 31 thereof. Can be mounted rotatably. Therefore, the battery-type light source adapter 27 is connected to the endoscope operation unit 20 </ b> C by the female screw portion 32 a of the rotating ring 32 being screwed and coupled to the male screw portion 22 a of the connector receiver 22.

  According to such a configuration of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, indoor light is collected by the condenser lens 14, and the collected light is transmitted from the light incident end member 15 to the optical fiber. The signal passes through the cable 12 and is transmitted to the endoscope side via the coupling optical system 18 of the connector 17. On the other hand, in the endoscope 20, light transmitted through the coupling optical system 23 is received, and this light passes through the light guide 21 and is irradiated as illumination light from the distal end portion 20A to the object to be observed. When the condenser lens 14 has a diameter of about 100 mm, room light of about 500 lx is collected and illumination light of about 300 lx is irradiated from the endoscope distal end portion 20A to the object to be observed.

  Further, it is possible to increase the amount of collected light by bringing a fluorescent lamp stand or the like closer to the condensing lens 14 of the condensing stand 11, thereby collecting light having a brightness of about 1800 lx.

  And in an Example, as shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4, either the said condensing stand 11 and the battery-type light source adapter 27 can be selected, and the indoor environment which uses a portable endoscope apparatus Accordingly, it is possible to use an optimal type of light source device.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show the configuration of the daylighting light source unit of the endoscope according to the second embodiment. This second embodiment has a concave mirror (releasing mirror) as a condensing optical system. (Object mirror). As shown in FIG. 5A, the light source unit of the second embodiment is provided with a parabolic mirror 34 and an optical fiber cable 35 provided on a condensing stand or the like similar to the first embodiment. The parabolic mirror 34 is provided with a light incident end member 36 of an optical fiber at the focal position, and an optical fiber cable 35 is connected to the light incident end member 36. According to such a light source unit of FIG. 5A, the light collected by the parabolic mirror 34 is supplied from the light incident end member 36 to the endoscope side via the optical fiber cable 35.

  FIG. 5B shows a configuration of a modified example of the second embodiment. In this modified example, an opening 37 is formed at the center of the parabolic mirror 34G, and a reflecting mirror is formed at the focal position. 38 is provided. A light incident end member 36 to which an optical fiber cable 35 is connected is disposed in the opening 37. According to the light source unit shown in FIG. 5B, the light collected by the parabolic mirror 34 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 38 and then enters the light incident end member 36. This light incident end member 36 to the endoscope side via the optical fiber cable 35. Even in the configuration of the second embodiment, the object to be observed can be illuminated by the collected room light.

It is sectional drawing which shows a structure when the lighting type light source unit which concerns on 1st Example of this invention is connected to the endoscope. It is a perspective view which shows a structure when the lighting type light source unit of 1st Example is connected to the endoscope. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of the lighting type light source unit of 1st Example, and an endoscope. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of the endoscope and battery-type light source adapter of 1st Example. It is a figure which shows two structures of the lighting type light source unit using the concave mirror of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

11 ... Condensing stand, 11a ... Condensing part,
11b ... support pillar 12, 35 ... optical fiber cable,
14 ... large condenser lens, 15, 36 ... light incident end member,
17 ... Connector, 18, 23, 30 ... Coupling optical system,
20 ... endoscope, 20A ... tip,
21 ... Light guide, 22 ... Connector receptacle,
34, 34G ... Parabolic mirror.

Claims (2)

A large condensing optical system for condensing indoor light;
A light incident end is disposed at the focal position of the condensing optical system, and an optical fiber line for transmitting the light collected by the condensing optical system;
A coupling optical system disposed at the light emitting end of the optical fiber line and transmitting light to a light guide disposed in the endoscope; and
An endoscope daylighting light source unit that supplies indoor light to the endoscope as illumination light for an object to be observed.   An endoscope in which a battery-type light source adapter that outputs light from a light source by a battery power source is connected to a detachable connecting portion has the coupling optical system and is detachably connected to the endoscope connecting portion. The daylighting-type light source unit for an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion that can be used.

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