JP2009273652A - Endoscope system and connector cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reuse an endoscope to an identical patient by temporarily storing the endoscope used once in an operating room. <P>SOLUTION: The distal end of a flexible insertion section of this endoscope system 1 is provided with: the endoscope that has an illumination section emitting an illumination light, and a light converging section for converging a return light returned from a body cavity inner wall; a control section that includes a light source generating the illumination light emitted from the illumination section of the endoscope, and an image processor processing image information acquired by capturing the return light converged by the light converging section; a cable 5 that connects the endoscope to the control section and includes a light guide member 6 for guiding the light and wires 9 for transmitting an electric signal; a pair of connectors 13 detachably connecting the cable 5 at its middle position in the length direction; and a cover 2 for covering the control section-side cable 5 and connector 13, wherein the cover 2 has an optical window 14 transmitting the light guided by the light guide member 6, and an electric contact 15 electrically connecting wires 9 one another, at its clamp portion 2a clamped between the pair of connectors 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system and a connector cover.

  Conventionally, in order to use an endoscope in an operating room, it is necessary to arrange an endoscope main body including an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity of a patient in an aseptically managed operating room. On the other hand, the control unit that supplies light to the endoscope body or receives and processes light and electrical signals obtained from the endoscope body generates heat and dust, and therefore is not operated aseptically. It is common to be arranged by and connected by a cable.

  In this case, since bodily fluids such as patient blood may adhere to the cable in the operating room, when reusing an endoscope once used, washing or Sterilization was performed. However, since it takes a considerable amount of time to perform reliable cleaning and sterilization, there is a problem that the use efficiency of the endoscope is lowered.

In order to solve such a problem, an endoscope covered with a replaceable cover has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
According to this endoscope, the endoscope itself can be reused by replacing the cover after use.

JP-A-8-47476

However, the conventional endoscope with a cover has a disadvantage that the ease of insertion is reduced by the cover provided at the insertion portion into the body cavity. On the other hand, a disposable endoscope has been devised, but it is necessary to connect the cable end to a light source or a control unit arranged in an area where the cleanliness outside the operating room is not controlled, so the end of the cable is clean. Will be placed in an unmanaged area. For this reason, when the cable is removed from the light source or the control unit, the cable of the portion arranged outside the operating room cannot be brought into the operating room and cannot be temporarily stored in the operating room. is there.
If the endoscope once used can be temporarily stored in the operating room, it is convenient because it can be reused for the same patient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an endoscope once used can be temporarily stored in an operating room, and the endoscope can be reused for the same patient. It is an object to provide an endoscope system and a connector cover.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
The present invention provides an endoscope including an irradiation unit that emits illumination light at a distal end of a flexible insertion unit, and a condensing unit that collects return light returning from the inner wall of the body cavity, and the endoscope of the endoscope A control unit including a light source that generates illumination light emitted from the irradiation unit, an image processor that processes image information obtained by photographing the return light collected by the light collecting unit, and the endoscope A cable that includes a light guide member that guides light and a wiring that transmits an electrical signal, and a pair of connectors that detachably connect the cable at an intermediate position in the length direction; A cover that covers the cable and the connector on the control unit side, and the cover is sandwiched between the pair of connectors, an optical window that transmits the light guided by the light guide member, and the wiring Endoscope system comprising electrical contacts for electrically connecting To provide.

  According to the present invention, a flexible insertion portion is inserted into a body cavity, irradiated with illumination light from the illumination portion, and return light such as reflected light and fluorescence returning from the opposing inner wall is collected by the light collection portion. By photographing, an image of the facing inner wall can be obtained. Illumination light emitted from the irradiation unit or return light collected by the condensing unit is guided from a control unit arranged outside the operating room via a light guide member in the cable or sent to the control unit for image. Processed by the processor. When an electronic component is present at the tip of the insertion portion, an electrical signal to the electronic component or an electrical signal from the electronic component is exchanged with the control unit via wiring in the cable.

  In this case, according to the present invention, the cable is detachably connected by the pair of connectors, and the cable and the connector on the control unit side are covered with the cover. The outdoor cleanliness can be completely separated from the uncontrolled space. Since the cover is provided with an optical window and an electrical contact at a clamping part sandwiched between the connectors, when the connector is connected, light guiding through the optical window is ensured, and the electrical contact is performed. Therefore, transmission of electrical signals is secured.

  That is, according to the present invention, by disconnecting the connector, it is possible to temporarily store the endoscope portion arranged only in the operating room in the operating room and reuse it for the same patient. it can. Also, the cables and connectors on the control unit side are covered with a cover so that patient's bodily fluids do not adhere directly during the operation, do not become disposable, and do not perform time-consuming cleaning or sterilization. Can be reused.

  In addition, the present invention connects an endoscope and a control unit, and is attached to a pair of connectors that removably connect a cable that transmits light and an electrical signal at an intermediate position thereof. A connector cover for covering a cable, comprising a sandwiching portion sandwiched between the pair of connectors, wherein the sandwiching portion includes an optical window for transmitting light guided by the cable, and wirings for transmitting electrical signals. Provided is a connector cover including electrical contacts for electrical connection.

  According to the present invention, by covering the connector and the cable on the control unit side of the pair of connectors that detachably connect the middle position of the cable connecting the endoscope and the connection portion, The outdoor cable can be clearly separated. Therefore, by disconnecting the connector, the endoscope portion arranged only in the operating room can be temporarily stored in the operating room and can be reused for the same patient. Also, the cable and connector on the control unit side are covered with the connector cover, so that the patient's bodily fluid or the like does not adhere directly during the operation, and is not disposable, and time-consuming cleaning or sterilization is performed Can be reused without any problems.

  According to the present invention, an endoscope that has been used once can be temporarily stored in an operating room, and the endoscope can be reused for the same patient.

An endoscope system 1 and a connector cover 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an endoscope 3, a control unit 4, a cable 5 that connects them, and a connector cover 2.

  The endoscope 3 includes a flexible insertion portion 3a that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient. At the distal end of the insertion part 3a, there are provided an irradiation part 6a for emitting illumination light and a light collecting part 7 for collecting return light returning from the inner wall of the body cavity. The irradiation part 6a is comprised by the injection | emission end of the optical fiber arrange | positioned along the longitudinal direction of the insertion part 3a. The condensing unit 7 is an objective lens (hereinafter also referred to as an objective lens 7) that collects return light, for example, reflected light on the inner wall of the body cavity or fluorescence generated by excitation of a fluorescent substance present in the body cavity. is there.

  In addition, an imaging element 8 such as a CCD that photographs the return light collected by the objective lens 7 and converts it into an electrical signal is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion 3a. The electrical signal acquired by the image sensor 8 is transmitted to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 3a by the wiring 9 provided in the insertion portion 3a.

  The control unit 4 includes a light source 10 that generates illumination light to be incident on the optical fiber 6 provided in the insertion unit 3a, and an image processing unit 11 that processes an electrical signal transmitted through the wiring 9 to form an image. I have. The control unit 4 is connected to a display unit 12 that displays an image formed by the image processing unit 11.

The cable 5 connects the endoscope 3 and the control unit 4 and transmits light and electric signals. Accordingly, the cable 5 includes an optical fiber 6 that is a light guide member that guides light, and a wiring 9 that transmits an electrical signal. More specifically, the cable 5 includes a pair of connectors 13 for detachably connecting at a midway position in the length direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of connectors 13 are connected to the end faces of the optical fibers 6 and the wirings 9 arranged at the corresponding positions on the connection faces that face each other when connected to each other. The contact 9a is exposed.

  The connector cover 2 according to the present embodiment includes a clamping part 2a that is sandwiched between the connectors 13, and a cover part 2b that covers the connector 13 and the cable 5 on the control part 4 side in the operating room. As shown in FIG. 2, an electric signal transmitted through the optical window 14 that transmits the illumination light guided by the optical fiber 6 in the cable 5 and the wiring 9 in the cable 5 is provided in the sandwiching portion 2 a. An electrical contact 15 is provided.

  By assembling the connectors 13 with the sandwiching portion 2a sandwiched between the connection surfaces of the pair of connectors 13, the end face of the optical fiber 6 exposed on the connection surface of the connector 13 is positioned at the position of the optical window 14 of the sandwiching portion 2a. The contact 9a matches the position of the electrical contact 15 of the clamping part 2a and is held in contact.

  Thereby, by connecting the pair of connectors 13, the illumination light guided by the optical fiber 6 on the control unit 4 side is exposed from the end surface of the optical fiber 6 exposed on the connection surface of the connector 13 on the control unit 4 side. The light is emitted and incident on the end face of the optical fiber 6 exposed to the connection surface of the connector 13 on the endoscope 3 side through the optical window 14. In addition, the electric signal transmitted by the wiring 9 in the cable 5 on the endoscope 3 side is transmitted from the contact 9a exposed on the connection surface of the connector 13 on the endoscope 3 side to the electric contact 15 and the control of the holding portion 2a. The signal is transmitted to the control unit 4 by the wiring 9 in the cable 5 on the control unit 4 side via a contact 9a exposed on the connection surface of the connector 13 on the unit 4 side.

  The cover portion 2b is a flexible film-like member extending from the entire outer periphery of the sandwiching portion 2a, and covers at least part of the cable 5 on the control portion 4 side, for example, a range in which bodily fluid may be scattered during surgery. It comes to cover.

  The connectors 13 are connected to each other by engaging a groove 16 provided on the outer periphery of one connector 13 and a ball 17 provided on the inner surface side of the other connector 13 with the cover portion 2b interposed therebetween. ing. Since the ball 17 is movable in the radial direction and is urged inward in the radial direction by a spring 18 or the like, the ball 17 and the groove 16 can be formed only by fitting one connector 13 to the other connector 13. The two connectors 13 are maintained in the connected state.

The operation of the endoscope system 1 and the connector cover 2 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In order to observe the inner wall of the body cavity using the endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of sandwiching portions 2a are sandwiched between the connection surfaces from the state shown in FIG. With the connector 13 connected and the insertion portion 3a inserted into the body cavity of the patient, illumination light is emitted from the light source 10 provided in the control portion 4. The illumination light emitted from the light source 10 is guided through the optical fiber 6 in the cable 5 on the control unit 4 side, passes through the optical window 14 provided in the sandwiching unit 2a, and passes through the optical window 14 on the endoscope 3 side. The light enters the optical fiber 6 in the cable 5, is guided through the optical fiber 6, and is irradiated toward the inner wall of the body cavity from the irradiation part 6a at the distal end of the insertion part 3a.

The return light from the inner wall of the body cavity is collected by the objective lens 7 provided at the distal end of the insertion portion 3a and photographed by the image sensor 8. An electric signal indicating image information acquired by the image pickup device 8 is transmitted via the wiring 9 in the cable 5 on the endoscope 3 side, and is transmitted in the cable 5 on the control unit 4 side by the electric contact 15 of the holding unit 2a. Are transferred to the wiring 9, transmitted by the wiring 9, and input to the image processing unit 11 in the control unit 4.
The transmitted electrical signal is processed in the image processing unit 11, whereby an image of the body cavity inner wall is formed and displayed on the display unit 12.

  In this case, since the connector 13 and the cable 5 on the control unit 4 side are covered with the connector cover 2, the patient's body fluid or the like is not directly attached to the connector 13 or the cable 5 during the operation and is maintained in a clean state. Is done. The connector cover 2 to which body fluid or the like is attached can be replaced by removing it from the cable 5. Therefore, the connector 13 and the cable 5 on the control unit 4 side can be repeatedly reused without performing a time-consuming process such as a sterilization process or a cleaning process.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by removing the connection of the connector 13, the endoscope 3 to which the cable 5 and the connector 13 on the endoscope 3 side are connected is disconnected from the cable 5 and the connector 13 on the control unit 4 side. be able to. By arranging the connector 13 in the operating room, the disconnected endoscope 3, the cable 5, and the connector 13 can all be arranged in the operating room, and are temporarily stored in the operating room. Is also possible.

  As a result, for example, when it is desired to perform an examination on the same patient again with the first endoscope 3 after switching to the endoscope 3 having a different insertion portion 3a during the operation, the endoscope 3 can be reused, and the utilization efficiency can be improved. In this case, the endoscope 3, the cable 5 on the endoscope 3 side, and the connector 13 can be made disposable, and the ease of insertion can be improved by the insertion portion 3a not covered with the cover. There is an advantage.

In the present embodiment, the optical fiber 6 and the wiring 9 are arranged along the longitudinal direction in the insertion portion 3a, and the imaging element 8 is arranged at the tip of the insertion portion 3a. Instead, the image sensor 8 may be disposed on the control unit 4 side, and an image fiber may be disposed in the insertion unit 3a instead of the wiring 9.
In addition, the light source 10 is provided on the control unit 4 side, and the illumination light is guided by the optical fiber 6 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the insertion unit 3a. Instead, an LED is provided at the distal end of the insertion unit. A light source such as the above may be arranged directly.

  Moreover, although the structure which mutually engages the groove | channel 16 and the ball | bowl 17 is employ | adopted for the connectors 13, it may replace with this and may be fastened with a screw | thread.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connector cover with which the endoscope system of FIG. 1 is equipped. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the connector cover and a pair of connectors in FIG. 2. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which connected the connector of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Endoscope system 2 Connector cover (cover)
2a Nipping part 3 Endoscope 3a Insertion part 4 Control part 5 Cable 6 Optical fiber (light guide member)
6a Irradiation unit 7 Objective lens (condensing unit)
9 Wiring 10 Light source 11 Image processing unit (image processor)
13 Connector 14 Optical window 15 Electrical contact

Claims (2)

An endoscope including an irradiation unit that emits illumination light and a condensing unit that collects return light returning from the inner wall of the body cavity at the distal end of the flexible insertion unit;
A control unit including a light source that generates illumination light emitted from the irradiation unit of the endoscope, and an image processor that processes image information acquired by photographing the return light collected by the light collecting unit; ,
A cable that connects the endoscope and the control unit, and includes a light guide member that guides light and a wiring that transmits an electrical signal;
A pair of connectors for detachably connecting the cable in the middle of the length direction;
A cover for covering the cable and connector on the control unit side,
An endoscope system in which the cover includes an optical window that transmits light guided by the light guide member, and an electrical contact that electrically connects the wires to a sandwiching portion that is sandwiched between the pair of connectors. . A connector cover that connects the endoscope and the control unit, and is attached to a pair of connectors that detachably connect a cable that transmits light and electrical signals at an intermediate position, and covers the connector and the cable on the control unit side Because
Comprising a clamping part sandwiched between the pair of connectors;
A connector cover comprising: an optical window that transmits light guided by a cable; and an electrical contact that electrically connects wirings that transmit electrical signals to the sandwiching portion.

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