JP2010142255A - Remote control button device of electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control button device of an electronic endoscope having superior operability actuating smoothly even if being obliquely pushed, and having superior durability preventing electric failure even if a waterproof property of a button cover is broken and water is leaked therefrom. <P>SOLUTION: The internal circumferential face near the distal end of a guide tube 17 is formed into a conical hole section 23 which is gradually narrowed toward the distal side, a guide shaft 18 is radially projectingly formed with a round projecting face 24 which has a surface formed into a smooth round shape and is pushed toward the internal circumferential face of the conical hole section 23 by a biasing means 15B and, when an operation button 19 slants to the guide tube 17, the round projecting face 24 of the guide shaft 18 comes into contact with the internal circumferential face of the conical hole section 23 of the guide tube 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation button device for an electronic endoscope provided in an operation unit of an endoscope for remotely operating a video processor or the like.

  In general, an electronic endoscope is an electronic device such as a video processor for processing a video signal of an endoscopic observation image, for example, for recording an endoscopic observation image, single-frame shooting, image freeze, or the like. A remote operation button is provided for remotely operating the.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows such a remote control button device for an electronic endoscope. A piston-like member 92 is connected to an operation button 91 that is pushed in by an operator's fingertip, and the operation button 91 is pushed in. Then, the piston-like member 92 moves along the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylinder 93 formed in a cylinder shape (for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, a cap-shaped button cover 94 made of an elastic material is disposed on the operation button 91 so that the waterproofness of the remote operation button device is secured by the button cover 94. Reference numeral 95 is a tact switch, and 96 is a movable part of the tact switch.
JP2002-170453

  The remote control button device of an electronic endoscope is operated by the operator of the endoscope extending the fingertip of the hand holding the operation unit, or in some cases operated by the fingertip of the other hand. There are many ways to be done.

  Such an operation is performed suddenly or according to an operator's habit as necessary. For this reason, the operation button 91 may be pushed straight in the axial direction, but it is not uncommon for the operation button 91 to be pushed from an oblique direction with respect to the axial direction.

  However, the remote control button device of the conventional electronic endoscope as described above does not operate at all when it is pushed obliquely or does not operate smoothly even when operated, and there is an operation delay (time lag) in the remote operation. Inconvenience such as occurrence occurred. Further, if a pinhole or the like is formed in the button cover 94, an electrical failure occurs due to water leakage from the pin cover.

  The present invention has an excellent operability that operates smoothly even when pushed obliquely, and further, the waterproof property of the button cover breaks down and no electrical failure occurs even if water leaks from it. An object of the present invention is to provide a durable remote control button device for an electronic endoscope.

  In order to achieve the above object, the remote control button device for an electronic endoscope of the present invention is provided in an operation unit of the electronic endoscope for remotely operating an electronic device that processes a video signal of an endoscopic observation image. A remote operation button device for an electronic endoscope, wherein the operation button is pushed from the distal end side to the proximal end side by an operator's fingertip, and the operation button is biased from the proximal end side toward the distal end side Remote-control button device for an electronic endoscope, comprising: an urging means that is movably arranged in a guide cylinder provided in the operation portion, and a guide shaft portion that is connected to the operation button so as to press an electric switch In this case, the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the tip of the guide cylinder is a conical hole portion gradually narrowed toward the tip side, and the guide shaft portion is formed into a smooth rounded surface and is conical by the urging means. The rounded convex surface that is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the hole is the radial direction Formed to protrude, when the operation button is turned obliquely oriented relative to the guide tube, in which rounded convex surface portions of the guide shaft portion is to abut against the inner circumferential surface of the conical hole portion of the guide tube.

  An O-ring made of a resilient material is sandwiched between the inner peripheral portion closer to the base end side than the conical hole portion of the guide cylinder and the outer peripheral portion closer to the base end side than the rounded convex surface portion of the guide shaft portion. If it is placed in the state, excellent waterproofing can be ensured.

  In addition, a cap-shaped button cover made of a resilient material is arranged so as to cover the operation button, and the button cover is provided so as not to come into contact with the tip surface of the guide tube regardless of deformation caused by the pushing operation. In this case, smooth operability can be obtained without increasing the pushing operation force.

  According to the present invention, even when the operation button is inclined with respect to the guide tube, the rounded convex surface portion of the guide shaft portion contacts the inner peripheral surface of the conical hole portion of the guide tube, so that the operation button is inclined. The force applied in the direction is converted into a direction for moving the guide shaft portion in the axial direction. Thereby, it has the outstanding operativity which operate | moves smoothly even if an operation button is pushed in diagonally.

  Further, an O-ring made of a resilient material is sandwiched between the inner peripheral portion closer to the proximal end than the conical hole portion of the guide cylinder and the outer peripheral portion closer to the proximal end than the rounded convex portion of the guide shaft portion. By disposing in the state, the waterproofness of the button cover breaks down, and it is possible to obtain excellent durability that does not cause an electrical failure even if water leaks from the button cover.

  An electronic endoscope remote control button device disposed in an operation unit of an electronic endoscope for remotely operating an electronic device for processing a video signal of an endoscopic observation image, which is tipped by an operator's fingertip An operation button that is pushed in from the side to the base end side, an urging means that urges the operation button from the base end side toward the distal end side, and an electric unit that is movably disposed in a guide cylinder provided in the operation unit. In a remote operation button device for an electronic endoscope having a guide shaft connected to an operation button so as to push a switch, a conical hole in which an inner peripheral surface near the distal end of the guide tube is gradually narrowed toward the distal end side The guide shaft portion is formed in a rounded shape with a smooth surface, and a rounded convex portion that is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the conical hole portion by the urging means is projected in the radial direction. Is inclined with respect to the guide tube, Earl convex surface portions of the id shank so as to abut against the inner circumferential surface of the conical hole portion of the guide tube.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an electronic endoscope, in which a solid-state imaging device (not shown) is built in the distal end of a flexible tubular insertion portion 2 connected to the lower end portion of the operation portion 1 held by the operator's hand. The imaging signal of the endoscope observation image captured from the observation window is output from the solid-state imaging device.

  The imaging signal cable for transmitting the imaging signal reaches the connector portion 4 attached to the distal end of the connecting flexible tube 3 extending from the upper rear surface of the operation portion 1, and the imaging signal is a video signal of an endoscope observation image. In order to perform the above processing, it is sent to the video processor provided outside via the cable.

  Near the upper end of the operation unit 1, a plurality of remote operation button devices 10 for remotely operating an external electronic device for processing a video signal of an endoscopic observation image such as a video processor or a video recorder are arranged. Has been. A control signal cable (not shown) that transmits an on / off control signal input by the remote operation button device 10 is inserted into the connection flexible tube 3 and reaches the connector portion 4.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the remote operation button device 10 of the electronic endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a substantially cylindrical support cylinder that supports the entire remote operation button device 10, and is fixed to the operation unit 1 by a fixing nut 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes an O-ring for sealing.

  The switch holding cylinder 14 holding the tact switch 15 (electrical switch) in the support cylinder 11 performs the advancement and retreat operation of the operation wheel 19 and the support wheel 16 screwed into the female screw formed on the inner surface of the support cylinder 11. It is sandwiched between a guide cylinder 17 for guiding and fixed in the support cylinder 11. The guide cylinder 17 is fixed to the operation unit 1 via the support cylinder 11.

  Reference numeral 15A denotes a switch movable portion of the tact switch 15. The tact switch 15 moves more than a certain amount when the switch movable portion 15A is pushed from the distal end side toward the proximal end side (that is, from the distal end side to the proximal end side in the remote control button device 10, from the upper side to the lower side in the drawing). Then, the power is turned on and the power is turned off when there is no force to be pushed and the switch movable portion 15A returns to the original position. In the tact switch 15, a return spring 15B (biasing means) for returning the switch movable portion 15A to its original position is incorporated.

  A distal end portion (a portion on the upper end side in the drawing) of the guide shaft portion 18 that is movably disposed in the guide cylinder 17 in a state in which the base end surface is in contact with the switch movable portion 15A so that the switch movable portion 15A can be pushed. Further, it protrudes further outward than the tip of the guide tube 17. Then, an operation button 19 that is pushed from the distal end side to the proximal end side with the fingertip of the operator is attached to that portion. The operation button 19 is urged from the proximal end side toward the distal end side (from the lower side to the upper side in the drawing) via the guide shaft portion 18 by the return spring 15B.

  A cap-shaped button cover 20 made of a material such as elastic rubber is disposed so as to cover the operation buttons 19, and the base of the button cover 20 is fixedly lined to the support cylinder 11. As a result, the remote control button device 10 is entirely sealed with the button cover 20 so that water does not enter from the outside.

  An engagement convex portion 22 that fits into a concave portion 21 formed at the center position of the operation button 19 is formed on the inner surface portion of the top portion of the button cover 20, and the operation button 19 cooperates with the top portion of the button cover 20. It is like that.

  Therefore, when the button cover 20 is pushed in, the operation button 19 is pushed in. When the button cover 20 is pushed in the diagonal direction, the operation button 19 moves in the diagonal direction accordingly.

  The inner wall of the intermediate region of the button cover 20 is formed in a cylindrical surface parallel to the axis with a slight gap outside the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 17. As a result, the button cover 20 does not come into contact with the distal end surface 17a of the guide cylinder 17 regardless of the deformation caused by the pushing operation, and is smoothly deformed in response to the pushing operation. The operation button 19 can be pushed in smoothly.

  The inner peripheral surface of the region near the tip of the guide cylinder 17 is a conical hole portion 23 that gradually narrows toward the tip. A rounded convex surface portion 24 that is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the conical hole portion 23 by the urging force of the return spring 15B is formed on the guide shaft portion 18 so as to protrude in the radial direction. The rounded convex portion 24 is formed in a rounded shape having a smooth surface (in this embodiment, a semicircular cross-sectional shape), and is projected and formed on the guide shaft portion 18 with a constant diameter over the entire circumference.

  The outer diameter of the rounded convex portion 24 is formed to be slightly larger than the minimum inner diameter of the conical hole portion 23. Therefore, even if the operation button 19 and the guide shaft portion 18 are straight with respect to the guide tube 17 or inclined, the outer surface of the rounded convex portion 24 is in the conical hole portion 23. It is always in contact with the peripheral surface.

  Elasticity in a state of being sandwiched between the inner peripheral portion of the guide tube 17 closer to the proximal end side than the conical hole portion 23 and the outer peripheral portion of the guide shaft portion 18 closer to the proximal end side than the rounded convex surface portion 24. An O-ring 25 made of a certain material is disposed. In addition, the state before the O-ring 25 is crushed by surrounding members is illustrated.

  As a result, the guide shaft portion 18 is elastically supported by the O-ring 25 so that the axis of the guide tube 17 coincides with the axis. For this reason, when the operation button 19 is pushed in an oblique direction, the guide shaft portion 18 can be smoothly inclined obliquely without rattling in the guide cylinder 17, and the pushing operation force is released. The guide shaft portion 18 is returned to the original straight state by the elasticity of the O-ring 25.

  The button cover 20 is cracked, pinholes, etc., and the waterproofness of the button cover 20 is broken. Even if water leaks from the button cover 20, the gap between the guide shaft 18 and the guide cylinder 17 is sealed by the O-ring 25. As a result, water does not enter the tact switch 15 portion, and excellent durability can be ensured such that no electrical failure occurs.

  Further, the O-ring 25 is formed so that the O-ring 25 protrudes inward from the inner peripheral portion of the guide cylinder 17 and the outer peripheral portion of the guide shaft portion 18 so that the O-ring 25 does not move in the axial direction. It is in the state of being sandwiched between the hook-shaped portions 27 that are formed to protrude outward.

  A clearance is secured between the inner peripheral wall of the inner projecting wall 26 and the outer peripheral wall of the guide shaft portion 18, and a clearance is also secured between the outer peripheral wall of the bowl-shaped portion 27 and the inner peripheral wall of the guide tube 17. Has been. Accordingly, the guide shaft portion 18 is smoothly inclined with respect to the guide cylinder 17.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the operation button 19 is pushed straight in the remote operation button device 10 of the above-described embodiment. The guide shaft portion 18 slides straight in the axial direction toward the proximal end against the urging force of the return spring 15B, and the switch movable portion 15A is pushed by the proximal end surface of the guide shaft portion 18 so that the tact switch 15 is turned on. Become. When the pushing operation is released, the original state shown in FIG. 3 is restored and the tact switch 15 is turned off.

  FIG. 1 shows a state where the operation button 19 is pushed in an oblique direction. By the pushing operation in the oblique direction, the guide shaft portion 18 is inclined in the guide cylinder 17, and when the rounded convex surface portion 24 comes into contact with the conical hole portion 23, the guide shaft portion 18 is inclined in the oblique direction. The force applied to is converted into a force for moving the guide shaft portion 18 to the back side (that is, the base end side) by the conical hole portion 23.

  For this purpose, it is desirable that the inclination angle of the conical hole portion 23 (that is, the angle with respect to the central axis) is in the range of about 15 to 20 °. If the angle is too small, the action of changing the direction of the force is small, and if the angle is too large, the operation button 19 may be tilted too much and hit the front end surface of the guide tube 17 and cause malfunction.

  With such a configuration, even when the operation button 19 is pushed in an oblique direction, the guide shaft portion 18 smoothly moves in the pushing direction, pushes the switch movable portion 15A, and the tact switch 15 can be turned on. .

  When the push-in operation is released, the original state shown in FIG. 3 is restored and the tact switch 15 is turned off. In this way, the remote control button device for an electronic endoscope of the present invention can obtain excellent operability that operates smoothly even when pushed in an oblique direction.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the rounded convex surface portion 24 is smooth at the portion that directly contacts the conical hole portion 23 as shown in FIG. Other parts may be formed in any shape as long as they are formed in a simple arc-shaped convex surface.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state in which the remote operation button device of the electronic endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention was pushed obliquely. 1 is a side view of an electronic endoscope provided with a remote operation button device for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the remote control button device of the electronic endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state in which the remote operation button device of the electronic endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention was pushed straight. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the remote control button device of the electronic endoscope of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the remote control button device of the conventional electronic endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

1 Operation section 10 Remote operation button device 15 Tact switch (electric switch)
15A Switch movable part 15B Return spring (biasing means)
17 Guide cylinder 18 Guide shaft part 19 Operation button 20 Button cover 23 Conical hole part 24 R convex part 25 O-ring

Claims (3)

An electronic endoscope remote control button device disposed in an operation unit of an electronic endoscope for remotely operating an electronic device for processing a video signal of an endoscopic observation image, which is tipped by an operator's fingertip An operation button that is pushed in from the side to the base end side, an urging means that urges the operation button from the base end side toward the distal end side, and movably disposed in a guide cylinder provided in the operation unit. In an electronic endoscope remote operation button device comprising a guide shaft portion connected to the operation button so as to press an electric switch.
The inner peripheral surface near the tip of the guide cylinder is a conical hole portion gradually narrowed toward the tip side, and the guide shaft portion is formed into a smooth rounded surface, and the biasing means When the rounded convex portion pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the conical hole portion is formed to project in the radial direction and the operation button is inclined with respect to the guide cylinder, the round convex portion of the guide shaft portion is A remote control button device for an electronic endoscope, wherein the remote control button device is configured to contact an inner peripheral surface of a conical hole portion of a guide tube.   An O-ring made of an elastic material is provided between an inner peripheral portion closer to the base end side than the conical hole portion of the guide cylinder and an outer peripheral portion closer to the base end side than the rounded convex surface portion of the guide shaft portion. The remote operation button device for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the remote operation button device is disposed in a sandwiched state.   2. A cap-shaped button cover made of a resilient material is disposed so as to cover the operation button, and the button cover does not contact the tip surface of the guide tube regardless of deformation caused by a pushing operation. Or the remote control button apparatus of the electronic endoscope of 2.

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