JP2012120746A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cool the inside of a tip while suppressing the increase of the diameter of an insertion part.SOLUTION: An imaging part 19 with a CCD and the like are arranged in the tip 11a of the insertion part 11. One end is opened in the internal space 48 of the tip and a cool air sending conduit 29 where the other end is connected to an air sending pump 42 through an operation part 12, a universal cord 13, a connector body 17 or the like is inserted into the insertion part 11. A clearance passage 64 formed of a clearance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the cool air sending conduit 29 or the like is arranged in the insertion part 11. One end of the clearance passage 64 is made to communicate with a tip internal space 48 and the other end is made to communicate with the ventilation connector 38 of the connector body 17, so that air from the air sending pump 42 is exhausted from the ventilation connector 38 through the cool air sending conduit 29, the clearance passage 64 or the like. A multi-core cable connected to the imaging part 19 is made to be inserted into the cool air sending conduit 29 to suppress the increase of the diameter of the insertion part 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having a built-in tip that generates heat at the tip of an insertion portion.

  The endoscope has a thin insertion portion that is inserted into a subject (see Patent Document 1). An illuminating unit that illuminates the observation region and an imaging optical system that images the observation region are disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, which is the distal portion of the insertion portion. The illumination unit has an illumination window provided on the end surface of the distal end of the insertion unit and an optical fiber cable that guides illumination light from the light source device to the illumination window, and directs illumination light from the illumination window toward the observation site. Exit. In addition, the imaging unit includes a lens disposed on the back side of the observation window at the end surface of the distal end portion of the insertion unit, and an imaging element that receives light imaged by the lens. The imaging element is connected to the processor device via a signal cable, and takes an endoscopic image of the observation site under the control of the processor device and outputs the image to the processor device.

  In such an endoscope, in order to obtain a high-quality and detailed endoscopic image, an increase in the amount of illumination light emitted from the illumination unit and an increase in the number of pixels of the image sensor are required. However, if the amount of illumination light is increased or the number of pixels of the image sensor is increased, the amount of heat generated by the illumination unit or image sensor increases, causing burns in the subject or being built in the distal end of the insertion unit. There is a risk of shortening the life of various electronic components.

  Patent Document 2 describes an endoscope in which a cooling air supply duct is inserted into an insertion portion in order to cool the distal end portion of the insertion portion. One end of the cooling air / air supply conduit opens in the distal end of the insertion portion, and the other end is connected to an air supply pump provided in the light source device. The air sent from the air pump into the distal end of the insertion section passes through the gap between the inner circumference of the cylindrical main body of the insertion section and various built-in objects inserted into the cylindrical main body. It exhausts from the exhaust port provided in the operation part. In this way, by allowing air to flow through the insertion portion, built-in heating elements (built-in tip) such as an illumination unit and an image sensor are cooled. This makes it possible to increase the amount of light in the illumination unit and increase the number of pixels in the image sensor.

  In Patent Document 3, as in Patent Document 2, a ventilation pipe for circulating air is inserted into the insertion portion, and air is fed into the insertion portion, thereby cooling various heat-generating built-in items in the distal end portion of the insertion portion. An endoscope is described. Further, Patent Document 4 describes an endoscope that cools various built-in heating elements in the distal end portion of the insertion portion by providing a coolant circulation path in the insertion portion.

JP 2008-281613 A JP 2010-194094 A JP 2009-028416 A JP 2009-022666 A

  In Patent Documents 3 to 5, it is necessary to secure a space for providing a conduit through which air or coolant flows in the insertion portion. In this insertion part, it is necessary to secure a space for inserting various built-in items such as signal cables and optical fiber cables in addition to the above-mentioned pipes, so when a cooling pipe is newly inserted into the insertion part In this case, the insertion part becomes thick. As the diameter of the insertion portion increases, the burden on the patient increases when the insertion portion is inserted into the patient's body. Therefore, the insertion portion is required to be as thin as possible.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of cooling the built-in tip in the distal end portion of the insertion portion while suppressing an increase in diameter of the insertion portion.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope of the present invention is an insertion portion of an endoscope that is inserted into a subject, an insertion portion in which a built-in tip is incorporated in the distal end portion of the insertion portion, An endoscope main body part including at least an operation part connected to a proximal end part of the insertion part, inserted into the insertion part, one end opened as a first opening in the distal part of the insertion part, and the other end of the endoscope A pipe line extending to the mirror main body part and opened to the outside of the endoscope main body part, and a pipe built-in object extending from the tip built-in object and inserted into the pipe line, A gap passage formed by a gap between the inner periphery of the cylindrical main body of the insertion portion and the cylindrical main body containing at least the pipe passage inserted into the cylindrical main body, the distal end of the insertion portion And the third opening that is provided in the endoscope main body and communicates with the outside of the endoscope main body. And a cooling fluid is supplied from one fluid supply source to any one of the second opening and the third opening, and the fluid passes through the conduit and the gap passage. It is characterized by being discharged from the other opening.

  The endoscope main body includes an operation unit connected to a base end of the insertion unit, a connection cable having one end connected to the operation unit and the other end connected to the fluid supply source It is preferable that the one opening is provided in the connector. Moreover, it is preferable that said other opening is provided in the said connector or the said operation part.

  It is preferable that the built-in tip includes at least one of an imaging unit that images the observation site and an illumination unit that illuminates the observation site. In addition, the connector includes a processor connection unit that drives the imaging unit and connects to an endoscopic processor device that performs predetermined signal processing on an image signal output from the imaging unit. When the built-in object is the imaging unit, it is preferable that the built-in conduit is a signal cable that connects the imaging unit and the endoscope processor device.

  The connector is provided with a light source connection part for connecting to the illumination light source, and the illumination part illuminates illumination light from the illumination light source and an illumination window opened at an end surface of the insertion part distal end part. And an optical fiber cable led to a window, and when the built-in tip is the illumination unit, the built-in pipe line is preferably the optical fiber cable. Further, it is preferable that the fluid is constantly supplied from the fluid supply source to the one opening. The fluid is preferably air.

  In the endoscope of the present invention, since the built-in conduit extending from the built-in tip is inserted into the conduit for circulating the cooling fluid inserted into the insert, the endoscope is inserted into the insert. Although it is necessary to secure a space for inserting the pipe line, it is not necessary to secure a space for inserting the pipe built-in object in the insertion portion separately from this space. For this reason, even if it inserts a cold pipe line in an insertion part, the diameter increase of an insertion part can be suppressed. As a result, the built-in tip can be cooled while suppressing an increase in diameter of the insertion portion.

It is an external view of an endoscope. It is the schematic of the internal structure of an endoscope. It is a perspective view of a connector main part. It is sectional drawing of an insertion part front-end | tip part. It is sectional drawing of an insertion part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the flow of the air for cooling supplied from an air supply pump. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the flow of the air for cooling in the endoscope of 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the endoscope of 3rd Embodiment in which the exhaust connector is provided in the operation part. It is sectional drawing of the insertion part front-end | tip part of the endoscope of 4th Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an endoscope 10 is a bronchoscope that is inserted into a trachea, for example, and an operation that is connected to an insertion portion 11 that is inserted into the trachea and a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 11. And a universal cord (connection cable) 13 having one end connected to the operation unit. The other end of the universal cord 13 is provided with a connector main body 17 connected to the processor device 14, the light source device 15 and the like. The operation unit 12, the universal cord 13, and the connector main body 17 constitute an endoscope main body according to the present invention.

  The insertion part 11 has flexibility and is formed in a tubular shape with a circular cross section. An insertion portion distal end portion 11a which is the distal end portion of the insertion portion 11 includes an imaging unit 19 for acquiring an endoscopic image of the observation region, an illumination unit 20 for irradiating the observation region with illumination light, forceps, and the like. A forceps / suction port (hereinafter simply referred to as a suction port) 21 is also provided which is an outlet of the treatment tool and also serves as a suction port for sucking suctioned matter such as blood and filth in the body.

  The illuminating unit 20 includes an illumination window 23 (see FIG. 4) opened at the end surface of the insertion portion distal end portion 11a, and an optical fiber cable (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical fiber) that guides illumination light emitted from the light source device 15 to the illumination window 23. ) 24. The imaging unit 19 is provided behind an observation window 25 (see FIG. 4) opened at the end surface of the insertion unit distal end portion 11a, and includes a lens, a solid-state imaging device, and the like.

  In the insertion portion 11 and the operation portion 12, a treatment instrument channel 27 having one end communicating with the suction port 21, an optical fiber 24, and a cooling air outlet 28 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the first opening of the present invention. The opened cooling air supply duct 29 and the multi-core cable 30 connecting the imaging unit 19 and the processor device 14 are inserted.

  The other end of the treatment instrument channel 27 is connected to a treatment instrument inlet 31 provided in the operation unit 12. The treatment instrument inlet 31 is closed by a stopper (not shown) except when the treatment instrument is inserted. Further, a suction conduit 32 branches from the treatment instrument channel 27. The suction line 32 is connected to a suction button 33 provided on the operation unit 12.

  The suction button 33 is connected to the suction pump 34 outside the operation unit 12 in addition to the suction pipe line 32. The suction button 33 switches between communication / blocking between the suction pipe 32 and the suction pump 34 by pressing operation or release of the pressing operation. The suction button 33 is maintained in a state where communication between the suction pipe 32 and the suction pump 34 is blocked by an urging force of an elastic member (not shown) such as a rubber cap or a coil spring. Therefore, the suction / suction stop from the suction port 21 can be switched by the pressing / pressing operation of the suction button 33.

  The other end of the optical fiber 24 and the other end of the cooling air supply duct 29 extend to the connector main body 17 through the operation unit 12 and the universal cord 13, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3, at the tip of the connector body 17, a light source connection plug (light source connection portion) 36 connected to a light source jack (not shown) of the light source device 15 and an air supply jack of the light source device 15. An air supply connection plug 37 connected to (not shown) is provided. The tip opening 37a at the tip of the air supply connection plug 37 corresponds to the second opening of the present invention.

  Further, on the outer periphery of the connector body 17, a leak test ventilation connector (third opening) 38 for inspecting air leakage of the insertion portion 11 and a portable light source (not shown) are connected. 39 (not shown in FIG. 3). Further, a processor connection cable (processor connection unit) 40 connected to the processor device 14 is branched from the connector body 17.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the other end of the optical fiber 24 is inserted into the light source connection plug 36. Illumination light emitted from an illumination light emitting unit (not shown) in the light source device 15 is incident on the other end of the optical fiber 24 via a light source jack or the like.

  The other end of the cooling air supply duct 29 is inserted into the connection plug 37 for air supply. The air supply connection plug 37 is connected to an air supply pump (fluid supply source) 42 provided in the light source device 15 via an air supply jack or the like. The air supply pump 42 always supplies air during the endoscopic examination.

  In the connector main body 17, a branch pipe 44 is branched from the cooling air supply pipe 29. The branch pipe 44 is connected to the processor connection cable 40. The ventilation connector 38 communicates with the inside of the connector main body 17, and further communicates with each of the universal cord 13, the operation unit 12, and the insertion unit 11 through the connector main body 17.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion portion distal end portion 11 a includes a distal end portion of the cylindrical main body 46 of the insertion portion 11, a distal end cap 47 that closes the opening of the distal end portion of the cylindrical main body 46, and an inner portion of the cylindrical main body 46. It is comprised with the various built-in objects built in the front-end | tip part internal space 48 formed of the periphery. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 46 and the front-end | tip cap 47 is coat | covered with rubber | gum.

  The suction cap 21, the illumination window 23, and the observation window 25 are opened in the distal end cap 47. The optical fiber 24, the treatment instrument channel 27, the cooling air supply duct 29, and the like are inserted into the distal end internal space 48, and the imaging unit 19 is built in. The cooling air outlet 28 of the cooling air supply duct 29 opens in the tip end internal space 48.

  A treatment instrument channel 27 is connected to the suction port 21. The exit end of the optical fiber 24 faces the back surface of the illumination window 23. Although illustration is omitted, an illumination lens may be provided between the illumination window 23 and the emission end of the optical fiber 24. The observation window 25 is provided integrally with the imaging unit 19.

  The imaging unit 19 includes a plurality of lenses 50, a lens holding unit 51 that holds each lens 50 and the observation window 25, a prism 52, a CCD image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD) 53, and circuit boards 54 and 55. It has. A CMOS image sensor may be provided instead of the CCD 53.

  Each lens 50 makes the image light of the observation region incident from the observation window 25 enter the prism 52. The prism 52 forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 53 by bending the image light from the lens 50 inside.

  The CCD 53 is composed of, for example, an interline type CCD, and a bare chip having an imaging surface provided on the surface is used. On the CCD 53, a rectangular plate-like cover glass 56 is attached. The CCD 53 is connected to the prism 52 through a cover glass 56.

  The circuit board 54 is bonded and fixed to the rear end side of the CCD 53. The circuit board 54 is used for connection between the CCD 53 and the multicore cable 30. A plurality of terminals (not shown) are provided at adjacent ends of the CCD 53 and the circuit board 54, and both terminals are connected by bonding wires (not shown). Thereby, the CCD 53 and the circuit board 54 are electrically connected. An input / output terminal 58 is provided at the rear end of the circuit board 54. In FIG. 4, only one input / output terminal 58 is shown to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated, but a plurality of input / output terminals 58 are provided.

  The circuit board 55 is connected to the circuit board 54 via a connection cable, a flexible board, or the like (not shown). Various ICs 59 related to driving of the CCD 53, image processing of an endoscopic image, and the like are mounted on the circuit board 55. An input / output terminal 60 is also provided at the rear end of the circuit board 55. Note that the input / output terminal 60 is also illustrated with one input / output terminal 60 as a representative in order to prevent complication of the drawing.

  The multi-core cable 30 is formed by bundling a plurality of signal cables 62 and covering the bundle of signal cables 62 with a braided wire or an outer sheath (not shown). The multicore cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29. One end of the multi-core cable 30 protrudes from the cooling air outlet 28, and each signal cable 62 is exposed at the protruding portion by removing the braided wire and the outer sheath. Note that only two signal cables 62 are shown in order to avoid complication of the drawing. One signal cable 62 is soldered to the input / output terminal 58, and the other signal cable 62 is soldered to the input / output terminal 60.

  The other end of the multi-core cable 30 is connected to the processor device 14 through the cooling air supply duct 29, the branch duct 44, and the processor connection cable 40 (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the processor device 14 and each unit of the imaging unit 19 are electrically connected. Drive control signals for the CCD 53 and the IC 59 are transmitted from the processor device 14 to the imaging unit 19, and an endoscopic image is transmitted from the imaging unit 19 to the processor device 14.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the insertion portion 11, the inner periphery of the cylindrical main body 46, the treatment instrument channel 27, the optical fiber 24, and the cooling air supply duct 29 corresponding to the built-in cylindrical main body of the present invention, A gap passage 64 through which air can flow is formed by the gap between the two. Note that clearance passages 65, 66, and 67 (see FIG. 2) are also formed in the operation portion 12, the universal cord 13, and the connector main body 17, respectively, in the gaps between the inner periphery and the built-in objects.

  One end of the gap passage 64 communicates with the tip end internal space 48, and the other end communicates with the ventilation connector 38 via the gap passages 65 to 67 (see FIG. 2). As a result, one end of the gap passage 64 communicates with the cooling air supply duct 29 via the tip end internal space 48. Further, the other end of the gap passage 64 communicates with the atmosphere via the ventilation connector 38 and the like. Accordingly, the cooling air supply duct 29 communicates with the atmosphere via the tip end internal space 48 and the gap passage 64.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope 10 having the above configuration will be described. When the preparation for the endoscopy is completed, the driving of the CCD 53 is started under the control of the processor device 14, the illumination light is emitted from the light source device 15, the suction by the suction pump 34, and the air supply pump 42. Air supply is always performed. And after this preparation is completed, the insertion part 11 is inserted in a patient's trachea, and observation in a trachea is started. An endoscopic image photographed by the CCD 53 is transmitted to the processor device 14 via the multi-core cable 30, subjected to image processing by the processor device 14, and then displayed on a monitor (not shown).

  When it is necessary to suck inhaled matter such as blood and filth in the endoscope image observation, the suction button 33 is pressed. As a result, the suction pump 34 and the suction pipe line 32 communicate with each other, the negative pressure suction force of each pipe line extending from the suction pipe line 32 to the suction port 21 is increased, and the sucked material is sucked from the suction port 21. . When stopping the suction, the pressing operation on the suction button 33 is released. Thereby, the communication between the suction pump 34 and the suction pipe 32 is blocked, and the suction from the suction port 21 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the air supplied from the air supply pump 42 (indicated by an arrow in the drawing) is jetted from the cooling air outlet 28 into the tip end internal space 48 through the cooling air supply duct 29. To do. Then, the air ejected into the tip end internal space 48 flows into the gap passage 64 from the tip end internal space 48. The air that has flowed into the gap passage 64 is discharged from the ventilation connector 38 to the outside through the gap passages 64 to 67.

  In this manner, air is constantly sent from the cooling air supply duct 29 into the tip end internal space 48, and the sent air is sequentially discharged from the ventilation connector 38 through the gap passage 64 and the like. For this reason, in the front end portion internal space 48, air always flows from the cooling air supply duct 29 to the gap passage 64. As a result, the heat generating built-in components (chip built-in components) that generate heat such as the CCD 53, the circuit boards 54 and 55, the optical fiber 24, etc. in the tip internal space 48 are cooled. As a result, an increase in the amount of heat generated by each built-in heating element is allowed, so that the number of pixels of the CCD 53 can be increased and the amount of illumination light can be increased.

  At this time, in the present invention, the cooling air supply duct 29 is inserted into the insertion portion 11, but the multicore cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29. For this reason, although it is necessary to secure a space for inserting the cooling air supply duct 29 into the insertion portion 11, it is not necessary to secure a space for inserting the multicore cable 30 separately from this space. For this reason, even if the cooling air supply duct 29 is inserted into the insertion portion 11, the diameter of the insertion portion 11 can be suppressed. As a result, the inside of the insertion portion distal end portion 11a can be cooled while suppressing an increase in diameter of the insertion portion 11.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an endoscope 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the endoscope 10 of the first embodiment, the air supply pump 42 is connected to the cooling air supply line 29, but in the endoscope 70, the air supply pump 42 is connected to the gap passage 64. The endoscope 70 has basically the same configuration as the endoscope 10 of the first embodiment except that the connection destination of the air supply pump 42 and the shape of the connector main body 71 are different. The same functions and configurations as those of the endoscope 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the endoscope 70, the air supply pump 42 is connected to the ventilation connector 38. The connector main body 71 is provided with an exhaust connector 72 instead of the connection plug 37 for air supply of the first embodiment. A cooling air supply duct 29 is connected to the exhaust connector 72.

  At the time of endoscopic image observation, the air supplied from the air supply pump 42 passes through the ventilation connector 38 and the clearance passages 67, 66, 65, 64, and is jetted into the distal end portion internal space 48. Then, the air ejected into the tip end internal space 48 flows into the cooling air supply duct 29 from the tip end internal space 48. The air that has flowed into the cooling air supply duct 29 passes through the cooling air supply duct 29 and is discharged from the exhaust connector 72 to the outside.

  As described above, in the endoscope 70, the air flow in the cooling air supply duct 29 and the gap passages 64 to 67 is opposite to that in the first embodiment, but the cooling air supply duct 29 from the gap passage 64. Since the air always flows, each built-in heat generating member in the tip end internal space 48 is cooled as in the first embodiment. In this endoscope 70 as well, since the multicore cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29, the diameter of the insertion portion 11 is suppressed.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an endoscope 75 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the endoscope 10 of the first embodiment, air supplied from the air supply pump 42 is exhausted from the ventilation connector 38, but in the endoscope 75, air is exhausted from the operation unit 12. The endoscope 75 has basically the same configuration as that of the endoscope 10 according to the first embodiment except that air is exhausted from the operation unit 12. The same symbols are attached to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  The operating unit 12 is provided with an exhaust connector 76 that communicates with the gap passage 65. The ventilation connector 38 is closed with a plug 77 except during the leak test. As a result, the air that has flowed from the cooling air supply duct 29 into the gap passage 64 via the tip end internal space 48 is exhausted from the exhaust connector 76 through the gap passages 64 and 65. As in the first embodiment, since air constantly flows from the cooling air supply duct 29 to the gap passage 64, each built-in heating element in the tip end internal space 48 is cooled. Moreover, since the multi-core cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29 as in the first embodiment, an increase in the diameter of the insertion portion 11 is suppressed.

  In the third embodiment, the exhaust connector 76 is provided in the operation unit 12, but may be provided in the universal cord 13. In the second embodiment, the exhaust connector 72 may be provided on the operation unit 12 or the universal cord 13.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, an endoscope 80 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the multi-core cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29. However, in the endoscope 80, the optical fiber 24 in addition to the multi-core cable 30 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29. Is inserted. The endoscope 80 has basically the same configuration as that of the endoscope 10 according to the first embodiment except that the optical fiber 24 is inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29. The same functions and configurations as those of the mirror 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Moreover, in FIG. 9, in order to prevent complication of the drawing, the internal configuration of the insertion portion distal end portion 11a is appropriately simplified.

  As described above, in the endoscope 80, it is not necessary to secure separate spaces for inserting the multicore cable 30 and the optical fiber 24 in addition to the space for inserting the cooling air supply duct 29 into the insertion portion 11. . For this reason, the thickening of the insertion part 11 can be suppressed similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the CCD 53, the circuit boards 54 and 55, the optical fiber 24, and the like are given as examples of the built-in heating element that generates heat inside the insertion portion distal end portion 11a. ) May be incorporated in the insertion portion distal end portion 11a.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the multi-core cable 30 and the optical fiber 24 are inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29 has been described as an example. May be inserted into the cooling air supply duct 29.

  In each of the above embodiments, the inside of the insertion portion distal end portion 11a is cooled by circulating air in the insertion portion 11, but various cooling fluids (whether gas or liquid) other than air are circulated. May be.

  In the above embodiments, the case where the air supply pump 42 is connected to the connector main bodies 17 and 71 has been described. However, for example, the air supply pump 42 may be connected to the operation unit 12 or the universal cord 13.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the endoscope 10 inserted into the trachea has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to various endoscopes such as a colon endoscope inserted into the large intestine. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,70,75,80 Endoscope 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 13 Universal code 14 Processor apparatus 15 Light source apparatus 19 Imaging part 20 Illumination part 24 Optical fiber cable 29 Cooling air supply line 30 Multi-core cable 38 Ventilation connector 42 Sending Air pump 53 CCD image sensor 64 Clearance passage

Claims (8)

An insertion portion of an endoscope to be inserted into a subject, wherein the insertion portion includes a built-in tip at the distal end portion of the insertion portion;
An endoscope main body including at least an operation unit connected to a proximal end of the insertion unit;
Inserted into the insertion portion, one end is opened as a first opening in the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the other end is opened at a second opening that extends to the endoscope main body and communicates with the outside of the endoscope main body. A pipeline with
A built-in duct that extends from the built-in tip and is inserted into the duct;
A gap passage formed by a gap between an inner periphery of the cylindrical main body of the insertion portion and a cylindrical main body built-in including at least the duct inserted through the cylindrical main body, the insertion portion A gap passage that connects the inside of the distal end portion and a third opening that is provided in the endoscope main body portion and communicates with the outside of the endoscope main body portion;
A cooling fluid is supplied from a fluid supply source to one of the second opening and the third opening, and the fluid is discharged from the other opening through the conduit and the gap passage. An endoscope characterized by that. The endoscope main body includes the operation unit and a connection cable having one end connected to the operation unit and a connector connected to the fluid supply source at the other end.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the one opening is provided in the connector.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the other opening is provided in the connector or the operation portion.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the built-in tip includes at least one of an imaging unit that images an observation site and an illumination unit that illuminates the observation site. The connector includes a processor connection unit that drives the imaging unit and connects to an endoscope processor device that performs predetermined signal processing on an image signal output from the imaging unit.
The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein when the built-in tip is the imaging unit, the built-in conduit is a signal cable that connects the imaging unit and the endoscope processor device. mirror. The connector is provided with a light source connection part for connecting to the illumination light source,
The illumination unit has an illumination window opened at an end face of the insertion portion distal end, and an optical fiber cable that guides illumination light from the illumination light source to the illumination window,
The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein when the built-in tip is the illumination unit, the built-in conduit is the optical fiber cable.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is constantly supplied from the fluid supply source to the one opening.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fluid is air.

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