JP2013034720A - Endoscope and method for controlling temperature of endoscope distal end member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope achieving both a function of cooling a distal end part and an anti-fog function of a lens of the distal end part.SOLUTION: This endoscope includes: an endoscope distal end member; a heat exchanger thermally connected to the endoscope distal end member; an imaging element lens disposed inside the endoscope distal end member; a going path tube having one end connected to the heat exchanger and the inside through which a fluid passes; a heating mechanism thermally connected to the going path tube; and a liquid feed mechanism connected with the other end of the going path tube, and feeding out the fluid. At least before introduction of the endoscope into an object and during the introduction, the imaging element lens can be heated by the fluid heated by the heating mechanism. At least when the endoscope is present inside the object, the liquid feed mechanism circulates the fluid inside the going path tube to cool the endoscope distal end member.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope and a temperature control method for an endoscope tip member.

  As an endoscope apparatus capable of effectively cooling a heat source, an endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of heat sources, a heat exchanger provided for each of these heat sources, and heat in the order of decreasing heat quantity. A tube in fluid communication with the exchanger.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a distal end of an observation optical system arranged at the distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope as an antifogging device having an antifogging effect against water vapor generated from a living body in a humid environment in a body cavity. A surface treatment unit in which the surface of the optical member at the position is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, and a heating unit that heats the optical member to perform the anti-fogging treatment.

JP 2010-253090 A JP 2006-282 A

  However, in the endoscope apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is possible to cool the distal end portion, but it is desirable that the lens at the distal end portion can be fogged. On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, there is not enough space at the distal end portion of the endoscope to introduce a mechanism for preventing the lens from fogging at the same time as cooling the distal end portion.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope having both functions of cooling the distal end portion of the endoscope and preventing fogging of the lens at the distal end portion.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an endoscope according to the present invention includes an endoscope tip member, a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the endoscope tip member, and an endoscope. The imaging element lens arranged in the tip member, the forward tube that is coupled to one end of the heat exchanger and through which the fluid passes, the heating mechanism that is thermally coupled to the forward tube, and the other end of the forward tube are coupled. An endoscope provided with a fluid delivery mechanism for delivering fluid, and the imaging element lens can be heated by the fluid heated by the heating mechanism at least before and during introduction of the endoscope into the object. In addition, at least when the endoscope is in the object, the liquid feeding mechanism can cool the endoscope distal end member by circulating the fluid in the forward tube.

  The endoscope according to the present invention preferably includes a reservoir tank coupled to the liquid feeding mechanism, and the fluid carried out from the liquid feeding mechanism is preferably discharged from the endoscope tip member to the outside of the endoscope.

  The endoscope according to the present invention includes a return tube coupled to one end of the heat exchanger and the other end to the liquid feeding mechanism, and the fluid passes through the forward tube and the return tube, and fluid flows through the distal end portion of the endoscope and the shaft. It is preferable to circulate in the unit and the operation unit.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention, it is preferable that the liquid feeding mechanism is disposed in the operation unit.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention, it is preferable that the heating mechanism is disposed in the shaft portion.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention, the fluid heating is performed by the heating mechanism before the endoscope is introduced into the object, and the fluid heating by the heating mechanism is stopped after the introduction of the endoscope into the object. It is preferable.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention, it is preferable to change the driving condition of the liquid feeding mechanism based on the temperature measured by a thermocouple that is thermally coupled to the endoscope tip member.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention, it is preferable to turn on / off the driving of the heating mechanism based on the temperature measured by the thermocouple.

  An endoscope tip member temperature control method according to the present invention includes a heating mechanism thermally coupled to a tube coupled to an endoscope tip member to heat a fluid flowing in the tube, thereby A heating step for heating the member to a predetermined temperature or more, an introduction step for introducing the endoscope with the endoscope tip member heated in the heating step into the object, and an endoscope in the object in the introduction step. And a cooling step of cooling the endoscope distal end member below a predetermined temperature by circulating the fluid in the tube after introduction into the tube.

  The endoscope according to the present invention has an effect that both the function of cooling the distal end portion and the function of preventing fogging of the lens at the distal end portion can be realized.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope system including an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the endoscope and light source device which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the endoscope which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the endoscope which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the feedback control system of the endoscope which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the feedback of the heating mechanism in the endoscope of 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the following embodiment.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope system including an endoscope 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the endoscope system will be described with reference to FIG.
An endoscope system is an observation apparatus that observes the inside of a subject.

The endoscope 1 is a device having means for entering into the body of a subject as an object and performing in-vivo image acquisition, live cell acquisition, and treatment.
The endoscope operation unit 2 is a member in which a mechanism for operating the direction of the distal end of the endoscope, which is held by an endoscope user by hand, is arranged.

The universal cord 3, the light source device 4, the video processor 5, and the monitor 6 are electrically and mechanically connected to the endoscope 1 and play various roles.
The universal cord 3 is a cord that connects the endoscope operation unit 2 and the light source device 4. A large number of wires for electrical and mechanical connection are arranged inside the universal cord 3. The light source device 4 is a device that drives light emitted from the endoscope tip. The video processor 5 performs processing of images sent from the endoscope 1 and synchronization and processing of each circuit. The monitor 6 outputs and displays an image of the endoscope 1.

  A configuration for preventing fogging of the lens at the front end portion 9 and cooling the front end portion 9 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the endoscope 1 and the light source device 4 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, illustration of the endoscope operation unit 2 is omitted.

The endoscope 1 includes a distal end portion 9, a shaft portion 10, and an operation portion 11.
The distal end portion 9 is a portion that hits the distal end of the endoscope 1 and includes many electric elements and lens systems for capturing in-vivo images. A large number of members are arranged inside the distal end portion 9, but since the size is small, there is not much space. An endoscope distal end member 13 is provided in the distal end portion 9, and a lens and an electric element including the imaging element lens 7 are disposed in the endoscope distal end member 13. An example of the electric element introduced into the endoscope distal end member 13 is the imaging element 8, and an example of the lens is the imaging element lens 7.

  The operation unit 11 is a part that mechanically operates the distal end part 9 and a part that the endoscope user grips with a hand. The shaft portion 10 is a portion located between the tip portion 9 and the operation portion 11 and has flexibility and can be bent. In the surgical rigid endoscope, the shaft portion 10 is made of a hard material and may not be flexible.

  In many cases, the endoscope tip member 13 is heated due to the heat transmitted by the electric elements disposed therein. In the endoscope according to the first embodiment, the heat exchanger 14 is thermally coupled to the endoscope tip member 13, and heat is exchanged by flowing a fluid through the heat exchanger 14. The tip member 13 and thus the tip portion 9 is cooled or heated. Hereinafter, the fluid will be described as a liquid. Since there is not much space inside the endoscope, it is more efficient to use liquid as the fluid when a large heat exchange effect is desired in a small area.

The heat exchanger 14 is coupled to one end of the forward tube 15, and the liquid passes through the inside. This liquid is stored in a reservoir tank 18 disposed in the light source device 4. The other end of the forward tube 15 is coupled to a liquid feeding mechanism 17 disposed in the light source device 4. The liquid feeding mechanism 17 delivers the liquid in the reservoir tank 18, and the liquid is transported to the distal end portion 9 of the endoscope 1 and discharged from the distal end portion 9. Here, at least when the endoscope 1 is in the object, the endoscope feeding member 17 can cool the endoscope distal end member 13 by flowing a fluid in the forward tube 15.
For example, a piezo pump is used as the liquid feeding mechanism 17. As the liquid passing through the outward tube 15, it is preferable to use water or saline that does not adversely affect the living body.
In the light source device 4, unlike the endoscope 1, there are many spaces, so that the liquid feeding mechanism 17 and the reservoir tank 18 can be arranged. Moreover, since a large-sized and high-pressure pump can be selected as the liquid feeding mechanism 17, a large flow rate can be sent.

  Further, the heating mechanism 12 is thermally coupled to the forward tube 15 at a predetermined position in the shaft portion 10. The heating mechanism 12 is a heater, for example, and can heat the liquid in the forward tube 15. In addition, illustration is abbreviate | omitted about the control part which controls the drive of the heating mechanism 12. FIG. The heating mechanism 12 heats the liquid in the forward tube 15 at least before and during the introduction of the endoscope into the object, and the imaging element lens can be heated by the heated liquid.

Next, a method for preventing the lens from fogging and cooling the tip 9 will be described in detail.
When the endoscope 1 is introduced into the body, the endoscope 1 is exposed to a high-temperature internal environment from room temperature. Since the temperatures of the distal end portion 9 and the endoscope distal end member 13 before introduction into the body are approximately the same as the room temperature, the image sensor lens 7 in the endoscope distal end member 13 is introduced into the body at a temperature higher than room temperature. It may be cloudy and your view may be blocked. In order to avoid this fogging, it is effective to introduce the endoscope 1 into the body with the temperature of the imaging element lens 7 raised in advance.

  On the other hand, when the temperature of the imaging element lens 7 is increased, the temperature of the members around the imaging element lens 7 is also increased by heat transfer. Many of the electric elements arranged around the imaging element lens 7 are adversely affected by a decrease in characteristics due to an increase in temperature. For this reason, it is desirable to solve both the problems of preventing the lens from fogging and cooling the tip 9 simultaneously.

Therefore, in the endoscope of the first embodiment, by controlling the temperature of the endoscope tip member 13 by the following procedure, both functions of preventing fogging of the imaging element lens 7 and cooling of the tip portion 9 are realized. ing.
First, as a heating process, before introducing the endoscope 1 into the body, the heating mechanism 12 is driven to heat the liquid in the forward tube 15. The heated liquid is heat exchanged by passing through the heat exchanger 14. The warmed heat exchanger 14 warms the endoscope tip member 13 that is thermally coupled. Furthermore, the temperature of the distal end portion 9 rises by transferring heat to an electrical element or lens that is thermally coupled to the endoscope distal end member 13. In this way, the imaging element lens 7 is also indirectly warmed and inserted into the body at a temperature equal to or higher than the body temperature (introduction process). Thus, since it is supposed to introduce into the body in the state where temperature of image sensor lens 7 was raised, cloudiness can be prevented.

  It is desirable that the heating mechanism 12 is disposed at a position near the endoscope tip member 13 of the shaft portion 10. This is because if the distance between the heating mechanism 12 and the endoscope tip member 13 is long, the heated liquid exchanges heat with the surrounding environment, and the temperature drops to the environmental temperature.

Next, a cooling process for cooling the tip portion 9 is performed.
The endoscope 1 heated and introduced into the body as described above has a temperature substantially equal to the body temperature. After the endoscope 1 is introduced into the body, the distal end portion 9 is heated by an amount of heat generated by the electric element rather than the body temperature by driving the electric element inside the endoscope 9. When the liquid passes through the heat exchanger 14 in this state, heat exchange is performed with the tip 9.
In order to cool the distal end portion 9, the circulation of the liquid in the forward tube 15 is continued in a state where the driving of the heating mechanism 12 is stopped. Thereby, the temperature of the liquid in the outward tube 15 is lowered until it becomes the same as the body temperature as the environmental temperature. During this time, heat exchange takes place in the opposite direction to the heating step described above, and the heat of the endoscope tip member 13 is transmitted to the liquid via the heat exchanger 14 to cool the endoscope tip member 13.

  With the above-described configuration and process, both the lens anti-fogging function and the cooling function can be realized in a common configuration. As a result, it is possible to avoid adverse effects on the endoscopy and treatment due to the field of view being blocked by the cloudy lens, and to reduce adverse effects on the electrical elements due to heat, for example, thermal noise appearing in the endoscope image. .

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the endoscope according to the second embodiment.
In the endoscope 101 according to the second embodiment, a liquid feeding mechanism 117 is disposed in the operation unit 11, and a return tube 116 is connected to the heat exchanger 14 so that a liquid circulates (liquid circulation mechanism 119). This is different from the endoscope according to the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the endoscope according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used for the same members, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The return tube 116 is thermally coupled to the liquid feeding mechanism 117 and the heat exchanger 14, and the liquid flows in the same manner as the forward tube 15. The liquid circulates from the liquid feeding mechanism 117 in the order of the forward path tube 15, the heating mechanism 12, the heat exchanger 14, and the backward path tube 116 to return to the liquid feeding mechanism 117. This circulation system is called a liquid circulation mechanism 119.

The heat exchange when the liquid flows in the forward tube 15 is the same as in the case of the endoscope of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the heat exchange in the return tube 116 will be described.
The liquid that has passed through the heat exchanger 14 from the forward tube 15 is introduced into the return tube 116 in a state where the temperature is higher than the environmental temperature in the heating process and in a state where the temperature is lower than the environmental temperature in the cooling process. Is done. The liquid passing through the return tube 116 undergoes heat exchange with the surrounding environment in the return tube 116. That is, the liquid travels through the return tube 116 and reaches the same temperature as the environmental temperature when entering the liquid feeding mechanism 117 and the forward tube 15 again. Therefore, since the thermal cycle is the same every time the liquid circulates many times, the liquid circulation mechanism 119 can continue to operate without problems.

  Here, since a large number of members are arranged inside the endoscope 101, it is difficult to introduce new components due to space problems. Since a large number of members are arranged at the distal end portion 9, there is not much space for introducing new components, but there is a space in the operation portion 11 compared to the distal end portion 9, so a liquid feeding mechanism 117 can be disposed. it can. In addition, since the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is disposed inside the operation unit 11, it is preferable that the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is smaller in size than the liquid feeding mechanism 17 of the first embodiment disposed in the light source device 4.

Further, in the endoscope of the second embodiment, the liquid circulating in the liquid circulation mechanism 119 is not discharged outside the endoscope. Therefore, the liquid is added to the reservoir tank 18 as in the endoscope of the first embodiment. No need for maintenance.
In addition, about another structure, an effect | action, and an effect, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
An endoscope according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the endoscope according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope feedback control system according to the third embodiment.

  An endoscope 201 according to the third embodiment includes a configuration in which a feedback control system including a thermocouple 220 is added to the endoscope according to the second embodiment. The configuration other than the thermocouple 220 is the same as that of the endoscope according to the second embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used for the same members, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The thermocouple 220 measures the temperature of the endoscope distal end member 13 and feeds back the liquid feeding amount. The feedback control system shown in FIG. 5 changes the feeding amount of the endoscope tip member 13 when the temperature of the endoscope tip member 13 measured by the thermocouple 220 is not a desired temperature (target temperature). Adjust the temperature. As the thermocouple 220, for example, a sheath type thermocouple having a thin tip is suitable.

  Feedback control using the thermocouple 220 for cooling control of the endoscope distal end member 13 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the feedback control system includes a thermocouple 220, an actually measured temperature calculation unit 221, a temperature comparison unit 223, a target temperature storage unit 222 (memory), a liquid supply mechanism drive driver 224, a heating mechanism 12, and a liquid supply. A mechanism 117 is provided. Further, the liquid feeding mechanism drive driver 224 includes a voltage control unit 225 and a voltage generation unit 226. The thermocouple 220 is thermally coupled to the endoscope distal end member 13, and the measured temperature calculation unit 221, the temperature comparison unit 223, the target temperature storage unit 222, and the liquid feeding mechanism drive driver 224 are disposed in the light source device 4, for example. Is done.

  The voltage value data acquired by the thermocouple 220 is sent to the measured temperature calculation unit 221, and the temperature of the endoscope distal end member 13 is calculated from the voltage value. On the other hand, the target temperature storage unit 222 having a memory function stores the target temperature of the endoscope distal end member 13 in advance. The temperature comparison unit 223 compares the target temperature data stored in the target temperature storage unit 222 with the temperature calculated by the actually measured temperature calculation unit 221, and when there is a difference in temperature value, the flow rate conveyed from the liquid feeding mechanism 117. To change.

The liquid feeding mechanism drive driver 224 that has received the comparison result by the temperature comparison unit 223 changes the driving condition of the liquid feeding mechanism 117 in order to change the flow rate. When a piezo pump is assumed as the liquid feeding mechanism 117, the voltage value for driving the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is changed to change the flow rate. For example, when the target temperature is lower than the actually measured temperature as a result of the temperature comparison in the temperature comparison unit 223, the drive voltage value is increased to increase the flow rate conveyed from the liquid feeding mechanism 117. The comparison result of the temperature comparison unit 223 is sent to the voltage control unit 225 of the liquid feeding mechanism drive driver 224, and the voltage control unit 225 determines whether to increase or decrease the voltage according to the comparison result. Based on this determination, the voltage control unit 225 transmits a desired voltage value to the voltage generation unit 226, and the voltage generation unit 226 transmits a voltage to the liquid feeding mechanism 117.
By repeating the operation as described above, the temperature of the endoscope tip member 13 is fed back to control the flow rate by the liquid feeding mechanism 117, thereby maintaining the temperature of the endoscope tip member 13 at the target temperature. it can.

By applying feedback to the flow rate with this configuration, the following two effects can be obtained.
The first effect is that the electric element, for example, the image pickup element 8 disposed in the endoscope distal end member 13 can be cooled and kept at a constant temperature, and the thermal noise of the image can be kept constant and the image reproducibility can be maintained. It is a point that can improve.
The second effect is that the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is not driven under an excessive flow rate condition, so that each tube, the heat exchanger 14, and the liquid feeding mechanism 117 itself are reduced to an overpressure state. It is a point which can lengthen the life of.

Next, heating control (heating process) of the endoscope 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a feedback procedure of the heating mechanism 12 in the endoscope of the third embodiment.
As described above, when the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body, the temperature of the imaging element lens 7 is set equal to or higher than the body temperature. Here, a case where the body temperature is 39 ° C. and the endoscope tip member 13 is maintained at the target temperature 39 ° C. and the endoscope 1 is introduced into the body will be described.
This heating control is the same as that of the thermocouple 220, the actually measured temperature calculation unit 221, the target temperature storage unit 222, the temperature comparison unit 223, and the liquid feeding mechanism drive driver 224 in the endoscopes of the first and second embodiments. This is applicable by providing a member having the above function.

  Since the endoscope tip member 13 whose temperature is measured by the thermocouple 220 is thermally coupled to the imaging element lens 7, the imaging element lens is required if the temperature of the endoscope tip member 13 is 39 ° C. The temperature of 7 is also 39 ° C. Here, when the temperature measured by the thermocouple 220 is 39 ° C. or less, the heating mechanism 12 is turned on to heat the endoscope distal end member 13 to increase the temperature. When the measured temperature is higher than 39 ° C., the endoscope distal end member 13 is overheated while being heated, so the heating mechanism 12 is turned off.

A more specific example will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the control starts, the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is turned on (step S101). Next, the temperature comparison unit 223 determines whether or not the temperature measured by the thermocouple 220 is higher than the target temperature of 39 ° C. (step S102).
When the measured temperature is 39 ° C. or lower (NO in step S102), the temperature comparison unit 223 turns on the heating mechanism 12 to heat the endoscope distal end member 13 (step S103). In contrast, when the measured temperature is higher than 39 ° C. (YES in step S102), the temperature comparison unit 223 turns off the heating mechanism 12 and does not heat the endoscope distal end member 13 (step S104).

  Until the endoscope 1 is introduced into the body and while the inside of the body using the endoscope 1 continues (NO in step S105), the temperature comparison unit 223 has a measured temperature of the thermocouple 220 of 39 ° C. It is determined whether or not it is higher, and the process of turning on or off 12 (steps S102 to S104) is repeated according to the determination result. During observation, cooling control is also performed by controlling the flow rate from the liquid feeding mechanism 117 as described above.

  When the observation inside the body using the endoscope 1 is completed (YES in step S105), the temperature comparison unit 223 turns off the driving of the liquid feeding mechanism 117 (step S106) and then turns off the driving of the heating mechanism 12 (step S106). In step S107), the control is terminated.

By applying such feedback, the temperature of the endoscope distal end member 13 can be maintained at 39 ° C., and the endoscope 1 can be introduced into the body. After the endoscope 1 is introduced into the body, the environmental temperature becomes 39 ° C., so that the endoscope tip member 13 is heated to 39 ° C. or more by being heated from the electric element. Therefore, the heating mechanism 12 is always off in the body.
After the introduction of the endoscope 1 into the body, the flow rate by the liquid feeding mechanism 117 is controlled by the above-described cooling process or feedback control, thereby cooling the electric element disposed in the endoscope distal end member 13 to a certain temperature. Keep on.
In addition, about another structure, an effect | action, and an effect, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment or 2nd Embodiment.

  As described above, the endoscope according to the present invention is useful for realizing both functions of cooling the distal end portion of the endoscope and preventing fogging of the lens at the distal end portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Endoscope operation part 3 Universal code 4 Light source device 5 Video processor 6 Monitor 7 Imaging element lens 8 Imaging element 9 Tip part 10 Shaft part 11 Operation part 12 Heating mechanism 13 Endoscope tip member 14 Heat exchanger DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Outward tube 17 Liquid supply mechanism 18 Reservoir tank 101 Endoscope 116 Return path tube 117 Liquid supply mechanism 119 Liquid circulation mechanism 201 Endoscope 220 Thermocouple 221 Actual temperature calculation part 222 Target temperature storage part 223 Temperature comparison part 224 Liquid supply mechanism Drive driver 225 Voltage control unit 226 Voltage generation unit

Claims (9)

An endoscope tip member;
A heat exchanger thermally coupled to the endoscope tip member;
An imaging element lens disposed in the endoscope tip member;
An outward tube having one end coupled to the heat exchanger and through which the fluid passes;
A heating mechanism thermally coupled to the forward tube;
A liquid feed mechanism that is coupled to the other end of the forward tube and sends out the fluid;
An endoscope comprising:
The imaging element lens can be heated with the fluid heated by the heating mechanism at least before and during introduction into the object of the endoscope, and
An endoscope characterized in that the endoscope tip member can be cooled by circulating the fluid in the forward tube when the liquid feeding mechanism circulates at least when the endoscope is in the object. .   The reservoir tank coupled to the liquid feeding mechanism is provided, and the fluid carried out from the liquid feeding mechanism is discharged from the endoscope distal end member to the outside of the endoscope. Endoscope.   One end of the endoscope is connected to the heat exchanger, and the other end is connected to the liquid feeding mechanism, and the fluid passes through the forward tube and the return tube. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope circulates within the section.   The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the liquid feeding mechanism is disposed in the operation unit.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating mechanism is disposed in the shaft portion.   Fluid heating is performed by the heating mechanism before the endoscope is introduced into the object, and fluid heating by the heating mechanism is stopped after the endoscope is introduced into the object. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The driving condition of the liquid feeding mechanism is changed based on a temperature measured by a thermocouple thermally coupled to the endoscope distal end member. The endoscope according to 1.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein driving of the heating mechanism is turned on and off based on a temperature measured by the thermocouple. A heating step of heating the endoscope tip member to a predetermined temperature or higher by heating a fluid flowing in the tube by a heating mechanism thermally coupled to a tube coupled to the endoscope tip member;
An introducing step of introducing the endoscope in which the endoscope tip member is heated into the object in the heating step;
A cooling step of cooling the endoscope tip member below a predetermined temperature by circulating the fluid in the tube after introducing the endoscope into the object in the introduction step;
An endoscope tip member temperature control method comprising:

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