JP2014002300A - Endoscope device and endoscope adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device which is less susceptible to failure of illumination elements due to ingress of water or the like.SOLUTION: An endoscope device includes: an elongated insertion unit; an observation unit provided at a tip of the insertion unit; an illumination unit 21 provided at the tip of the insertion unit to illuminate a field of view of the observation unit; and a frame body 31 which accommodates the observation unit and the illumination unit. The illumination unit has a wiring substrate 23 having recessed portions 24 provided with wiring 25 inside thereof, and a plurality of LEDs 22 which are connected to the wiring and mounted inside the recessed portions. The wiring and connections between the wiring and the LEDs 22 are sealed by a sealing resin 26 that fills the recessed portions.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to an endoscope apparatus and an endoscope adapter provided with an illumination element at a distal end of an insertion portion.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus in which an illumination element such as a light emitting diode (LED) is arranged at the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The lighting element may be provided directly on the insertion part, or may be provided on the adapter and attached to the tip of the insertion part. It is sealed with. As the resin to be sealed, a transparent resin having a high transmittance is generally used so as not to reduce the light of the lighting element.
Such a sealing resin is also in close contact with the outer frame of the insertion portion, the frame of the adapter, and the like, and also has a function of holding the lighting element watertight.

JP 2009-11513 A

However, many of the resins used as the sealing resin are not sufficiently adhesive and may be peeled off from the outer frame or the substrate. When peeled off, moisture may enter from between the outer frame or the like and the sealing resin, reach between the substrate and the sealing resin, and cause a short circuit.
On the other hand, it is conceivable to seal the lighting element using an acrylic adhesive having a high adhesive property or a silicon adhesive, but the acrylic adhesive is weak against heat. Since the chemical resistance to petroleum chemicals such as lubricating oil, light oil, kerosene, and gasoline is low, it is difficult to apply them to industrial endoscopes.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, Comprising: It is providing the endoscope apparatus and the adapter for endoscopes which are hard to produce the malfunction of the illumination element by penetration | invasion of water etc. FIG.

  A first aspect of the present invention includes a long insertion portion, an observation portion provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, and an illumination portion that is provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion and illuminates the visual field of the observation portion. And an observation device and a frame that houses the illumination unit, wherein the illumination unit is connected to a wiring board having a recess having a wiring provided on an inner surface thereof, and the wiring. A plurality of illumination elements mounted in the recess, and the wiring and a connection portion between the wiring and the illumination element are sealed with a sealing resin filled in the recess. Features.

  A second aspect of the present invention is an endoscope adapter in which an auxiliary optical system and an illuminating unit are arranged in a frame, and the illuminating unit has a recess having a wiring provided on the inner surface. And a plurality of illumination elements connected to the wiring and mounted in the recess, and the connection portion between the wiring and the wiring and the illumination element is made of a sealing resin filled in the recess It is sealed.

In the endoscope apparatus and the adapter for an endoscope of the present invention, the inner surface of the recess has a bottom surface and a side surface rising from the bottom surface, and the wiring and the illumination element may be connected on the side surface. Good.
Furthermore, the sealing resin may include an anisotropic conductive adhesive.

  According to the endoscope apparatus and the adapter for endoscopes of the present invention, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a failure of the illumination element due to the intrusion of water or the like.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which looked at the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus from the front end side. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus concerning a second embodiment of the present invention from the tip side. It is sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the illumination part in the modification of the same endoscope apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the insertion part front-end | tip part of the endoscope apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the insertion part front-end | tip part in the endoscope apparatus of the modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the insertion part front-end | tip part in the endoscope apparatus of the modification of this invention.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The endoscope apparatus 1 is an industrial endoscope apparatus used for internal observation of a test object such as an engine or a tank. A long insertion part 10 inserted into the test object, An operation unit 50 provided on the base end side and a main body unit 60 connected to the operation unit 50 are provided.

The insertion unit 10 has flexibility, an observation unit 11 having an observation optical system and an imaging unit for acquiring an image inside the test object, and a plurality of illumination elements to illuminate the visual field of the observation unit 11 The illumination part 21 to be attached is attached to the tip part.
Various known structures can be adopted as the observation unit 11. Since the structure of the illumination unit 21 is a main part of the present invention, it will be described in detail later.
The fixed range on the distal end side of the insertion portion 10 is a bending portion 12 having a known structure with a bending piece, a node ring, and the like, and can be bent in two axial directions perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion 10. is there.

The operation unit 50 performs a bending operation of the bending unit 12 and may have a structure including, for example, a joystick 51. However, the specific configuration is not particularly limited.
The main body 60 has a known configuration including a display 61 and an operation panel 62 that display images acquired by the observation unit 11. Further, it is connected to an external power source (not shown) and can supply power to each part of the endoscope apparatus 1.

  2 is a view of the insertion portion 10 as viewed from the distal end side, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. The observation unit 11 is disposed at the center of the end surface on the front end side, and the illumination unit 21 is disposed around the observation unit 11. In the illumination unit 21, a plurality of LEDs 22 are arranged as illumination elements. The observation unit 11 and the illumination unit 21 are accommodated in a substantially cylindrical frame 31 made of metal or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each LED 22 of the illumination unit 21 is disposed in a recess 24 formed on the upper surface of a multilayer wiring board 23 using a white ceramic substrate, and uses ultrasonic waves or the like. The wiring 25 exposed on the bottom surface of the recess 24 is electrically connected and mounted by flip chip mounting. Each concave portion 24 is formed into a substantially frustoconical space by forming a bottom surface and an opening in a circular shape in a plan view of the wiring board 23. Each recess 24 is filled with a sealing resin 26 in a state where the LED 22 is mounted, and the wiring 25 and the connection terminal 22a of the LED 22 are sealed so as not to touch an external liquid or the like.

  A frame 31 is disposed around the illumination unit 21, and a first resin layer 32 including a phosphor that excites light emitted from the LED is formed on the upper surface of the wiring board 23. Further, a second resin layer 33 made of a transparent resin is formed on the first resin layer 32.

The lumen of the frame body 31 has a first region 31a on the distal end side and a second region 31b on the proximal end side, and the inner diameter of the second region 31b is set larger than that of the first region 31a. . The inner diameter of the first region 31 a is set smaller than the outer diameter of the wiring board 23. The inner diameter of the second region 31 b is set larger than the outer diameter of the wiring board 23.
Although illustration is omitted, the wiring board 23 is provided with a through-hole penetrating in the axial direction at the center. A frame or the like that accommodates the observation optical system of the observation unit 11 is inserted into the through hole and assembled.

A procedure for manufacturing the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 in the endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. First, the LED 22 is mounted in each recess 24 of the wiring board 23 by flip chip mounting, and the sealing resin 26 is filled in the recess 24, whereby the illumination unit 21 is completed.
Next, the illumination unit 21 is positioned and arranged in the frame 31, and the observation unit 11 is inserted through the through hole of the wiring board 23. The illumination unit 21 is positioned by bringing the upper surface of the wiring board 23 into contact with a step between the first region 31a and the second region 31b of the frame 31.

  Subsequently, the first resin layer 32 is formed by pouring the material of the first resin layer around the observation unit 11 in the frame 31 from the front end side of the frame 31. When the first resin layer 32 is cured, the material of the second resin layer is poured into the second resin layer 33 to complete the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10.

  At the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 configured as described above, the water tightness of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 is ensured by the cured first resin layer 32 and second resin layer 33. When the endoscope apparatus 1 is used in a high-temperature environment, the frame body 31 and the resin layers 32 and 33 are separated due to the difference in expansion coefficient between the frame body 31 and the resin layers 32 and 33. Although the watertightness may be broken, since the LED 22 and the wiring 25 are sealed with the sealing resin 26 in the recess 24, even if the resin layers 32 and 33 are peeled off from the frame body 31, The liquid or the like that enters the LED does not come into contact with the LED 22 or the wiring 25. Therefore, occurrence of a short circuit or the like is preferably suppressed.

  As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the LED 22 of the illumination unit 21 is formed by using the sealing resin 26 different from the resin layers 32 and 33 that secure the water tightness of the distal end portion of the insertion unit 10. Since the connection terminal 22a and the wiring 25 connected to the connection terminal 22a are sealed, even if the resin layers 32 and 33 are peeled off from the frame body 31, it is preferable to cause problems such as a short circuit due to intrusion of water or the like. Can be prevented.

  In addition, since the plurality of LEDs 22 are mounted in different recesses 24, the ultrasonic waves during mounting do not affect other LEDs, and the mounting process can be performed in a stable state.

  Further, since the wiring board 23 is formed using a white ceramic substrate, and the recess 24 in which the LED 22 is accommodated is set in a substantially truncated cone shape having an opening area larger than the area of the bottom surface, the side surface of the recess 24 is It becomes a white slope shape and functions as a reflector that guides a part of the light emitted from the LED to the tip side. As a result, the light quantity of the illumination unit can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which a white ceramic substrate is used as the wiring substrate has been described. Instead, a substrate made of another material such as a glass epoxy resin is used, and a metal film is deposited on the side surface of the recess. Even if it provides by, it is possible to utilize a recessed part side surface as a reflector.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference between the endoscope apparatus 71 of the present embodiment and the endoscope apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is the shape of the recess and the mounting mode of the illumination element. In the following description, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

4 is a view of the insertion portion 10A of the endoscope apparatus 71 as viewed from the distal end side, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. Unlike the first embodiment, the observation unit 11 is disposed at a position eccentric with respect to the central axis of the insertion unit 10A.
The frame 72 has a first lumen 73 having a circular cross-sectional shape and a second lumen 74 having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape. The observation unit 11 is provided in the first lumen 73, and an illumination unit 75. Are disposed in the second lumen 74, respectively.

  The wiring board 76 of the illumination unit 75 has a shape corresponding to the second lumen 74 in plan view. On the upper surface of the wiring board 76, one concave portion 77 having a substantially D shape in plan view is provided, and four LEDs 22 are mounted in the concave portion 77 and sealed with a sealing resin 26.

  As shown in FIG. 5, among the inner surfaces of the recesses 77, the side surfaces rising from the bottom surface extend linearly in a plan view of the wiring substrate 76, and the first inclined surface 77 a located on the side closer to the observation unit 11, and the wiring substrate Two inclined surfaces are provided, which extend in an arc shape in a plan view of 76 and a second inclined surface 77b located on the side far from the observation unit 11. The wiring 25 connected to each LED 22 is formed on the second inclined surface 77b, and each LED 22 is mounted by connecting the connection terminal 22a provided on the lower surface to the wiring 25. That is, each LED 22 is mounted in the recess 77 in a state where the upper surface is inclined so as to face the first inclined surface 77 a and the observation unit 11.

Also in the endoscope apparatus 71 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a short circuit or the like as in the first embodiment.
Further, since each LED 22 is mounted in the recess 77 in a state where the upper surface is inclined so as to face the first inclined surface 77a and the observation unit 11, it is emitted from the upper surface of the LED 22 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. Part of the light illuminates the front of the observation unit 11, and the other part is reflected by the first inclined surface 77a and emitted parallel to the axis of the insertion unit 10A. As a result, light can be distributed evenly in both the front surface of the insertion portion 10A and the visual field of the observation portion 11, and suitable illumination can be performed.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a plurality of LEDs are mounted in one recess has been described. However, in the LED mounting mode of this embodiment, each LED 22 is mounted in a different recess 24 as in the modification shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to the case of the first embodiment. In this case, since the area of the bottom surface of the recess 24 can be reduced, there is an advantage that the lighting elements can be arranged with higher density.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The difference between this embodiment and each of the above-described embodiments is the material of the sealing resin.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion in the endoscope apparatus of the present embodiment. The configuration of each part of the illumination unit 81 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but an anisotropic conductive adhesive 82 containing conductive fine particles is used for at least a part of the sealing resin filled in the recess 24. It has been.

  When creating the illumination unit 81 of this embodiment, first, the LED 22 is filled with the anisotropic conductive adhesive 82 of a predetermined amount, for example, about one third of the volume of the recess 24 in the recess 24. It arrange | positions in the recessed part 24. FIG. When the LED 22 is pressed and the connection terminal 22a is pressed against the wiring 25, the connection terminal 22a and the wiring 25 are connected via the anisotropic conductive adhesive 82 and mounted. When the anisotropic conductive adhesive 82 is cured, the recess 24 is further filled with a resin to completely seal the LED 22. There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the sealing resin with which this 2nd time is filled, The same anisotropic conductive adhesive 82 may be sufficient, and different resin, for example, the resin material of the 1st resin layer 32 may be sufficient. When the sealing resin to be filled in the second time is the resin material of the first resin layer 32, the wiring substrate 23 is arranged in the frame 31 after the mounting of the LED 22 and the resin material of the first resin layer is poured. It is also possible to form part of the sealing resin and the first resin layer 32 in the same process.

Also in the endoscope apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a short circuit or the like as in the above-described embodiments.
Further, since the filling of the sealing resin into the recess 24 and the mounting of the LED 22 can be performed by a series of operations, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the combinations of the components or the components may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is possible to make various changes to or delete them.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the example in which the lighting element is completely buried in the sealing resin has been described. However, if the connection terminal and the wiring of the lighting element are sealed, a certain short-circuit prevention effect can be obtained. Since it can do, other parts, such as the upper surface of a lighting element, may be made into the state which is not sealed by sealing resin. However, it is preferable that the lighting element is completely buried in the sealing resin because the occurrence of a short circuit can be further suppressed.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, LED22A which has the connection terminal 22a on the side surface may be used as a lighting element. When such an LED 22A is used in the third embodiment, the wiring 25 is provided on the slope of the concave portion 24 having the slope-shaped side surface as shown in FIG. 8, and mounting is facilitated by pressing the connection terminal 22a against the slope. It becomes.

  Furthermore, the concave portion of the present invention may have a shape without a sloped portion on the side surface, and may be, for example, a cylindrical or other prismatic space. Even in such a case, the LED 22 as the illumination element can be mounted by forming the wiring 25 on the side surface 91a of the recess 91 as in the modification shown in FIG. Depending on the shape of the lighting element, the mounting density of the lighting elements can be further increased by adopting such a mounting mode.

  In addition, when the illumination element emits white light, the first resin layer does not need to include a phosphor. Thus, if it is not necessary to form a plurality of resin layers on the illuminating unit, it may be formed as a single layer.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the illumination unit and the frame body are arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion unit has been described. However, in the structure of the present invention, the auxiliary optical system and the illumination unit having the illumination element are framed. The present invention can be similarly applied to an endoscope adapter that is disposed in the body and attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,71 Endoscope apparatus 10, 10A Insertion part 11 Observation part 21, 75, 81 Illumination part 22, 22A LED (illumination element)
23, 76 Wiring boards 24, 77, 91 Recess 25 Wiring 26 Sealing resin 31, 72 Frame 77b Second slope (side surface)
82 Anisotropic conductive adhesive 91a Side

Claims (6)

A long insertion part, an observation part provided at the distal end part of the insertion part, an illumination part provided at the distal end part of the insertion part and illuminating the field of view of the observation part, the observation part and the illumination part An endoscopic device comprising a frame for housing
The illumination unit is
A wiring board having a recess provided with wiring on the inner surface;
A plurality of lighting elements connected to the wiring and mounted in the recess,
The endoscope apparatus, wherein the wiring and a connection portion between the wiring and the illumination element are sealed with a sealing resin filled in the recess.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the recess has a bottom surface and a side surface rising from the bottom surface, and the wiring and the illumination element are connected on the side surface. .   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing resin includes an anisotropic conductive adhesive. An endoscope adapter in which an auxiliary optical system and an illumination unit are arranged in a frame body,
The illumination unit is
A wiring board having a recess provided with wiring on the inner surface;
A plurality of lighting elements connected to the wiring and mounted in the recess,
The endoscope adapter, wherein the wiring and a connection portion between the wiring and the illumination element are sealed with a sealing resin filled in the recess.   5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein an inner surface of the recess has a bottom surface and a side surface rising from the bottom surface, and the wiring and the illumination element are connected on the side surface. adapter.   The endoscope adapter according to claim 4, wherein the sealing resin includes an anisotropic conductive adhesive.

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