JP2014004203A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope, having a structure provided with two observation units within distal ends, suitable for suppressing a diameter of the distal ends from increasing.SOLUTION: An endoscope includes: a flexible tube; a hard part body which is joined to a distal end of the flexible tube and has first and second hollow parts; a first observation unit which is mounted on the first hollow part and is for observing a first visual field range; and a second observation unit for observing a second visual field range different from the first visual field range whose position relative to the first observation unit is determined to be in a predetermined relative position by being mounted on the second hollow part. In the second hollow part, a part of an inner wall surface having almost cylindrical shape defining the second hollow part is a planar surface. In the second observation unit, a part of an outer wall surface is a D cut surface corresponding to the planar surface, and the D cut surface and the planar surface are connected, so that a position in the hard part body is determined.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope including two observation units.

  A well-known electronic endoscope (normal observation unit) that captures the subject image captured via the objective optical system and a confocal probe (confocal observation unit) designed by applying the principle of a confocal microscope are integrated. There has been known an integrated endoscope (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the confocal observation with the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the confocal observation unit is used to obtain an image of the tomographic position from the surface layer to the deep layer of a subject such as a biological mucous membrane using the confocal observation unit. It is necessary to carry out in a state where the distal end surface of the exterior casing portion of the mirror distal end portion is applied to the biological mucous membrane. For this reason, the outer casing portion of the endoscope front end portion that holds the confocal observation unit is configured to protrude toward the object (subject) side than the outer casing portion that holds the normal observation unit. Since the tip surface of the confocal observation unit is applied to the biological mucous membrane at the time of confocal observation, it is difficult to grasp which position in the body cavity is observed only by the observation image by the confocal observation unit.

  In view of this, the endoscope described in Patent Document 1 positions a part of the confocal observation unit within the visual field range of the normal observation unit, thereby operating the observation position by the confocal observation unit through a photographed image by the normal observation unit. It is the structure which can make a person grasp. The position of the confocal observation unit in the distal end portion of the endoscope is determined by fitting between a guide provided on the outer peripheral surface of the confocal observation unit and a guide groove provided in the exterior housing.

Japanese Patent No. 4774532

  The endoscope described in Patent Document 1 includes a configuration (guide groove and guide) for positioning the confocal observation unit in addition to the two observation units in the distal end portion. The diameter of the part is larger than that of a general electronic endoscope. Therefore, the burden on the patient when inserting the endoscope into the body cavity is large. Accordingly, it is desired to provide an endoscope suitable for suppressing the diameter of the distal end portion in the configuration in which the two observation units are provided in the distal end portion.

  An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is connected to a flexible tube, a rigid body having first and second cavities connected to a distal end of the flexible tube, and attached to the first cavity. The first observation unit for observing the first visual field range and being attached to the second cavity portion define the position of the first observation unit at a predetermined relative position. A second observation unit for observing a second visual field range different from the first visual field range. In the second cavity, a part of the substantially cylindrical inner wall surface shape defining the second cavity is a flat surface, and the second observation unit is one of the outer wall shapes of the second observation unit. The portion is a D-cut surface corresponding to the flat surface, and the position in the rigid portion main body is determined by combining the D-cut surface and the flat surface.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the area of the second cavity portion in the radial direction can be reduced as compared with the conventional one while securing the positioning of the second observation unit, and thus the diameter of the rigid portion main body portion is suppressed. Is advantageous.

  Moreover, in the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention, for example, the inner wall surface of the thinnest wall portion in the wall portion around the second cavity portion is formed as a flat surface.

  Further, the second observation unit may be configured to have a holding body that holds the built-in object of the second observation unit. The holding body includes, for example, a first holding part having a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a second holding part connected to the proximal end of the first holding part and having a substantially cylindrical outer shape having a diameter larger than that of the first holding part. Have. In this case, the second hollow portion has a stepped substantially cylindrical shape in which a first inner diameter portion corresponding to the first holding portion and a second inner diameter portion corresponding to the second holding portion are coupled, A flat surface is formed on at least one of the first and second inner diameter portions. In the second observation unit, a D-cut surface is formed on at least one outer wall surface of the first and second holding portions corresponding to the flat surface.

  Further, the first observation unit is fixed to the first cavity unit at a position where, for example, the distal end surface of the first observation unit substantially coincides with the distal end surface of the rigid portion main body. Further, when the second observation unit is attached to the second cavity portion, for example, the step surface between the first holding portion and the second holding portion is the step surface between the first inner diameter portion and the second inner diameter portion. By touching, the distal end surface of the second observation unit protrudes from the distal end surface of the first observation unit by a predetermined amount and is fixed at a position that falls within the first visual field range.

  Further, the endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention may be configured to include a tubular member juxtaposed adjacent to the second observation unit. In this case, the flat surface is formed on the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion adjacent to the tubular member, and the D-cut surface is formed on the outer wall surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the flat surface. .

  The flat surface may be formed on the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body. In this case, the D-cut surface is formed on the outer wall surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the flat surface.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, an endoscope that is suitable for suppressing the diameter of the distal end in a configuration including two observation units in the distal end is provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the integrated endoscope of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the front-end | tip part of the integrated endoscope of embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the front-end | tip part of the integrated endoscope of embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the front-end | tip part of the integrated endoscope of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process of assembling a confocal observation unit to a rigid part main body.

  Hereinafter, an integrated endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an integrated endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment. The integrated endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion flexible tube 10 that is sheathed by a flexible sheath 10a. The proximal end of the distal end portion 12 covered with a rigid resin casing is connected to the distal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 10. The bending portion 14 at the connection portion between the insertion portion flexible tube 10 and the distal end portion 12 is configured to be bent by a remote operation from a hand operation portion 16 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 10. . This bending mechanism is a well-known mechanism incorporated in a general electronic endoscope so that the bending portion 14 is bent by pulling the operation wire in conjunction with the rotation operation of the bending operation knob of the hand operation portion 16. It is configured. When the direction of the distal end portion 12 changes according to the bending operation by the rotation operation of the bending operation knob, the observation range by the integrated endoscope 1 moves. A treatment instrument insertion port 18 is provided in the vicinity of the hand operation unit 16. A treatment instrument such as forceps is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion port 18. In FIG. 1, for the sake of convenience, the illustration of the configuration on the proximal end side from the hand operation unit 16 is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the distal end portion 12. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the distal end portion 12, in other words, the direction in which the optical axis of each observation unit described later extends is defined as the Z direction (direction parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 2). Two directions perpendicular to the Z direction and perpendicular to each other are defined as an X direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) and a Y direction (a direction parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 2), respectively. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are a perspective view and a front view of the tip portion 12, respectively.

  As shown in each of FIGS. 2 to 5, the distal end portion 12 includes a rigid portion main body 102. The rigid portion main body 102 is a resin-made housing having rigidity, and the normal observation unit 200 for observing the subject in the first visual field range, and the subject is observed with a high resolution in a visual field range narrower than the normal observation unit 200. The confocal observation unit 300 is held. Connected to the base end of the rigid portion main body 102 is a metal bellows-like cylindrical body 104 that protects the built-in portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 10 while ensuring the flexibility of the insertion portion flexible tube 10. The proximal end side and the entire bellows-like cylindrical body 104 from the middle of the rigid portion main body 102 are covered with a sheath 10a.

  The rigid portion main body 102 is formed with a first through hole 102Ha, a second through hole 102Hb, a third through hole 102Hc, a fourth through hole 102Hd, and a pair of fifth through holes 102He extending in the Z direction. In each of the through holes 102Ha to 102He, an air supply tube 106, a water supply tube 108, a water jet tube 110, a treatment instrument channel 112 (flexible tube), a light guide extending from the insertion portion flexible tube 10 side, respectively. The distal end portion of each tubular member 114 is inserted and fixed by adhesion or the like.

  A first tip surface 102a and a second tip surface 102b are formed on the tip surface of the rigid portion main body 102 with a step. An air supply nozzle 116, a water supply nozzle 118, a water jet nozzle 120, a treatment instrument protruding port 122, and a pair of light distribution lenses 124 are disposed on the first tip surface 102a. The distal ends of the air supply tube 106, the water supply tube 108, the water jet tube 110, and the treatment instrument channel 112 communicate with the air supply nozzle 116, the water supply nozzle 118, the water jet nozzle 120, and the treatment instrument protrusion 122, respectively. doing. The light distribution lens 124 is disposed in front of the exit end of the light guide 114 in order to distribute the illumination light propagated in the light guide 114 to the subject.

  A first cavity 102Ca is formed in the rigid part main body 102. A normal observation unit 200 is attached to the first cavity 102Ca. Specifically, the objective lens unit 202 is inserted into the first cavity 102Ca from the base end side of the rigid portion main body 102, and adhesion or the like is performed at a position where the front surface of the objective lens unit 202 substantially coincides with the first distal end surface 102a. It is fixed by. An electronic circuit unit (including a CCD or the like) wound with an insulating tape 204 is inserted into the subsequent stage of the objective lens unit 202 and fixed by adhesion or the like.

  A second hollow portion 102 </ b> Cb is formed in the rigid portion main body 102. A confocal observation unit 300 is attached to the second cavity 102Cb. First, the confocal observation unit 300 will be outlined. The optical configuration of the confocal observation unit 300 has a well-known configuration designed to be suitable for mounting on the integrated endoscope 1 by applying the principle of the confocal microscope, and the confocal optical fiber 302 is used. And a condensing optical unit 306. The confocal optical fiber 302 is supplied with laser light having a wavelength that acts as excitation light on the subject from a confocal light source device (not shown). The tip of the confocal optical fiber 302 functions as a point light source of a confocal optical system that periodically moves in the XY biaxial direction (or XYZ triaxial direction) by a biaxial (or triaxial) actuator 304. . Therefore, the laser light emitted from the tip of the confocal optical fiber 302 scans the subject two-dimensionally (or three-dimensionally) via the condensing optical system of the condensing optical unit 306. Since the tip of the confocal optical fiber 302 is disposed at the image-side focal position of the condensing optical unit 306, it functions as a confocal pinhole. That is, only the fluorescence from the condensing point optically conjugate with the tip of the scattering component (fluorescence) of the subject irradiated with the excitation light is incident on the tip of the confocal optical fiber 302. The fluorescence incident on the tip of the confocal optical fiber 302 is transmitted to the confocal light source device, separated and detected from the excitation light from the laser light source, and subjected to image processing and the like.

  The confocal optical fiber 302, the actuator 304, and the condensing optical unit 306 are accommodated and held in a holding body 308. The outer shape of the holding body 308 is a stepped substantially cylindrical outer shape. Specifically, the holding body 308 is connected to the first holding portion 308 </ b> A having a substantially cylindrical outer shape and the base end of the first holding portion 308 </ b> A. The second holding body 308B has a substantially cylindrical outer shape with a diameter larger than that of 308A. Note that, for example, the first holding portion 308A has a configuration in which the tip side is a resin-molded portion in relation to holding the cover glass, and a metal pipe such as SUS is joined midway. In the present drawing, such a detailed configuration is omitted as appropriate for the sake of simplicity.

  The second cavity 102Cb to which the confocal observation unit 300 is attached has a stepped substantially cylindrical shape having a first inner diameter portion 102CbA and a second inner diameter portion 102CbB having different diameters. The first inner diameter portion 102CbA has an inner wall surface shape corresponding to the outer shape of the first holding portion 308A, and the second inner diameter portion 102CbB has an inner wall surface shape corresponding to the outer shape of the second holding body 308B.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of assembling the confocal observation unit 300 to the rigid portion main body 102. As shown in FIG. 6, the confocal observation unit 300 is inserted into the second cavity portion 102 </ b> Cb from the proximal end side of the rigid portion main body 102. When the confocal observation unit 300 is inserted into the second cavity portion 102Cb, the outer circumferential step surface 308C between the first holding portion 308A and the second holding body 308B becomes the first inner diameter portion 102CbA and the second inner portion 102Cb. It abuts on the radially inner step surface 102Cc with the inner diameter portion 102CbB. Thereby, the position of the confocal observation unit 300 in the Z direction is such that the front surface (cover glass surface) of the condensing optical unit 306 and the second front end surface 102b (projected by a predetermined amount in the Z direction from the first front end surface 102a). The position is determined to be approximately the same.

  The outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the second holding body 308B is not necessarily a curved surface having a cylindrical shape, but is a D-cut surface 308D (D-cut surfaces 308Da and 308Db) partially cut into a flat surface. . Further, not all of the inner peripheral surface of the second inner diameter portion 102CbB is a curved surface having a cylindrical shape, and a part thereof is a flat surface 102D (flat surfaces 102Da and 102Db). Since the flat surface 102D has a shape corresponding to the D-cut surface 308D, the flat surface 102D and the D-cut surface 308D (more specifically, the flat surface 102Da and the D-cut surface 308Da, and the flat surface 102Db and the D-cut surface 308Db) Are combined to determine the position and orientation of the confocal observation unit 300 in the XY direction within the distal end portion 12. By adhering the holding body 308 in the second cavity 102Cb in a state where each position of XYZ is determined, the front end surface of the confocal observation unit 300 protrudes from the front end surface of the normal observation unit 200 by a predetermined amount. It is fixed at a position that falls within the visual field range of the observation unit 200.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the outer shape step surface 308C and the inner shape step surface 102Cc are formed, the D-cut surface 308D is supported on the holding body 308, and the D-cut surface 308D is supported on the rigid portion main body 102 (second cavity portion 102Cb). By forming the flat surface 102D to be respectively formed, the confocal observation unit 300 in the distal end portion 12 (according to another expression, simply by inserting the confocal observation unit 300 (holding body 308) into the second cavity portion 102Cb, The XYZ position and orientation of the confocal observation unit 300) with respect to the normal observation unit 200 can be determined.

  For example, consider a case where the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion 102CbB of the second cavity portion 102Cb has a cylindrical surface shape without the flat surface 102D. In this case, the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion 102CbB and the inner wall surface of the fourth through hole 102Hd are partially close to each other. This means that a narrow gap is formed between the mold of the second cavity 102Cb and the mold of the fourth through hole 102Hd. Since it is difficult to fill the gap portion with resin, there is a possibility that molding defects may occur. Even when the gap is filled with resin, the wall portion between the second cavity portion 102Cb and the fourth through hole 102Hd is extremely thin and may be easily broken. For example, when the wall portion breaks during assembly, the adhesive in the fourth through hole 102Hd may flow into the second cavity portion 102Cb, and may cause problems such as curing in the second cavity portion 102Cb.

  Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to design the second cavity portion 102Cb and the fourth through hole 102Hd apart from each other, which is a cause of increasing the diameter of the distal end portion of the endoscope. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the inner wall surface of the second cavity 102Cb adjacent to the fourth through hole 102Hd is a flat surface 102Da, so that the wall between the second cavity 102Cb and the fourth through hole 102Hd is obtained. It was possible to secure the necessary minimum thickness (for example, to the extent that filling failure and occurrence of fracture were suppressed to a certain probability or less). Therefore, the formation interval between the second cavity portion 102Cb and the fourth through hole 102Hd can be set without being separated as compared with the conventional case. Therefore, an increase in the diameter of the distal end portion 12 is suppressed as compared with the conventional configuration. In addition, the diameter of the front-end | tip part 12 becomes thick, so that the wall part between 102 Cb and 4th through-hole 102Hd is thickened. Therefore, the wall portion between the second cavity portion 102Cb and the fourth through hole 102Hd is, for example, the thinnest wall portion around the second cavity portion 102Cb (that is, not thicker than necessary).

  Next, consider a case where the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion 102CbB of the second cavity portion 102Cb has a cylindrical surface shape without the flat surface 102D. In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 102 and the inner wall surface of the second cavity portion 102Cb are partially close to each other. This means that a narrow gap portion is formed between the mold surface that defines the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 102 and the mold of the second cavity portion 102Cb. Since it is difficult to fill such gaps with resin, molding defects may occur. Further, even when the gap is filled with resin, the wall portion between the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 102 and the second cavity portion 102Cb is extremely thin, and thus may be easily broken. is there. When the wall portion is broken, there is a possibility that the confocal observation unit 300 (holding body 308) is not held by the second cavity portion 102Cb.

  Therefore, conventionally, in order to secure the wall thickness between the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 102 and the second cavity portion 102Cb, the diameter of the rigid portion main body 102 has to be increased. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the inner wall surface of the second cavity portion 102Cb adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 102 is a flat surface 102Db, thereby suppressing the diameter of the rigid portion main body 102 and the outer periphery of the rigid portion main body 102. The necessary minimum wall thickness can be secured for the wall portion between the surface and the second cavity portion 102Cb. In addition, the diameter of the front-end | tip part 12 becomes large, so that the wall part between the outer peripheral surface of the rigid part main body 102 and 2nd cavity part 102Cb is thickened. Therefore, the wall part between the outer peripheral surface of the rigid part main body 102 and the second cavity part 102Cb is, for example, the thinnest wall part around the second cavity part 102Cb (that is, it is not made thicker than necessary). ).

  The above is the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the embodiment of the present application also includes an embodiment that is exemplarily specified in the specification or a combination of obvious embodiments and the like as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Integrated endoscope 10 Insertion part flexible tube 10a Sheath 12 Tip part 14 Bending part 16 Hand operation part 18 Treatment tool insertion port 102 Hard part main body 102a First tip surface 102b Second tip surface 102Ca First cavity part 102Cb First Two hollow portions 102CbA First inner diameter portion 102CbB Second inner diameter portion 102Cc Inner stepped surface 102D Flat surface 102Ha First through hole 102Hb Second through hole 102Hc Third through hole 102Hd Fourth through hole 102He Fifth through hole 104 Bellows Cylindrical tube 106 air supply tube 108 water supply tube 110 water jet tube 112 treatment instrument channel 114 light guide 116 air supply nozzle 118 water supply nozzle 120 water jet nozzle 122 treatment instrument protrusion 124 light distribution lens 200 normal observation unit 202 objective Lens unit 204 First holding edges tape 300 confocal observation unit 302 confocal optical fiber 304 actuator 306 condensing optical unit 308 holder 308A 308B second holding portion 308C outer stepped surface 308D D-cut surface

Claims (6)

A flexible tube;
Connected to the distal end of the flexible tube, and a rigid body having first and second cavities;
A first observation unit attached to the first cavity, for observing a first field of view;
By attaching to the second cavity portion, a position for observing a second field of view different from the first field of view is defined at a predetermined relative position with respect to the first observation unit. Two observation units,
With
The second cavity is
A portion of the substantially cylindrical inner wall surface shape defining the second cavity is a flat surface,
The second observation unit is
A part of the outer wall surface shape of the second observation unit is a D-cut surface corresponding to the flat surface, and the position in the rigid portion main body is determined by combining the D-cut surface and the flat surface. An endoscope characterized by that. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall surface of a portion of the wall portion around the second cavity portion that has the smallest thickness is formed on the flat surface. The second observation unit is
A holding body for holding a built-in object of the second observation unit,
A first holding portion having a substantially cylindrical outer shape;
A second holding part connected to the proximal end of the first holding part, having a substantially cylindrical outer shape with a diameter larger than that of the first holding part;
A holding body with
The second cavity is
Having a stepped substantially cylindrical shape connecting a first inner diameter portion corresponding to the first holding portion and a second inner diameter portion corresponding to the second holding portion;
The flat surface is formed on at least one of the first and second inner diameter portions;
The second observation unit is
The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the D-cut surface is formed on at least one outer wall surface of the first and second holding portions corresponding to the flat surface. . The first observation unit is
By being attached to the first cavity portion, the distal end surface of the first observation unit is fixed at a position substantially coincident with the distal end surface of the rigid portion main body,
The second observation unit is
At the time of attachment to the second cavity portion, the step surface between the first holding portion and the second holding portion abuts against the step surface between the first inner diameter portion and the second inner diameter portion, The inner surface according to claim 3, wherein the distal end surface of the second observation unit is fixed at a position that protrudes a predetermined amount from the distal end surface of the first observation unit and falls within the first visual field range. Endoscope. Comprising a tubular member juxtaposed adjacent to the second observation unit;
The flat surface is
It is formed on the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion adjacent to the tubular member,
The D-cut surface is
The endoscope according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the endoscope is formed on an outer wall surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the flat surface. The flat surface is
It is formed on the inner wall surface of the second inner diameter portion adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body,
The D-cut surface is
The endoscope according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the endoscope is formed on an outer wall surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the flat surface.

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