JP2017196178A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus capable of applying substantially uniform illumination light to both observation ranges of far-point observation and near-point observation.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus 1 includes: a distal end 10 of an insertion section 2 including objective optical systems 31, 32, and 33; an observation window 31 provided at the distal end 10; illumination windows 41 provided at the distal end 10 and applying illumination light Li of a prescribed first optical energy to a first observation surface IA spaced from the observation window 31 by a first distance; and reflection parts 51, 52, and 53 provided around the observation window 31, and including reflectors 51a, 52a, and 53a for applying reflection light Lr of a prescribed second optical energy to a region of a second observation surface IB spaced from the observation window 31 by a second distance, the region to which the illumination light of the prescribed first optical energy does not reach.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that observes a subject by irradiating it with illumination light.

  An endoscope that can be introduced into the inside of a living body or structure from outside the living body or structure to observe a difficult part such as the inside of the living body or the inside of the structure, and is capable of observing the object to be examined is, for example, medical It is used in the fields of industry and industry.

  Such an endoscope has illumination means for irradiating illumination light toward a subject. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the amount of heat generated in an illumination optical unit during observation with a light emitting element turned on. An endoscope technique is disclosed in which observation can be performed while ensuring the brightness around the observation range without increasing the brightness.

  An endoscope disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a cylindrical tip cover formed of a transparent resin member constituting a tip portion, an observation optical unit disposed in a second opening provided in the tip cover, and a tip cover. And an illumination optical unit configured by disposing the light emitting part emitting end surface of the light emitting element on the base end surface side.

  And the tip cover is connected to the plane part formed by a plane located in front of the light emitting part emitting end face and the plane part, and the distance from the plane part of the tip cover continues toward the periphery of the tip part. And an inclined surface portion that moves away from the observation area, and without increasing the amount of heat generated in the illumination optical section, the brightness of the peripheral portion of the observation range is ensured for observation.

JP 2012-152390 A

  However, in conventional endoscopes, when observing a subject at a far point and a near point, the illumination light irradiation range varies depending on the distance between the tip and the subject. There was a problem that uniform illumination light could not be applied to both observation regions.

  For this reason, conventional endoscopes have a problem that when the range irradiated with illumination light is matched with one observation region for far-point observation or near-point observation, bright and dark portions are generated in the other observation region. It was.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention aims to realize an endoscope apparatus that can irradiate substantially uniform illumination light to both observation areas in far-point observation and near-point observation. That is.

  An endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is provided at a distal end of an insertion portion, provided with a distal end portion provided with an objective optical system, an observation window provided at the distal end portion, and provided at the distal end portion, An illumination window that irradiates illumination light of a predetermined first light energy onto a first observation surface that is separated from the observation window by a first distance; and a second distance from the observation window that is provided around the observation window. A reflecting portion having a reflecting surface for irradiating the reflected light of the predetermined second light energy to a region where the illumination light of the predetermined first light energy does not reach the second observation surface separated from It has.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the endoscope apparatus which can irradiate substantially uniform illumination light to both the observation area | region in a far point observation and a near point observation is realizable.

The figure which shows the whole structure of an endoscope apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of an endoscope Top view showing the tip surface of the tip The perspective view for demonstrating the structure of a reflection part. VV sectional view of FIG. Sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. The figure which shows the illumination light distribution of the imaging range at the time of far point observation, The figure which shows the illumination light distribution of the imaging range at the time of near point observation The top view which shows the front end surface of the front-end | tip part of a 1st modification. The perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the reflection part of a 2nd modification. Sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the reflection part of a 3rd modification. The perspective view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope of a 4th modification.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings used for the following description, the scale of each component is made different in order to make each component recognizable on the drawing. It is not limited only to the quantity of the component described in (1), the shape of the component, the ratio of the size of the component, and the relative positional relationship of each component.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a distal end surface of the distal end portion, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is an illumination of the imaging range during far-point observation. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the light distribution, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the illumination light distribution in the imaging range during near-point observation.

First, an example of the configuration of an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration that can be introduced into a subject such as a human body and optically images a predetermined observation site in the subject. The subject into which the endoscope apparatus 1 is introduced is not limited to a human body, and may be another living body or an artificial object such as a machine or a building.

  The endoscope apparatus 1 includes an insertion portion 2 that is introduced into a subject, an operation portion 3 that is positioned at the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and a universal cord 4 that extends from a side portion of the operation portion 3. It is mainly composed of.

  The insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion 10 disposed at the distal end, a bendable bending portion 9 disposed on the proximal end side of the distal end portion 10, and a proximal end side of the bending portion 9. A flexible tube portion 8 having flexibility connected to the distal end side is continuously provided. Note that the endoscope apparatus 1 may have a form called a so-called rigid endoscope that does not include a flexible portion in the insertion portion 2.

  As will be described in detail later, the distal end portion 10 is provided with an imaging unit 30 and an illumination window 41 (not shown in FIG. 1) as an illumination light emitting portion. The operation section 3 is provided with an angle operation knob 6 for operating the bending of the bending section 9.

  The operation unit 3 is provided with a lever switch 7 for instructing the operation of an actuator as a drive mechanism unit (not shown) and changing the imaging magnification of the imaging unit 30. The lever switch 7 may be other types such as a button switch, a rotary switch, or a touch sensor.

  An endoscope connector 5 connected to the external device 20 is provided at the proximal end portion of the universal cord 4. In addition, the endoscope apparatus 1 includes a universal cord 4, an operation unit 3, an electric cable 15 inserted into the insertion unit 2, and a light guide 42 (not shown in FIG. 1) that is an optical fiber bundle. .

  The electric cable 15 is configured to electrically connect the endoscope connector 5 and the imaging unit 30. By connecting the endoscope connector 5 to the external device 20, the imaging unit 30 is electrically connected to the external device 20 via the electric cable 15.

  Via the electric cable 15, power is supplied from the external device 20 to the imaging unit 30, and communication between the external device 20 and the imaging unit 30 is performed.

  The light guide 42 is configured to transmit the light emitted from the light source unit 120 a which is an illumination lamp such as halogen or xenon included in the external device 20 to the illumination window 41 of the distal end portion 10. The light source unit 120a may be configured to be disposed in the operation unit 3 or the distal end unit 10 of the endoscope apparatus 1 or may be LED illumination.

  The external device 20 includes, for example, the light source unit 20a, the image processing unit 20b, and the image display unit 21 that is a monitor. The image processing unit 20 b has a configuration that generates a video signal based on the image sensor output signal output from the imaging unit 30 and outputs the video signal to the image display unit 21.

  That is, the optical image picked up by the image pickup unit 30 is displayed on the image display unit 21 as a video. Note that a part or all of the light source unit 20a, the image processing unit 20b, and the image display unit 21 may be arranged in the endoscope apparatus 1 instead of the external apparatus 20.

  Moreover, although the endoscope apparatus 1 here has illustrated the electronic endoscope provided with the imaging unit 30, it is good also as a structure which has an eyepiece part using an image fiber, without being limited to this. .

  Next, the structure of the front-end | tip part 10 is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tip cover 16 is disposed at the tip portion 10.

  The distal end surface 16 of the distal end cover 16 has an observation window 31 which is an observation optical system provided at the forefront of the imaging unit 30 and a plurality of (herein, three illumination optical systems) disposed around the observation window 31. An illumination window 41 that is an illumination light emitting portion, a treatment instrument channel opening portion 11, a forward water supply channel opening portion 12, an air supply / water supply nozzle 13 for supplying air and water to the observation window 31, and the periphery of the observation window 31 A plurality of, here, three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 are provided. In addition, the illumination window 41 is arrange | positioned in the position where each of the three reflection parts 51, 52, and 53 spaces apart.

Here, the configuration of the three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 4, the reflection parts 51, 52, 53 are not reflected around the observation window 31 from the outer peripheral part (edge part) of the observation window 31 according to the angle of view of the imaging unit 30. It has a surface fan shape that is spaced apart by a predetermined distance d.

  The reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 may be formed integrally with the tip cover 16, or may be provided as a separate member on the tip surface 17 of the tip cover 16 by bonding or the like.

  The reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 have reflecting surfaces 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a as tapered surfaces whose surfaces are inclined toward the observation window 31. That is, the reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 have a thickness as they move away from the observation window 31, and the reflecting surfaces 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a have a predetermined angle θ with respect to the tip surface 17 of the tip cover 16. .

  The reflecting surfaces 51a, 52a, and 53a have mirror surface processing, gloss processing, mirror, white, and the like, and are configured to reflect reflected light from the illuminated subject again to the subject side. .

  Further, the reflecting portions 51, 52, 53 are provided at predetermined distances L1, L2, L3 with respect to the circumferential direction of the observation windows 31 adjacent to each other, and the illumination window 41 is arranged between them. It is installed.

  As the predetermined distances L1, L2, and L3 at which the reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 are separated from each other, distances that do not interfere with the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 41 are set.

  Further, it is preferable that the reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 are arranged at equal intervals around the observation window 31 with predetermined distances L1, L2, and L3 that are separated from each other being the same (L1 = L2 = L3). However, the other predetermined distances L1 and L3 so that the predetermined distance L2 where the two reflecting portions 51 and 53 are separated from each other can reliably inject the fluid from the air / water supply nozzle 13 to the entire surface of the observation window 31. Longer distance is set.

Here, the internal configuration of the tip 10 will be described below.
The distal end portion 10 is provided with a distal end constituent portion which is a block member made of metal or resin, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an imaging unit 30 fixed to the distal end constituent portion, a light guide 42 and the like are arranged. It is installed.

  In addition, although not shown here, a treatment instrument channel connected to the treatment instrument channel opening 11 and the front water supply channel opening 12, a front water supply channel, and the like are also provided at the distal end configuration portion of the distal end portion 10.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the imaging unit 30 is disposed so as to capture the distal end direction along the longitudinal direction (insertion axis direction) of the insertion portion 2. More specifically, the imaging unit 30 is disposed so that the imaging optical axis O of the objective optical system that captures the subject image is along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2. Note that the imaging unit 30 may be arranged such that the imaging optical axis O of the objective optical system forms a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2.

  The illumination window 41 has a configuration for emitting light emitted from the tip of the light guide 42 so as to illuminate. In the present embodiment, the illumination window 41 is configured to emit light from the distal end surface 17 of the distal end portion 10 (the distal end cover 16) toward the distal end direction along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2.

  The imaging unit 30 is a solid-state imaging device provided with an observation window 31 that is one of objective lenses, a fixed lens 32 that is an objective lens group disposed on the image side of the observation window 31, a moving lens 33, and a cover glass 35. A unit 34 is provided.

  The observation window 31, the fixed lens 32, the moving lens 33, and the solid-state imaging device unit 34 are held by a holding frame (all not shown).

  The imaging unit 30 includes an actuator (not shown) that is a drive mechanism unit that drives the moving lens frame that holds the moving lens 33 forward and backward along the imaging optical axis O of the objective optical system.

  Note that the imaging unit 30 may include other optical system members such as a diaphragm, a prism, and an optical filter.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, as the moving lens 33 is positioned on the image side (tele end position), the imaging magnification increases (tele state where the angle of view becomes narrow), and the moving lens 33 is positioned on the subject side (wide). It is configured so that the shooting magnification becomes lower (wide state where the angle of view becomes wider) as the position becomes (end position).

  Note that the imaging unit 30 of the present embodiment has a tele state in which the photographing magnification increases as the moving lens 33 is positioned on the image side (tele end position), but the moving lens 33 is positioned on the image side (telephoto). It may be configured to be in a wide state in which the photographing magnification is lowered as the position is increased.

  The solid-state image sensor unit 34 is configured by arranging a plurality of light-receiving elements that photoelectrically convert incident light, and is generally called a CCD (charge coupled device), a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor, or the like. Or various other types of image sensors can be applied. The solid-state image sensor unit 34 is disposed so that the light receiving element is positioned on the imaging surface of the subject image formed by the observation window 31, the fixed lens 32, and the moving lens 33.

  A cover glass 35 is attached with an adhesive on the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor unit 34 on which the light receiving elements are disposed. A circuit board (not shown) is electrically connected to the solid-state image sensor unit 34. The circuit board is electrically connected to the electric cable 15.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described above has an observation surface A within the depth of field, which is shown in FIGS. The illumination light Li having a predetermined light energy indicated by the broken lines emitted from the three illumination windows 41 is uniformly irradiated over substantially the entire imaging range IA imaged by the solid-state imaging device unit, and a good light distribution state is obtained.

  Furthermore, in the endoscope apparatus 1, the reflected light Lr having a predetermined light energy indicated by the solid lines reflected by the three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 provided at the distal end portion 10 further irradiates the imaging range IA. The imaging range IA becomes brighter than in the past, and the imaging range IA can be illuminated with much greater light energy.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the endoscope apparatus 1 has a solid-state image sensor unit as shown in FIG. 8 on the observation surface B within the depth of field for performing near-point observation (tele state) of the subject. A region where the illumination light Li having a predetermined light energy emitted from the three illumination windows 41 is not uniformly distributed over the entire imaging range IB to be imaged, specifically, near the center and near the periphery of the imaging range IB Can be irradiated with reflected light Lr having a predetermined light energy indicated by solid lines reflected by the three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 provided at the tip portion 10.

  Thereby, the endoscope apparatus 1 can irradiate the imaging range IB with sufficient predetermined light energy by uniformly irradiating the entire area of the imaging range IB for near-point observation with the illumination light Li and the reflected light Lr.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment provides illumination provided on the distal end surface 17 of the distal end portion 10 (the distal end cover 16) when the subject is observed at a far point and a near point. Even if the irradiation range of the illumination light Li with a predetermined light energy differs depending on the distance to the subject with respect to the window 41, the three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 reflect light like a so-called reflex plate. The reflected light Lr having the predetermined light energy can uniformly irradiate the imaging ranges IA and IB of both the far point observation and the near point observation with the predetermined light energy.

  Therefore, the endoscope apparatus 1 can irradiate light with predetermined light energy substantially uniformly to the imaging ranges IA and IB which are both observation areas in the far-point observation and the near-point observation.

  Since the three reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 are spaced apart from the observation window 31 with a predetermined distance d, harmful rays that cause flare or the like due to the reflected light Lr are observed in the observation window. Incident light 31 is prevented.

  The above-described endoscope apparatus 1 is configured so that the imaging unit 30 can switch between the far point observation wide and the near point observation tele, so that the distal end portion 10 is observed away from the subject and the subject. Even in near-point observation in which observation is performed close to the illumination light, illumination light with a predetermined light energy can be uniformly irradiated. That is, in the endoscope apparatus 1, the above configuration is effective even when the imaging unit 30 does not have a zoom function.

  Furthermore, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment, the illumination light Li having a predetermined light energy emitted from the illumination window 41 at the time of far-point observation is uniformly irradiated and set to have a good light distribution state. However, of course, the illumination light Li having a predetermined light energy may be uniformly irradiated during near-point observation so as to obtain a good light distribution state. In this case, the reflected light Lr having a predetermined light energy may be spread and irradiated in the far point direction with the gradient directions of the three reflecting portions 51, 52, 53 reversed.

(First modification)
As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53, a reflecting portion 54 may be provided around each illumination window 41. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the first modification.

(Second modification)
As shown in FIG. 10, the reflecting portions 51, 52, 53 are tapered surfaces 51 b, 52 b, 52 b of a predetermined angle at both ends facing each other so as not to block the illumination light emitted from each illumination window 41. 53b may be formed. FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the reflecting portion of the second modified example.

(Third Modification)
As shown in FIG. 11, the reflecting portions 51, 52, and 53 may have a cross-sectional R shape that reflects the reflected light Lr to a desired irradiation range, instead of the reflecting surfaces 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a being flat. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the reflecting portion of the third modification.

(Fourth modification)
As shown in FIG. 12, the reflecting portions 61, 62, 63 are reflected light Lr by forming minute irregularities on the distal end surface 17 of the distal end cover 16, or providing a sheet-like light scattering portion, or providing a Fresnel mirror. It is good also as a structure which reflects in desired irradiation range. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the reflecting section of the fourth modified example.

  Further, substantially the entire tip cover 16 may be mirror-finished, glossy-finished, mirrored, white-finished, or finely concavo-convex-finished. In this case, it is necessary not to perform various processes only around the observation window 31 in order to prevent harmful rays that cause flare or the like due to the reflected light Lr or scattered light from entering the observation window 31.

  The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. The accompanying endoscope imaging unit is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Universal cord 5 ... Endoscope connector 6 ... Angle operation knob 7 ... Lever switch 8 ... Flexible tube part 9 ... Bending part 10 ... Tip part 11 ... Treatment Material channel opening 12 ... Forward water supply channel opening 13 ... Air / water supply nozzle 15 ... Electric cable 16 ... Tip cover 17 ... Tip surface 20 ... External device 20a ... Light source part 20b ... Image processing part 21 ... Image display part 30 ... Imaging Unit 31 ... Observation window 32 ... Fixed lens 33 ... Moving lens 34 ... Solid-state imaging device unit 35 ... Cover glass 41 ... Illumination window 42 ... Light guide 51, 52, 53 ... Reflection part 51a, 52a, 53a ... Reflection surface 120a ... Light source Part A, B ... Observation surface d ... Distance IA, IB ... Imaging range L1, L2, L3 ... Distance Li ... Illumination light Lr ... Reflected light O ... Imaging optical axis θ ... Angle

Claims (5)

A tip provided at the tip of the insertion portion and provided with an objective optical system;
An observation window provided at the tip,
An illumination window that is provided at the tip and irradiates illumination light of a predetermined first light energy onto a first observation surface that is separated from the observation window by a first distance;
Predetermined second light is provided in a region where the illumination light of the predetermined first light energy is not reachable on a second observation surface provided around the observation window and spaced apart from the observation window by a second distance. A reflection part having a reflection surface for irradiating reflected light of energy;
An endoscope apparatus comprising: Having a plurality of the reflective portions;
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination window is disposed at a position where the plurality of reflection portions are separated from each other.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reflection section has a fan-shaped reflection surface.   The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting portion has a predetermined angle with respect to a surface of the observation window.   The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reflecting portion is disposed at a predetermined distance from an outer peripheral portion of the observation window.

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