JP2836757B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope with a reduced diameter and improved lighting conditions.

[Problems to be Solved by the Related Art and the Invention] In recent years, for example, by introducing an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, a treatment in which a body cavity or the like is observed, or where necessary, is inserted through a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes that can perform various therapeutic procedures or biopsies using instruments are widely used.

By the way, in the endoscope provided with one illumination window at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, when the treatment tool is protruded from the treatment tool opening, a shadow of the treatment tool is reflected on a body cavity wall, and observation and treatment may be hindered. .

FIG. 9 shows the shadow of the treatment tool. Shadow of treatment tool 51
52 occurs as shown in FIG. 9 (A) when the body cavity wall is at a far point and as shown in FIG. 9 (B) when the body cavity wall is at a near point. Among them, the shadow that poses a problem in practical use is the shadow 53 of the vicinity of the distal end of the treatment tool 51, that is, the portion to be treated and biopsied by the treatment tool 51. When this shadow 53 is connected from the far point to the near point, the shadow 53 becomes as shown in FIG. 9 (C). In FIG. 9 (C), reference numeral 54 indicates a central axis of the treatment tool 51.

Therefore, it has been considered to provide an auxiliary illumination window other than the main illumination window to reduce the shadow. However, if the auxiliary illumination window is small, the shadow of the treatment tool cannot be reduced so effectively. That is, if the ratio of the number of light guides differs greatly between the two illumination windows, the difference in the light amount increases, and the treatment by the main illumination window increases. While the shadow of the tool becomes large and remains dark, on the other hand, if the number of light guides is increased by enlarging the auxiliary illumination window, the insertion portion is undesirably large in diameter, although it is desirable to have a small diameter.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and improves illumination so that even when a treatment tool is protruded from the treatment tool port at the distal end of the insertion portion to the outside, the affected part is not covered by the shadow of the treatment tool. To perform reliable procedures and biopsies,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope in which the illumination can be improved without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion.

Means for Solving the Problems and Action Therefor To achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention provides a treatment instrument channel through which a treatment instrument is inserted in an elongated insertion portion, and the tip of the channel is inserted into the insertion portion tip. A main illumination window having a large number of light guide fibers and an auxiliary illumination window having a small number of light guide fibers are provided at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the illumination direction of the auxiliary illumination window is changed to the treatment instrument. The direction is set to the shadow generated by the illumination of the main illumination window when the treatment tool is protruded from the mouth.

With this configuration, when the treatment tool is protruded from the treatment tool port at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, the auxiliary illumination with a small number of light guide fibers is directed toward a shadow direction generated by illumination from the main illumination window having a large number of light guide fibers. Illumination light is emitted from the window, and the shadow can be thinned.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating illumination by an auxiliary illumination window, FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a comparison, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an entire endoscope apparatus as an example.

As shown in FIG. 5, an endoscope apparatus as an example includes an endoscope 1 of a video camera system, a light source device 2 and a video processor 3 to which the endoscope 1 is connected, and the video processor 3. Monitor 4, VTR deck 5,
A video printer 6 and a video disk 7 are provided.

The endoscope 1 includes an elongated and flexible insertion portion 8, and a large-diameter operation portion 9 is continuously provided at a rear end of the insertion portion 8.
A flexible universal cord 10 extends laterally from the operation unit 9, and an end of the universal cord 10
A connector 11 connected to the light source device 2 is provided. The connector 11 and the video processor 3 are connected by a scope cable 12. The insertion section 8 is configured such that a bendable bending section 14 and a rigid tip section 15 are sequentially connected to the tip of a flexible tube 13 on the operation section 9 side.

The distal end surface of the distal end portion 15 of the endoscope 1 is provided with an observation window 16, a main illumination window 17, an auxiliary illumination window 18, a treatment instrument port 19, and an air / water nozzle 20 as shown in FIG. An imaging optical system 21 and an imaging unit are provided behind the observation window 16 at the distal end portion 15.
And a signal cable 23 connected to the imaging unit 22.
Are connected to each other, and extend into the universal cord 10 through the insertion section 8 and the operation section 9. Also, the main lighting window 17
In addition, illumination lenses 17a and 18a are arranged in the auxiliary illumination window 18, respectively, and the tip of the light guide 24 is located behind the illumination lenses 17a and 18a. This light guide 24
The main illumination window 17 has a larger number of fibers than the auxiliary illumination window 18, and the two light guides 24 merge in the middle to form a single fiber bundle.

On the other hand, a treatment instrument channel 25 inserted into the insertion section 8 communicates with the treatment instrument port 19, while the treatment instrument channel 25 has a base at the side of the operation section 9 as a treatment instrument insertion port 26. It is open.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary illumination window 18 is disposed on the side opposite to the main illumination window 17 with the treatment tool port 19 as a reference position, and when the treatment tool 19a projects from the treatment tool port 19, the treatment tool The illumination light can be emitted in the shadow direction of the treatment tool 19a generated by the illumination light from the main illumination window 17 without being disturbed by the illumination light 19a. The illumination lens of this auxiliary illumination window 18
As shown in FIG. 3, the incident side 18a has a tapered surface, and the emission direction is directed to the shadow direction of the treatment tool 19a, that is, the shadow direction near the near end of the treatment tool shown in FIG. 9 (C). It is supposed to be.

When the illumination lens of the auxiliary illumination window 18 is general, that is, when the illumination direction is straight forward, the intensity distribution of the illumination light (on the monitor screen) is brightest at the center and goes to the periphery as shown in FIG. Therefore, the shadow becomes considerably dark at the lower left side in FIG. 9 (C).

On the other hand, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the illumination direction of the illumination light is directed in the shadow direction of the treatment tool 19a, the illumination light of any part in FIG. 9 (C) is sufficiently bright. And the shadow can be made thinner.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention. In this embodiment, in order to direct the illumination direction of the auxiliary illumination window 18 to the shadow direction of the main illumination light generated by the treatment tool, the exit end surface of the light guide 24 is formed on a tapered surface 24a, and the illumination lens 18a is a general illumination lens. It uses a lens. Therefore, the operation and effect of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 relates to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 (A) is a cross-sectional view of the tip, and FIG. 7 (B) is a front view showing an auxiliary illumination window.

In this embodiment, the central axis of the light guide 24 is decentered with respect to the central axis of the illumination lens 18a of the auxiliary illumination window 18, and the illumination light condensed by the illumination lens 18a is deflected and emitted in the above-described shadow direction. It has become.

FIG. 8 relates to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8 (A) is a cross-sectional view of the distal end portion, and FIG. 8 (B) is a front view showing an auxiliary illumination window.

This embodiment uses an eccentric cylindrical lens in which the light-collecting surface on the exit end side of the light guide 24 is eccentric as the illumination lens 18a of the auxiliary illumination window 18. Irradiated in the shadow direction.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the treatment tool is protruded outside from the treatment tool port at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, illumination is performed so that the affected part is not covered by the shadow of the treatment tool. Thus, there is an effect that it is possible to perform a reliable procedure and biopsy, and to improve the illumination without increasing the diameter of the insertion portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 relate to a first embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of illumination by an auxiliary illumination window, FIGS. 4 (A) and (B) are explanatory views of comparison, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of the entire endoscope apparatus, FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention, and FIG.
7 (A) is a sectional view of the tip, FIG. 7 (B) is a front view showing the auxiliary illumination window, FIG. 8 relates to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8 (A) is a section of the tip. FIG. 8 (B) is a front view showing an auxiliary illumination window, and FIGS. 9 (A) to 9 (C) are explanatory views showing shadows produced by the treatment tool. 1 Endoscope, 8 Insertion section 17 Main illumination window, 18 Auxiliary illumination window 19 Treatment port, 24 Light guide 25 Channel

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A treatment instrument channel through which a treatment instrument is inserted is provided in an elongated insertion portion, and the distal end of the channel is opened as a treatment instrument port at the insertion portion distal end, and the number of light guide fibers is provided at the insertion portion distal end. Provide a main lighting window with many, and a small number of auxiliary lighting windows, the lighting direction of the auxiliary lighting window,
An endoscope, wherein the endoscope is set to a shadow direction generated by illumination of a main illumination window when the treatment tool is projected from the treatment tool opening.