JP3076655B2 - Light guide connector device for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope using an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an observation image, and to an endoscope light connected to a light source device for introducing illumination light into an illumination light guide fiber bundle. The present invention relates to a guide connector device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope, a contact pin or the like for transmitting a signal for performing automatic exposure photographing with a camera attached to an eyepiece is provided at a front end portion of a light guide connector main body. Many.

When such a light guide connector device for an endoscope is immersed in a disinfecting solution or the like after a clinical test, a watertight waterproof cap is provided on the front portion of the light guide connector body so that the contact pins do not leak and leak. (For example, JP-B-59-39128).

[0004]

In recent years, so-called electronic endoscopes for reproducing images on a television monitor by using a solid-state image sensor for transmitting an observation image have been increasing. Therefore, even in an endoscope using an image guide fiber bundle, a solid-state image sensor adapter is attached to the eyepiece, and an image is reproduced on a television monitor in the same manner as an electronic endoscope so that various image processing can be performed. There are many things to do.

In such a case, a light source device for an electronic endoscope provided integrally with a video processor is used. Therefore, the light guide connector is merely for introducing illumination light. And the contact pins of the light guide connector are not used.

Even in such a case, it is necessary to attach a waterproof cap to the front portion of the light guide connector main body so as not to wet the contact pins of the light guide connector during cleaning and disinfection.

[0007] However, when the waterproof cap is attached, the waterproof cap hinders the connection of the light guide connector to the light source device. Therefore, conventionally, the waterproof cap has to be attached to the light guide connector every time before cleaning and disinfecting after using the endoscope, and the waterproof cap must be removed every time before using the endoscope. There was a risk of causing a leak accident.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light guide connector device for an endoscope which can be used with a waterproof cap attached and is easy to use and safe.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a light guide connector device for an endoscope according to the present invention has a light guide fiber bundle in which an incident end portion is disposed inside, and a light guide connector for a light source device. A light guide connector for an endoscope having a light guide support rod protruding forward from a front end of the light guide connector main body so as to be inserted into the receiver, and an electric contact provided at the front end of the light guide connector main body. In the apparatus, the light guide support rod is formed in a watertight structure, and is detachably attached to a front end portion of the light guide connector main body so as to surround the electrical contact in a watertight manner and to protrude the light guide support rod forward. A waterproof cap is provided.

When the light guide support rod is inserted into the light guide connector receiver of the light source device, a stopper for regulating the insertion depth is provided when the waterproof cap is attached to the light guide connector body. It may be provided on the light guide support bar so as to be located outside the waterproof cap.

[0011]

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an endoscope, 1 is an insertion flexible tube portion, 2 is an operation portion, 3
Denotes a flexible tube portion connected to the light source device. An eyepiece 4 is protruded from the operation unit 2, and a light guide connector 10 for connecting to a light source device is provided at a distal end of the connecting flexible tube 3.

The observation image is formed by an objective lens 6 built in the distal end of the insertion flexible tube 1 and transmitted to the eyepiece 4 by an image guide fiber bundle 7. Illumination light for illuminating the observation range is transmitted by the light guide fiber bundle 8. The incident end of the light guide fiber bundle 8 is arranged on a light guide connector 10 attached to the distal end of the connecting flexible tube 3, and the exit end is arranged alongside the objective lens 6.

FIG. 3 shows a front half of the light guide connector 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a main body of the light guide connector, and 12 denotes a light guide support projecting from the front end of the main body 11. It is a stick.

A cover glass 13 is attached to the tip of the light guide support rod 12. An O-ring 14 for sealing is fitted inside the mounting portion,
It is watertight.

The incident end of the light guide fiber bundle 8 is inserted into the light guide support rod 12.
The incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 8 is arranged in contact with the inner face of the cover glass 13.

By inserting the light guide support rod 12 into the light guide connector receptacle of the light source device, the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp enters the light guide fiber bundle 8. 15 is the cover glass 1
3 cap for mounting. Reference numeral 16 denotes an O-ring for sealing.

At the middle position of the light guide support rod 12, a stopper 17 for regulating the insertion depth when inserted into the light guide connector receiver of the light source device.
Are protruding.

At the outer edge of the front end portion of the light guide connector body 11, a receiving ring 21 is provided so as to project forward. Therefore, the front end surface 11a of the light guide connector main body 11 is located at a position recessed from the tip of the receiving ring 21, from which a plurality of contact pins 22 project forward.

The contact pins 22 are used to transmit an automatic exposure signal, an automatic film winding power, and the like when a camera is mounted on the eyepiece unit 4 and a photograph is taken, and does not protrude from the receiving ring 21. Are arranged as follows. 24 is
A lead wire 25 connected to the eyepiece 4 is an O-ring for sealing.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a positioning pin projecting from the outer surface of the receiving ring 21 for restricting rotation and positioning when the light guide connector 10 is connected to the light guide connector receiver of the light source device.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the light guide connector 10 is inserted into the light guide connector receiver 30 of the light source device. The insertion depth is regulated by the stopper 17, and the rotation is regulated by the positioning pin 27.

Then, the light guide fiber bundle 8
Is located at a substantially condensing point of illumination light emitted from a light source lamp (not shown), and each contact pin 22
It is inserted into the contact 31 on the light guide connector receiver 30 side and is electrically connected.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the light guide connector 10 is inserted into a light guide connector receiver 40 of a light source device for an electronic endoscope. The use of the light source device for an electronic endoscope as described above is for a case where an image is reproduced using a system of an electronic endoscope by attaching a solid-state imaging device adapter to the eyepiece unit 4 and using the contact pins 22. No need.

Therefore, in this case, all the contact pins 2
A waterproof cap 50 is attached to the front end portion of the light guide connector main body 11 so as to surround the light guide connector body 2. The waterproof cap 50 is detachably attached from the distal end side of the light guide support bar 12. In the attached state shown in FIG. 1, most of the light guide support bar 12 projects forward from the surface of the waterproof cap 50. I have.

On the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 51 of the waterproof cap 50 through which the light guide support bar 12 penetrates, a sealing O-ring 2 attached to the root of the light guide support bar 12 is provided.
9 adheres.

Further, the sealing O-ring 52 mounted on the waterproof cap 50 side comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the receiving ring 21,
The front end portion of the light guide connector 10, such as the contact pin 22 portion, is watertightly shielded from the outside.

When the waterproof cap 50 is attached to the front end portion of the light guide connector main body 11, the space A therebetween is compressed by air to have a positive pressure. However, the guide groove 53 that engages with the positioning pin 27 has
The waterproof cap 50 does not come out of the light guide connector main body 11 by the engagement.

The flange 5 of the waterproof cap 50 is provided between the nut 57 and the outer peripheral ring 56 in which the guide groove 53 is formed.
8 is rotatably sandwiched. Therefore, the outer peripheral ring 56 can be freely rotated independently with respect to the waterproof cap 50.

The stopper 17 protruding in the middle of the light guide support rod 12 is exposed outside the waterproof cap 50, and comes into contact with the light guide connector receiver 40 of the light source device for an electronic endoscope to be inserted. Positioning in the depth direction is performed.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a metal C-ring having a spring property for elastically pressing the stopper 17 from behind to prevent the light guide support bar 12 from easily coming out of the light guide connector receiver 40. .

In this state, the illumination light from the light source lamp is focused on the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 8 and the light guide connector main body 11 can be pulled out from the light guide connector receiver 40 by slightly pulling it.

When the light guide connector 10 is inserted into the light guide connector receiver 40 of the light source device for an electronic endoscope, a gap 100 is formed between the light guide connector receiver 40 and the waterproof cap 50, and the waterproof cap 5
0 does not interfere with the light guide connector receiver 40.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a waterproof cap 50 is provided on the front side of the light guide connector body 11.
The light guide connector 11 can be freely attached to and detached from the light guide connector receiver 40 of the light source device for an electronic endoscope while the light guide connector 11 is attached.

After being removed from the light guide connector receiver 40, the light guide connector 10 can be immersed in a disinfecting solution or the like to be disinfected. At this time, since the light guide support rod 12 is also sealed in a water-tight manner by the O-rings 14, 16 and the like, no water or the like enters the light guide connector 10 at all.

After the cleaning and disinfection is completed, the light guide connector 10 can be directly connected to the light guide connector receiver 40 for use.

[0036]

According to the endoscope light guide connector device of the present invention, even when the waterproof cap is attached to the front end portion of the light guide connector main body, the light guide support rod projects forward from the waterproof cap. The light guide connector can be attached to and detached from the light source device with the waterproof cap attached.

Therefore, there is no need to attach or detach a waterproof cap at the time of connecting the light source device and at the time of cleaning and disinfecting after use, and it is very easy to use. In addition, it has an excellent effect that it is completely eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a light guide connector device of an endoscope according to an embodiment is connected to a light source device for an electronic endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an endoscope according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the light guide connector device of the endoscope according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the light guide connector device of the endoscope according to the embodiment is connected to a light source device compatible with camera photography.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 8 light guide fiber bundle 10 light guide connector 11 light guide connector main body 12 light guide support rod 22 contact pin 40 light guide connector receiver 50 waterproof cap

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light guide support rod, wherein an incident end of a light guide fiber bundle is disposed inside, and a light guide support rod protrudes forward from a front end of a light guide connector body so as to be inserted into a light guide connector receiver of a light source device. A light guide connector device for an endoscope having an electrical contact provided at a front end portion of the light guide connector main body, wherein the light guide support rod is formed in a watertight structure,
An endoscope light guide, wherein a waterproof cap is provided detachably attached to a front end portion of the light guide connector body so as to surround the electric contact in a watertight manner and to protrude the light guide support rod forward. Connector device. And a stopper for restricting the insertion depth when the light guide support rod is inserted into the light guide connector receiver of the light source device, when the waterproof cap is attached to the light guide connector main body. 2. The light guide connector device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the light guide support bar is provided on the light guide support bar so as to be located outside the waterproof cap.