JP3219456B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an internal camera having a function of remotely operating a movable lens of an objective lens optical system at a hand-side operation unit in order to perform focus adjustment, enlargement, and normal switching of the objective lens optical system. Related to endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in JP-A-56-1138 and JP-A-63-269113, a lens frame holding an objective lens optical system provided at the end of an endoscope is moved. It is known that focus adjustment is performed by leaving the frame freely and moving the frame. Recently, there is also a device that switches between enlargement and normal observation using the same mechanism. The lens frame is connected to a focus switching operation mechanism of the operation unit via an operation wire.

[0003] This focus switching operation mechanism is, for example, a forehead.
By rotating the spool, the operation wire is pushed and pulled in the front-rear direction, and the lens frame is slid back and forth to adjust the focus and enlargement / reduction.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the above-mentioned conventional mechanism.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0005] An operation wire 1 connected and fixed to the lens frame passes through the guide pipe 2 and is guided into the operation section 3, and the guide pipe 2 has a joint 4 for fixing to the operation section 3.
Are fitted and fixed by brazing or the like. A relatively soft metal connection pipe 5 such as brass is fitted and brazed to the proximal end of the operation wire 1.

When the focus switching lever of the focus switching operation mechanism provided in the operation section is rotated, the direction of the movement is converted into a forward and backward movement, and the amount of movement is transmitted to the operation pipe 8. Operation wire 1 guided from the front lens frame
, The guide pipe 2 and the operation pipe 8 from the focus switching device are connected in the operation section 3. That is,
The joint wire 9 fitted and fixed to the distal end of the operation pipe 8 is fixedly connected to the operation wire 1 in a state where the joint wire 9 is abutted in the connection hole 11 of the joint tool 10. Also, the guide pipe 2
The fitted and fixed joint 4 is fixed to the operation unit 3 by being pressed against a holding tool 12 having a bifurcated arm and a base plate 13.

[0007]

However, since the cutting position of the operation wire 1 and the fixing position of the joint 4 are determined by the distances L1 and L2 from the operation portion side end 37 of the endoscope insertion portion, In order to repair and regenerate the relatively expensive optical system and imaging unit, once the endoscope is replaced with another endoscope, the length of the insertion unit is
Since the respective variations are large, the distances L1 and L2 change after the rearrangement, and at the time of connection with the operation pipe 8,
If the distance L2 is short, it cannot be abutted, and it cannot be fixed with the screw 18 of the joint tool 10, and if it is long, the operation wire-1 is more flexed and easily buckled.

Similarly, when the guide pipe 2 is fixed, if the endoscope is reset from the initially set endoscope to another endoscope, the variation in the length of the insertion portion changes the distance L1. The adjustment slot 20 when the screw 12 is fixed to the screw 12 makes adjustment impossible, and the guide pipe 2 cannot be fixed to the operation unit 3. Therefore, in an endoscope with a focus switching wire, it is basically impossible to reproduce only the optical system and the imaging system and reassemble the endoscope, and as a result, the endoscope has no relation to the optical system. However, even if a failure occurs, expensive optical and imaging units are also thrown away, resulting in an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope having an objective lens optical system having a function of switching a focus and a focus adjustment, wherein an objective lens optical system once assembled to an endoscope is directly assembled to another endoscope. It is to be able to attach.

[0010]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems Solving the Problems
In order to achieve this, the endoscope of the present invention is provided at the distal end of the insertion section.
The focal length of the lens optics
Focus adjusting mechanism for moving the lens and moving the lens forward and backward
Operating mechanism for performing the operation with the operation unit at hand, and the focus adjusting mechanism
A first operation transmitting means connected to the operating mechanism;
Connected second operation transmitting means, and the first operation transmitting means
Proximal end of the step and distal end of the second operation transmitting means
And the position is relatively displaceably connected, and
The first operation transmitting means and the second operation transmitting means
A connecting part that is arranged to be shifted in parallel with the long axis of the insertion part
It is characterized by having.

Therefore, when the first operation transmitting means and the second operation transmitting means for driving the lens optical system are connected, by adjusting the total length of the operation transmitting means, the distance from the focus adjusting mechanism to the lens optical system can be reduced. Even if different, the operation transmitting means will not be loosened or disconnected.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 13 show an embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope according to the present embodiment includes an operation section 3 and an insertion section 17, and a tip configuration section 21 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 17. An objective lens optical system 22 is incorporated in the distal end component section 21, and a focus switching lever 6 for changing the observation magnification and the focal position of the objective lens optical system 22 is provided at the proximal end of the operation section 3. I have.
The operation section 7 is provided with an angle knob 7 for performing a bending operation on the bending section of the insertion section 17 and an operation button 15 for performing air supply and water supply. Further, a universal cord 16 extending from the operation unit 3 to a light source device and a camera control unit (not shown) extends.

As shown in FIG. 1, the objective lens optical system 22 incorporated in the distal end portion 21 includes a front objective lens group 23, a rear objective lens group 24, and a movable lens 25. Some of the lenses forming the front objective lens group 23 are held by a front fixed lens frame 27, and the rear objective lens group 24 is held by a rear fixed lens frame 28.
Is held by The observation magnification and the focal position are changed by moving the movable lens 25 back and forth.

The movable lens 25 includes fixed lens frames 27, 2
8 is fixed to a movable lens frame 29 movable with respect to the movable lens frame 29 by an adhesive or the like, and the projection 31 protruding from the inner cylindrical portion 30 of the movable lens frame 29 is brazed to the distal end of the operation wire 33 by bonding or the like. The fixed joint 32 is connected. The movable lens frame 29 is moved back and forth by pushing and pulling the operation wire 33 on the hand side, so that the observation magnification and the focal position can be switched.

A solid-state image sensor 26 is disposed at the rear of the rear objective lens group 24. An observation image formed by the optical system is formed on the solid-state image sensor 26, converted into an electric signal, and converted into an endoscope. Video processor (not shown) connected to
And is subjected to image processing. Instead of the solid-state image sensor 26 and the signal cable, an image bundle made of glass fiber for transmitting light may be provided.

A joint 34 is screwed to the fixed lens frame 28, and a guide pipe 35 is fitted and fixed to the joint 34. The operation wire 33 is connected to the guide pipe 35
Through the insertion section 17 and reaches the operation section 3. A resin tube 36 such as a heat-shrinkable tube is coated around the guide pipe 35 for insulation.

The base end of the operation wire 33 extending into the operation section 3 is cut at a position a predetermined distance L1 from the position of the operation section side end 37 of the flexible tube 17a constituting the insertion section 17, and A connection pipe 41 made of a soft metal such as brass and having a length tolerance greater than the length of the flexible tube 17a is fitted and fixed to the proximal end of the operation wire 33 by brazing or the like. Also,
A flexible pipe 17 is provided in the guide pipe 35 located in the operation section 3.
The joint 40 is fitted and fixed at a position at a predetermined distance L2 from the position of the base end 37 of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a focus switching mechanism 42 incorporated in the operation unit 3. The focus switching mechanism 42 is incorporated in a seat 43 that is connected and fixed to the operation section main body 3a. The receiving seat 43 is formed with a moving groove 45 into which the moving member 44 is fitted, and the moving member 44 is disposed in the moving groove 45 so as to be movable up and down. A screw thread 47 is formed on the surface of the moving member 44 along the conical surface 46 of the seat 43, and the moving member 44 is cylindrical and has the same screw thread 4 inside.
8 is screwed with the cylindrical member 49 formed. Therefore, when the tubular member 49 rotates, the moving member 44 moves up and down. Further, the tubular member 49 is provided with connecting members 50, 51.
The moving member 44 is moved up and down by turning the focus switching lever 6 by the operator.

The moving member 44 is fitted with a joint member 53, and a ring-shaped groove 54 formed at an end of the joint member 53.
A joint ring 53 is fixed to the moving member 44 so that the joint member 53 is secured to the moving member 44. Further, an operation pipe 56 is fixed to the joint member 53 by brazing, and the operation pipe 56 is cut from the joint member 44 to a predetermined length in the operation section 3.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the operation pipe 56.
2 shows the structure inside the operation unit 3. The tip of the operation pipe 56
An insulating joint 57 made of an insulating material such as plastic is fitted and fixed with an adhesive or the like. A joint 59 made of a soft metal is adhered and fixed to the insulating joint 57, and the flexible tube 1 is fixed.
A metal pipe 58 sufficiently longer than the dimensional tolerance of the length of 7a is fixed through the joints 57 and 59.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a state after the operation wire 33 from the objective lens optical system 22 and the operation pipe 56 from the focus switching mechanism 42 have been connected in the operation section 3. I have.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG.
As shown in this figure, a protrusion is formed on one side of the joint 59, and the protrusion is inserted into the connection hole 63 of the connection tool 60 and fixed by a screw 64. Operation wire 33
Is inserted into the metal pipe 58 through a connection hole 61 having a smaller diameter of the connection tool 60, and is fixed by screws 62 of the connection tool 60. A cap 79 is attached to the rear end opening of the metal pipe 58.

A slide pipe 65 that is slidable with respect to the guide pipe 35 is attached and fixed to the connection hole 61 of the connection tool 60. The length of the slide pipe 65 is the longest that the operation pipe 56 moves when the focus is switched. It is set to be equal to or greater than the sum of the distance and the tolerance width of the flexible tube length. The connection between the operation wire 33 and the operation pipe 56 thus configured is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 80 except for a part.

The joint 40 brazed to the guide pipe 35 has a first stop member 66 formed of an insulating member and a second stop member 66.
It is sandwiched between the concave portions 68 and 69 formed in the stopper member 67 to keep the metal portion of the operation portion main body and the operation wire 33 insulated. Further, as shown in FIG.
6 and the second stop member 67, the forked arm portion 7 of the holding member 70.
1 and 71, it is pressed and fixed between the main plate 72.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), after being fixed to the first stop member 66 and the second stop member 67, the first stop member 66 and the second stop member 67 come into contact with the forked arm 71 to stop rotation due to vibration or the like. Contact part 7
3 is formed in the same mountain shape as the bifurcated arm 71. The first stopper member 66 has a cutout portion 74 slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide pipe 35 so that the first stopper member 66 can be attached and detached with the joint 40 attached. FIG.
As shown in FIG.
5 and a slide tube 75 such as Teflon, which is slidable, are adhered and fixed. When the focus is switched, the connector 60 is pushed to the left to the maximum. Even if the proximal end of the tube 75 does not hit the connecting tool 60, and the connecting tool 60 is pulled out to the right to the maximum, and the maximum tolerance of the length of the flexible tube is pulled, the slide pipe 65 is still in place. The length of the slide tube 75 is set to a length that does not come off.

The holding member 70 is formed with a U-shaped notch 76 longer than the sum of the tolerance width of the length of the flexible tube and the interval between the two mounting screws 77. At 77, it is fastened and fixed to the main plate 72.

Next, the operation of the endoscope according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the objective lens optical system in which the fixed position of the joint 40 and the guide pipe 35 and the cut position of the operation wire 33 are set is replaced with another endoscope for repair or the like. For example, even if the length of the flexible tube 17a is within the tolerance, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), when the flexible tube 17a is assembled to a longer one, the fixed position of the joint 40 and the cut position of the operation wire 33 are smaller than the initial settings. Is set to be nearer to the base end of the flexible tube 17a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), when the flexible tube 17a is assembled to a longer one even if the length of the flexible tube 17a is within the tolerance, the fixed position of the joint 40 and the cutting of the operation wire 33 are smaller than the initial setting. The position is set far away from the base end of the flexible tube 17a.

When the cutting position of the operation wire 33 is set so that the fixing screw 62 is located at the center of the connection pipe 41 as shown in FIG. Since there is more than twice the tolerance, FIG.
Even if the length of the flexible tube shown in FIG. 10 is the longest or the shortest case shown in FIG. That is, in any case, since the operation wire 33 does not abut the operation pipe 56, the structure shown in FIG.
In such a case, the operation wire 33 does not strike the operation pipe 56 and buckle.

When the joint 40 is similarly rearranged, FIG.
Although the setting changes as shown in (b) and FIG. 10 (c), the initial setting of the joint 40 is changed by providing a screw 77 at an equal distance from the center of the notch 76 of the holding member 70 as shown in FIG. Then, since the length of the notch 76 has a margin greater than the tolerance width of the flexible tube in both the front and rear directions, it is possible to fix the endoscope using various kinds of flexible tubes even if they are assembled. .

The structure of the connecting portion between the operation wire and the operation pipe is not limited to the structure in which the operation wire 33 and the operation pipe 56 are arranged in parallel with their axes shifted as in this embodiment. If the pipes 56 are not on the same axis, the same effect can be obtained. Further, even on the same axis, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The same effect can be obtained by separately providing an insulating joint 78 as shown in FIG.

Further, the holding member 70 is not a U-shaped slit, but may be a rail type as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b) which can provide the same sliding movement distance as the slit.

[0035]

As described above, in the endoscope according to the present invention, the first operation transmitting means for switching the focus of the lens optical system and the focus adjustment are connected to the connection end of the first operation transmitting means and the second operation transmitting means.
By providing the adjusting means for adjusting the total length when the operation transmitting means and the second operation transmitting means are connected, the lens optical system once assembled to the endoscope can be set again to another endoscope. Since it can be re-assembled, waste can be eliminated and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, since the lens optical system having the focus switching and focus adjusting functions can be commonly used for endoscopes having different insertion portions, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross section showing a configuration of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a focus switching mechanism incorporated in an operation unit.

FIG. 4A is a top view showing a connection portion between an operation wire and an operation pipe, and FIG. 4B is a partially sectional side view.

5A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between an operation wire and an operation pipe in an operation unit, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a fixing mechanism for fixing the operation wire to the operation unit main body.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5 (b).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fixing mechanism for fixing the operation wire to the operation section main body.

8 (a) and (b) are end views of the stop member shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are side views showing a relationship between a flexible tube and an operation wire.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are cross-sectional views illustrating a relationship between the connection portion and a fixing mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a fixing mechanism of the operation wire.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing a modification of the connection section.

FIG. 13A is a top view showing a modification of the fixing mechanism, and FIG. 13B is an end view thereof.

FIG. 14A is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional operation wire,
(B) is a sectional view of a conventional operation pipe.

FIG. 15A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between an operation wire and an operation pipe in a conventional endoscope operation unit, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connecting portion and a fixing mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... operation part, 17 ... insertion part, 21 ... tip constituent part, 22 ...
Objective lens optical system, 25 movable lens, 33 operation wire (first operation transmission means), 42 focus switching mechanism (operation mechanism), 56 operation pipe (second operation transmission means), 5
7 ... Insulation joint, 58 ... Metal pipe, 60 ... Connector, 62
…Screw.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A focus adjustment mechanism for changing a focal length of a lens optical system provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion by moving a lens forward and backward; an operation mechanism for performing an operation of moving the lens forward and backward by a hand side operation portion ; a first operation transmitting means connected to the focus adjusting mechanism, the second operation transmitting means connected to the operation mechanism, wherein the first proximal end portion and the second operation of the operation transmitting means
The position of the transmission means relative to the distal end is
And the first operation transmitting means and the second
Shift the operation transmission means parallel to the long axis of the insertion section
An endoscope characterized by comprising a connecting portion to dispose with.