JP3219521B2 - 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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, for example, endoscopes capable of observing internal organs in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity are widely used. There are an optical endoscope that allows the naked eye observation from the eyepiece, and an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) is arranged in the imaging unit at the distal end of the insertion unit.
A light source device for generating illumination light to the subject, an image processing device for processing an image signal from a CCD of the electronic endoscope or an external camera mounted on an eyepiece of the optical endoscope, and the image processing device Is configured and used as an endoscope device connected via a connector to an observation monitor or the like that projects the video signal processed in the above.

[0003]

By the way, after use, the endoscope (especially the insertion portion of the endoscope) contains blood, gastric juice,
There are stool and other filth and bacteria attached to them, which can cause infection if used in the next test without cleaning and disinfection. As a result, the endoscope is cleaned and disinfected on its surface and internal conduit each time it is used,
Infection from contaminated endoscopes is prevented. In particular,
In recent years, after using an endoscope for a patient who has a problem of nosocomial infection and has a risk of causing the infection, the endoscope is carefully cleaned and disinfected.

[0004] However, such a cleaning and disinfecting operation requires a considerable amount of time, so that there is a disadvantage that the operation cannot be performed one after another. In addition, such cleaning and disinfecting is troublesome and burdens the work.

[0005] Therefore, recently, in order to reduce the burden on the work, from the viewpoint of hygiene, and from the viewpoint of the operation efficiency, at least the insertion portion of such an endoscope with a high degree of contamination is required. There is a demand that they be disposable. For that purpose, it is necessary to provide a disposable inexpensive insertion portion.

However, the insertion portion of the endoscope to be inserted into a living body or the like has a large number of relay lenses, light guides, and the like built therein, and the outer cylinder and the built-in member have extremely precise shapes. It is expensive because it is required. In particular, an electronic endoscope having a built-in image sensor is very expensive. Therefore, it is very difficult to provide an inexpensive endoscope insertion portion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope having an inexpensive and disposable insertion portion.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an illumination optical system for illuminating a subject, an image pickup device, and an observation optical system for forming a subject image on the image pickup device. An endoscope is provided with an insertion portion obtained by integrating the system with a resin and finishing the shape of the insertion portion.

As described above, the insertion section is formed by integrating the illumination optical system for illuminating the subject and the observation optical system for forming the subject image with the resin, so that the insertion section can be manufactured at low cost. , The insertion portion can be made disposable.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1B, the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment
Is an electronic endoscope provided with the CCD 17, and the subject 35
Has an insertion portion 2 to be inserted into the observation site. The insertion unit 2 is connected via a cable 25 to a light source device 30 that supplies illumination light to the insertion unit 2 and a CCU 29 that processes an image signal from the CCD 17 and the like.

The cable 25 is optically connected to a light guide 12 of the insertion section 2, which will be described later, via a connector 7, and transmits an illuminating light from a light source device 30 to the light guide 12. And a transmission line for electrically connecting the CCU 29 and the CCD 17 together with the signal line 23. The cable 2 is branched at the branching section 26, and the optical fiber is connected to the connector 28 of the light source device 30, and the transmission line is connected to the connector 2 of the CCU 29.
7, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the insertion portion 2
The resin 8 integrates an illumination optical system composed of a light guide 12 for transmitting illumination light and an illumination lens 18, and an observation optical system composed of a plurality of objective lenses 14, a CCD 17, and a signal line 23. It consists of. Such integration with a resin is performed, for example, by setting an illumination optical system and an observation optical system provided with heat-resistant means at a predetermined optical position in a mold, and pouring the resin 8 into the mold in the set state.

A base end of the insertion section 2 is provided with a connector section 5 connected to a connector 7 provided at a distal end of the cable 25.
And the screw portion 10 of the connector portion 5
If the connector 7 of the cable 25 is screwed into the connector 25, the connection between the insertion portion 2 and the cable 25 is made.

The light guide 12 constituting the illumination optical system comprises a fiber bundle formed by bundling a plurality of optical fibers. The distal end side of the light guide 12 is bound while being fitted into a tubular member 19 having an illumination lens 18 at the distal end. The proximal end of the light guide 12 is optically connected to a light guide connector 24 provided on the connector section 5. Therefore, when the connector section 5 is connected to the connector 7 of the cable 25 that connects to the light source device 30, the light guide connector 24 is optically connected to the corresponding light guide connector of the connector 7, and the optical fiber inside the cable 25 is used. The transmitted illumination light from the light source device 30 is emitted from the illumination lens 18 through the light guide 12.

A plurality of objective lenses 1 constituting an observation optical system
Both the CCD 4 and the CCD 17 are disposed in a lens frame 15 having a cover glass 13 at the tip. CCD17 has C
A plurality of signal lines 23 for transmitting a drive signal of the CD 17 and an imaging signal from the CCD 17 are electrically connected. These signal lines 23 are inserted into the shield tube 22, and the base ends thereof are electrically connected to the male pins 21 of the video connector 20 provided in the connector section 5. Therefore, when the connector section 5 is connected to the connector 7 of the cable 25 that connects to the CCU 29, the male pins 21 of the video connector 20 are fitted and electrically connected to the corresponding female pins of the video connector 20 of the connector 7, The CCU 29 and the CCD 17 are electrically connected through the transmission line and the signal line 23 inside the cable 25. Note that the CCD 17 is configured such that its imaging element is covered by an exterior member that is shielded through a signal line 23.
The optical image from the observation site incident through the D cover glass 16 is converted into an electric signal (imaging signal).

In the above configuration, when the illumination light from the light source device 30, which is dimmed based on the dimming signal from the CCU 29, is emitted from the tip of the insertion section 2 to the observation site of the subject 35 through the light guide 12, Optical image of site is CCD
The image signal is converted into an image signal at 17 and the CCU is
29, converted into a video signal by the CCU 29,
An image of the observation site is displayed on an observation monitor (not shown) connected to the CU 29.

As described above, the endoscope 1 of the present configuration forms the insertion section 2 by integrating the illumination optical system for illuminating the subject and the observation optical system for forming the subject image with the resin 8. As a result, the insertion section 2 can be manufactured inexpensively (thus, can be purchased at a low cost), and the insertion section 2 can be detachably connected to an endoscope apparatus including the CCU 29 and the light source device 30. 2 can be disposable.

Therefore, since the operation of cleaning and disinfecting the insertion section 2 after use is not required, it is possible to improve the operation efficiency and also prevent the hospital infection. Note that the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to all endoscopes regardless of a rigid endoscope or a flexible endoscope.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the observation optical system in the first embodiment is slightly changed in order to eliminate the influence of external noise and the problem of unnecessary radiation and to secure electrical safety. That is, FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of the observation optical system, and the CCD electrically connected by the signal line 23.
The shielded exterior members 17 and the video connector 20 are integrated by a conductive resin 8a. In this case, the conductive resin 8a is electrically connected to the GND pin 21a provided on the video connector 20,
The CCU 29 is grounded through a ground line 48 connected to the GND pin 21a, thereby shielding the transmission system including the signal line 23. And CC
The observation optical system formed by integrating the D17 and the video connector 20 with the conductive resin 8a and the illumination optical system described in the first embodiment are integrated by the insulating resin 8b to form the insertion section 2. I have. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Further, the CCD 17 and the video connector 2 are not integrated by the conductive resin 8a, but as shown in FIG.
0 may be integrated. In this case, the shielding property is improved as compared with the conductive resin 8a, and the cost is lower than the knitting shield used for a general cable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion portion 2 is divided into an insertion portion main body 2a and a front end cover 2b so as to secure electrical safety of the front end portion of the insertion portion 2. May be attached to the distal end of the insertion portion main body 2a, which is a separate body. In this case, the front cover 2b is configured by integrating the cover glass 13 and the illumination lens 18 with the insulating resin 8b, and the front cover 2b is connected to the screw portion 65 of the insertion portion main body 2a.
The cover glass 13 and the illumination lens 18 are optically positioned with respect to an optical system such as the light guide 12 and the objective lens 14 by being screwed into the optical system. Further, the insertion section main body 2a is formed by integrating the observation optical system and the illumination optical system with the resin 8 as in the above-described embodiments. As described above, if the distal end cover 2b and the insertion portion main body 2a are separated from each other, the distal end cover 2b can be connected to the insertion portion main body 2a.
Since the positioning is performed by screwing into the screw portion 65 of FIG. 1A, the cover glass 13 for the optical system performed when the tip cover 2b and the insertion portion main body 2a are integrally formed.
In addition, the step of positioning the illumination lens 18 becomes unnecessary, and as a result, the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The endoscope 80 shown in FIG.
An insertion section 82 is detachably connected to an operation section 84. The operation section 84 transmits an eyepiece section 86 that can obtain an observation image of an observation site into which the insertion section 81 is inserted, and illumination light from a light source device (not shown) to an illumination light transmission member 87 in the insertion section 82. A connector section 85 to which a light guide cable (not shown) is connected.

The insertion portion 82 has a tubular illumination optical system member 8 made of a resin material on the outer periphery of an inner tube 88 in which an objective lens 89 made of a resin material and a relay lens 90 are arranged.
7 is coated. In addition, the housing 84a of the operation unit 84, the eyepiece provided in the operation unit 84, the lens cover 92, the eyepiece 86, and the connector 85 are all formed of a resin material. Note that a coating for shielding light may be applied to the outer periphery of the illumination optical system member 87 so that the illumination light does not leak outside.

The endoscope 80 having the above-described configuration includes an objective lens 89
, And the relay lens 90, the entire endoscope including the observation optical system including the illumination optical system member 87 and the illumination optical system 87 are formed of resin, and thus the endoscope 80 can be easily disposed.

In order to prevent environmental pollution due to the disposal of the endoscope 80, an objective lens 89 and a relay lens 90 are provided.
The entire endoscope including the observation optical system including the illumination optical system and the illumination optical system including the illumination optical system members may be formed of a soil decomposition resin. As such soil decomposition resin,
For example, "Matabi", "VINEX", "NOVON"
(All of which are trade names), such as those using PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) -based resins, those using polyamino acids such as gluten plastic and collagen, those using polycaptron, and fats such as polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid polymers. There are biodegradable plastics such as aromatic polyesters and biopolyester "Biopol" (trade name).

The above configuration can be applied to an electronic endoscope having a CCD. That is, the CCD package and the cover glass of the CCD may be formed of the above-described resin material.

The objective lens 89 and the relay lens 9
The objective lens 89 and the relay lens 90 may be directly provided in the illumination optical system member 87 as shown in FIG. The objective lens 89 and the relay lens 9
0 ... may be formed by a resin refractive index gradient lens whose refractive index gradually changes from the center to the periphery. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the objective lenses 89 and the relay lenses 90 may be rod-shaped.

[0028]

As described above, in the endoscope of the present invention, the insertion portion is formed by integrating the illumination optical system for illuminating the subject and the observation optical system for forming the subject image with resin. Because of the configuration, the insertion portion can be manufactured at low cost (and can be purchased at low cost), so that the insertion portion can be disposable.

Therefore, since the operation of cleaning and disinfecting the insertion portion after use is not required, it is possible to improve the operation efficiency and also to prevent hospital-acquired infection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a modification of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the endoscope insertion section.

5A is a plan view of an endoscope in which all components are formed of resin, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of an insertion portion of the endoscope in FIG. 5A, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the operation unit of the endoscope.

6A is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the insertion portion of the endoscope in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... endoscope, 2 ... insertion part, 8 ... resin, 12 ... light guide (illumination optical system), 14 ... objective lens (observation optical system),
17 ... CCD (observation optical system), 22 ... Signal line (observation optical system).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Nakajima 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Hideki Koyanagi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Uehara 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Omagari 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahito Goto 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-5-38324 (JP, A) JP-A-53-43989 (JP, A) JP-A-64-22245 (JP, A) JP-A-60-208726 (JP, A) JP-A-4-309325 (JP, A) JP-A-2-23936 (JP, A) JP-A-63-259613 (JP, A) JP-A-63-281120 (JP, A) JP-A-60-107819 (JP, U) JP-T-62-502500 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷⁾ A61B 1/00-1/32

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An illumination optical system for illuminating a subject,
An endoscope comprising: an image pickup device; and an insertion section formed by integrating an image pickup device and an observation optical system for forming a subject image on the image pickup device with a resin to form an insertion portion.