JP3231399B2 - Endoscope imaging device - 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 image pickup apparatus having a mechanism for detaching an image pickup means including at least a solid-state image pickup element, and a cover member covering the image pickup means being subjected to a sterilization process at a high temperature and a high pressure. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field. A medical device such as an endoscope, which is particularly inserted into a living body, is used in a sufficiently sterilized state so as not to cause an infectious disease or the like. In addition, after such medical devices are used, body fluids and solids in the living body may adhere to the medical devices. Had to be disinfected.

[0003]

However, endoscope imaging devices such as an electronic endoscope and an external camera using a solid-state imaging device as an imaging means can be immersed in a chemical solution or disinfected or sterilized only with a sterilizing gas. Therefore, it was not able to withstand the autoclave treatment in which the sterilization treatment using steam exceeding 100 ° C. was performed.

[0004] When a toxic substance such as a chemical solution is used for sterilization, the treatment of the toxic substance becomes a problem after the sterilization. Therefore, recently, the use amount of such a toxic substance has been reduced or used. There is a situation in which it is desired to perform sterilization treatment using harmless steam instead. However, as described above, an endoscope imaging apparatus such as an electronic endoscope using a solid-state imaging device as an imaging means cannot withstand autoclave processing using water vapor exceeding 100 ° C. The problem is how to make it safe to use again after using it on a living body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and maintains a part of an endoscope imaging apparatus such as a solid-state imaging device that cannot withstand autoclave processing in a clean state without performing autoclave processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus which can be used again.

[0006]

Means and operation for solving the problems] endoscopic imaging device of the present invention, an endoscope imaging apparatus mounted to the eyepiece section of the endoscope, the attachment member to be attached to the eyepiece, this
Attached detachably to the mounting member, and images from the eyepiece
Imaging means for imaging, and extending from the imaging means,
Cable with connector and detachable to the mounting member
And a heat-resistant camera capable of storing the imaging means inside.
Heat resistant to cover the bar member, the cable and the connector
Cable cover and its length
The cable and the connector are provided along the hand direction.
And a fastener for removing the
Then , after using the endoscope imaging device for a living body or the like, after taking out the imaging means housed in the cover member, the cover member is subjected to autoclave treatment, or discarded,
The member to be stored is kept clean without being autoclaved and used again.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A shows an external camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of FIG. 1A, FIG. 2 shows the head cover member in an opened state and a closed state, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the head cover member is housed in an autoclave device and sterilized.

As shown in FIG. 1A, an external camera 1 constituting an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment is an optical endoscope 2.
And a camera cable 5 extending from the camera head 4. A connector 6 is provided at an end of the camera cable 5, and a signal processing device (not shown) is provided. It can be connected to a camera control unit (abbreviated as CCU) as a means.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the camera head 4 includes an optical adapter 8 having an imaging lens system 7 and a TV camera body 11 which is detachably mounted on the optical adapter 8 and has a CCD 9 built-in. And the TV camera body 11
And a camera head cover member (also simply referred to as a cover member) 12 which is detachably mounted on the optical adapter 8 in a state where the camera head is housed and removed.

The optical adapter 8 has an imaging lens system 7 attached to a substantially ring-shaped frame, and a fixing screw knob 13 with a mounting opening on the front face fitted to the eyepiece 3. It can be rotated and attached to or removed from the eyepiece 3. A groove 14 in the optical axis direction and in the circumferential direction is provided on the surface of the rear end portion of the optical adapter 8,
The TV camera main body 11 is mounted on the optical adapter 8 by housing the projection 15 protruding inside the front surface of the V camera main body 11 into the groove 14 and moving to the deepest groove in the circumferential direction of the groove 14. Or can be removed by moving in the opposite direction.

The optical adapter 8 is made of a material whose frame portion and the imaging lens system 7 are resistant to autoclave processing. For example, the frame portion is made of a material that can withstand autoclaving, such as a metal material or a high-performance engineering plastic material that can withstand higher temperatures than ordinary plastic.

In the state shown in FIG. 1A in which the optical adapter 8 is mounted on the eyepiece 3 and the TV camera main body 11 is mounted on the optical adapter 8, the TV camera main body 11 is mounted.
An optical image transmitted to the eyepiece 3 by an image guide (not shown) of the endoscope 2 is formed on an imaging surface (photoelectric conversion surface) of the CCD 9 built in the camera.

The front outer peripheral surface of the optical adapter 8 adjacent to the rear end has an outer diameter larger than the rear end.
Further, a circumferential groove 16 is formed, and the circumferential groove 16 has a protrusion 1 formed in a circumferential direction inside a front surface of the head cover member 12.
By housing the head 7, the head cover member 12 can be attached to the optical adapter 8.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the head cover member 12 is a semi-cylindrical member 18 obtained by dividing a cylindrical member into two in a vertical direction (longitudinal direction) on a plane passing through its diameter.
a and 18b are connected by, for example, a hinge-shaped pivot member 19, and are configured to rotate around the pivot member 19. Two semi-cylindrical members are formed by pivoting and forming a click mechanism. When the circumferential ends of the 18a and 18b are overlapped with each other, they have a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 2B.

When the head cover member 12 is in the state shown in FIG. 2 (b), one end on the front side of the cylinder is open, and the other end is a small opening for pressing against the camera cable 5. Has been. The head cover member 12
Is made of a material that withstands autoclaving, such as a high-performance engineering plastic material that withstands higher temperatures than ordinary plastic.

The camera cable 5 extending from the TV camera body 11 can be covered with a cable cover 20a made of, for example, a high-performance engineering plastic material. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the cable cover 20a covers the connector 6 from the connection portion with the TV camera body 11, and the cable cover 20a
a can be detached from the camera cable 5 by a fastener 20b provided in the longitudinal direction.

According to the first embodiment, normally, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the optical adapter 8 is attached to the eyepiece 3, the TV camera body 11 is attached to the optical adapter 8, and the head cover member 12 is attached to the optical adapter 8 so as to cover the TV camera body 11. It is used in the state shown in FIG. After use, the TV camera body 11 attached to the optical adapter 8 is removed, and the optical adapter 8
The head cover member 12 and the cable cover 20a are housed in an autoclave device 30 as shown in FIG.

In this case, since the TV camera body 11 provided with the CCD 9 having low heat resistance has been removed,
Autoclaving becomes possible. According to the first embodiment, if the optical adapter 8, the head cover member 12, and the cable cover 20a are made of a material that can withstand the autoclave processing, the autoclave processing can be easily performed.
In this embodiment, the head cover member 12 and the cable cover 20a can be used repeatedly.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an external camera 21 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mechanism for attaching and detaching the optical adapter 8 and the head cover member 12 in the first embodiment is formed by screwing, so that the camera cable 5 can be attached to and detached from the optical adapter 8, and the cable cover 20a
Is unnecessary.

That is, in the optical adapter 8 'of this embodiment, a male screw portion 22 is formed at the portion where the circumferential groove 16 is formed in the optical adapter 8 of the first embodiment, and the front end of the head cover member 12' is formed at the front end. Is formed with a female screw portion 23 screwed to the male screw portion 22.

In this embodiment, a detachable connector 25 is provided at the base end of the camera cable 5 in a connector receiver 24 of the TV camera body 11 '. The camera cable 5, together with the connectors 6 and 25, is formed of a material that can withstand autoclaving.

The head cover member 12 'in this embodiment has a radially inward projection as shown in FIG. 5 to prevent the TV camera body 11' from rotating. . Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, after using the external camera 21, the TV camera main body 11 'is removed and the optical adapter 8', the head cover member 12 ', and the cable 5 provided with the connectors 6 and 24 are autoclaved. To process. This embodiment has substantially the same effect as the first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows an endoscope system 31 having a third embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope system 31 includes a flexible endoscope (also referred to as a fiberscope) 32 and an external camera endoscope 34 including an external camera 33 mounted on the fiberscope 32, and the fiberscope 32. And a camera control unit (C) for performing signal processing for the external camera 33.
Abbreviated as CU. ) 36 and a monitor 37 for displaying a video signal output from the CCU 36.

The fiber scope 32 includes an elongated insertion portion 41, a large-diameter operation portion 42 connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 41, and an eyepiece portion formed at the rear end of the operation portion 42. The light guide cable 43 extends from the side of the operation unit 42, and a connector 45 provided at an end of the light guide cable 44 can be detachably connected to the light source device 35.

The insertion portion 41 has a hard tip portion 46, a bendable bending portion 47, and a flexible tube portion 4 from the tip side.
8, the bending portion 47 can be bent by operating a bending knob 49 provided on the operation portion 42. Connector 45 of the light guide cable 44
Is connected to the light source device 35,
White light from a lamp (not shown) in the light guide 51
The illumination light transmitted by the light guide 51 is emitted forward from an illumination window provided with the end face on the tip end portion 46 side, and illuminates a subject (not shown).

With the emitted illumination light, an illuminated subject is formed into an optical image on the distal end surface of an image guide 53 fixed to its focal plane by an objective lens 52 provided at the distal end portion 46. The optical image is transmitted to the end face on the eyepiece section 43 side, and the eyepiece 5 disposed opposite to this end face is disposed.
4 allows for enlarged observation. A camera head body 33a forming the external camera 33 can be detachably attached to the eyepiece 43, and the camera head body 33a is substantially cylindrical. The camera head body 33a has a cylindrical housing made of a heat-resistant material such as high-performance engineering plastic.

An imaging lens system 55 fixed to a frame 61a is attached to the camera head main body 33a at a position facing the eyepiece lens 54. The imaging lens system 55
Thereby, an image can be formed on the photoelectric conversion surface of the CCD 56 as an image sensor. The CCD 56 is mounted on a printed board 57, and an electronic component 59 such as an IC, a capacitor, and a resistor for operating the CCD 56 is mounted on a printed board 58 arranged in parallel with the printed board 57 to form a peripheral circuit. are doing.

The CCD 56 is fixed to a frame 61b fitted to a frame 61a to which the imaging lens system 55 is attached, and the printed boards 57 and 58 are also fixed to the frame 61b via a spacer 60. Further, a connector 62a of the signal cable 62 can be detachably connected to the printed board 58. This signal cable 6
Numeral 2 passes through a rubber-like bushing 63 so that a connector 62b provided at the other end can be connected to the CCU 6.

In this embodiment, the camera head main body 33a
A female screw portion 66a is provided in the opening on the rear end side, and a ring-shaped lid member 67 having a male screw portion 66b can be detachably attached to the female screw portion 66a by screwing. . When the screw member is unscrewed and the lid member 67 is removed from the camera head main body 33a, an imaging unit including the CCD 56 and the electronic components 59 mounted on the printed boards 57 and 58 attached to the frame 61b via the spacer 60. 68 can be attached to or detached from the frame 61a. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the external camera 33 with the imaging unit 68 removed is connected to the cable 6.
2 together with an autoclave device for autoclave treatment.

The CCU 36 shown in FIG. 6 generates a drive signal for appropriately driving the CCD 56, and converts the electric signal output from the CCD 56 into a standard video signal (for example, an NTSC video signal) by applying the drive signal. The video output output from the CCU 36 is input to a monitor 37, and the monitor 37 displays a subject image.

According to the third embodiment, the imaging unit 6
Since the camera head 8 is detachable from the camera head main body 33a, the imaging unit 68 can be detached to perform autoclave processing.

FIG. 8 shows a distal end side of an electronic endoscope (referred to as an electronic scope) 71 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. A hard distal member 74 is provided at the distal end of the outer tube 73 forming the insertion section 72, and an imaging adapter 75 is detachably mounted on the front surface of the distal member 74.

That is, the outer peripheral surface of the distal end member 74 and the outer peripheral surface of the imaging adapter 75 are provided with screws.
With the rear surface of the imaging adapter 75 in contact with the front surface of
Both members can be connected and fixed by a connection ring 76 provided with a female screw. Exterior frame 7 forming the imaging adapter 75
An objective lens 78 is attached via a lens frame 79 to an observation window provided on the front surface of 7. The lens frame 79 is fitted with a CCD frame 82 on which a CCD 81 constituting the image pickup unit 80 is attached, so that the lens frame 7
9, the CCD 81 is located at the focal plane of the objective lens 78 in this state.

The CCD 81 constitutes an imaging unit 80 integrated with a hybrid board 83 arranged on the back side thereof and a connector 84 arranged behind the hybrid board 83 and fixed to a CCD frame 82 together. ing. After the signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 81 passes through the hybrid substrate 83, the hybrid substrate 8
The signal is transmitted to the connector 84 electrically connected to the connector 3.

Further, this signal is input to a CCU or a video processor (not shown) through a transmission cable 86 to which a connector receiver 85 connected to the connector 84 is attached. This connector receiver 85 is a tip member 74.
The connector 84 can be attached from the front and can be removed by the reverse operation. Imaging adapter 7
When the connector 84 is detached from the connector receiver 85 in a state where the connector 5 is detached from the tip member 74, the imaging unit 80 can be detached.

A light guide 87 is inserted into the outer tube 73, and the tip is fixed to a tip member 74 by a pipe 88a. A lens 89a is fixed to a distal end surface of the light guide 87. Imaging adapter 7
5 is also provided with a pipe 88b that fits into the pipe 88a, and a short light guide 90 is inserted through the pipe 88b, and lenses 89b and 89c are attached to both ends thereof. The two pipes 88a and 88b are structured to fit together so that the illumination light can be transmitted without leakage.
A bending piece 9 forming a bending portion is provided at the rear end of the tip member 74.
1, 91 are rotatably connected in cascade, and the outside thereof is covered with an outer tube 73.

In this embodiment, it can be used as an electronic scope in a connected state as shown in FIG. After use, the connection ring 76 is turned to move the tip end member 74 to the imaging adapter 75.
Can be separated, and the imaging unit 80 can be removed from the imaging adapter 75. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the imaging adapter 75 from which the imaging unit 80 has been removed can be subjected to autoclave processing together with the electronic scope main body (the imaging member 75 from which the distal end member 74 has been removed in FIG. 8).

FIG. 10 shows a modification of FIG. In this modification, in FIG. 8, an imaging unit 94 (or imaging adapter) is configured as a frame 93 in which a lens frame 79 and a CCD frame 82 are integrated. In this structure, when performing autoclave processing, the imaging unit 94 is detached and the electronic scope body is autoclaved, and the imaging unit 94 is sterilized with EOG gas or the like. After that, the imaging unit 9
4 is mounted on the electronic scope again and used.

In this modification, the imaging unit 94 is EOG
Sterilization is performed using gas or the like. However, since the imaging unit 94 is small, the amount of EOG gas used for sterilization is small, and disposal of used EOG gas does not cause much environmental problems. There is no huge cost.

FIG. 11 shows still another modification. In this modification, a connector 84 and a connector receiver 85 in FIG.
Are integrated so that the imaging unit 95 indicated by a chain line can be removed. This imaging unit 95
The rear end extends to an operation unit (not shown) at the rear, and is detachable from the operation unit. In this modification, the distal end of the light guide 87 is fixed to a distal end member 96 by a pipe 88, and illumination light is emitted from an end surface of the distal end through an illumination lens 89c.

Next, a description will be given of an endoscope image pickup apparatus having an adiabatic structure, in which heat is hardly transmitted to the image pickup means at the time of autoclave processing and heat resistance of the image pickup means is improved. An electronic endoscope 101 as an endoscope imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 12 has an elongated insertion section 102, a large-diameter operation section 103 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 102, and a side of the operation section 103. The universal cable 104 extends from a part of the universal cable 104, and a connector 105 provided at an end of the universal cable 104 can be detachably connected to a CCU (not shown).

The insertion portion 102 has a hard tip 106
, A bending portion 107, and a flexible tube portion 108,
The bending section 107 can be bent by operating the bending knob 109 provided on the operation section 103. The tip 106 is as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b).

The tip body 106 forming the tip 106
A cylindrical concave portion is formed on the front side of a, and a female screw portion 111 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion. The base end side of the imaging unit 112 can be detachably stored in this recess. That is, the male screw portion 113 provided on the outer peripheral surface on the base end side of the imaging unit 112 can be screwed into the female screw portion 111 for mounting.

The imaging unit 112 has a main body 1
14 is formed of a substance having a low thermal conductivity into a substantially cylindrical shape, and a concave portion is formed on the front surface thereof in a rotationally symmetrical manner with respect to the central axis of the cylinder.
6. The CCD 117 is housed and fixed. This CCD
117 is a main body 1 via a cable 118 via a substrate on the back side.
14 and is electrically connected to a contact portion 119 provided on the back surface.

In the contact portion 119, for example, a plurality of contacts formed by a plurality of rings concentric about a central axis are provided on an insulating member. Then, the imaging unit 112 is moved to the front end 1
When mounted in the concave portion of No. 06, the contact portion 119 projecting from the back surface of the main body portion 114 comes into contact with a contact receiving portion 120 formed of a plurality of radially separated contacts provided in the concave portion of the distal end main body 106a. The contact receiving portion 120 is a cable 1
An electrical contact of the connector 105 is reached via 21.

On the outer peripheral surface of the main body 114, there is provided a screw portion 124 which is screwed with a screw portion 123 provided on the rear end side of the transparent cover member 122.
14 is exposed from the recess.
It can be covered with.

A packing 125 is accommodated in the cover 122 in a circumferential groove, and has a structure in which the inside of the packing 125 is kept airtight. In this electronic endoscope 101, when a cover 122 is attached to the imaging unit 112, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the structure is such that the imaging unit 112 and the cover 122 do not come into contact with each other except for a portion where the screw portion 123 and the screw portion 124 are screwed and a portion that is in close contact with the packing 125.

Therefore, the cover 122 is attached to the imaging unit 11.
2, a vacuum layer 127 having an excellent heat insulating function is formed between the imaging unit 112 and the cover 122 by attaching the image pickup unit 112 and the cover 122 together with the imaging unit 112 removed from the main body 106 a at the distal end. Have to be able to. The vacuum layer 127 prevents the temperature of the CCD 117 and the like from rising to a level exceeding its resistance when processed by an autoclave apparatus.

FIG. 14 shows an endoscope with a camera as an endoscope imaging device. For example, an external camera 132 detachably attached to the fiber scope 32 shown in FIG. 6 includes a camera head unit 133 and a camera cable 134 extending from the camera head unit 133. Has a connector 135 attached.

The camera head 133 is provided with a screwing portion 136.
The image pickup unit 142 is detachably attached to the cover 137, and the image pickup unit 142 can be detachably attached to the cover 137.

The cover 137 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a columnar storage space. One end is closed by a transparent member 138 such as a glass plate, and the other end is open.
A screw portion 139 is provided on the inner peripheral surface. Also, this screw part 1
A packing 141 is accommodated with a peripheral groove provided at the back of the groove 39. The cover 137 can be attached with an imaging unit 142 provided with a screw portion that is screwed into the screw portion 139.

The image pickup unit 142 has a concave portion formed in a substantially cylindrical main body, and a cover glass 143, an imaging lens 144, and a CCD 145 are housed therein. The outer diameter of the imaging unit 142 is set smaller than the inner diameter of the cover 137, and when the imaging unit 142 is attached to the cover 137, most of the outer peripheral surface of the imaging unit 142 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the cover 137.

The front of the imaging unit 142 is also covered by the cover 1.
37 away from the front inside. Then, the imaging unit 14
The space around 2 is formed with a vacuum layer 146 which is maintained in a vacuum state as in the case of FIG.

The CCD 145 is electrically connected by a cable 147 to a contact portion 148 protruding from the rear surface of the imaging unit 142. The contact portion 148 is electrically connected to a contact receiving portion 149 provided at a position facing the camera head 133. The cable 150 connected to the contact receiving portion 149
Leads to the connector 135. Incidentally, for example, the distal end portion 106 of the electronic endoscope 101 in FIG. 12 may be configured as shown in FIG.

The image pickup unit 152 is detachably attached to the distal end body 151 by screwing means. The imaging unit 152 includes an objective lens 154 fixed to a lens frame, a CCD 155, and an electronic circuit board 15 inside a cylindrical frame 153 having at least both end surfaces closed by transparent glass or the like.
6, an optical communication element 157, and a battery 158 for operating the CCD 155, the electronic circuit board 156, and the like, and the inside of the cylindrical frame 153 is kept in a vacuum.

An optical communication element 159 is also provided on the distal end main body 151 side so as to face the optical communication element 157, and this optical communication element 159 is connected to the connector 105 by a cable 160.
(See FIG. 12). According to this configuration,
Since the CCD 155 and the like are housed in a vacuum, heat resistance during autoclave processing can be ensured. The external camera 132 in FIG. 14 may be configured as shown in FIG.

In the external camera 161, an image pickup unit 163 is detachably mounted on a camera head frame 162 by screwing means. This imaging unit 163 is a frame 1 having a closed structure.
An imaging lens 166, a CCD 167, an electronic circuit board 168, an optical communication element 169, and a battery 170 for operating the CCD 167 and the like are housed in 65, and the inside of the frame 165 is evacuated. An optical communication element 171 for communicating with the optical communication element 169 is also arranged outside the frame 165 facing the optical communication element 169, and this optical communication element 171 is connected to a cable 172. This configuration also has the same mechanism as in FIG.

In the endoscope system 31 shown in FIG. 6, the external camera 33 has a structure in which the image pickup unit 68 can be separated and taken out, but it is not separated in the external camera 33 'in the endoscope system 31' shown in FIG. Therefore, it has a heat insulating structure so that it can be autoclaved. A frame 6 is provided inside the camera head body 33a of the external camera 33 '.
1, an imaging lens 55 and a CCD 56 are mounted, and printed boards 57 and 58 are also mounted via a spacer 60.

The printed circuit boards 57 and 58 on which the CCD 56 and the electronic components 59 are mounted are housed in a box-shaped heat insulator 64 made of a heat-resistant material such as high-performance engineering plastic. , CCD 56 and electronic parts 59 during heat sterilization,
The heat insulator 64 has a structure that minimizes the conduction of heat from the outside to the inside of the heat insulator 64, that is, an adiabatic structure to prevent a temperature rise inside the heat insulator 64.
The periphery of the heat insulator 64 is covered by a box-shaped mold member 65 made of a high-performance engineering plastic material or the like.

In this embodiment, an uneven portion is formed on the outer surface of the heat insulator 64 to minimize the contact area with the mold member 65 as the exterior housing, and the heat from the outer mold member 65 is transferred to the heat insulator 64. 64 as little as possible.

Further, in this embodiment, the frame 61 is provided with a ventilation hole 66a for adjusting the internal pressure, and the ventilation hole 66a is structured to be opened and closed by a valve 66b. That is, when the pressure difference between the inside and the outside is not large, the ventilation hole 66a is kept closed by the valve 66b as shown in FIG. 18A, and when the inside pressure becomes considerably higher than the outside pressure as shown in FIG. The valve 66b opens as shown in FIG. FIG. 19 shows a distal end portion 181 of an electronic endoscope provided with a mechanism for adjusting the internal pressure.

An objective lens 183 is attached to an observation window provided in the outer frame 182, and a photoelectric conversion surface of the CCD 184 is arranged on a focal plane of the objective lens 183. The CCD 184 is formed integrally with the hybrid board 185, and the signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 184 passes through the hybrid board 185, passes through a transmission cable 186 connected to the hybrid board 185, and passes to a video processor (not shown). Is entered.

The video processor converts the output signal of the CCD 184 into a standard video signal. The outer frame 18
2, a heat insulating member 187 is housed therein.
7, the CCD 184 and the hybrid substrate 185 are covered. The heat insulating member 187 is formed of, for example, styrofoam, and the thermal conductivity of the styrofoam is 1/10 or less of that of the outer frame 182. A material having a low thermal conductivity may be used instead of the styrene foam.

A light guide 188 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the outer frame 182.
The proximal end of 8 is connected to a light source device (not shown), transmits illumination light from the light source device, and is emitted from the distal end surface to the front object side via an illumination lens 189. Also in this embodiment, the CCD 184 and the hybrid substrate 185 are covered by the heat insulating member 187. Further, the heat insulating member 187 is provided with a vent 190 and a valve 191 for adjusting the internal pressure.
91 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 20, a valve 193 using a shape memory metal is attached to the air hole 190, and the heat at the time of autoclaving causes the valve 193 to bend as shown by a dotted line, thereby opening the air hole 190. You may do it.

In an electronic endoscope 201 shown in FIG. 21, an objective lens 204 is attached to an observation window provided on an outer frame 203 constituting a distal end portion 202 of an insertion portion, and a CCD 205 is located behind the objective lens 204.
Is arranged. A substrate 207 on which a circuit component 206 is mounted is disposed on the back side of the CCD 205. A signal cable 208 is connected to the board 207 and extends to the rear of an operation unit (not shown). CCD205
A heat insulating material 209 is disposed in a cylindrical shape around the periphery of the substrate 20.
A doughnut-shaped thermal expansion member 210 is disposed at a position rearward of the position 7.

The thermal expansion member 210 is normally opened so as to communicate with the front and rear as shown by a solid line. During autoclave processing, the thermal expansion member 210 expands and shuts off both sides as shown by a dotted line. CCD2 located in
05 is prevented from entering the steam.

According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent the characteristics of the CCD 205 and the like from being deteriorated due to moisture during the autoclave processing. It should be noted that a combination of the above-described embodiments in a partial manner or the like also belongs to the present invention.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least a part of the endoscope imaging device is housed by the cover member provided with the detachable mechanism, and the endoscope imaging device is used for a living body or the like. Later, after taking out the housed member housed in the cover member, the cover member is autoclaved, or configured to be discarded, so that the housed member is not autoclaved, kept clean, Can be used again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a camera head cover member.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the TV camera main body is removed from the first embodiment and housed in an autoclave device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a camera head cover member.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an endoscope system including a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an imaging unit is removed.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where an imaging unit is removed from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a tip portion of another modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the entire electronic endoscope having a heat insulating structure.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the structure of the distal end portion of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a camera endoscope having a heat insulating structure.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion in a modification of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a modification of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope system including a camera endoscope having a heat insulating structure.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an internal pressure adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope provided with an internal pressure adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an internal pressure adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope provided with a mechanism for preventing vapor from entering.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... External camera 2 ... Optical endoscope 3 ... Eyepiece 4 ... Camera head 5 ... Camera cable 6 ... Connector 7 ... Imaging lens system 8 ... Optical adapter 9 ... CCD 11 ... TV camera main body 12 ... Camera Head cover member 16: circumferential groove 19: pivot member 20: cable cover

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Mototsugu Ogawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akinobu Ukubo 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Akihiro Miyashita 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. O-Limpus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yudai Nakagawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In-Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Kazunari Kobayashi 2-43, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Murata 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Seiji Yamaguchi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-135413 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 57-164036 (JP, A) Fully open sho 56-166003 (JP, U) Real open sho 59-98413 (JP, U) (58) Fields studied (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00 -1/32 G02B 23/24 Practical file (PATOLIS) Patent file (PATOLIS)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope imaging apparatus attached to an eyepiece of an endoscope, wherein an attachment member attached to the eyepiece, and an image detachably attached to the attachment member , the image from the eyepiece.
And a cable extending from the imaging means and having a connector at the end.
And the mounting means are detachably attached to the mounting member, and
Heat-resistant cover member that can be stored in the housing, and a heat-resistant cable that covers the cable and the connector
Cover and this cable cover along the longitudinal direction
To remove the cable and the connector.
An endoscope imaging apparatus comprising: a fastener ;