JP3279398B2 - 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 imaging device for an endoscope which incorporates an imaging device for photoelectrically converting an endoscope image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, optical endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field and the like. Since this optical endoscope needs to be observed with the naked eye from the eyepiece, an external TV camera as an endoscope imaging device having a built-in image sensor in the eyepiece of the optical endoscope is required. There is a case where it is used as an endoscope system in which an endoscope image can be displayed on a monitor by being mounted.

In particular, medical devices such as endoscopes to be inserted into a living body are used in a sufficiently sterilized state so as not to cause an infection. After such medical devices are used, they are immersed in a disinfecting solution (chemical solution) and disinfected.
Therefore, in the conventional external TV camera, the TV camera head has a waterproof structure including the camera cable and the connector, and is immersed in a disinfecting solution to be disinfectable.

In a conventional example, a waterproof cap is used for a connector connected to the CCU and a connector inside the camera head so that a chemical solution can be immersed in the connector, or waterproofness is ensured when the plug side and the receptacle side are connected. Some have been made. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-77057 discloses a device in which the space between the connector and the electrode body is filled with an insulating material to improve the assemblability, but does not include an image sensor.

[0005]

As described above, in order to achieve a sterilization level in a chemical solution immersion, an external TV camera must be immersed in the chemical solution for a long time, which is not suitable for emergency sterilization. For this reason, there has been a high need for an external TV camera as an endoscope imaging device that can be used with an autoclave device that can be sterilized in a short time.

When a TV camera head is inserted into an autoclave device, it is very difficult to prevent vapor from entering the sheath of the camera cable. To make this possible, the material of the sheath must be extremely hygroscopic. In this case, the cable becomes less flexible, which is a practical problem.

That is, the vapor that has entered the inside of the cable is T
Invading into the V camera head, deteriorating the image sensor and other electrical members, and increasing the humidity inside the TV camera head causes dew condensation on the optical member surface, deteriorating the imaging function. I will.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus for an endoscope which enables sterilization in an autoclave apparatus without reducing the flexibility of a camera cable. Aim.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention , there is provided an imaging system for an endoscope.
The imaging device is connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope inserted into the body cavity.
An imaging element capable of capturing an optical image formed on the eyepiece.
An endoscope imaging device having a child,
A first incisor provided behind and holding the image sensor;
And a rear end of the first insulator.
Output an image signal to be imaged by the image sensor.
Contact pin and a contact pin
And the back of the first insulator
A second insulator to be arranged, and the second insulator;
Housing the first insulator and the first insulator.
Formed at the rear of the stored second insulator.
A shell portion provided with a first storage portion,
A first end provided at a rear end and communicating with the first storage portion;
1 opening and the first opening inserted into the first opening.
Cable connected to the contact pin receiver via the storage part of
And the first housing provided on a side of the shell portion.
A second opening communicating with the portion, and passing through the second opening.
A filler to be filled in the first storage portion with the second storage portion;
Covering the opening and fitting to the rear part of the shell part,
Part of the cable behind the shell can be covered
A cover member of a predetermined shape extending to the cover member;
Provided between a part of the cable and hermetically sealed
A first sealing member, and the first sealing member housed in the shell portion.
The image sensor held by one insulator can be stored.
A second storage portion that fits in a front portion of the shell portion.
A mating mouth portion and the shell portion in which the mouth portion is fitted
Is provided between the front part and the mouth part, and is airtight.
A second sealing member for sealing to the second body of the mouth portion
Imaging light can be incident on the image sensor stored in the storage section
A window provided in front of the mouth portion, and the window is airtight.
And a cover glass that is to be electrically sealed.
I do.

[0010]

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. 1 is an external TV as an imaging device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of an external TV camera, and FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an endoscope system.

As shown in FIG. 1, an external TV camera 1 as an endoscope image pickup device according to a first embodiment has a camera head 2 having a built-in image pickup device and a flexible head extended from the camera head 2. , A connector 4 provided at the end of the camera cable 3, and an adapter 5 which is detachably attached to the front surface of the camera head 2 and has a mount portion to be attached to the optical endoscope 2. In the camera head 2, an internal connector 6 for connecting the image pickup device and the camera cable 3 is provided. As will be described later, the periphery of one end of the camera cable 3 in the internal connector 6 is insulative. The structure is sealed with a sealing resin 7.

FIG. 2 shows the external TV camera 1 with the adapter 5 removed. In the camera head 2, a CCD 9 is arranged inside a substantially cylindrical camera head body 8, and an opening on the front surface of the CCD 9 is sealed with a cover glass 10. The lead 1 projecting from the back of the CCD 9 has a substrate 1
The substrate 11 is connected to and fixed to a contact pin 12 forming the internal connector 6 by soldering or the like.

Each of the contact pins 12 is inserted into a contact pin mounting hole of a first insulator 13 as a disk-shaped insulator, for example, and protrudes from the back side of the first insulator 13. It is fixed to.

When each of the contact pins 12 is inserted into the contact pin mounting hole, the contact pin 12 is held by a not-shown claw or the like so as to be slightly movable in the contact pin mounting hole. First insulator 1
Each of the contact pins 12 protruding to the rear surface side of the contact pin 3 is inserted into a contact pin insertion recess of a contact pin receiver (receiving contact pin) 15 inserted into the contact pin receiving mounting hole of the second insulator 14, and The contacts 12 are in electrical contact with the contact pin receivers 15, respectively.

That is, the internal connector 6 includes a first insulator 13, a male connector having a plurality of contact pins 12 held by the first insulator 13, a second insulator 14, and a second insulator 14. A female connector having a plurality of contact pin receivers 15 held by the insulator 14. Both connectors are fixed in a common connector shell 16.

Each contact pin receiver 1 forming a female connector
Reference numeral 5 protrudes from the back side of the second insulator 14, and each signal line exposed from one end of the camera cable 3 is connected by soldering or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the metal connector shell 16 has a cylindrical shape with one opening and the other having a bottom, and the first insulator 13 and the second insulator 14 are connected to the contact pin 12 and the contact pin receiver 15, respectively. Is connected and fixed.

That is, the peripheral edge of the back surface of the second insulator 14 abuts against the step of the connector shell 16, and the fixing screw 17 presses the peripheral edge of the front surface of the first insulator 13 in contact with the second insulator 14. The first insulator 13 and the second insulator 14 are fixed in a state where they are pressed against each other.

One end of the camera cable 3 passing through a circular opening formed in the bottom surface of the connector shell 16 is housed in a housing space on the back side of the second insulator 14 in the connector shell 16. 3 are connected to the base end of each contact pin receiver 15 projecting from the back surface of the second insulator 14.

The front end side of the connector shell 16 is fitted into the camera head main body 8, and is, for example, an O as a sealing member housed in a circumferential groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the camera head main body 8.
The ring 18 provides a watertight and airtight structure so that steam and the like do not enter the CCD 9 even when high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization is performed in an autoclave device.

An opening is provided in the side surface on the rear end side of the connector shell 16, and a sealing resin 7 for sealing from the opening is filled in the connector shell 16, and a portion around the end of the camera cable 3 is provided. Around the connection between the contact pin receiver 15 and the signal line, the gap between the contact pin receiver 15 and the contact pin receiver mounting hole, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the connector shell 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the second insulator 14, the camera cable 3 The inside of the connector shell 16, that is, the back side of the female connector in the internal connector 6 is made water-tight and air-tight by filling the vicinity of the circular opening through the sealing resin 7, thereby sterilizing the autoclave at high temperature and high pressure. Even when the processing is performed, the sealing resin 7 prevents steam or the like from entering the inside of the connector shell 16.

The material of the sealing resin 7 is, for example, P
TFE (tetrafluoroethylene), polyetherimide, liquid crystal polymer, silicate alumina ceramics, inorganic binders, and the like are used, and materials having resistance to sterilization by high-temperature and high-pressure steam in an autoclave apparatus are used.

Sterilization treatment with high-temperature and high-pressure steam in this autoclave apparatus is usually performed at 134 ° C. 2 atm,
Since the treatment is performed in 5 to 20 minutes, a material resistant to such a sterilization treatment is used. The sealing resin 7 is made of a material having a low hygroscopic property, so that the imaging function is not deteriorated even by repeated sterilization treatment in an autoclave device. Also, the first insulator
13 or the second insulator 14 as an airtight seal
The same effect can be obtained by molding.

The outer peripheral surface of the connector shell 16 is covered with a cover 20 made of a synthetic resin or the like so as to be in close contact therewith. The rear end side of the cover 20 is tapered to have a small diameter, covers the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the camera cable 3 that extends to the outside of the connector shell 16, and forms a peripheral groove formed in the inner peripheral surface on the way. The stored O-ring 21 provides a watertight and airtight structure. The cover 20 also has a function of preventing the end of the camera cable 3 from being bent unnecessarily.

The insulating member such as the jacket of the camera cable 3 is also formed of a material having resistance to high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization in an autoclave device.

With this structure, the camera head 2 has a watertight and airtight structure. The camera head body 8
A screw 22 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the adapter 5 so that the adapter 5 can be detachably attached.

On the other hand, the connector 4 provided at the end of the camera cable 3 also has a watertight and airtight structure as described below.

The connector shell 23 serving as an exterior member of the connector 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a tapered rear end and an open front end. An insulator fixing frame 24 is fixed to the inside of the front end opening by, for example, screwing means. Then, an insulator 25 is fixed to the insulator fixing frame 24 with a fixing screw 26.

The insulator fixing frame 24 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a fitting portion to be fitted near the front end of the connector shell 23, and the fitting portion is housed in a circumferential groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connector shell 23. The O-ring 27 has a water-tight and air-tight structure to prevent moisture or steam from entering from a fitting portion with the connector shell 23.

The insulator fixing frame 24 is provided with a convex portion protruding radially outward, and a convex portion protruding radially inward of the fixing ring 28 between the convex portion and the front end of the connector shell 23. Is rotatably sandwiched. A fixing screw is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the fixing ring 28 so as to be detachably attached to the connector receiver.

A contact pin 29 is inserted into each contact pin mounting hole of the insulator 25, and each contact pin 2
9 has its tip protruding from the surface of the insulator 25,
The rear end is held so as to protrude from the back surface of the insulator 25.

The front end of the insulator fixing frame 24 has contact pins 29 protruding from the surface of the insulator 25.
The contact pins 29 project forward and prevent the contact pins 29 from being deformed or broken.

At the rear end of each contact pin 29 protruding from the back surface of the insulator 25, a signal line exposed from the end of the camera cable 3 through a circular opening of the connector shell 23 is connected and fixed by soldering. In the vicinity of the circular opening of the connector shell 23, a cable stopper is attached so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the camera cable 3 and to prevent the cable from coming off.

The connector shell 23 is also provided with an opening on the outer peripheral surface. The sealing resin 30 made of the above-described material having a sealing function is filled in the connector shell 23 from the opening, and Around the end, around the soldered portion between the signal line and the contact pin 29, around the contact pin 29
And the contact pin mounting hole, the fitting portion between the insulator 25 and the insulator fixing frame 24, and the screwing portion between the insulator fixing frame 24 and the connector shell 23 are sealed.

As described above, the connector 4 at the end of the camera cable 3 also has a structure having watertight and airtight functions. FIG. 3 shows an endoscope system 31 having the first embodiment.

The endoscope system 31 includes a rigid endoscope 32
A camera external endoscope 33 including the external TV camera 1 mounted on the rigid endoscope 32; a light source device 34 for supplying illumination light to the rigid endoscope 32;
A camera control unit (abbreviated as CCU) 35 for performing signal processing on the V camera 1;
5 and a monitor 36 for displaying a video signal output from
TR37, and the VTR 37 is an insulating transformer 3
8 to a commercial power supply.

The rigid endoscope 32 has an elongated and rigid insertion portion 41, a large-diameter grip portion 42 connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 41, and a rear end of the grip portion 42. Eyepiece 43, and a base provided on the side of the grip 42,
A light guide cable 45 is connected to this base, and a connector 4 provided at an end of the light guide cable 45 is provided.
6 can be detachably connected to the light source device 34.

By connecting the connector 46 of the light guide cable 45 to the light source device 34, the white light from the lamp 47 in the light source device 34 is irradiated on the end face of the light guide via the condenser lens 48 and the diaphragm 49. The illumination light transmitted by this light guide is transmitted to the rigid endoscope 3.
The light is supplied to the light guide in the light source 2 and is emitted forward from the illumination window at the distal end of the insertion portion 41 to illuminate the subject.

The aperture 49 is controlled by an exposure controller 51. The exposure controller 51 is connected to the CCU 35 by a light control cable 52,
The aperture of the diaphragm 49 is controlled by a light control signal from the CCU 35 side.

With the illumination light emitted from the illumination window,
The illuminated subject is formed by an objective lens (not shown) provided at the distal end, and the formed image is transmitted to the eyepiece 43 side by a relay optical system so that it can be magnified and observed through the eyepiece 53. Has become.

A camera head 2 forming the external camera 1 can be detachably attached to the eyepiece 43 via an adapter 5. An imaging optical system 54 is provided inside the adapter 5 and forms an optical image on the CCD 9. The CCD 9 transmits the photoelectrically converted image signal by a signal line in the camera cable 3 and is input to the video signal processing circuit 56 in the CCU 35 via the connector 4 and the connector receiver 55 to which the connector 4 is attached.

The video signal processing circuit 56 operates with a DC of a predetermined voltage supplied from the power supply circuit 57, generates a Y / C separated video signal and an NTSC video signal, and outputs a Y / C output terminal 58 and an NTSC video signal. Each video signal is output from the output terminal 59, an endoscope image captured by the CCD 9 is displayed on the monitor 36, and the VTR 37 records the video signal.

An operation panel 6 is provided on the front of the CCU 35.
By operating the operation panel 61, it is possible to change the enhancement level of the contour enhancement amount, or to give an instruction to increase or decrease the level of the illumination light amount.
By operating a contour enhancement operation switch or the like, the instruction signal is input to the video signal processing circuit 56, and the enhancement level of the contour enhancement circuit is changed.

When the illumination light amount adjustment switch on the operation panel 61 is operated, the instruction signal is input to the automatic light adjustment circuit 62, and the reference level of the illumination light amount is changed according to the operation of the switch. A luminance signal is input from the video signal processing circuit 56 to the automatic dimming circuit 62, the luminance signal is compared with a reference level, and an error signal thereof is output from a write control signal output terminal 63 as a write control signal.
The aperture of the diaphragm 49 is controlled via the exposure controller 51.

When the rigid endoscope 32 inserted into the body cavity when used for endoscopy with the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is reliably sterilized in a short time by high temperature and high pressure steam by an autoclave device. Can be sterilized.

The external TV camera 1 of the first embodiment, together with the rigid endoscope 32, can be reliably sterilized in a short time by a sterilization process in high-temperature and high-pressure steam by an autoclave device.

In this case, since the external camera 1 of the first embodiment has a structure in which the camera head 2 is made airtight by the sealing resin 7 or the like as described above, vapor enters the CCD 9 or the like. Is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the contacts and the like from being short-circuited by the steam, and it is possible to reliably prevent the characteristics from being deteriorated by the invading steam.

Also, even if steam enters the outer jacket of the camera cable 3, since the periphery of the end portion is sealed with the sealing resin 7, short-circuiting of the contact pin receiver 15 and the like can be reliably prevented. it can.

The connector 4 connected to the CCU 35
Are also sealed with the sealing resin 30 or the like, so that the contact pins 29
Is prevented from entering the inside of the connector 4 which is connected to the signal line.

Accordingly, the sterilization time can be greatly reduced, and emergency sterilization can be dealt with. For this reason, if it takes time to perform the disinfecting process using a chemical solution, a large number of external TV cameras need to be prepared and put in place. it can.

Further, since it has a watertight structure, in an environment where an autoclave device cannot be used, disinfection can be performed with a chemical solution as in the conventional case. Further, as described above, the camera head 2 is connected to the CCD 9 using the internal connector 6.
Since the camera cable 3 and the camera cable 3 are connected to each other, the present invention can be applied to the case where the number of pixels of the CCD 9 is different.

For example, when it is necessary to manufacture an external TV camera having a different number of pixels, when only the CCD 9 is different or when the size is different, only the camera head body 8 is replaced, and the other parts can be used similarly. Thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Further, replacement of the CCD 9 in the event of a failure becomes easy. The space in which the substrate 11 in FIG. 2 is stored may be filled with the sealing resin 7.

FIG. 4 shows an external TV camera 71 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a structure in which water leakage inside the camera cable 3 can be checked.

A hollow contact pin 72 is attached to the insulator 25 of the connector 4 so as to penetrate the insulator 25, and one end of a tube 73 is attached to the contact pin 72 projecting from the back of the insulator 25. I have.

The tube 73 is inserted through, for example, the inside of the camera cable 3, and the other end is open, for example, near the inside of the cover 20 of the camera head 2. The contact pins 72 projecting from the back surface of the insulator 25 are provided with a gore sheet 74 that allows gas to pass through but does not allow water to pass through, thereby preventing water from entering the tube 73.

An air supply tube of an air supply jig (not shown) can be connected to the contact pin 72 protruding from the surface of the insulator 25. The air supply tube is connected to the camera cable 3 when checking for water leakage inside the camera cable 3. Then, this embodiment is put in water, and air is sent into the tube 73 through the contact pins 72 by an air supply jig.

Cracks, cracks, etc. in the jacket of the camera cable 3
When a pinhole or the like is generated, air leaks from the portion to the outside of the jacket and can be observed as bubbles, and a water leak check can be performed based on whether or not bubbles are observed. In addition, it is possible to know the water leakage portion from the position where the bubble is generated. The functions and effects other than the function of checking for water leakage are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an external TV camera 80 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The external TV camera 80 includes a camera head 81, a flexible camera cable 82 extending from the camera head 81, and the connector 4 attached to an end of the camera cable 82.

The camera head 81 has a rigid endoscope 3 at its tip.
An imaging unit 86 is attached to a head exterior frame 84 provided with a mount unit 83 to be attached to the second eyepiece 43 by, for example, screws, and an imaging unit 86 inside the head exterior frame 84 is provided.
Of the camera cable 82 connected to the image pickup unit 86 and the periphery of the portion housed inside the head exterior frame 84 are sealed with a sealing resin 85 filled inside the head exterior frame 84. The sealing resin 85 is formed of a resin having a low thermal conductivity.

An end of a cylindrical lens frame 87 forming the image pickup unit 86 is fixed to the head exterior frame 84. The lens frame 87 is provided with a step on its inner peripheral surface, and a sealing member 88 is provided.
And the imaging lens 89 is fixed with screws.

The lens frame 87 is formed of, for example, a heat insulating member such as ceramics having a low thermal conductivity, and a metal CCD having a shielding function is provided at the rear end of the lens frame 87.
The CCD 91 is fixed via the frame 90.

A signal line exposed from one end of the camera cable 82 is connected to a lead projecting from the back surface of the CCD 91 by soldering or the like. Also, the camera cable 82
The shield line covering all signal lines of the CCD frame 90
It is connected to the.

The inside of the CCD frame 90 is also sealed with a sealing resin 92. This sealing resin 92 is formed of the material described in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the camera cable 82
Since the lead of D91 is connected without mounting via a connector, the structure and operation are simpler than in the first embodiment, and the operation and effect of the sterilization by the autoclave device are achieved. Further, in this embodiment, the outside of the imaging unit 86 is formed with a thick portion of the sealing resin 85 having a small thermal conductivity, so that it is possible to prevent the temperature of the CCD 91 from rising during sterilization by an autoclave device. It is possible to prevent the characteristics of the CCD 91 from being deteriorated by heat.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the third embodiment. In the external TV camera 95 of this modified example, the camera head 81 is formed using a sealing resin mold portion 96 in which the head exterior frame 84 and the sealing resin 85 of the third embodiment are integrated with a sealing resin. . Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment. This modification can be manufactured more easily than the third embodiment, and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 7 shows a camera head 97 of an external TV camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, for example, in FIG. 5, the lead on the back surface of the CCD 91 is mounted with an electronic circuit element 98 and is connected by soldering to a substrate 99 on which an electric circuit is formed. CCD on the back of this CCD 91
The inside of the frame body 90 is filled with a sealing resin 92 to seal around the electric circuit.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 8 below, a structure in which the periphery of the imaging section is sealed with a sealing resin may also be applied to the rigid electronic endoscope.

FIG. 8 shows a main part of the rigid electronic endoscope 101. In the rigid electronic endoscope 101, a rigid insertion portion 103 is formed by an outer tube 102 formed of a metal tube, and a light guide 104 for transmitting illumination light supplied from a light source device (not shown) is inserted into the outer tube 102. The distal end of the light guide 104 is fixed to the frame 106 of the illumination unit 105 attached to the illumination window at the distal end of the insertion unit.

The frame 106 is fixed to the opening at the distal end of the outer tube 102, and an illumination lens 107 is fixed inside the distal end of the frame 106 so as to face the distal end surface of the light guide 104 with a sealing material interposed therebetween. The illumination light emitted from the distal end surface of the light guide 104 is emitted so as to expand forward.

The illuminated object can be obtained by the image pickup unit 108 attached to the observation window adjacent to the illumination window. That is, the imaging unit 10 is provided in the observation window.
An objective lens 110 is fixed to the lens frame 109 with a sealing material interposed therebetween, and an object image is formed on the focal plane by the objective lens 110. At the rear end side of the lens frame 109, the CCD frame 11
1 is fixed, and the CC attached to the CCD frame 111 is
D112 is fixed to be located at the focal plane.

The signal lines of the signal cable 113 are connected to the leads projecting from the rear surface of the CCD 112 by soldering, and the proximal side of the signal cable 113 is connected to the CCU via the connector 4 of FIG. 1, for example. . As shown in FIG. 8, a sealing resin 1
14 is filled, and the periphery other than the front surface of the illumination unit 105 and the periphery other than the front surface of the imaging unit 108 are sealed.

FIG. 9 shows a rigid electronic endoscope 10 according to a modification of FIG.
The main part of 1 'is shown. In this modification, the sealing resin 114 in FIG. 8 is filled not only in the vicinity of the distal end but also in the insertion portion 103 behind the distal end. In this modification, the sealing resin 114 also has the function of the outer tube 102 in FIG. Others are the same as the fourth embodiment. Incidentally, the imaging unit 108 of the above-described rigid electronic endoscopes 101 and 101 'may have a structure as shown below.

FIG. 10A shows, for example, the image pickup section 108 of FIG.
In the above, a substrate 122 on which an electric circuit element 121 such as a chip resistor is mounted is connected by soldering to a lead on the back surface of the CCD 112, and a signal line of a signal cable 113 is connected to this substrate 122 or lead by soldering. Show.
In FIG. 8, the CC fixed to the lens frame 109
The D frame 111 is deformed.

That is, the front end side of the CCD frame 111 is fitted into the lens frame 109, and the CCD 11 of the CCD frame 111 is
CCD with the front end protruding from the front of 2
An O-ring 124 is interposed between the protective glass 112a and the protective glass 112a for sealing.

The other structure is the same as that of FIG. With such a structure, when a high temperature state is set as in the case of sterilization by an autoclave device, C
The O-ring 1 prevents the flux on the back side of the CD 112 from flowing to the front side of the CCD 112 even if the flux at the time of soldering is vaporized.
24 can prevent this.

For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the flux wrapping around the surface of the CCD 112 from condensing or sticking to the protective glass 112a, thereby lowering the imaging function.

FIG. 10B shows a main part of the first modification of FIG. 10A. In the first modification, the O-ring 124 shown in FIG. 10A is provided so as to be pressed against the side surface of the CCD 112 instead of being pressed against the peripheral edge of the front surface of the CCD 112.
According to this modification, it is possible to prevent the imaging area of the CCD 112 from being reduced, and the other functions are almost the same as those in FIG.

FIG. 10C shows a main part of the second modification of FIG. 10A. In the second modification, the O-ring 124 in FIG. 10A is provided on the rear end of the lens frame 109 instead of being provided on the CCD frame 111. The function of the second modification is almost the same as that of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sealing resin 92 filled around the substrate 99 may be used to prevent the vaporized flux from flowing toward the front surface of the CCD or to prevent the flux from being vaporized.

Also, when a substrate is not used, as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG.
To prevent the adverse effect of the flux.

In the first embodiment, for example, only the camera head 2 side is sealed with the sealing resin 7 or the like, and the connector 4 side is not airtight. To cover the connector 4 side.

Although the first embodiment and the like have described an external TV camera that can be mounted on a rigid endoscope, the present invention is also applicable to a camera that can be mounted and used on a flexible endoscope having a flexible insertion portion. Applicable. In addition, by replacing the adapter, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the adapter can be used without any need. Further, a combination of each of the above-described embodiments and the like in a partial manner also belongs to the present invention.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inside of the connector shell of the camera head accommodating the image pickup device is sealed with a sealing resin having high temperature and high pressure resistance, and steam is applied from the end of the camera cable. Is prevented from entering, so that even when sterilization is performed by an autoclave device, short-circuiting of contact pins and the like inside the camera head can be prevented, and sterilization can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an external TV camera as an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a sectional structure of the external TV camera.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope system.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a camera head of an external TV camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a main part of the rigid electronic endoscope.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a modified example of the rigid electronic endoscope in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the imaging unit in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... External TV camera 2 ... Camera head 3 ... Camera cable 4 ... Connector 5 ... Adapter 6 ... Internal connector 7, 30 ... Sealing resin 8 ... Camera head body 9 ... CCD 11 ... Substrate 12, 29 ... Contact pin 13, 14 ... Insulator 15 ... Contact pin receiver 16 ... Connector shell 25 ... Insulator

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Omachi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Uehara, the inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Masahiro Hagiwara, 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-129872 (JP, A) JP-A-61-177414 (JP, A) JP-A-63-259613 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 87110 (JP, A) JP-A-63-177833 (JP, A) JP-A-57-177057 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1 / 00-1 / 32 G02B 23/24-23/26

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An eyepiece of an endoscope inserted into a body cavity.
Subsequently, an imaging device capable of capturing an optical image formed on the eyepiece unit.
In an endoscope imaging apparatus having an imaging element , the imaging apparatus is provided behind the imaging element and holds the imaging element.
A first insulator extending to a rear side of the first insulator, and
Contact pin for outputting an image signal picked up by the image element
And the contact pin has a detachable contact pin receiver.
A second insulator disposed behind the first insulator.
, The second insulator and the first insulator
And the second insulation stored therein.
Shell part having a first storage part formed behind the
If, provided at an end portion of the rear of the shell portion, the first housing
A first opening communicating with the first opening , the first opening being inserted into the first opening,
A cable connected to the contact pin receiver, and a cable provided on a side portion of the shell portion and connected to the first storage portion.
A second opening through which the first storage portion is filled through the second opening;
Filler covering the second opening and a rear portion of the shell portion.
And a part of the cable behind the shell portion
A cover member of a predetermined shape extending so as to cover the cover member, and a cover member provided between the cover member and a part of the cable.
A first sealing member for hermetically sealing and the first insulator housed in the shell portion.
A second storage unit capable of storing the held image sensor;
A mouth portion fitted to the front portion of the shell portion; and the front portion of the shell portion fitted with the mouth portion.
A second airtight seal provided between the mouth and the mouth;
A sealing member, and the imaging element housed in the second housing part of the mouth part
It was provided in front of the mouth so that the imaging light could enter the child
An imaging device for an endoscope , comprising: a window; and a cover glass that hermetically seals the window .