JP3286252B2 - Endoscope 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 apparatus improved so as to enable autoclave sterilization (high-pressure and high-temperature steam sterilization) without any trouble.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field today, observing a deep part in a body cavity by inserting a slender insertion portion into the body cavity or the like, or performing a medical treatment or the like by using a treatment tool as necessary. Endoscopes that can operate are becoming widely used. In these medical endoscopes, it is essential to surely disinfect and sterilize the used endoscope in order to prevent infectious diseases and the like.

Conventionally, this disinfection and sterilization treatment has relied on a gas such as ethylene oxide gas or a disinfecting solution. However, as is well known, sterilization gases are highly toxic, and sterilization work is performed to ensure the safety of the sterilization work. Is complicated. Further, in this gas sterilization, there is a problem that an endoscope cannot be used immediately after sterilization because it takes time for aeration for removing gas adhering to the equipment after the sterilization. Further, such gas sterilization has a problem that the running cost is high.

On the other hand, in the case of sterilization using a disinfecting solution, there is a problem that management of the disinfecting solution is complicated, and a great deal of expense is required for disposal processing of the disinfecting solution.

[0005] Therefore, recently, endoscope devices can be used immediately after sterilization without complicated work.
In addition, autoclave sterilization (high-pressure, high-temperature, steam sterilization) with low running cost is becoming mainstream.

[0006] Typical conditions for autoclave sterilization include the American Standards Association approval and the American Standards ANSI / AAMI ST37-1992 issued by the Medical Device Development Association.
4 minutes, 132 ° C in the sterilization process for the gravity type
10 minutes.

However, the high-pressure high-temperature steam of the autoclave contains rubber, which is a member constituting the endoscope,
It has the property of transmitting polymer materials such as plastics, adhesives and the like. Therefore, when a conventional endoscope is put into an autoclave and sterilized, water vapor also penetrates into the watertight endoscope structure by a general method such as an O-ring or an adhesive. Will be.

In the autoclave sterilization, during the vacuum step before the sterilization step, in order to prevent the outer tube from being ruptured at the bending portion, it is necessary to put the inside and outside of the endoscope into the autoclave sterilization apparatus in a state of communication. General. In this case, the steam of the autoclave sterilization actively enters the endoscope.

For example, when an endoscope in which an objective lens is fixed with an adhesive as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-96616 (Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-34500) is subjected to autoclave sterilization, the adhesive is used. The water vapor penetrates into the objective lens unit through. Therefore, when such an endoscope is sterilized in an autoclave and taken out of the room and peeped through the eyepiece, it appears that the lens is cloudy and fog is white. This fog gradually clears and a normal observation image can be obtained.

However, since the endoscope cannot be used while the lens is fogged as described above, the examination by the endoscope cannot be performed, which is extremely inconvenient. In addition, repeated autoclave sterilization,
When the operation is performed continuously for a long time, not the fog as described above, but large water droplets appear in the optical system, and the observation image of the endoscope is significantly impaired.

Furthermore, multi-component glass having good workability, which is a general lens glass material, is deteriorated by steam in an autoclave. When the steam enters the endoscope, the glass material itself is deteriorated, resulting in poor visual field. There is also a problem that causes.

The above-mentioned phenomenon is caused by the fact that the CC
The same applies to an electronic endoscope using D. For example, as shown in JP-A-59-129050,
There is a problem that water vapor penetrates into the objective lens unit arranged on the end face of the CD image incident end, and the image on the monitor does not show a normal image due to clouding of the objective lens or the like.

[0013]

As described above, when an optical endoscope or an electronic endoscope is subjected to autoclave sterilization, which is high-pressure and high-temperature steam sterilization, rubber, which is a member constituting these endoscopes, Since the synthetic resin or the adhesive transmits the water vapor, the water vapor penetrates into an optical system such as an eyepiece lens or an objective lens which is hermetically sealed through the synthetic resin or the adhesive, thereby fogging the optical system or adhering water droplets. In addition, there is a problem that the glass material forming the optical system itself is deteriorated to cause a poor visual field.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents the steam from entering the optical system inside the sealed endoscope even when the autoclave is sterilized with high pressure and high temperature steam. It is another object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus in which the visual field of the optical system is not fogged or the visual field is not deteriorated due to deterioration or the like.

[0015]

The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION includes an imaging device that captures a subject image, receiving said image sensor
In the endoscope apparatus having an objective lens for imaging the subject image to the optical surface, the object image the objective lens
A first cover glass for guiding the figure, the first cover
-A first cover having a joint for hermetically joining with glass
Keeping the glass frame, the first cover glass frame and airtight
Carefully take care of the second cover glass frame to be joined and the objective lens.
Airtight with the second cover glass frame for tight sealing
Keeps and joins, and transparent bonding without air layer
The objective lens is fixed in close contact with the light receiving surface using an agent.
Cover cover for guiding the subject image from the camera to the light receiving surface.
And a lath . Further, <br/> endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging device that captures a subject image, the shooting
An objective lens for forming the subject image on the light receiving surface of the image element.
In the endoscope apparatus having a lens, before the object image
A first cover glass for directing the serial objective lens, wherein
A second guide for guiding the subject image from the objective lens to the light receiving surface;
2 and the first cover glass in an airtight manner.
The first joining portion to be joined and the second cover glass are air-tight.
It has a second joining portion that is tightly joined, and
Closely sealed objective frame and transparent bonding without air layer
Is tightly fixed to the light receiving surface using an
The second cover cover using a transparent adhesive so that
A third cover glass that is tightly fixed to the lath .

[0016]

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

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic endoscope, and FIG. 2 is an insertion section of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the distal end portion, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a method of assembling the imaging unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope 1 used in the present embodiment is provided with an elongated insertion section 2 and is provided at a hand side of the insertion section 2 so as to be gripped by an operator for various operations. And a universal cord 4 extending from the operation unit 3
And A connector 5 is provided at the other end of the universal cord 4 so as to be connected to a light source device and a camera control unit (CCU) (not shown). Note that a light guide connector 6 is connected to the light source device, and a camera connector 7 is connected to the CCU.

The insertion section 2 has a flexible tube 10 having flexibility connected to the operation section, a bending section 9 connected to the distal end of the flexible tube 10, and a distal end of the bending section. And a distal end portion 8 provided continuously. In addition, the operation unit 3 is provided with a bending operation lever 11, a treatment instrument insertion port 12 for inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end 8 of the insertion section 2 has a metal distal end body 13, a distal end cover 14, and a mounting hole formed in the distal end main body 13 and the distal end cover 14. The imaging unit 15 includes an inserted and fixed imaging unit 15 and a light guide 91. The tip cover 14 also plays a role of insulation, and is preferably made of a material having insulation, heat resistance, and water resistance, such as polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenyl sulfone, and polyether ether ketone.

The image pickup unit 15 includes an objective lens 16 for forming an image of a subject, an optical filter 17 such as an infrared cut filter, and a CCD 18 for taking an image of the formed subject.
And a board 19 on which electronic components such as a capacitor and an IC for processing an electric signal from the CCD 18 are mounted, and a CCD cable 20 connected to the board 19. That is, with this configuration, the CCD 18, the substrate 1
9. The CCD cable 20 serves as an image transmitting means for transmitting the subject image formed by the objective lens 16. The objective lens unit 21 including the objective lens 16
Are arranged at the end of the image input section of the CCD 18.

The objective lens unit 21 includes a front cover glass 22 made of sapphire, a front cover glass frame 23 made of metal, an insulating frame 24 made of ceramics, a rear cover glass 25 made of sapphire, and a rear cover glass 25 made of metal. The whole is surrounded by the end cover glass frame 26, and the joint portion 27 of these members is hermetically joined by a method such as soldering, brazing, or laser welding. That is, the entire objective lens unit 21 is hermetically sealed.

The sapphire or ceramic joint surface is provided with a metal coat 28 such as gold plating, nickel plating or the like for enabling soldering, brazing, laser welding and the like. Also, members such as a metal cover glass frame are provided with a metal coat 28 such as gold plating or nickel plating to make soldering and brazing easier. The optical filter 17 is inserted and fixed to the rear end cover glass frame 26. The insulating frame 24 insulates the front cover glass frame 23 and the rear cover glass frame 26 from each other.

Next, a method of assembling the imaging unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the insulating frame 24 and the rear end cover glass 2
The rear end cover glass frame 26 to which 5 is fixed by brazing or the like is fixed by brazing or the like. Thereafter, the objective lens unit 21 is inserted into the insulating frame 24, and the CCD 18 is further fixed to the rear end cover glass 25 with a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer. At that time, CCD18
Are aligned and fixed so that the central axis of the objective lens 16 matches the central axis of the objective lens 16.

Thereafter, the objective lens unit 21 is slid in the direction of the optical axis to perform focusing with the CCD 18, and the objective lens unit 21 is fixed to the insulating frame 24 with an adhesive or the like when the focus is achieved.

Thereafter, the front cover glass frame 23 to which the front cover glass 22 is joined by brazing or the like is joined to the insulating frame 24 by soldering or the like, and the entire objective lens unit 21 is hermetically sealed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a heat-shrinkable tube 30 is coated between the rear end cover glass frame 26 and the CCD cable 20, and the heat-shrinkable tube 30 is filled with an adhesive 31.

When the electronic endoscope 1 provided with the imaging unit 15 having such a configuration is subjected to high-pressure and high-temperature autoclave sterilization, steam infiltrates the inside of the endoscope via an O-ring, an adhesive, a resin part and the like. . However, since the objective lens unit 21 disposed at the end of the image input unit of the CCD 18 is hermetically sealed as described above, vapor does not enter into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, water vapor or water droplets do not adhere to the optical members such as the objective lens 16 and the filter 17, and these optical members do not fog.

Further, the CCD 18 and the rear end cover glass 25
Is fixed tightly by a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer, so that there is no dew condensation between the two.

With this configuration, even if the electronic endoscope is subjected to high-pressure and high-temperature autoclave sterilization, optical members such as an objective lens in an air-tightly closed space arranged at the end of the image input unit of the CCD. Fogging and adhesion of water droplets can be prevented, and further, image defects due to deterioration of the lens glass material do not occur.

Next, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described.

As a method for hermetically sealing the objective lens unit 21, for example, one or a plurality of metals, ceramics, glass, and sapphire are selected as the material of the partition member of the objective lens unit 21 instead of the above configuration. If the space has a configuration in which one or more are selected from metal welding and joining by molten glass as a joining means and used, the space becomes a hermetically sealed space. Examples of the metal welding include fusion welding such as laser welding, brazing, brazing such as soldering, and pressure welding such as resistance welding.

Since elastomers such as plastic, rubber and thermoplastic elastomer transmit gas such as water vapor, they cannot be hermetically sealed by using these members for the partition walls. In addition, since a general adhesive also transmits gas such as water vapor, if an adhesive is used for a joint, it cannot be hermetically sealed. In particular, since silicone rubber has a very high vapor permeability, if it is a closed space where silicone rubber is used for the partition wall, silicone O-ring is used for the seal part, or silicone adhesive is used for the joint part, it is sealed watertight. Even if it is removed, the space becomes very easy for gas such as water vapor to permeate.

For this reason, when an adhesive is unavoidably used, it is necessary to use a special adhesive that hardly transmits vapor, such as a ceramic adhesive. There is also a method in which a silica layer converted from silazane is used as an adhesive, and airtightly bonded.

It is also effective to apply a gas barrier coating to the surface of the joint with an adhesive or to the surface of a vapor-permeable partition wall made of plastic or the like. If this coating is transparent, it can coat the entire objective lens unit, but if it is non-transparent, it is necessary to perform the coating operation with a mask so as not to coat the optical path part of the cover glass . Examples of the coating include a silica coating that is converted from silazane as a transparent material, and a parylene resin coating. Non-transparent coatings include metal deposition coatings such as aluminum deposition coatings and solder dip coatings.
Examples of the soldering agent include an In-based soldering agent, an In-Sn-based soldering agent, an As-Sn-based soldering agent, and a Pb-Sn-based soldering agent. In addition, the effect can be obtained by other ceramic coatings and the like.

Further, disposing a water-absorbing member inside the objective lens unit 21 is also effective in preventing fogging of the lens. Generally, when airtightly sealed, it is bonded so that moisture does not enter the space to be sealed, but even if it is sealed with a little moisture,
Since the water-absorbing member absorbs moisture, the lens surface does not condense even when the endoscope is cooled. The water-absorbing member may be removable.

Second Embodiment The second embodiment is a further modification of the first embodiment, and facilitates the alignment between the center axis of the CCD 18 and the center axis of the objective lens 16. This is the configuration.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The CCD 18 is covered with the CCD cover glass 32.
Are aligned with respect to the central axis and are tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer.

Then, the rear end cover glass 25 is hermetically sealed by brazing or the like not at the end of the rear end cover glass frame 26 but at a position having the fitting portion 26a at the end of the rear end cover glass frame 26. It is fixed to. The fitting portion 26a of the rear end cover glass frame 26 has the CCD cover glass 3
2 is inserted, and the rear end cover glass 25 and the CCD cover glass 32 are tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 so that there is no air layer.

Since the center axis of the objective lens 16 and the center axis of the rear end cover glass frame 26 coincide with each other, this configuration makes it possible to easily align the center axis of the CCD 18 with the center axis of the objective lens 16. Becomes

As shown in a perspective view in FIG. 5, a notch 26b is provided in the fitting portion 26a of the rear end cover glass frame 26, and the CCD cover glass 32 and the rear end cover glass 25 are connected to each other. When tightly fixed by the adhesive 29, the excess adhesive 29 flows out from the notch 26b, so that air bubbles and the like do not remain between the CCD cover glass 32 and the rear end cover glass 25. ing.

In the configuration of this modification, when the endoscope is subjected to autoclave sterilization of high-pressure and high-temperature steam, steam enters the inside of the endoscope via an O-ring, an adhesive, a resin component, and the like.

However, since the objective lens unit 21 disposed at the end of the image input section of the CCD 18 is hermetically sealed as described above, vapor does not enter into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, the objective lens 1
Water droplets do not adhere to optical members such as 6 and the filter 17 so that the optical members do not fog.

The CCD 18 and the CCD cover glass 3
Since the rear cover glass 2 and the rear end cover glass 25 are tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 so as not to have an air layer, there is no dew condensation between these members.

According to this configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the CC
Alignment of the center axis of D with the center axis of the objective lens can be facilitated. Third Embodiment This embodiment is a configuration in the case where the objective lens 16 is a focusless optical system.

Also in this configuration, as shown in FIG.
At the end of the image input section of the CCD 18 in which the CCD cover glass 32 is tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 so as to have no air layer, the airtightly sealed objective lens unit 21 is closed by the transparent adhesive 29 without the air layer. It is fixed tightly.

The objective lens unit 21 includes a metal or ceramic object frame 33 and a metal coat 28 applied to the outer periphery as a joint, which is air-tightly fixed to the tip of the object frame 33 by brazing or the like. The sapphire front cover glass 22, the sapphire rear cover glass 25 which is also airtightly fixed to the rear end of the objective frame 33, the objective frame 33, the front cover glass 22,
The objective lens 16 and the spacing ring 34 disposed inside a space hermetically sealed by the rear end cover glass 25.
And is constituted by. FIG. 6 shows a joint 27 that is hermetically joined by metal welding such as brazing, soldering, or laser welding.

In this configuration, since the position of the objective lens 16 is set by the spacing ring 34 so as to be in focus with the CCD 18, there is no need to separately perform focus adjustment during assembly.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained, and further, it is not necessary to perform air-tight joining such as soldering and brazing with the CCD attached. Good assemblability.

Fourth Embodiment In this embodiment, an endoscope is applied to an optical endoscope, not an electronic endoscope. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion section using an image guide fiber as an image transmission unit.

In this embodiment, an airtightly sealed objective lens unit 37 is tightly fixed to the tip of the image guide fiber 36, that is, the end of the image input section, with a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer. I have. The objective lens unit 37 includes a metal objective frame 38 and a sapphire tip that is hermetically fixed to the tip end of the objective frame 38 by brazing or the like, and has a metal coating on the outer periphery serving as a joint. Cover glass 39 and objective frame 38
Sapphire rear end cover glass 40 air-tightly fixed to the rear end, the objective frame 38 and the cover glass 3
It comprises an objective lens 41 and a spacing ring 42 arranged inside a space hermetically sealed by 9 and 40.

In this configuration, the spacing ring 42
Since the position of the objective lens 41 is set so as to be in focus with respect to the end of the image input section of the image guide fiber 36, it is not necessary to adjust the focus at the time of separate assembly.

Note that the rear end cover glass 40 is
Is fixed to the end of the objective frame 38 without the fitting portion 38a. The base 43 of the image guide fiber 36 is inserted and fixed to the fitting portion 38a formed at the end of the objective frame 38. With this configuration, the center axis of the objective lens 41 and the center axis of the image guide fiber 36 match.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a mask evaporation cover glass 44 is fixed to the end of the image output section of the image guide fiber 36. As shown in FIG. 10, the mask evaporation cover glass 44 has a black evaporation material 45 such as chromium oxide deposited thereon to form a visual field mask. As a result, a portion where the deposition material 45 is not deposited becomes a visual field range of the observer. Note that an UP index 44a is provided on the visual field mask so that the observer can understand the UP direction.

This mask vapor-deposited cover glass 44 corresponds to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the image guide fiber 36 is closely fixed to the end of the image output portion by a transparent silicone adhesive 46 so that there is no air layer.

Further, at the end of the image output section of the image guide fiber 36, there is provided an eyepiece unit 47 that is slightly away from the mask evaporation cover glass 44 and hermetically sealed. The eyepiece unit 47 is made up of a metal eyepiece frame 48 and a sapphire eyepiece which is hermetically fixed to the tip of the eyepiece frame 48 by brazing or the like, and which is provided with a metal coat on the outer periphery serving as a joint. A front cover glass 49, a sapphire eyepiece rear cover glass 50 also airtightly fixed to the rear end of the eyepiece frame 48,
The eyepiece frame 48, an eyepiece lens 51, a spacing ring 52, and a stop member 53 disposed inside a space hermetically sealed by cover glasses 49 and 50.

An eyepiece unit 55 including the eyepiece lens unit 47 and the eyepiece 54 is configured to be detachable from an endoscope main body 56 including the image guide fiber 36.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the illumination lens unit 58 hermetically sealed at the exit end of the light guide fiber 57 is tightly fixed with a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer. ing. The illumination lens unit 58 includes a metal illumination frame 59 and a sapphire tip with a metal coat applied to the outer periphery serving as a joint, which is air-tightly fixed to the tip of the illumination frame 59 by brazing or the like. A lighting cover glass 60, a rear-end lighting cover glass 61 made of sapphire, which is also air-tightly fixed to a rear end of the lighting frame 59, and a space hermetically sealed by the lighting frame 59 and the cover glasses 60, 61. And an illumination lens 62 disposed therein.

The light guide fiber 57 and the illumination lens unit 58 are inserted and fixed in the mounting holes provided in the distal end forming portion 63 of the insertion portion, respectively. It is supposed to be.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connector section 65 connected to the light source device.
An illumination light incident end optical member unit 66 that is hermetically sealed is fixed to the incident end of the light-receiving end 7 by a transparent adhesive 29 so that there is no air layer.

The illumination light incident end optical member unit 66
Is a metal rod lens frame 67 and two cover glasses made of sapphire, which are hermetically fixed to both ends of the rod lens frame 67 by brazing or the like, and which are provided with a metal coat on the outer periphery serving as a joint. 68, a rod lens frame 67, and a rod lens 69 disposed inside a space hermetically sealed by a cover glass 68. The rod lens 69 is formed of a single fiber of multi-component glass, and has an effect of uniformly dispersing the incident light from the light source.

In FIGS. 7 to 11, reference numeral 27 denotes a joint which is hermetically joined by metal welding such as brazing, soldering, or laser welding.

When the endoscope having this configuration is subjected to autoclave sterilization of high-pressure and high-temperature steam, steam enters the endoscope via an O-ring, an adhesive, a resin component, and the like. However, since the objective lens unit 37 disposed at the end of the image input section of the image guide fiber 36 is hermetically sealed, vapor does not enter into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, there is no fogging of the optical member due to water droplets adhering to the optical member such as the objective lens 41.

Further, since the image guide fiber 36 and the rear end cover glass 40 are tightly fixed by the transparent adhesive 29 so as not to have an air layer, water droplets do not condense between the two. Further, since the mask vapor deposition cover glass 44 is tightly fixed to the end of the image output section of the image guide fiber 36 by a transparent adhesive 46 so that there is no air layer, water droplets may condense between the two. There is no.

Further, since the eyepiece lens unit 47 is hermetically sealed, no vapor enters into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, water droplets do not adhere to optical members such as the eyepiece lens 51, and the optical members do not fog.

When water droplets are condensed on the surface on the eyepiece side of the mask evaporation cover glass 44 due to autoclave sterilization, or when water droplets adhere on the surface on the image guide fiber side of the eyepiece cover glass 49 of the eyepiece unit 47. By removing the eyepiece unit 47, these water droplets can be easily wiped off.

Further, since the illumination lens unit 58 disposed at the exit end of the light guide fiber 57 is also hermetically sealed, no vapor enters into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, water droplets do not adhere to optical members such as the illumination lens 62, and the optical members do not fog. Also,
Light guide fiber 57 and rear end illumination cover glass 61
Is tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer, so that water droplets do not condense between the two. Further, since the illumination entrance end lens unit 66 disposed at the entrance end of the light guide fiber 57 is also hermetically sealed, vapor does not enter into this hermetically sealed space. Therefore, water droplets do not adhere to the optical member such as the rod lens 69 and the optical member does not fog.
Also, the light guide fiber 57 and the cover glass 68
Is tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive 29 without an air layer, so that water droplets do not condense between the two.

The following effects can be expected from this embodiment.

Even if the autoclave sterilization is performed, the fogging of the optical members in the airtightly sealed objective lens unit and the eyepiece unit, which are disposed at the image input end and the image output end of the image guide fiber. In addition, the visual field defect due to the deterioration of the lens glass material does not occur.

Further, even if autoclave sterilization is performed, the optical members are closely fixed to the ends of the image input section and the image output section of the image guide fiber so that there is no air layer. There is no possibility that water droplets will be condensed between the optical members to cause poor visual field.

Further, even if water droplets adhere to the mask evaporation cover glass and the eyepiece cover glass by performing autoclave sterilization, the attached water droplets can be wiped off by removing the eyepiece unit.

Further, even if the autoclave sterilization is performed, clouding of the optical member and deterioration of the lens glass material in the airtightly closed space arranged at the emission end and the incidence end of the light guide fiber may cause a problem. Problems such as reduced illumination light and poor light distribution do not occur.

Further, even when autoclaving is performed, since the optical members are tightly fixed to the light input and output ends of the light guide fiber so that there is no air layer, water droplets are formed between the light guide fiber end and the optical members. Does not cause the problems such as reduced illumination light and poor light distribution due to condensation.

Further, the space between the end of the image output section of the image guide fiber 22 and the mask evaporation cover glass 37 is tightly fixed so that there is no air layer, so that interference fringes due to reflection between the two do not occur.

Further, since the mask vapor deposition cover glass 37 is attached to the end of the image output portion of the image guide fiber 22 with a silicon adhesive which is relatively easy to wipe off, the mask vapor deposition glass has good repairability.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the connector section 65 in the above embodiment.

In this modification, the light guide fiber 5
A rod lens 69 is adhered and fixed to the entrance end of 7 by a transparent adhesive 29 so that there is no air layer, and a sapphire entrance cover glass 68 made of sapphire is attached to the rod lens 69 by the transparent adhesive 29. It is tightly fixed so that there is no air layer. Therefore, the optical members other than the exposed surface of the sapphire incident end cover glass 68 have a structure in which the water vapor of the autoclave does not directly attack, and since the optical members are tightly fixed, autoclave sterilization is performed. The structure is such that water droplets do not adhere between the optical members even when the operation is performed. That is, according to this configuration, even if the autoclave sterilization is performed, problems such as a decrease in illumination light and a poor light distribution do not occur.

Fifth Embodiment In a fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a lens unit 74 is formed by a first optical member 71 and a second optical member 72 formed of sapphire.
This is an example in which a transparent adhesive 29 is tightly fixed to the fiber end 73 without an air layer.

The sapphire first optical member 71 and the second optical member 72 are joined by a metal coat 28.
The joints 27 of the two are hermetically joined by welding such as soldering or brazing to form a hermetically sealed lens unit 74.

With this configuration, when autoclave sterilization is performed, since the lens unit disposed at the end of the fiber is airtightly sealed, no vapor enters the airtightly sealed space. Therefore, water droplets do not adhere to the optical member and the optical member does not fog. In addition, since the fiber and the second optical member are tightly fixed by a transparent adhesive without an air layer, water droplets do not condense between the two.

Therefore, even if autoclave sterilization is performed on an endoscope using the lens unit having this configuration, the optical member in the airtightly sealed lens unit, which is disposed at the end of the fiber, is clouded. Functional dysfunction does not occur. Also, even when autoclaving, the optical member is tightly fixed to the end of the fiber so that there is no air layer, so that water droplets may condense between the end of the fiber and the optical member, causing optical dysfunction. There is no.

As a modification of the fifth embodiment, the second embodiment
The optical member 72 and the fiber 73 are tightly fixed by the adhesive 29, but the outer circumference of the fiber 73 and the inner circumference of the second optical member 72 may be airtightly fixed by soldering or the like. In this case, the fiber 73 is preferably a quartz fiber whose core and cladding are made of quartz glass having high heat resistance.

The quartz fiber 73 and the second optical member 72
Is coated with a metal coat 28 to enable soldering.

Incidentally, the fiber 73 may be an image guide fiber or a light guide fiber. Further, FIG.
The CCD 18 may be arranged at this position as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the lens unit 74 is fixedly adhered to the fiber 73 and the CCD 18 using an adhesive. However, the lens unit 74 can be detachably attached to wipe off moisture adhering to a cover glass or the like. You may do so.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an optical endoscope.

The distal end portion 81 of the insertion portion includes a metallic distal end body 82, a distal end cover 83, an objective lens unit 84 inserted and fixed in a mounting hole provided in the distal end cover 83 and the distal end body 82. An illumination lens unit 85 is provided.

The objective lens unit 84 includes the objective frame 8
6, an objective cover glass 87, and an objective lens 88. The objective cover glass 87 is fixed to an objective frame 86 by a ceramic adhesive 89. The image guide fiber 90 is fixed to the image guide fiber base 91 and a ceramic adhesive 89, and further, the image guide fiber base 91 and the objective frame 8 are fixed.
6 is also fixed by a ceramic adhesive 89.

Note that the wires of the image guide fiber 90 are hardened by acid-melting glass.

The illumination lens unit 85 includes the illumination frame 9
2, an illumination cover glass 93, and an illumination lens 94. The illumination cover glass 93 is fixed to an illumination frame 92 by a ceramic adhesive 89. The light guide fiber 95 is fixed to the light guide fiber base 96 and a ceramic adhesive 89, and the light guide fiber base 96 and the illumination frame 92 are also fixed to the ceramic adhesive 89.

Incidentally, the strands of the light guide fiber 95 are fixed with a ceramic adhesive 89.

In this configuration, even when the endoscope is subjected to autoclave sterilization, almost no vapor enters from the joint of the optical members joined by the ceramic adhesive, so that dew condensation does not occur on the optical members.

Therefore, even when the endoscope having this configuration is subjected to autoclave sterilization, almost no vapor enters from the joint of the optical members joined by the ceramic adhesive.
No condensation occurs on the optical member. For this reason, a field of view failure, a reduction in illumination light, etc. do not occur. Further, the optical member can be easily fixed as compared with a method of fixing the optical member by soldering or brazing.

In place of the ceramic adhesive,
The bonding may be performed using a silica layer converted from silazane.

Further, a ceramic adhesive and a silica layer converted from silazane may be used in combination.

Further, other joining methods such as soldering and brazing may be used together with the ceramic adhesive and the silica layer converted from silazane.

[Appendix] (Appendix 1) In an endoscope apparatus having an image transmitting means for transmitting an object, a lens hermetically sealed at an end of an image input section and / or an end of an image output section of the image transmitting means. An endoscope apparatus comprising a unit.

(Appendix 2) The image transmitting means is an image pickup unit having a solid-state image pickup device, and an airtightly sealed objective lens unit is arranged at an end of an image input section of the solid-state image pickup device. An endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1.

(Additional Item 3) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the image transmission means is an image guide fiber, and a lens unit hermetically sealed is disposed at an end of the image guide fiber. .

(Appendix 4) The image transmission means is an image guide fiber, and an airtightly sealed objective lens unit is disposed at an end of an image input section of the image guide fiber. Endoscope device.

(Appendix 5) The image transmission means is an image guide fiber, and an airtightly sealed eyepiece unit is disposed at an end of an image output section of the image guide fiber. Endoscope device.

(Additional Item 6) An airtightly sealed lens unit is arranged at the end of the image input unit and / or the end of the image output unit of the image transmission means, and there is no air layer between the two. An endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1.

(Additional Item 7) An airtightly sealed lens unit is arranged at the end of the image input unit and / or the end of the image output unit of the image transmitting means, and both are sealed with a transparent adhesive so that there is no air layer. 7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope apparatus is closely fixed.

(Supplementary Note 8) An airtightly sealed lens unit is detachably disposed at an end of an image input unit and / or an end of an image output unit of the image transmission means. Endoscope device.

(Appendix 9) An endoscope apparatus using a fiber as a light guide path, wherein an airtightly sealed lens unit is arranged at an end of the fiber.

(Additional Item 10) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 9, wherein the fiber is an image guide fiber.

(Additional Item 11) The optical fiber according to Additional Item 10, wherein the fiber is an image guide fiber, and an airtightly sealed objective lens unit is disposed at an end of an image input portion of the image guide fiber. Endoscope device.

(Supplementary note 12) The fiber according to Supplementary note 10, wherein the fiber is an image guide fiber, and an airtightly sealed eyepiece unit is arranged at an end of an image output portion of the image guide fiber. Endoscope device.

(Additional Item 13) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 9, wherein the fiber is a light guide fiber.

(Additional Item 14) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the fiber is a light guide fiber, and an airtightly sealed illumination lens unit is disposed at the light guide fiber output end.

(Additional Item 15) The optical fiber according to Additional Item 13, wherein the fiber is a light guide fiber, and an illuminating light incident end optical member unit hermetically sealed is arranged at the light guide fiber incident end. Endoscope device.

(Additional Item 16) An endoscope apparatus according to additional item 9, wherein an airtightly sealed lens unit is arranged at the end of the fiber, and there is no air layer between the two.

(Additional Item 17) An airtightly sealed lens unit is arranged at the end of the fiber, and both are tightly fixed with a transparent adhesive without an air layer. 16. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 16.

(Additional Item 18) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 9, wherein an airtightly sealed lens unit is detachably disposed at the end of the fiber.

(Additional Item 19) In an endoscope apparatus having an image transmitting means for transmitting a subject image, an optical member may be provided at an end of an image input section and / or an end of an image output section of the image transmitting means so that there is no air layer. An endoscope device which is closely fixed.

(Additional Item 20) An endoscope apparatus using a fiber as a light guide path, wherein an optical member is closely fixed to an end of the fiber without an air layer.

(Additional Item 21) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 20 and 21, wherein as the close-contact fixing method without the air layer, close-contact fixing with a transparent adhesive is adopted.

(Additional Item 22) The additional fiber is an image guide fiber, wherein the fiber is an image guide fiber.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.

(Additional Item 23) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 20 and 22, wherein the fiber is a light guide fiber.

(Additional Item 24) The fiber is an image guide fiber, and a cover glass on which a visual field mask is vapor-deposited is fixed to the end face of the image guide fiber on the eyepiece side so as not to have an air layer. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.

(Additional Item 25) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 24, wherein the close fixation is performed by using a transparent silicon-based adhesive.

(Additional Item 26) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 1 and 7, wherein the hermetically sealed lens unit is formed of sapphire.

(Additional Item 27) The airtightly sealed lens unit is formed of a plurality of sapphire parts. As a joining means between the lens unit parts, a metal welding or a joining by molten glass is used. 49. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 49, wherein one or more of the endoscope devices are selected and used.

(Additional Item 28) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item F2, wherein the sapphire component is provided with a metal coat so that metal welding is possible.

(Additional Item 29) As the material of the exterior parts of the hermetically sealed lens unit, one or a plurality of metals, ceramics, glass, and sapphire are selected and used. 10. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more of metal welding and joining by molten glass are selected and used as joining means.

(Additional Item 30) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the metal welding is fusion welding, brazing, or pressure welding.

(Additional Item 31) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 30, wherein the fusion welding is laser welding.

(Additional Item 32) The brazing is performed by brazing,
Item 30. An endoscope apparatus according to Item 30, wherein the material of the exterior part of the hermetically sealed lens unit is metal, ceramic, glass, or the like.
One or more are selected from sapphire and used, and one or more selected from metal welding, molten glass, and bonding by a silica layer are used as a bonding means of the exterior parts. 10. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of additional items 1 and 9, wherein

(Additional Item 34) The additional silica material is characterized in that the silica layer is a silica layer converted from silazane.
3. The endoscope device according to 3.

(Additional Item 34) As a material of the exterior parts of the hermetically sealed lens unit, one or a plurality of metals, ceramics, glass, and sapphire are selected and used. 10. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more selected from metal welding, molten glass, bonding by a silica layer, and bonding by adhesion are selected and used as the bonding means. .

(Additional Item 35) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 35, wherein the adhesive is a ceramic adhesive.

(Additional Item 36) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 1 and 9, wherein a water-absorbing member is disposed inside the lens unit that is hermetically sealed.

(Additional Item 37) An additional item 29 characterized in that a coating having gas barrier properties is applied to the whole or a part of the exterior of the lens unit, and the lens unit is airtightly sealed.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.

(Additional Item 38) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 37, wherein the gas barrier coating is coated on a portion excluding an image transmission optical path.

(Additional Item 39) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 38, wherein the gas barrier coating is coated on a joint portion of an exterior component.

(Additional Item 40) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 29, wherein a transparent coating having a gas barrier property is applied to the entire exterior of the lens unit and hermetically sealed.

(Additional Item 41) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 38 and 39, wherein the coating is a silica coating converted from silazane.

(Additional Item 42) Additional Item 3 wherein the coating is a parylene resin coating.
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 8, 39.

(Additional Item 42) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 38, wherein the coating is a metal deposition coating.

(Additional Item 43) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 42, wherein the metal-deposited coating is an aluminum-deposited coating.

(Additional Item 44) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 38, wherein the coating is a solder agent dip coating.

(Additional Item 45) The soldering agent may be In-Sn.
45. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the endoscope apparatus is a system solder.

(Additional Item 46) The soldering agent may be As-Sn.
45. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the endoscope apparatus is a system solder.

(Additional Item 47) The soldering agent may be Pb-Sn
45. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the endoscope apparatus is a system solder.

(Additional Item 48) The endoscope apparatus according to additional items 1 and 9, wherein a transparent filler is filled in the internal space of the lens unit.

(Additional Item 49) An endoscope apparatus having an optical member, wherein the optical members are fixed to each other or an optical member and a frame are fixedly adhered with a ceramic adhesive.

(Additional Item 50) An endoscope device having an optical member, wherein the optical member is fixed to each other or the optical member and the frame are bonded and fixed by a silica layer converted from silazane. .

(Additional Item 51) The additional feature that the airtightly sealed lens unit is hermetically sealed so as to prevent at least steam from entering under high-temperature and high-pressure steam during autoclave sterilization. Item 10. The endoscope according to Item 1.

[Function of Supplementary Items] Supplementary Items 1 to 8 The lens units disposed at the end of the image output unit and the image input unit of the image transmission means are airtightly sealed, and steam enters even during autoclave sterilization. This prevents condensation on the optical members inside the lens unit.

Further, during autoclave sterilization, since there is no air layer between the lens unit and the image output portion and the image input portion end of the image transmission means, no dew condensation occurs on this portion.

Further, when steam enters between the lens unit and the end of the image output section and the end of the image input section of the image transmission means during autoclave sterilization and dew condensation occurs, an endoscope having the image transmission means is provided. Remove the lens unit from the main body, clean the dew condensation surface, and attach the lens unit again.

Supplementary Items 9 to 18 The lens unit disposed at the end of the fiber is hermetically sealed to prevent vapor from entering even during autoclave sterilization and condensing on the optical members inside the lens unit.

In the autoclave sterilization, since there is no air layer between the lens unit and the end of the fiber, no dew condensation occurs on this part.

Further, when steam enters between the lens unit and the end of the fiber during autoclave sterilization and dew forms, the lens unit is removed from the endoscope main body having the fiber and dew forms. Clean the surface and attach the lens unit again.

Additional Items 19 to 25 During autoclave sterilization, there is no air layer between the optical member and the end of the image output unit and the image input unit of the image transmitting means, and between the optical member and the end face of the fiber, so that no dew condensation occurs. .

Since there is no air layer between the cover glass on which the visual field mask is deposited and the end face of the fiber, no interference fringes are generated.

Further, since the end face of the fiber and the cover glass are adhered by a transparent silicon-based adhesive, the adhesive is easily peeled off, and the repair is easy.

Supplementary Items 26 to 28 The lens units disposed at the ends of the image output unit and the image input unit of the image transmission means are airtightly sealed. To prevent condensation.

Additional Item 49 Since almost no vapor enters from the joint of the optical members joined by the ceramic adhesive, no dew condensation occurs on the optical members.

Additional Item 50 Since almost no vapor permeates from the joint of the optical members joined by the silica layer, no dew condensation occurs on the optical members.

[Effects of Additional Items] Additional items 1 to 8 Even if autoclave sterilization is performed, vapor does not enter into the lens units disposed at the image output unit and the image input unit end of the image transmission means, so that optical members No fogging or poor visual field due to deterioration of the optical member.

Further, even if autoclave sterilization is performed, there is no air layer between the lens unit and the end of the image output unit and the image input unit of the image transmission means, and there is a possibility that dew may condense on this part to cause poor visual field. There is no.

Further, even when steam enters between the lens unit and the end of the image output unit and the image input unit of the image transmission unit during the autoclave sterilization, the endoscope having the image transmission unit is formed. It is possible to remove the lens unit from the main body and wipe off the dew-condensed surface.

Additional Items 9 to 18 Even when autoclave sterilization is performed, since vapor does not enter into the lens unit disposed at the end of the fiber, fogging of the optical member and poor visual field due to deterioration of the optical member do not occur.

Further, even if autoclave sterilization is performed, since there is no air layer between the lens unit and the fiber end,
There is no danger of dew condensation occurring at this portion, resulting in poor visual field, reduced illumination light, and the like.

Further, even when steam enters between the lens unit and the end of the fiber during the autoclave sterilization and dew condensation occurs, the lens unit is removed from the endoscope main body having the image transmitting means and dew condensation occurs. It is possible to wipe off the broken surface.

Additional Notes 19 to 25 Since there is no air layer between the optical member and the end of the image output part and the image input part of the image transmitting means or between the optical member and the end face of the fiber during autoclave sterilization, this part There is no danger of dew condensation resulting in poor field of view.

Since there is no air layer between the cover glass on which the visual field mask is deposited and the end face of the fiber, no interference fringes are generated.

Furthermore, since the end face of the fiber and the cover glass are adhered with a transparent silicon-based adhesive, the adhesive is easily peeled off and repair is easy.

Supplementary items 26 to 28 Even if autoclave sterilization is performed, since the vapor does not enter the lens unit disposed at the end of the image output portion and the image input portion of the image transmitting means, the fogging of the optical member and the optical There is no field of view failure or deterioration of illumination light due to deterioration of the members.

Additional Item 49 Since almost no vapor enters from the joint of the optical members joined by the ceramic adhesive, no dew condensation occurs on the optical members. Therefore, problems such as poor visual field and reduced illumination light do not occur.

Additional Item 50 Since almost no vapor enters from the joint of the optical members joined by the silica layer, no dew condensation occurs on the optical members.
Therefore, problems such as poor visual field and reduced illumination light do not occur.

[0175]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if autoclave sterilization using high-pressure and high-temperature steam is performed, the lens disposed at least at one of the image output end and the image input end of the image transmitting means. Since the vapor does not enter the unit, there is an effect that the fogging of the optical system in the lens unit due to the invasion of the vapor and the poor visual field due to the deterioration of the optical member do not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an electronic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a distal end portion of the insertion portion in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the imaging unit that forms a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of an imaging unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a rear end cover glass frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an imaging unit and an objective lens unit according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of a fiber endoscope according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an eyepiece of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment;

9 is a cross-sectional view showing the image fiber in FIG. 8 and a mask-deposited cover glass adhered to the end face of the fiber.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the cover glass of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a connector portion connected to the light source device.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of a connector portion which is a modification of the example shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a lens unit according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the lens unit shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the fiber endoscope according to the sixth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: electronic endoscope device 15: imaging unit 16: objective lens 18: CCD 20: CCD cable 21: objective lens unit 22: front cover glass 23: cover glass frame 24: insulating frame 25: rear end cover glass 26: rear Edge cover glass frame 27: Joint 28: Metal coat 29: Transparent adhesive

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Futaki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Kishi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhito Kura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Nakachi 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Takao Yamaguchi 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Susumu Aono 2-4-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (56) References JP-A-8-280610 (JP, A) JP-A-5-281492 (JP, A) JP-A-9-265047 (JP, A) JP-A-9-168505 (JP, A) , A) JP-A-9-234183 (JP, A) JP-A-5-281454 (JP, A) JP-A 63-115115 (JP, U) JP-A 63-200811 (JP, U) JP-A 56-150905 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject;
An objective lens for forming the subject image on the light receiving surface of the image element.
A first cover for guiding the subject image to the objective lens.
-Glass and a joining portion to be joined to the first cover glass in an airtight manner.
A first cover glass frame, and a second cover glass frame which is joined to the first cover glass frame while maintaining airtightness.
And a second cover for airtightly sealing the objective lens.
-Join the glass frame in an airtight manner, and
Use a transparent adhesive to tightly fix the light-receiving surface.
The subject image from the objective lens on the light receiving surface.
The endoscope apparatus comprising: the second cover glass guiding, further comprising a. 2. An image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject,
An objective lens for forming the subject image on the light receiving surface of the image element.
A first cover for guiding the subject image to the objective lens.
Glass, and for guiding the subject image from the objective lens to the light receiving surface.
First joining part for joining the second cover glass, to the first cover glass and hermetically
And a second contact bonding airtight with the second cover glass.
An objective frame having a joint portion and hermetically sealing the objective lens
To the light receiving surface using a transparent adhesive so that there is no air layer
Adhesively fixed and transparent bonding without air layer
The second cover glass is adhered and fixed to the second cover glass using an agent
3 and a cover glass of an endoscope apparatus comprising the.