JP3325036B2 - Endoscope and method of assembling the endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a video unit for picking up a subject image at the distal end of an insertion portion, and a method of assembling the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscopes capable of observing a test site and performing various treatments by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity or the like have been widely used. In particular, in recent years, various electronic endoscopes having a solid-state imaging device including an objective lens, a CCD, and the like, and a video unit including a circuit board connected to the solid-state imaging device at the distal end of the insertion section have been proposed. In an endoscope incorporating a solid-state imaging device at the distal end as described above, a metal frame surrounds the solid-state imaging device and the electric circuit system in order to prevent deterioration of the solid-state imaging device and the electric circuit system due to infiltration of moisture. It has a closed structure.

[0003]

However, as described above, in a conventional endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device and an electric circuit system are surrounded by a metal frame in order to prevent the solid-state imaging device and the electric circuit system from being deteriorated due to moisture infiltration,
This requires a space in the distal end of the insertion section for disposing the metal frame and a space for an insulating member covering the metal frame, and the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope has a large diameter.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and has a structure in which moisture does not penetrate into a solid-state imaging device or an electric circuit system disposed in the distal end portion of the insertion portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope having a reduced diameter and a method of assembling the endoscope.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention mounts an objective optical system on a front side of a lens frame and a solid-state image pickup device on a rear side thereof. A video unit that is configured by extending the electric circuit system of the solid-state imaging device from the rear to the rear, a built-in component that is inserted into the insertion unit, and that is juxtaposed with the video unit, and forms the main body of the insertion unit distal end. A front end main body for assembling the built-in component while extending the electric circuit system of the video unit from the rear to the rear, and a first covering the whole of the extended electric circuit system . and resin, this
A second resin that is disposed outside the first resin and hardens the image unit and the built-in component to the tip main body.

[0006] The method of assembling an endoscope according to the present invention includes:
A video unit assembling step of assembling the objective optical system and the solid-state imaging device on the lens frame, extending the electric circuit system of the solid-state imaging device rearward from the lens frame to form a video unit, and inserting the electric circuit system Attaching the video unit to the distal end main body in a state of extending rearward from the rear end of the distal end main body constituting the main body of the distal end portion, and arranging a built-in component passing through the insertion portion in parallel with the video unit. And attaching it to the distal end body, and covering an electric circuit system extending rearward from a rear end of the distal end body with a first resin.
Applying a second resin to the outside of the first resin,
The image unit and the built-in object are attached to the tip main body.
Characterized in that it comprises a step of compacting in the second resin.

[0007]

[Operation] In this configuration, the electric circuit system of the video unit extending to the rear of the main body of the distal end portion is covered with the resin with respect to the rear end of the main body of the distal end portion without using a metal frame, so that the infiltration of moisture is prevented. Is prevented.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an assembled image unit, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which the image unit is attached to a distal end body,
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the insertion portion distal end has been assembled, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope 1 has an elongated insertion section 3 which is inserted into a subject such as a body cavity in front of an operation section 2 which also serves as a grip section at the hand side. The insertion portion 3 is mainly composed of a flexible tube 4 which is flexible.
A bending portion 5 that can be bent up and down / left and right is continuously provided at the front end, and a front end portion 6 is provided in front of the bending portion 5.
The operation unit 2 has a signal cable from its side,
A universal cord 7 in which a light guide fiber bundle or the like is provided extends, and the universal cord 7 is connected to a light source device 10 and a video processor 11 via connectors 8 and 9. The video processor 11 is connected to a monitor (not shown) or a recording device. Further, the operation unit 2
A treatment instrument port 12 is formed at the front of the treatment instrument port 12.
Thus, various treatment tools can be inserted through the treatment tool channel of the insertion section 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope distal end portion 6
The video unit 15 is mounted in the video unit mounting hole 14 of the distal end body 13, the lens frame 16 of this unit 15 is fixed to the distal end body 13 by fixing screws 17, and the forceps of the distal end body 13 are used. Connection pipe 1 at the rear of hole 18
9, a forceps channel tube 20 is connected thereto, and a first bending piece 21 constituting the bending tube 5a of the bending portion 5 is connected and fixed to the rear portion of the distal end body 13;
Tip cover 2 made of insulating material on the tip surface or front outer periphery of
2 and the covering rubber 23 is applied to the outer periphery of the curved portion 5 from the outer periphery of the rear end of the distal end body 13. Further, the electric circuit system of the video unit 15 exposed to the rear of the lens frame 16 or the tip main body 13 is sealed with respect to the tip main body 13 by the adhesive 24 filled in the first bending piece 21. ing. At least the adhesive 24 covers the rear end of the front end body 13 up to the mounting end of the lens frame 16. Further, the video unit 15 includes a lens frame 16
The objective lens system 25 is provided on the front side, and the solid-state imaging device 26
Are mounted and fixed, and a circuit board 29 and a circuit board 27 on which electronic components 27a and 27b are mounted are connected in the axial direction to the rear of the solid-state imaging device 26, and are connected to these circuit boards 27 and 29. connecting the signal cable 30 and 31.

In this configuration, the electric circuit system exposed rearward from the lens frame 16 or the tip body 13 is sealed with an adhesive 24, and the adhesive 24 covers the end surface of the tip body 13. This prevents the infiltration of moisture into the solid-state imaging device 26 and the electric circuit system, and eliminates the need for a conventionally used moisture intrusion prevention metal frame. The required inner space can be reduced, and the outer diameter of the distal end portion 6 can be reduced.

Next, a method of assembling the distal end portion 6 of the endoscope 1 will be described. First, in FIG. 1, the terminal 26a, the substrate 26
b, solid-state image sensor chip 26c, bonding wire 2
The solid-state imaging device 26 including 6d, a cover glass 26e, and a sealing resin 26f is assembled. This solid-state imaging device 26
When viewed from the optical axis direction, it is formed in a square shape.

Next, the objective lens system 25 and the solid-state imaging device 26 are mounted and fixed to the lens frame 16. At this time, the rear end surface of the substrate 26b of the solid-state imaging device 26 is flush with the rear end surface of the lens frame 16, and the solid-state imaging device 26 excluding the terminal 26a is
The whole is mounted and fixed in a state housed in the lens frame 16. Then, the circuit boards 27 and 29 are connected to the terminals 26a, and a spacer 32 is interposed between the circuit boards 27 and 29 provided behind the lens frame 16 in the axial direction. The circuit board 27 has electronic components 27 on both sides thereof.
a, 27b, which is a so-called chip-on-board hybrid board. The electronic component 27a mounted on the substrate 27 is a sealing resin 27.
c.

[0014] Then, while connecting the signal to case Bed <br/> Le 30, 31 to the circuit board 27 and 29, after the connecting step,
Alternatively, a heat-radiating resin 33 is filled between the sealing resin 27c and the circuit board 29 before.

Through the above steps, the video unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 is completed. Therefore, this video unit 15
Does not have a video unit housing or a protective metal frame.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the video unit 15 is inserted into the video unit mounting hole 14 of the distal end body 13,
Position and fix with fixing screw 17. In this state,
The rear end of the distal end body 13 and the rear end of the lens frame 16 of the video unit 15 are set on the same plane.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
The connection pipe 19 is fitted and fixed to the rear part of the forceps hole 18 of
A forceps channel tube 20 is fitted around the outer periphery of the pipe 19, and the channel tube 20 is connected to the forceps hole 18. After or before the step of connecting the channel tube 20, the first bending piece 21 of the bending tube 5 a is connected to the distal end main body 13.
Is fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the rear part.

After these steps, the adhesive 24 is applied to the first bending piece 21 through the inlet 34 opened on the side wall of the first bending piece 21.
The bending piece 21 is injected and filled. Therefore, the adhesive 24 is applied to the terminals 26 protruding from the rear of the solid-state imaging device 26.
a, circuit boards 27 and 29, electronic component 27b, sealing resin 2
7 c, the heat-radiating resin 33, the spacer 32, the front signal lines 30 and 31, and the gap between the forceps channel tube 20 are filled.

Thereafter, the tip cover 22 and the covering rubber 23
Attach and assemble. Thus, the assembly of the insertion portion distal end portion 6 shown in FIG. 3 is completed.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the endoscope assembling method of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which an image unit is mounted on a distal end body. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows a completion state.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points.

As shown in FIG. 5, an electric circuit (electrical component) system exposed to the outside from the lens frame 16 of the video unit 15 includes:
Sealed in advance with an adhesive 24, and then the tip body 13
Assembled in

Then, the connecting pipe 19 and the forceps channel tube 20 are fixed to the distal end body 13, and before or after this step, an adhesive 24a is further applied to the outside of the adhesive 24 of the image unit 15. I do. The recoating adhesive 24a is adhered so as to cover the rear end surface of the distal end body 13.

Thereafter, the first bending piece 21 of the bending tube 5a is connected and fixed to the distal end body 13, and the distal end cover 22 and the covering rubber 23 are assembled.

In the assembling method of this embodiment, the electric circuit (electric equipment) system exposed outside the video unit 15 is
, The image unit 15 is not likely to be damaged during assembly. Further, since the connection pipe 19 and the forceps channel tube 20 are not fixed with an adhesive, repair and replacement of the channel tube 20 are easy.

Next, although not shown as a dedicated figure, an assembling method of the third embodiment will be described. This assembling method is the same as that of the first embodiment up to the state shown in FIGS. In the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, after attaching the video unit 15 to the distal end main body 13, the connection pipe 19 and the channel tube 20 are connected and fixed to the distal end main body 13.
4 is filled and applied in the state shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the front cover 22, the first bending piece 2
1. Assemble the covering rubber 23.

According to the assembling method of the third embodiment, the second
In addition to having the effects of the embodiment, overcoating is not required as compared with the second embodiment, and only one bonding step is required.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show modified examples of the solid-state imaging device and the circuit board in each of the above-described embodiments.

In each of the above embodiments, the circuit board is connected to the terminal of the solid-state imaging device. In this modification, the substrate (base) of the solid-state imaging device is extended in the axial direction of the insertion portion. This extension is used as a circuit board.
This facilitates assembly (the step of connecting the circuit board to the solid-state imaging device can be omitted). Further, the substrate and the circuit board are formed in a right angle and are difficult to be connected, and thus the connection strength is weak. Therefore, this modified example can omit the connecting portion, which contributes to downsizing. Further, the extension portion can have a reinforcing function, and the functional strength is improved.

In the modification shown in FIG. 7, the substrate 26b of the solid-state imaging device 26 is extended rearward as shown in FIG. 7A, and this extended portion 51 is used as a double-sided circuit board.
a and 27b are mounted, and one electronic component 27a is sealed with a sealing resin 27c. Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, the signal cables 30 and 31 have a rear portion of the extending portion 51 formed in the enlarged portion 52 and are connected to the groove of the screen of the enlarged portion 52.

The modification shown in FIG. 8 is different from the modification shown in FIG.
The signal cable 30 (31) is connected to one surface of the extending portion without providing an enlarged portion at the rear of the extending portion 51. This modification is easier to manufacture than FIG.

The modified example shown in FIG. 9 is different from FIG. 8 in that the connection of the signal cable 30 (31) is made on the electronic component mounting side. Can be easily automated.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the structure is such that moisture does not enter the solid-state imaging device and the electric circuit disposed in the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and the distal end portion of the insertion portion is reduced in diameter. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled video unit.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a video unit is attached to a tip main body.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the distal end portion of the insertion section has been assembled.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the entire endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 relate to a second embodiment, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which assembly of a tip is completed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a modified example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a modified example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 13: Tip portion 13: Tip portion body 15: Image unit 16: Lens frame 24: Adhesive 26: Solid-state imaging device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hisao Yabe 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-limpus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeaki Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshinao Daimei 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-212613 (JP, A) 63-313970 (JP, A) JP-A-2-86502 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24- 23/26

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An objective optical system is mounted on a front side of a lens frame, and a solid-state imaging device is housed and mounted on a rear side thereof, and an electric circuit system of the solid-state imaging device is extended rearward from a rear portion of the lens frame. A video unit that is inserted into the insertion section and is provided in parallel with the video unit; and a main body of the distal end portion of the insertion section, wherein an electric circuit system of the video unit extends rearward from the rear. A leading end body for assembling and mounting the built-in component, and a first resin covering the entire extended electric circuit system
And a second resin disposed outside the first resin and solidifying the image unit and the built-in substance to the main body of the distal end portion. 2. An image unit assembling step of assembling an objective optical system and a solid-state imaging device on a lens frame, and extending an electric circuit system of the solid-state imaging device rearward from the lens frame to form a video unit; Attaching the video unit to the distal end main body in a state where the electric circuit system extends rearward from the rear end of the distal end main body constituting the main body of the distal end of the insertion section; and a step of attaching the tip body by juxtaposed to the video unit, the electric circuit system that extends rearward from the rear end of the tip body
A step of coating with a first resin, and applying a second resin to the outside of the first resin,
Fixing the knit and the built-in material to the distal end body with a second resin .