JP3831273B2 - Electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope that displays an endoscopic image captured by an image sensor on a monitor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, medical endoscopes for observing organs in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity have been widely used.
[0003]
As a method of forming a video signal from such an endoscope, there are mainly the following two methods.
[0004]
The first method uses a fiberscope endoscope. In this first method, an object image formed by an objective lens arranged at the distal end of an endoscope is transmitted to an eyepiece using an image fiber bundle, and a detachable camera is attached to the eyepiece. The image of the eyepiece is re-imaged on the image sensor in the camera, and a video signal is created from the output signal.
[0005]
The second is a method using an electronic endoscope. The electronic endoscope has a solid-state image sensor behind the objective lens at the distal end of the endoscope, and the solid-state image sensor converts an object image formed by the objective lens into an electric signal. It leads to the video processor of the camera control unit via the electric cord. The video processor processes the electrical signal from the solid-state imaging device to generate a video signal, and displays it as an endoscopic image on a television monitor (hereinafter referred to as a TV monitor).
[0006]
Further, as an electronic endoscope, even if the endoscope body is rotated around the optical axis during operation of the endoscope, as in the electronic endoscope apparatus described in JP-A-6-319697, An image that can correct the rotation of the image on the monitor, easily grasp the orientation, and perform the operation of the procedure is disclosed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the electronic endoscope apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-319697 described above, an image rotating means called an image rotator is installed between the objective lens and the CCD instead of rotating the objective lens and the CCD. Since the observation image is rotated by rotating the image rotator, the structure is complicated and the cost is increased.
[0008]
In the electronic endoscope apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-319697, the specific means for turning the image rotator is to turn a rigid cylindrical tube at hand, and the insertion portion of the endoscope is bent. There was a problem that it was not possible to adopt it.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an electronic endoscope having a simple structure and capable of rotating an image even when a rigid and bent portion is used as an insertion portion of the endoscope. The purpose is to do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the electronic endoscope according to claim 1 includes a tubular member having a predetermined inner diameter and a bent portion bent in a crank shape in the middle, and the objective optical system is disposed at the distal end portion. Then, a long first tubular member formed as an exterior of the insertion portion and a tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first tubular member , the tip of the first tubular member is disposed in a state of being rotatably held around the optical axis on the side, a second tubular member for fixing the imaging element that captures a subject image guided by the objective optical system, the second tubular It is made of a semi-rigid tubular material connected to the base end portion of the member for rotating the second tubular member from the rear, and is inserted through the first tubular member and extends backward through the bent portion. issued, the objective optical system the second tubular member from the aft Characterized by comprising a rotation mechanism you want to rotate. About axis optical axis.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
1 to 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic endoscope, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a distal end of an insertion portion, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an operation portion.
[0012]
(Constitution)
First, the overall configuration of the electronic endoscope will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment includes an insertion portion 2, an operation portion 3, a cable 4, a video connector 5, and a light guide connector 6.
[0013]
The electronic endoscope 1 displays an endoscopic image on a TV monitor (not shown) by connecting the video connector 5 to a TV camera control unit (not shown). Further, the electronic endoscope 1 emits illumination light by connecting the light guide connector 6 to a light source device (not shown).
[0014]
The insertion portion 2 of the electronic endoscope 1 is configured with a hollow rigid pipe 7 refracted into a crank shape as an exterior.
As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end side of the objective lens group 8, the CCD unit 9, and the light guide fiber 10 is built in the distal end portion of the rigid pipe 7.
The CCD unit 9 includes a lens 11, a CCD solid-state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 12, a substrate 13, and a signal cable 14 as optical and electronic components. These optical and electronic components are covered with a CCD frame 15 and a shrinkable tube 16.
[0015]
An adhesive 17 is filled inside the CCD frame 15 and the shrinkable tube 16. The lens 11, the CCD 12, the substrate 13, the signal cable 14, the CCD frame 15, and the shrinkable tube 16 are integrally hardened with an adhesive 17.
A distal end frame 20 is attached and fixed inside the distal end portion of the rigid pipe 7.
[0016]
The distal end frame 20 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and holds the lens frame 21 and the rotating frame 22 coaxially. The lens frame 21 houses the objective lens group 8 of the objective optical system.
[0017]
The CCD frame 15 of the CCD unit 9 is fitted and fixed to the inside of a substantially cylindrical rotating frame 22.
Thus, the optical axis and the central axis of the objective lens group 8, the lens 11, the CCD 12, the substrate 13, and the signal cable 14 are configured to be substantially coaxial. The objective lens group 8 forms a field image on the imaging surface of the CCD 12 through the lens 11.
[0018]
The CCD 12 converts the subject image formed by the objective lens group 8 and the lens 11 into an electric image pickup signal. The substrate 13 is electrically connected to the CCD 12 and has an amplifier circuit that amplifies an imaging signal obtained by the CCD 12. A signal cable 14 is connected to the substrate 13. The signal cable 14 guides the imaging signal amplified by the amplifier circuit of the substrate 13 to the operation unit 3 side.
[0019]
A flange 23 that protrudes outward is provided on the distal end side of the rotary frame 22. The flange 23 is sandwiched between a rear end surface of the lens frame 21 and a step portion 24 provided on the front end frame 20. Here, the lens frame 21 is fitted and fixed to the inside of the front end frame 20, but the rotating frame 22 is rotatably held in a state of being fitted to the front end frame 20. Therefore, the rotary frame 22 can rotate around the optical axis in the distal end frame 20, but cannot move in the major axis direction.
[0020]
A flexible hollow cylindrical tube 25 is connected to the rear end of the rotary frame 22. As the material of the cylindrical tube 25, a material obtained by removing the core wire of a stranded wire, a coil (hollow winding), a flexible plastic tube, or a combination thereof may be used. In particular, as the material of the cylindrical tube 25, a material having good torque followability is suitable.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical tube 25 is guided into the operation unit 3 through a portion 26 refracted in a letter shape of the insertion unit 2. The signal cable 14 is inserted into the cylindrical tube 25 as shown in FIG.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical rotation operation member 32 is provided inside a substantially cylindrical case 31 that forms the operation unit 3. The cylindrical tube 25 is connected to the distal end portion 33 of the rotation operation member 32.
[0023]
The rotation operation member 32 is rotatably fitted in the case 31. As a result, the distal end portion 33 is provided so as to coincide with the central axes of the case 31 and the rotation operation member 32. Further, the rigid pipe 7 and the central axis of the case 31 are connected so as to coincide with each other.
[0024]
With this structure, the operation unit 3 is configured such that when the rotation operation member 32 rotates, the cylindrical tube 25 rotates without being eccentric from the center of the rigid pipe 7.
[0025]
The signal cable 14 is inserted through the center of the rotation operation member 32. The signal cable 14 is connected to a board (not shown) built in the video connector 5 through the cable 4 shown in FIG. The camera control unit connected to the video connector 5 controls the reading operation of the CCD 12, processes the image pickup signal, and converts it into a video signal. This video signal is transmitted to the TV monitor.
[0026]
Further, the light guide fiber 10 fixed to the distal end portion of the rigid pipe 7 shown in FIG. 2 passes through the insertion portion 2, and the central axis of the rotational operation member 32 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the ride guide connector 6 through the cable 4 shown in FIG.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an operation lever 35 for performing a rotation operation is connected to the side surface of the rotation operation member 32. The operation lever 35 is connected to the rotation operation member 32 through a through groove 36 provided in the case 31 and extending in the circumferential direction. The length of the through groove 36 is set according to the rotation angle of the CCD 12 shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the operating lever 35 is provided with a protrusion 37, and the rotation operation member 32 is provided with an attachment hole 38. For example, the protrusion 37 is inserted into the attachment hole 38 and bonded. By doing so, the operation lever 35 is attached and fixed to the attachment hole 38.
[0028]
Grooves 39 and 40 are provided in front of and behind the attachment hole 38 of the rotation operation member 32. O-rings 41 and 42 are attached to the grooves 39 and 40. The outer peripheries of the O-rings 41 and 42 are in pressure contact with positions before and after the through groove 36 on the inner surface of the case 31. As a result, the front side of the O-ring 41 inside the case 31 and the rear side of the O-ring 42 are waterproof.
[0029]
With such a structure, the rigid pipe 7 is composed of a tubular member having a predetermined inner diameter and having a bent portion 26 bent in a crank shape, and an objective optical system (objective lens group 8) is disposed at the distal end portion. This is a long first tubular member formed as the insertion portion 2.
[0030]
The rotary 22 is formed of a tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first tubular member, and captures a subject image that is inserted into the first tubular member and guided from the objective optical system. This is a second tubular member provided with an imaging element (CCD 12).
[0031]
The cylindrical tube 25 is made of a semi-rigid tubular material connected to the proximal end portion of the second tubular member, and rotates the second tubular member around the optical axis of the objective optical system. The rotation mechanism.
[0032]
(Action)
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the operation lever 35 is moved in the circumferential direction, the rotation operation member 32 rotates in the case 31 and is connected to the distal end portion 33 of the rotation operation member 32. 25 also rotates. In this case, since the cylindrical tube 25 is flexible but also has a torque following capability, the rotational force of the cylindrical tube 25 is transmitted to the tip of the rigid pipe 7 even if the shape of the insertion portion 2 is bent. Since the rotating frame 22 to which the CCD 12 is fixed is connected to the tip of the cylindrical tube 25, the CCD 12 rotates as the cylindrical tube 25 rotates. At this time, since the optical axis of the objective lens group 8 and the central axis of the CCD 12 are held coaxially, the image on the TV monitor also rotates about the image center.
[0033]
(effect)
According to this embodiment, since the CCD 12 itself is rotated to rotate the image on the TV monitor, the structure can be simplified. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cylindrical tube 25 for rotating the CCD 12 has flexibility, the operation can be performed even if the insertion portion 2 of the electronic endoscope 1 is rigid and bent. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical tube 25 is hollow, and the signal cable 14 from the CCD 12 can be accommodated therein. Therefore, the probability that the signal cable 14 is disconnected by the rotation of the CCD 12 can be reduced.
[0034]
Note that the configuration of the present embodiment is not limited to the above, and the movement angle of the operation lever 35 and the rotation angle of the rotation operation member 32 can be adjusted by connecting a gear or the like to the connection between the rotation operation member 32 and the operation lever 35. You may make it change. Further, the objective lens group may be a perspective type (observing an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion) instead of a front view type.
[0035]
In addition, as a point of the present embodiment, the inside CCD is rotated by a wire or a coil that can transmit force even if there is a bent portion in a bent rigid pipe. It is also possible to use a flexible soft tube for the exterior of the insertion portion.
[0036]
[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.
[0037]
(Additional Item 1) A long first tubular tube formed of a tubular member having a predetermined inner diameter and having a bent portion bent in a crank shape, and having an objective optical system disposed at a distal end portion as an insertion portion. Members,
An imaging element is formed which is formed of a tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first tubular member, and which is to be inserted into the first tubular member and guided from the objective optical system. A second tubular member provided;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the second tubular member around the optical axis of the objective optical system, made of a semi-rigid tubular material connected to the proximal end of the second tubular member;
An electronic endoscope characterized by comprising:
[0038]
(Additional Item 2) In an electronic endoscope in which an endoscope image is picked up by an image pickup device through an optical system provided in an endoscope body, and this image is displayed on an external monitor.
Rotating means for rotating the image sensor around the optical axis;
A drive mechanism for operating the rotating means;
An electronic endoscope characterized in that the rotating means has flexibility.
[0039]
(Additional Item 3) The electronic device according to Additional Item 2, wherein the rotating unit has a cylindrical shape, and a signal cable for transmitting a video signal from the imaging device is housed in the rotating unit. Endoscope.
[0040]
(Additional Item 4) The electronic endoscope according to Additional Item 2 or 3, wherein the insertion portion is formed of a bent tube.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic endoscope of the first aspect, since the image is rotated by rotating the image pickup device itself, the structure can be simplified. According to the electronic endoscope of the first aspect, since the second tubular member that rotates the imaging device has flexibility, the first tubular member formed as the insertion portion is rigid and bent. Operation is possible. Furthermore, according to the electronic endoscope of the first aspect, since the second tubular member is hollow and the signal cable from the image sensor can be accommodated therein, the probability that the signal cable is disconnected by the rotation of the image sensor. Can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an operation unit of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Cable 5 ... Video connector 7 ... Hard pipe 8 ... Objective lens group 9 ... CCD unit 11 ... Lens 12 ... CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Board | substrate 14 ... Signal cable 15 ... CCD frame 20 ... Tip frame 22 ... Rotating frame 25 ... Cylindrical tube 31 ... Case 32 ... Rotating operation member 35 ... Operation lever 36 ... Through-groove

Claims (1)

A long first tubular member comprising a tubular member having a predetermined inner diameter and having a bent portion bent in a crank shape in the middle, and having an objective optical system disposed at a distal end portion as an exterior of the insertion portion When,
Formed of a tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first tubular member , disposed in a state of being rotatably held around the optical axis at the distal end side of the first tubular member , A second tubular member for fixing an image pickup device for picking up a subject image guided from the objective optical system;
The bent portion is made of a semi-rigid tubular material connected to the proximal end portion of the second tubular member for rotating the second tubular member from the rear, and is inserted into the first tubular member to form the bent portion. the extending and into the rear, and rotating mechanism you want to rotate. the second tubular member about axis optical axis of the objective optical system from aft,
An electronic endoscope characterized by comprising:

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