JP3898800B2 - Light guide assembly method for rigid endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light guide assembly method for a rigid endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in rigid endoscopes, the light guide fiber bundle for illumination has an annular cross section between a hard pipe sheath tube that covers the insertion portion and an intermediate guide tube that is spaced apart from the outer tube. Are arranged.
[0003]
As such, in order to incorporate the light guide fiber bundle between the outer tube and the intermediate guide tube, the light guide fiber bundle is filled between both tubes while the outer tube and the intermediate guide tube are fixed to a jig. After being hardened with an adhesive, an outer tube support member for supporting the outer tube was attached to the proximal end portion of the outer tube.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, the light guide fiber bundle is filled and fixed between the outer tube and the intermediate guide tube, and a jig is removed from the outer tube and the intermediate guide tube, or a support member is attached to the outer tube. When the work is performed, the light guide fiber may be damaged during the work, and a part of the light guide fiber may be broken, which makes the work very difficult.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light guide assembling method for a rigid endoscope in which a light guide fiber bundle can be easily assembled into an annular cross-sectional shape in an outer tube, and problems such as fiber bending do not occur. To do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the light guide assembly method of the rigid endoscope of the present invention is such that the light guide fiber bundle is arranged in an annular cross section along the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube made of hard pipe. In the light guide assembling method of the rigid endoscope, an outer tube support member for supporting the outer tube is fixed to the proximal end portion of the outer tube in advance, and a gap is formed from the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube. A guide tube support member for supporting an intermediate guide tube made of hard pipe inserted and arranged in the outer tube is fixed to the base end portion of the intermediate guide tube, and then the light guide fiber bundle is attached to the outer tube. After the arrangement along the inner peripheral surface, the intermediate guide tube is inserted inside the inner peripheral surface.
[0007]
The outer tube and the intermediate guide tube may be arranged on a coaxial line, and an optical system for image transmission for transmitting an endoscopic observation image with a graded optical fiber is inserted into the intermediate guide tube. It may be done.
[0008]
The rigid endoscope may be an ophthalmic endoscope.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 schematically shows the overall configuration of the ophthalmic endoscope apparatus. The ophthalmic endoscope 10 has a holding portion that is held by a surgeon with a fingertip at the proximal end of a short needle-like insertion portion 20. 30 and the holding unit 30 and the video processor / light source device 71 are connected by a flexible connecting tube 60.
[0010]
The video processor / light source device 71 incorporates a processing circuit for processing an imaging signal of an endoscopic observation image sent from a solid-state imaging device built in the holding unit 30, an illumination light source, and the like. A video signal is sent from the processor and light source device 71 to the television monitor 72, and an endoscopic observation image is displayed.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the insertion unit 20 and the holding unit 30. The insertion portion 20 is covered with an outer tube 21 made of a hard pipe made of a stainless steel tube having a diameter of about 0.8 to 1.5 mm and a length of about 30 to 50 mm.
[0012]
An objective lens 22 composed of a lens (so-called Selfoc lens) in which a graded optical fiber is formed to a predetermined length is disposed at the center axis position of the distal end of the outer tube 21, and one long gray is continuously formed. A dead type optical fiber rod 23 (so-called Selfoc rod) is arranged over the entire length.
[0013]
As a result, the endoscope observation image of the subject imaged by the objective lens 22 is transmitted to the image exit end face of the graded optical fiber rod 23 located in the holding unit 30.
[0014]
A light guide fiber bundle 24 for transmitting illumination light is annularly arranged between the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 21 and the graded optical fiber rod 23. The exit end face of the light guide fiber bundle 24 is located at the distal end face of the insertion portion 20, and the visual field range by the objective lens 22 is illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber bundle 24.
[0015]
An intermediate guide tube 25 made of a hard pipe is disposed in the insertion portion 20 between the light guide fiber bundle 24 and the graded optical fiber rod 23 over the entire length.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, a protective tube 23 a is fitted and fixed to the graded optical fiber rod 23, and the graded optical fiber rod 23 in this state is inserted into the intermediate guide tube 25. The light guide fiber bundle 24 is filled in a donut-shaped space between the outer tube 21 and the intermediate guide tube 25.
[0017]
Returning to FIG. 2, the holding portion 30 is externally covered with a cylindrical intermediate cylinder 31, and the front portion is externally covered with a cap-shaped front cap 32. The intermediate cylinder 31 and the front cap 32 are fixed to each other by a fixing screw 33 so as to be screwed and further loosened. Reference numeral 34 denotes an O-ring for sealing.
[0018]
The outer tube support tube 36 to which the base end portion of the outer tube 21 is fixed by brazing or the like is screwed to a connection frame 37, and both members 36, 37 are formed by the intermediate tube 31 and the front cap 32. It is sandwiched and fixed inside.
[0019]
Reference numeral 38 denotes a guide tube support tube in which the proximal end portion of the intermediate guide tube 25 is fixed by brazing or the like, and is fixed to the outer tube support tube 36 with screws. The mask stop frame 39 to which the field mask 40 is fixed is screwed and fixed to the guide tube support tube 38, and the field mask 40 is disposed at the image exit end face position of the graded optical fiber rod 23. . Reference numeral 41 denotes a sealing O-ring.
[0020]
Reference numeral 43 denotes a lens frame in which the imaging lens 44 is fixedly disposed on the inner side, and is fixed to a lens frame fixing cylinder 42 fixed to the connecting frame 37 by screws. An imaging element frame 47 in which a solid-state imaging element 45 for capturing an endoscopic observation image is incorporated is connected to the rear side of the lens frame 43.
[0021]
As a result, the endoscopic image of the image exit end face of the graded optical fiber rod 23 is projected and imaged onto the imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 45 by the imaging lens 44, and the imaging signal is received by the signal cable 46 extended rearward. The image is transmitted to the video processor / light source device 71, and an endoscopic observation image is displayed on the television monitor 72.
[0022]
The light guide fiber bundles 24 are bundled together in the holding unit 30 and pass through the grooves 38a, 36a, 37a formed in the guide tube support tube 38, the outer tube support tube 36, the connection frame 37, and the like. Illuminating light emitted from a light source lamp (not shown) built in the video processor / light source device 71 is transmitted to the distal end of the insertion portion 20.
[0023]
FIG. 1 shows an enlarged view of the periphery of the connecting portion between the insertion portion 20 and the holding portion 30. When the light guide fiber bundle 24 of the portion shown here is assembled into the insertion portion 20, first, the outer tube support tube 36 and the guide tube support tube are provided at the proximal end portion of the outer tube 21 and the proximal end portion of the intermediate guide tube 25. 38 is fixed.
[0024]
Then, after inserting the light guide fiber bundle 24 into the outer tube 21, the intermediate guide tube 25 is inserted into the inner tube, and the outer tube support tube 36 and the guide tube support tube 38 are fitted as shown in FIG. Thus, the outer tube 21 and the intermediate guide tube 25 are aligned with each other, so that the light guide fiber bundle 24 can be easily filled into an annular cross-sectional shape in the insertion portion 20 without using a special jig. it can.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, a flexible connecting tube 60 is connected to the rear end portion of the intermediate guide tube 25. A flexible connecting tube 60 is attached to the rear cap 62 which is attached so as to surround the connecting portion. An anti-bending tube 61 is fixed in the vicinity of the end of the tube 60.
[0026]
The intermediate guide tube 25 is formed with three knurled rings 51, 52, and 53 so as to be easily grasped by a hand, and the most advanced knurled ring 51 is planar in a predetermined direction. It is cut out. 54 is the planar cutout.
[0027]
The planar cutout 54 is formed in a direction corresponding to the direction of the endoscopic observation image displayed on the television monitor 72, and the direction in which the planar cutout 54 is provided is displayed on the upper side of the television monitor 72. Thus, the directional relationship with the solid-state image sensor 45 is set.
[0028]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to various rigid endoscopes other than, for example, an ophthalmic endoscope.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, before the operation of assembling the light guide fiber bundle is performed, the mantle tube support member and the guide tube support member are fixed to the base end portion of each tube, and the light guide fiber bundle is attached to the mantle tube and the intermediate guide. A jig is not required to be incorporated into the annular cross-sectional shape between the tube.
[0030]
Therefore, since there is no work of removing the jig or the like after the light guide fiber bundle is assembled, the light guide fiber bundle can be easily assembled into an annular cross-sectional shape in the outer tube without fear of fiber breakage or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged side sectional view of a periphery of a connecting portion between an insertion portion and a holding portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a holding portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front sectional view of an insertion portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cross section of the latter half portion around the insertion portion and the holding portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an overall schematic view of a rigid endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Insertion portion 21 Mantle tube 24 Light guide fiber bundle 25 Intermediate guide tube 36 Mantle tube support tube 38 Guide tube support tube

Claims (4)

In the light guide assembling method of the rigid endoscope in which the light guide fiber bundle is arranged with the annular cross-sectional shape along the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube made of hard pipe,
The outer tube support member for supporting the outer tube is fixed in advance to the base end portion of the outer tube, and is made of a hard pipe that is inserted and arranged in the outer tube with a clearance from the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube. A guide tube support member for supporting the intermediate guide tube is fixed to the proximal end portion of the intermediate guide tube, and then the light guide fiber bundle is disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube, A light guide assembling method of a rigid endoscope, wherein the intermediate guide tube is inserted inside. The light guide assembling method of the rigid endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube and the intermediate guide tube are arranged on a coaxial line. The light guide assembling method of the rigid endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an optical system for image transmission for transmitting an endoscope observation image by a graded optical fiber is inserted into the intermediate guide tube. 4. The light guide assembling method of the rigid endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the rigid endoscope is an ophthalmic endoscope.

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