JP4014717B2 - Simplified endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a simple endoscope apparatus in which a light source unit for supplying illumination light to a light guide is attached to an operation unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a so-called simple endoscope apparatus in which a light emitter for illumination is provided in an operation unit, generally, an incident end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject is arranged in the operation unit of the endoscope. In addition, a light source unit including a light source lamp for supplying illumination light to the light guide and a battery serving as a power source thereof is attached to the operation unit.
[0003]
In such a simple endoscope apparatus, the light source unit is provided detachably with respect to the operation portion of the endoscope, and a metal cylindrical body (connection base) for connecting the light source unit is operated. In many cases, it protrudes from the side.
[0004]
Then, the connection base is heated by the heat radiated from the light source lamp arranged at the tip of the light source unit, and when the operator touches the hand, it feels hot and uncomfortable, which hinders the endoscope operation. There is a case.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, a cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity is covered on the outer surface of the connection base so that the portion touched by the operator does not become hot (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-56672).
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the outer surface of the metal connection base is covered with a cover made of a material having low thermal conductivity, the heat accumulated in the connection base is not radiated to the external space, and the metal connected to the connection base It is escaped only by heat conduction to the member.
[0007]
For this reason, when the amount of light emitted from the light source lamp is increased, the temperature of the connection base rises remarkably, the heat builds up inside, and the lamp breaks out in a short time, or the temperature of the exposed metal member adjacent to the connection base increases. The touching operator may feel uncomfortable and hinder the operation of the endoscope.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention provides a simple endoscope apparatus in which the endoscope operation is not hindered by the heat radiated from the light source lamp, and the problem of heat does not occur even if the light emission amount of the light source lamp is increased. Objective.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the simplified endoscope apparatus of the present invention has an incident end portion of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject arranged in an operation unit, and the illumination guide is illuminated with the illumination light. A light source unit having a light source lamp for supplying the light source is attached to the operation section, and a cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity is provided on the outer surface of the exterior member made of a material having a high thermal conductivity at a position surrounding the light source lamp. In the covered simple endoscope apparatus, a heat radiation space for releasing heat accumulated in the exterior member to the external space is formed between the exterior member and the cover.
[0010]
Note that both the exterior member and the cover may be members provided in the operation unit. And the said thermal radiation space may be formed of the groove | channel formed in the outer peripheral surface of the said exterior member.
[0011]
In addition, the exterior member may be a cylindrical body, and the heat dissipation space may be formed by a plurality of grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface so as to extend to both ends, and between the plurality of grooves. The surface of the bank-shaped portion may be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover, and the cover may be fixed to the exterior member at that portion.
[0012]
In addition, the light source unit may be detachable from the operation unit, and the exterior member may be a cylindrical body protruding from the operation unit to connect the light source unit.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
4 is a side view of the operation unit 2 portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 5 is a front view. The base end of the insertion unit 1 covered with a flexible tube is connected to the lower end of the operation unit 2. Yes.
[0014]
About 3/4 of the lower side of the operation part 2 is a grip part 2a, and a forceps insertion port part 4 is provided to project obliquely forward between the grip part 2a and the insertion part 1. . Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure adjusting valve for adjusting the pressure inside the endoscope configured to be airtight.
[0015]
The operation mechanism 5 above the grip 2a of the operation unit 2 includes a suction operation valve 6 for performing a suction operation through a forceps channel (not shown) inserted into the insertion unit 1, and a distal end of the insertion unit 1. A bending operation lever 7 for remotely bending a bending portion (not shown) formed in the portion is disposed on the front surface and the rear surface, and an eyepiece portion 8 projects from the upper surface.
[0016]
An illumination light guide fiber bundle 9 for transmitting observation illumination light for illuminating a subject has an incident end portion disposed in the operation mechanism unit 5, and is inserted into the insertion unit 1 from the grip portion 2 a of the operation unit 2. The injection end portion is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion 1.
[0017]
A light source unit 30 for supplying observation illumination light to the light guide fiber bundle 9 is detachably attached to a side surface portion of the operation mechanism unit 5.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 5, the light source unit 30 includes a light source lamp 32 that emits illumination light to be supplied to the light guide fiber bundle 9, a battery 100 that is a power source for turning on the light source lamp 32, and the like. Built in. As the battery 100, any battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery may be used.
[0019]
The battery 100 can be replaced by removing the cap 50 that is detachably attached to the end of the light source unit 30, and an AC / DC conversion adapter or the like may be connected instead of the battery 100.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a state where the light source unit 30 is removed from the operation unit 2. As will be described later, a unit connection base 27 made of stainless steel protrudes from the operation portion 2 side, and a male screw portion 27a is formed at the protruding end portion. A plastic cover cylinder 26 is attached so as to cover the unit connection base 27.
[0021]
On the other hand, the light source unit 30 is provided with a fastening ring 37 formed on the inner surface portion with a female screw to be engaged with the male screw portion 27a on the operation unit 2 side so as to be rotatable around the axis, and can be freely moved by hand. Can be rotated.
[0022]
The light source unit 30 is provided with a positioning pin 38 that fits into a restriction groove 28 formed in the protruding end portion of the unit connection base 27, and the operation unit when the light source unit 30 is connected and fixed to the operation unit 2. The direction of 2 is regulated. Reference numeral 25 denotes an index for alignment.
[0023]
FIG. 1 shows the vicinity of the connection portion between the operation unit 2 and the light source unit 30, and the body case 11 that covers the operation mechanism unit 5 portion of the operation unit 2 is made of electrically insulating plastic.
[0024]
A lid 15 made of an electrically insulating plastic is fitted into a side opening that is largely formed in the main body case 11, and a sealing O-ring 16 is attached to the fitting surface, so that the operation unit 2 can be opened from the gap. Water is prevented from entering inside.
[0025]
Further, a rotation stop (not shown) for restricting relative rotation of the lid 15 and the main body case 11 is formed at the fitting portion between the lid 15 and the main body case 11. Although the O-ring 16 is crushed by being mounted, a cross section in a natural state before being crushed is shown in the drawing (hereinafter the same).
[0026]
A support cylinder 17 having a base portion fixed to a frame (not shown) in the operation unit 2 is disposed at the central axis position of the through hole formed in the central portion of the lid body 15. The connection cap receiver 18 is pressed and fixed to the lid 15 by a fastening ring 28 that is screwed into the head of the support cylinder 17.
[0027]
However, an insulating cylinder 29 made of electrically insulating plastic is interposed between the connection cap receiver 18 and the fastening ring 28 so that they do not contact each other. The support cylinder 17 and the fastening ring 28 are both made of metal and have good thermal conductivity.
[0028]
The connection base receiver 18 has a large opening on the outer surface of the lid 15, and is formed in a cylindrical shape for receiving (connecting) the light source unit 30 there. The base is fixed with screws. The unit connection cap 27 is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as stainless steel.
[0029]
A synthetic resin cover cylinder 26 having a small thermal conductivity is fixed to the unit connection base 27 with screws so as to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the unit connection base 27 and the connection base receiver 18. .
[0030]
FIG. 2 shows the shapes of the unit connection cap 27 and the cover cylinder 26 in the II-II cross section, and the cover cylinder 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a constant cross-sectional shape over the entire length.
[0031]
The unit connection base 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape inscribed in the cover cylinder 26, and has four grooves 27b (for example, a width of 12 mm and a depth of about 3 mm) that have sufficient width and depth in the direction parallel to the axis. The cover cylinder 26 is formed on the outer peripheral surface at intervals of 90 ° so as to come out at both ends.
[0032]
Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the unit connection base 27 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 26 only on the surface of the narrow bank-shaped portion between the adjacent grooves 27b over the entire length in the axial direction. A small screw for fixing the cover cylinder 26 to the unit connection base 27 is attached at one place.
[0033]
Note that FIG. 1 shows a composite of cross-sections with different directions, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape in accordance with reality. Further, the cover tube 26 and the unit connection base 27 may be coupled by being screwed together at the fitting portion instead of being fixed to each other by screwing, or may be bonded and fixed to each other.
[0034]
Returning to FIG. 1, the incident end portion of the light guide fiber bundle 9 is fixed with screws at the center axis position of the bottom portion of the unit connection base 27. The convex meniscus lens 20 is fixed by a holding nut 21 that is screwed into the bottom surface portion of the unit connection base 27 so as to face the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9.
[0035]
The fitting portion between the members arranged inside the hole of the lid body 15 is fitted with a sealing O-ring, and the operation portion 2 is a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside in all portions. It is structured into a structure. Of course, the insertion portion 1 is similarly formed in a watertight structure.
[0036]
The light source unit 30 is formed in a straight cylindrical shape as a whole, and is divided into a lamp chamber portion 30 a close to the connection portion with the operation portion 2 and a battery chamber portion 30 b far from the connection portion with the operation portion 2. FIG. 1 shows the entire lamp chamber 30a.
[0037]
The outer wall of the battery chamber 30b is formed by a battery chamber case 31 made of, for example, stainless steel having corrosion resistance (chemical resistance) and good conductivity, and also serves as a conductive member for the negative electrode of the battery 100. ing.
[0038]
At the boundary between the lamp chamber 30a and the battery chamber 30b, the lamp socket 33 to which the light source lamp 32 is detachably inserted is fixed to the battery chamber case 31 through some components.
[0039]
The cylindrical lamp chamber case 35 constituting the outer wall of the lamp chamber portion 30a is formed of, for example, stainless steel having good thermal conductivity, and is connected to both the lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31. Thus, the lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31 are connected.
[0040]
Then, if the lamp chamber case 35 is loosened and removed from the connection tube 36, the light source lamp 32 arranged on the inner side is exposed and the light source lamp 32 can be replaced. Reference numeral 39 denotes an O-ring for sealing a connecting portion between the lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31.
[0041]
A reflecting mirror 34 for converging the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 toward the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9 is fixed inside the front end portion of the lamp chamber case 35 so as to surround the light source lamp 32. Has been.
[0042]
A transparent cover glass 49 is fixed to the front end face of the reflecting mirror 34 by a presser nut 40. A sealant is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the cover glass 49 and is sealed so that water does not enter the lamp chamber case 35 from the outside.
[0043]
The fastening ring 37 is formed such that the tip portion has a slightly smaller diameter than the other portions, and a female screw portion 37 a that is screwed with the male screw portion 27 a of the unit connection base 27 is screwed to the fastening ring 37.
[0044]
Further, an annular member 45 that is rotatably fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the battery chamber case 31 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the fastening ring 37 by screws, and a collar portion protruding from the connecting cylinder 36 is provided. 36a is loosely sandwiched between the annular member 45 and the female screw portion 37a.
[0045]
Accordingly, the fastening ring 37 hardly moves in the axial direction, but is rotatable around the axial line. By rotating the fastening ring 37, the female threaded portion 37a formed at the tip portion of the fastening ring 37 is moved to the unit connection base 27. The male threaded portion 27a can be screwed or unscrewed.
[0046]
Accordingly, the insertion base 36 at the tip of the light source unit 30 is inserted into the unit connection base 27, and the fastening ring 37 is rotated so that the positioning pin 38 is fitted in the regulation groove 28, and the fastening ring 37 is rotated. When the female screw part 37a of the ring 37 is screwed into the male screw part 27a of the unit connection base 27, the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation part 2 as shown in FIG.
[0047]
Then, the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 34, passes through the cover glass 49 and the convex meniscus lens 20, and converges and enters the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9.
[0048]
When the screw connection between the unit receiving base 27 and the fastening ring 37 is released, the light source unit 30 is removed from the operation unit 2. Reference numeral 41 denotes an O-ring for sealing a fitting portion between the lamp chamber case 35 and the unit receiving base 27 when the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2.
[0049]
The two electrodes projecting rearward from the light source lamp 32 are inserted into the socket 33 and electrically connected to the connection pins behind the socket 33. The base end of each connection pin is divided and fixed to two electrode plates 43a and 43b arranged with the insulating plate 44 therebetween.
[0050]
The positive electrode of the battery 100 is always in contact with the one electrode plate 43a. The other electrode plate 43b is screwed and connected to the battery chamber case 31 in an electrically connected state, whereby each member of this portion is fixed to the battery chamber case 31.
[0051]
In the simple endoscope apparatus configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, when the light source unit 30 is connected to the unit connection base 27 and the light source lamp 32 is turned on, the light source lamp 32 emits light. The generated heat is transmitted to the unit connection base 27 via the lamp chamber case 35, and the unit connection base 27 is heated.
[0052]
However, since the outer peripheral surface of the unit connection base 27 is covered with the cover cylinder 26 having a low thermal conductivity, the operator's hand holding the operation unit 2 can only touch the surface of the cover cylinder 26 and heat Never feel.
[0053]
The heat accumulated in the unit connection base 27 is not only conducted to the connection cylinder 36 and the connection base receiver 18 which are metal members disposed adjacent to the unit connection base 27 and escaped, but also the unit connection base 27. 1 and is radiated to the space in the groove 27b between the cover cylinder 26 and escapes from the both ends of the cover cylinder 26 to the external space along the air flow, as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG.
[0054]
Therefore, even when a light bulb having a large light emission amount is used as the light source lamp 32, heat does not remain accumulated in the unit connection base 27, so that the lamp is not quickly burned out or the adjacent metal member is overheated.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the heat radiation space for radiating the heat accumulated in the exterior member at the position surrounding the light source lamp to the external space is formed between the exterior member and the cover covering the exterior space. Since the radiated heat does not remain stored in the exterior member but is released to the external space, the part touched by the operator may overheat, obstructing endoscope operation, or causing premature lamp burnout. In addition, the illumination for observation can be brightened by increasing the amount of light emitted from the light source lamp.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between an endoscope operation unit and a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing a state in which the light source unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is detached from the endoscope operation unit.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the simplified endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the simplified endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Operation unit 9 Light guide fiber bundle 26 Cover tube 27 Unit connection base (exterior member)
27b Groove (heat radiation space)
30 Light source unit 32 Light source lamp

Claims (5)

An incident end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject is arranged in the operation unit, and a light source unit having a light source lamp for supplying illumination light to the light guide is attached to the operation unit, In a simple endoscope apparatus in which a cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity is covered on the outer surface of a cylindrical exterior member made of a material having a high thermal conductivity at a position surrounding a light source lamp,
As a heat dissipation space for releasing the heat accumulated in the exterior member to the external space, a plurality of grooves extending to both ends are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the exterior member located between the exterior member and the cover. A simple endoscope device characterized. 2. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both the exterior member and the cover are members provided in the operation unit. The simplified mold according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a surface of the bank-shaped portion between the plurality of grooves is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cover, and the cover is fixed to the exterior member at the portion. Endoscopic device. 4. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit is detachable from the operation unit. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the exterior member is a cylindrical body projecting from the operation unit to connect the light source unit.

Images