JP4070864B2 - Simplified endoscope and its storage case - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a simple endoscope in which a light source unit for supplying illumination light to a light guide is connected to an operation unit, and a housing case thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A so-called simple endoscope generally has a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject. An incident end of the light guide is disposed in an operation unit, and serves as a power source for a light source that emits illumination light supplied to the light guide. Is connected to the operation unit, and a power switch for manually turning on / off a power circuit from a battery for the light source is provided in the light source unit.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the simple endoscope is used for easily performing an endoscopic examination in a patient's own room or outdoors, for example, it is often housed in a portable carrying case after use.
[0004]
Therefore, if you accidentally forget to turn off the power switch when storing the simple endoscope in the carrying case, the battery will be completely consumed in the carrying case, and the light source will not turn on when it is used. End up.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention provides a simple endoscope that can prevent wasteful consumption of a battery and a storage case for the power supply circuit that are always turned off when the simple endoscope is stored in the storage case. With the goal.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the simplified endoscope and its housing case of the present invention, the incident end of the light guide for transmitting the illumination light for illuminating the subject is disposed in the operation unit, and the light guide To turn on / off a power supply circuit from the battery to the light source in a simple endoscope and a housing case in which a light source unit including a battery serving as a power source of a light source that supplies illumination light is connected to the operation unit The switching means is provided in the light source unit, and the storage case is provided with switch driving means for turning off the switching means when the simplified endoscope is stored in a predetermined position of the storage case. It is characterized by.
[0007]
The switch driving means is a permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet and the switching means are located close to each other when the simplified endoscope is housed in a predetermined position of the housing case, The switching means may be turned off by the magnetic force generated from the permanent magnet.
[0008]
When the switching means has a second permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet on the housing case side and the switching means are located close to each other, the permanent magnet on the housing case side and the second permanent magnet on the switching means side. Depending on the magnetic force relationship with the second permanent magnet, the conductive member in the power supply circuit may move together with the second permanent magnet to turn off the switching means.
[0009]
In that case, the permanent magnet on the housing case side and the second permanent magnet on the switching means side are arranged in the direction in which the same poles face each other, and the permanent magnet on the housing case side and the second permanent magnet on the switching means side are arranged. The switching means may be turned off when the two permanent magnets repel each other.
[0010]
Further, the electrode that contacts the negative electrode of the battery is formed of a spring material, and when the permanent magnet on the housing case side and the second permanent magnet on the switching means side repel each other, the conductive member becomes the first electrode. The electrodes may be moved together with the two permanent magnets while being elastically deformed.
[0011]
The light source unit may be provided with a manual switch for manually turning on / off the power supply circuit separately from the switching means.
Further, the light source unit may be accommodated in the accommodation case in a state of being connected to the operation portion, or may be accommodated in the accommodation case in a single state separated from the operation portion. May be. Further, the storage case may be a portable carrying case.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
3 is a side view of the operation portion 2 portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 4 is a rear view. The base end of the insertion portion 1 covered with a flexible tube is connected to the lower end portion of the operation portion 2. Yes.
[0013]
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.
[0014]
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.
[0015]
An illumination light guide fiber bundle 9 for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject has an incident end disposed in the operation mechanism unit 5 and passes through the insertion unit 1 and the grip unit 2a of the operation unit 2. The injection end is arranged at the tip of the insertion portion 1.
[0016]
A light source unit 30 including a light source lamp 32 for supplying illumination light to the light guide fiber bundle 9 is inserted into the unit receiving tube 10 protruding from the side surface portion of the operation mechanism unit 5 and is detachably screwed. They are connected together.
[0017]
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 lighting the light source lamp 32, and the like. As the battery 100, any battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery may be used.
[0018]
The battery 100 is replaceable by removing a cap portion 30c that is detachably attached to the protruding end portion of the light source unit 30. Reference numeral 45 denotes a switch ring for manually switching on / off the light source lamp 32.
[0019]
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the light source unit 30. The light source unit 30 is formed in a straight cylindrical shape as a whole, includes a light source lamp 32 and a lamp chamber portion 30a located near the connection portion with the operation portion 2, and an intermediate portion that houses the battery 100. It is divided into a main body 30b located at the top and a cap 30c located at the protruding end.
[0020]
The outer wall of the main body portion 30b is formed by an outer cylindrical body 33 made of, for example, stainless steel, metal or plastic subjected to chemical-resistant surface treatment having good corrosion resistance (chemical resistance).
[0021]
In addition, a cylindrical inner cylindrical body 34 made of, for example, copper or a copper alloy such as phosphor bronze having good electrical conductivity is disposed inside and inscribed therein. The screw part is sealed with an adhesive.
[0022]
The outer wall of the cap portion 30c is formed of an outer case 37 made of a nonmagnetic material that has good corrosion resistance and is not electrically conductive, and an inner case 38 made of a nonmagnetic material having good conductivity is inscribed inside the cap. Both are fixed with a small screw 39.
[0023]
The cap portion 30c is detachably attached to the main body portion 30b by the inner case 38 being screwed into the inner cylindrical body 34, and is connected by an O-ring 40 attached to the outer case 37. A waterproof seal has been made.
[0024]
The battery 100 is built in between the main body portion 30b and the cap portion 30c, and is urged from the negative electrode side toward the positive electrode side by the contact spring 42 disposed in the inner case 38 of the cap portion 30c. .
[0025]
The base end portion of the contact spring 42 is closely attached to the conductive plate 91 made of a highly conductive metal and fixed with screws, and the conductive plate 91 is urged by the elasticity of the contact spring 42 to end the end wall 38a of the inner case 38. Abut. Therefore, the contact spring 42, the conductive plate 91, the inner case 38, and the inner cylinder 34 are electrically connected in sequence to the negative electrode side of the battery 100.
[0026]
If the battery 100 needs to be replaced, the outer case 37 is rotated about its axis, and the inner cylinder 34 and the inner case 38 are unscrewed. The cap 30c is removed from the main body 30b and the battery 100 is removed. What is necessary is just to replace 100 with a new thing and to attach the cap part 30c to the main-body part 30b again.
[0027]
In the space between the end wall 38a of the inner case 38 and the outer end wall 37a of the outer case 37, a permanent magnet 92 is arranged with a gap between the wall surface. The permanent magnet 92 has a polarity in the axial direction of the cap portion 30c, and is arranged to be movable in that direction.
[0028]
The permanent magnet 92 and the conductive plate 91 are integrally connected by a connecting member 93 made of a non-conductive material. The permanent magnet 92 and the connecting member 93 are joined, and the conductive plate 91 and the connecting member 93 are connected by a male screw portion formed at the tip of the connecting member 93 being screwed into a female screw portion formed in the conductive plate 91. Has been.
[0029]
The intermediate rod-shaped portion of the connecting member 93 is loosely passed through a through hole formed at the center position of the end wall 38 a of the inner case 38. Therefore, normally, as shown in FIG. 5, the conductive plate 91 comes into close contact with the end wall 38 a of the inner case 38 by the spring force of the contact spring 42 that contacts the battery 100, and the contact spring 42, the conductive plate 91, and the inner case 38 is electrically connected (ON) as a power supply circuit of the light source lamp 32.
[0030]
However, when a magnetic force acts on the permanent magnet 92 from the outside of the light source unit 30 and the permanent magnet 92 moves inward (a direction approaching the battery 100) against the biasing force of the contact spring 42, the permanent magnet 92 moves together with the permanent magnet 92. The conductive plate 91 is separated from the end wall 38a of the inner case 38 and there is no electrical continuity therebetween, and the power supply circuit of the light source lamp 32 is turned off. However, in this case, when the action of the external magnetic force is lost (or weakened), the conductive plate 91 is again brought into contact with the end wall 38 a of the inner case 38 by the biasing force of the contact spring 42.
[0031]
The switch ring 45 is rotatably fitted on the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 33 of the main body 30b, and is screwed and adhesively sealed to the switch ring 45 as shown in FIG. 6 showing a VI-VI cross section. The pair of pins 46 and 47 penetrates through the long grooves 48 and 49 formed in the outer cylinder 33 in the circumferential direction, and further reaches the inside thereof. The rotation range of the switch ring 45 is limited to a range in which the pins 46 and 47 can rotate within the long grooves 48 and 49.
[0032]
Thus, the conductive plate spring 51 fixed in contact with the inner cylinder 34 is disposed in the rotation range of the first pin 46 that rotates together with the switch ring 45, and the first pin 46 rotates. As a result, the contact relationship between the conductive plate 52 conducted to one electrode of the light source lamp 32 and the conductive leaf spring 51 is changed, whereby the conductive path to the light source lamp 32 is contacted / separated, and the light source lamp 32 is turned on / off. The light turns off.
[0033]
The click plate spring 53 is fixed to the inner cylinder 34 in the rotation range of the second pin 47, and the second pin 47 has both ends of the rotation range by the spring force of the click plate spring 53. Elastically fixed in position.
[0034]
Therefore, by rotating the switch ring 45, the switch ring 45 is click-fixed elastically at both ends of the rotation range, and is stationary. At one end position, the light source lamp 32 is turned on and the other end section is turned on. Then, the light source lamp 32 is turned off.
[0035]
Both the conductive plate spring 51 and the click plate spring 53 are fixed to the electrically insulating fixing board 54 with screws. A pair of sealing rings 55 and 56 are attached to the front and rear of the fitting surface between the outer cylindrical body 33 and the switch ring 45 to seal the long grooves 48 and 49 from the outside.
[0036]
The lamp chamber 30a is configured as one unit, and the cylindrical lamp chamber case 59 constituting the outer wall is formed of, for example, stainless steel having strength, and an electric insulating member 60 is screwed to the base thereof. The conductive board 52 is screwed onto the electrical insulating member 60.
[0037]
A socket 62 for connecting the light source lamp 32 is fixed to the conductive plate 52, and a terminal into which the first electrode 63 of the light source lamp 32 is inserted is fixed so as to contact the conductive plate 52. The terminal into which the second electrode 64 is inserted is conductively fixed to the conductive plate 66 that contacts the anode side electrode of the battery 100.
[0038]
In this way, the second electrode of the light source lamp 32 is always in conduction with the anode side electrode of the battery 100. 67 is an electrically insulating fixing plate for fixing the terminal, and 68 is an electrically insulating spacer.
[0039]
A reflecting mirror 71 for converging the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 toward the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9 surrounds the front end light emitting portion of the light source lamp 32 at the front end portion of the lamp chamber case 59. It is fixed to the joint.
[0040]
A transparent cover glass 72 is fixed to the front end surface of the reflecting mirror 71 by a presser nut 73. A sealant is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the cover glass 72 and is sealed so that water does not enter the lamp chamber case 59 from the outside.
[0041]
On the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the lamp chamber case 59, a male screw 74 that is screwed with a female screw (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the unit receiving cylinder 10 provided on the operation unit 2 side is formed. The light source unit 30 is connected to the operation mechanism unit 5 of the operation unit 2 by screwing the screws.
[0042]
As a result, the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 71, passes through the cover glass 72, and converges and enters the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9.
[0043]
Then, the light source unit 30 is removed from the operation unit 2 by unscrewing the male screw 74 at the tip of the lamp chamber case 59 and the operation unit 2 side. Reference numeral 75 denotes an O-ring for sealing a fitting portion between the lamp chamber case 59 and the unit receiving cylinder 10 when the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2.
[0044]
A fixed ring 77 for connecting and fixing the lamp chamber 30 a to the main body 30 b is rotatably fitted on the outer periphery of the lamp chamber case 59, and a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the rear end of the fixed ring 77. The lamp chamber 30a and the main body 30b are connected and fixed by screwing 78 and a female screw 79 formed on the inner periphery of the front end portion of the outer cylindrical body 33.
[0045]
At this time, the rotation between the lamp chamber case 59 and the outer cylinder 33 is restricted by the rotation restricting pin 81 projecting from the lamp chamber case 59 engaging with the groove 82 formed in the outer cylinder 33. Has been.
[0046]
Further, a fixed ring 83 fixed to the lamp chamber case 59 by the rotation restricting pin 81 is fitted on the outer periphery of the lamp chamber case 59 and is sandwiched between the fixed ring 77 and the outer cylindrical body 33, so that the lamp chamber case is fixed. 59 and the outer cylinder 33 are fixed in the axial direction. Reference numeral 85 denotes an O-ring for sealing a connecting portion between the lamp chamber case 59 and the outer cylinder 33.
[0047]
FIG. 2 shows a state where the above-described simple endoscope is accommodated in the carrying case 200. However, the carrying case 200 is open. Reference numeral 201 denotes a handle for gripping when the carrying case 200 is closed and transported.
[0048]
A cushion material 202 made of a sponge-like member packed in the carrying case 200 is formed with a recessed endoscope receiving groove 203 having a shape into which a simple endoscope is perfectly fitted. The permanent magnet 99 is disposed in a state where it is embedded in the cushioning material 202 at a position facing the proximate end of the light source unit 30 when the simple endoscope is fitted in the groove 203.
[0049]
In addition, a plurality of spare unit accommodation grooves 204 for fitting the spare light source unit 30S alone are formed in the carrying case 200, and the spare light source unit 30S is fitted in the spare unit accommodation groove 204. At this time, the permanent magnet 99 is also embedded in the cushion material 202 at a position facing the proximate end of the spare light source unit 30S.
[0050]
The permanent magnets 99 in the carrying case 200 are arranged in the direction in which the same poles face each other so as to repel the permanent magnets 92 in the light source unit 30 (or the spare light source unit 30S) by magnetic force.
[0051]
Therefore, when the light source unit 30 and the spare light source unit 30S are accommodated in the carrying case 200, as shown in FIG. 1, the repulsive force between the built-in permanent magnet 92 and the permanent magnet 99 on the carrying case 200 side. As a result, the conductive plate 91 is separated from the end wall 38a of the inner case 38, the power supply circuit to the light source lamp 32 is turned off, the light source lamp 32 is turned off regardless of the state of the switch ring 45, and the battery 100 is not consumed. It is in a state.
[0052]
When the light source unit 30 or the spare light source unit 30S is removed from the carrying case 200, the original state shown in FIG. 5 is restored and the light source lamp 32 is turned on / off by the switch ring 45.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the simplified endoscope is housed in a predetermined position of the housing case, the power source circuit of the light source unit is turned off by the switch driving means provided on the housing case side. Wasteful consumption can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is accommodated in a carrying case.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a state where the simplified endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention is housed in a carrying case.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the simplified endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the simplified endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of the light source unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5 of the light source unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Operation units 30, 30S Light source unit 32 Light source lamp 42 Contact spring 91 Conductive plate 92 Permanent magnet (second permanent magnet)
93 Connecting member 99 Permanent magnet 100 Battery 200 Carrying case (accommodating case)
202 Cushion material

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 containing a battery serving as a power source of a light source for supplying illumination light to the light guide is connected to the operation unit a and its housing case simple endoscope is,
Above in a state in which the switching means for turning on / off the power circuit from the battery to said light source is Rutotomoni provided in the light source unit, the simplified endoscope is accommodated in a predetermined position of the housing case In the case where a switch driving means for turning off the switching means is provided in the housing case ,
The switch driving means is a permanent magnet, the switching means has a second permanent magnet, the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are arranged in the direction in which the same poles face each other, and the battery The electrode contacting the negative electrode is formed of a spring material, and the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are in a state where the simple endoscope is housed in a predetermined position of the housing case. When the permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet repel each other in close proximity, the conductive member in the power supply circuit moves while elastically deforming the electrode together with the second permanent magnet. A simple endoscope and its storage case , wherein the switching means is turned off . In the light source unit, the switching means separately from the claim 1 Symbol placement simplified endoscope and its housing case of the manual switch is provided in order to manually turn on / off the power supply circuit. The simplified endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the light source unit is housed in the housing case in a state of being connected to the operation unit. The simplified endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the light source unit is accommodated in the accommodation case in a single state separated from the operation unit. The accommodation case, simplified endoscope and its housing case according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is a carrying case with a portable.

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