JP4311942B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus including an endoscope main body and an accessory device thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In endoscopy, not only the endoscope body but also accessory devices such as a suction device and a photographing device are often used together with the endoscope.
[0003]
However, most of such incidental devices are driven by electric power and cannot be used in an environment where the supply of commercial power cannot be received. This is a factor that restricts the place where endoscopy is performed. It was.
[0004]
Therefore, in an endoscope apparatus in which a battery serving as a power source for the illumination light source of the endoscope body is arranged in the operation unit of the endoscope body, a power connection terminal to which the battery power is applied is arranged in the eyepiece. Thus, power for driving the photographing apparatus or the like is supplied from a light source battery (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP2000-171729
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the endoscope apparatus in which the power of the battery serving as the power source of the illumination light source is supplied to the imaging apparatus or the like as described above, if the battery electromotive force becomes insufficient during endoscopic observation, the battery Must be replaced.
[0007]
For this reason, each time the battery is replaced, the illumination becomes dark and the endoscopic observation is interrupted. It was.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention can perform endoscopy by driving the auxiliary device even in an environment without a commercial power source, and avoid the shortage of battery electromotive force without interrupting endoscopic observation. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope apparatus in which a power supply terminal for supplying power to an auxiliary device used together with an endoscope body is arranged on the endoscope body. The fuel cell is provided with a fuel storage unit that replenishably stores fuel that is a raw material for generating hydrogen gas, and a power generation unit that generates power using the fuel that has flowed from the fuel storage unit, and is output from the fuel cell. Power to be supplied to both the illumination light source and the power supply terminal of the endoscope body.
[0010]
The power supply terminal may be a power socket, and it is convenient that the power socket is a general-purpose socket that can selectively connect power plugs of a plurality of types of incidental devices.
[0011]
In addition, the endoscope body may have a configuration in which an operation unit is connected to the proximal end of the flexible insertion unit, a power socket may be disposed in the operation unit, and a fuel cell is attached to the operation unit. May be.
[0012]
Note that the accessory device may include at least one of a suction device, an air supply device, a water supply device, an imaging device, an imaging device, and an image display device.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a portable endoscope apparatus. An endoscope main body has an operation portion 2 connected to a proximal end of a flexible insertion portion 1, and a distal end of the insertion portion 1. The observation window 3 and the illumination window 4 are arranged side by side.
[0014]
An objective optical system 5 is disposed in the back of the observation window 3, and an incident end face of the image guide fiber bundle 6 is disposed at a projection position of the subject by the objective optical system 5.
[0015]
The image guide fiber bundle 6 is inserted and arranged over the entire length of the insertion portion 1, and the exit end face of the image guide fiber bundle 6 can be enlarged and observed at the eyepiece portion 7 protruding from the upper end of the operation portion 2. It can be done.
[0016]
On the back side of the illumination window 4, an illumination light source 9 made of, for example, a light emitting diode or a miniature light bulb for illuminating the observation range is disposed. An illumination power line 8A for supplying power to the illumination light source 9 is inserted into the insertion portion 1 and a fuel cell 10 serving as the power source is attached to the operation portion 2.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows a fuel cell 10, which includes a fuel storage unit 20 that stores fuel made of alcohol such as ethanol or methanol, which is a raw material for generating hydrogen gas, and fuel that flows from the fuel storage unit 20. A power generation unit 30 that generates power is housed in a plastic cap-shaped housing 11 that is detachably screwed to the main body cover of the operation unit 2. However, the housing 11 may be fixed to the operation unit 2.
[0018]
The fuel storage unit 20 is formed by a space between the negative electrode portion 31 of the power generation unit 30 and the inner wall surface of the housing 11. A fuel supply port 21 that communicates with the fuel storage unit 20 and opens to the outer surface is provided in the housing 11. Is formed.
[0019]
A rubber O-ring 21a is disposed at the mouth opening of the fuel supply port 21, and a manual nut 21b that presses and crushes the O-ring 21a is screwed together. The fuel supply port 21 is closed by tightening 21b to keep the O-ring 21a crushed.
[0020]
The power generation unit 30 includes a negative electrode unit 31 that extracts hydrogen ions and electrons from the fuel flowing from the fuel storage unit 20, an electrolyte unit 32 that sends the hydrogen ions extracted by the negative electrode unit 31 to the positive electrode unit 33, and a The positive electrode part 33 which couple | bonds the produced hydrogen ion, the oxygen in air, and an electron, and produces | generates water is arrange | positioned in order.
[0021]
In addition, a porous membrane having a characteristic of allowing air and water vapor to pass but not water is attached to the air intake 34 formed on the wall surface of the housing 11 facing the positive electrode portion 33.
[0022]
The negative electrode side conductive wire 36A and the positive electrode side conductive wire 36B, which penetrate the insulating wall 35 from the negative electrode portion 31 and the positive electrode portion 33 and are led to the inside of the operation unit 2, are connected to the power output line 8, respectively. Between the side conductive line 36B and the power output line 8, a manual switch 37 that can be connected / disconnected by an external operation is provided.
[0023]
The manual switch 37 may take any configuration. In this embodiment, the manual switch 37 is electrically connected / disconnected between the positive electrode side conductive line 36 </ b> B connected to the positive electrode portion 33 and the power output line 8. A conductive piece 37a slidable in the direction of the arrow S is integrally connected to a slide operation piece 37b protruding from the housing 11, and the slide operation piece 37b is covered with a rubber cover 37c for sealing. . The power output line 8 is connected to the illumination power line 8 </ b> A via the branch connection unit 80.
[0024]
With such a configuration, when the manual switch 37 is turned on, the illumination light source 9 is turned on by the electricity generated by the electrochemical reaction in the power generation unit 30, and the subject that is the observation target of the endoscope body is illuminated. If the manual switch 37 is turned off, the illumination light source 9 is turned off.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel storage unit 20 decreases, the electromotive force of the fuel cell 10 becomes insufficient to cause the illumination light source 9 to emit light. In addition, the fuel storage unit 20 is refueled from the external refueling device 100.
[0026]
The fuel supply device 100 shown in this embodiment is substantially syringe-like, and after loosening the manual nut 21b of the fuel storage unit 20 a little, the needle-like part 41 that is not sharp is passed through the O-ring 21a and inside the fuel storage unit 20 The fuel is injected from the fuel supply device 100 into the fuel storage unit 20. After the injection, the fuel supply device 100 is removed from the fuel supply port 21, and the manual nut 21b is tightened as it is to close the fuel supply port 21.
[0027]
In this way, the fuel storage unit 20 is arbitrarily refilled at any time without turning off the illumination light source 9 and therefore without suspending the observation of the endoscope body, so that the illumination light source 9 can be turned on. Can be extended continuously.
[0028]
Returning to FIG. 1, the operation unit 2 is provided with a power socket 40 (power connection terminal) into which the power plug 51 of the peripheral device 50 can be inserted. This power socket 40 has a configuration in which two positive and negative electrodes are arranged in a hole that is hidden from the surface of the operation unit 2, and is branched from the illumination power supply line 8 </ b> A at the branch connection unit 80 to the power output line 8. The tip of the connected socket power line 8 </ b> B is connected to the power socket 40.
[0029]
As a result, at the time of endoscopy, the power plug 51 of the accessory device 50 used simultaneously with the endoscope main bodies 1 and 2 is inserted into the power socket 40 of the operation unit 2 and output from the fuel cell 10. Electric power can be supplied to the auxiliary device 50 to drive the auxiliary device 50. Therefore, even in an environment where a commercial power source cannot be used, the endoscopic examination can be performed by driving the auxiliary device 50 with electric power.
[0030]
When the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel storage unit 20 is reduced, the fuel storage unit 20 is informed before the electromotive force of the fuel cell 10 becomes insufficient to drive the illumination light source 9 and the auxiliary device 50. It is possible to replenish the fuel and drive the illumination light source 9 and the auxiliary device 50 without interruption.
[0031]
The auxiliary device 50 includes a suction device, an air supply device, a water supply device, a photographing device, an imaging device, an image display device, etc., and by forming the power plug 51 in the same shape, The power plug 51 of the necessary device can be selectively connected to the power socket 40, and one power socket 40 has versatility that can correspond to a plurality of types of auxiliary devices 50.
[0032]
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of power sockets 40A and 40B are provided in the operation unit 2, and a plurality of types of auxiliary devices such as an air / water supply device and a suction device are provided. The power plugs 51A and 51B of 50A and 50B are simultaneously inserted into the power sockets 40A and 40B so that a plurality of types of auxiliary devices 50A and 50B can be used simultaneously. 0 is a channel used for air supply / water supply or suction.
[0033]
In addition, a power contact 40X (power supply terminal) for supplying power to the accessory device 50X (for example, an imaging device, an imaging device, etc.) attached to the eyepiece unit 7 is arranged in the eyepiece unit 7, and is branched and connected. The tip of the contact power line 8X extending from the portion 80 is connected thereto.
[0034]
5 to 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the fuel storage unit 20 is formed in a cartridge shape that is detachable from the power generation unit 30. . The fuel cartridge 20 has a configuration in which fuel is sealed in a sealed container made of, for example, a thin transparent plastic material.
[0035]
A plurality of, for example, injection needle-shaped fuel introduction pipes 38 project outward from the negative electrode portion 31 side of the power generation unit 30, and the used fuel cartridge 20 is removed as shown in FIG. The fuel cartridge 20 can be quickly replaced simply by piercing the fuel introduction tube 38 into the fuel cartridge 20, and the electromotive force of the fuel cell 10 does not decrease during the replacement operation.
[0036]
Also, as shown in FIG. 7, by arranging a plurality of fuel cartridges 20, there is no fear of a decrease in the electromotive force of the fuel cell 10 even if work time is required when replacing one fuel cartridge 20. can do.
[0037]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, the illumination light source 9 is arrange | positioned in the operation part 2, and illumination light is made to the illumination window 4 by the light guide fiber bundle etc. which were penetrated and arranged in the insertion part 1. It may be one that is communicated.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a fuel storage unit that replenishably stores a fuel that is a raw material for generating hydrogen gas, and a fuel cell that includes a power generation unit that generates power using the fuel that flows from the fuel storage unit. Since the power output from the fuel cell is provided to the illumination light source of the endoscope body and to the power supply terminal for supplying power to the auxiliary device, the power is supplied even in an environment without a commercial power source. Endoscopic examination can be performed by driving the apparatus with electric power, and endoscopic observation can be continued without interruption by appropriately refueling and avoiding insufficient electromotive force of the battery.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the fuel cell in a state during refueling according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a fuel cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a fuel cell in a state during refueling according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a fuel cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Insertion section (endoscope body)
2 Operation unit (endoscope body)
8 Power output line 8A Illumination power line 8B Socket power line 9 Illumination light source 10 Fuel cell 11 Housing 20 Fuel storage part 21 Refueling port 30 Power generation part 31 Negative electrode part 32 Electrolyte part 33 Positive electrode part 40, 40A, 40B Power socket (Power supply terminal)
40X power contact (power supply terminal)
50, 50A, 50B, 50X Attached device 51, 51A, 51B Power plug 80 Branch connection

Claims (4)

The endoscope apparatus power supply terminals are disposed in the endoscope main body for supplying power to the accessory devices for use with an endoscope main body,
A fuel reservoir for refillable storage of fuel as a raw material for producing hydrogen gas, a fuel cell and a power generation unit for the power generation by the fuel flowing from the fuel storage portion is provided,
The power output from the fuel cell is applied to both the illumination light source of the endoscope body and the power supply terminal .
An endoscope apparatus , wherein the power supply terminal is a general-purpose socket to which a power plug of a plurality of types of accessory devices can be selectively connected . The endoscope body, the proximal end of the flexible insertion portion has composition obtained by connecting the operation unit, the power socket endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein disposed on the operation unit. The endoscope body, the proximal end of the flexible insertion portion has composition obtained by connecting the operation unit, to one of the claims 2 to the claims 1 mounted on the operation unit the fuel cell The endoscope apparatus described. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the auxiliary device includes at least one of a suction device, an air supply device, a water supply device, an imaging device, an imaging device, and an image display device. apparatus.

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