JP4505310B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope in which various arrangement members are incorporated in a distal end configuration portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope.

  In general, an electronic endoscope includes an operation unit that is held and operated by an operator, an insertion unit that is inserted into a body cavity, and a connector unit that is connected to a light source device or an image processing device. The distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion is provided with an objective lens for observing the inside of the body cavity, an imaging unit including a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD as an imaging means, and a distal end of a light guide that illuminates the inside of the body cavity.

  By the way, the structure for attaching the imaging unit to the tip constituent member forms an imaging unit housing hole in the tip constituent member, and after inserting the imaging unit into the housing hole, a fixing screw screwed into the tip constituent member is attached to the imaging unit. The abutting and imaging unit is fixed to the tip constituent member. The reason why the imaging unit is fixed to the tip component member using the fixing screw in this way is to secure the fixing strength of the imaging unit with respect to the tilt when the insertion portion is bent and to repair the endoscope. It is to make it possible to easily remove the imaging unit.

  Conventionally, as a method of fixing the imaging unit to the tip component member with a screw, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a V-shaped groove is provided on the outer periphery of a lens frame that is a part of the imaging unit. The imaging unit is fastened and fixed by abutting the tip slope portion of the pointed screw with the tip sharpened conically on the tip side slope in the groove.

  In such a screw fixing system, the imaging unit is not simply fixed to the tip component member, but the tip slope of the pointed screw pushes the slope of the V-shaped groove toward the tip of the endoscope insertion portion. The effect is obtained. In other words, the pointed screw has an action of pressing the imaging unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the screwing direction of the screw so that the imaging unit hits the positioning step provided in the imaging unit housing hole. Is fixed to the tip component.

  However, in the screw fixing method using the pointed tip screw, it is necessary to form an inclined portion that abuts the tip slope portion of the pointed tip screw by processing the contact portion of the screw such as the lens frame into a V-groove shape. there were. For this reason, since the lens frame is processed into a V-groove shape, the lens frame has to be formed extra thick because it is unnecessary from the original lens holding function. The thickness necessary for forming the V-shaped groove is a considerably large ratio compared to the diameter of the lens frame, and an endoscope in a situation where it is desired to make the tip portion of the insertion portion as thin as possible. Needed to improve the mounting structure.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-260029), there is a structure in which the imaging unit is fixed in the same manner as described above using a flat-tip screw without a pointed tip as a fixing screw of the imaging unit. Are known. In this fixing method, the length of the screw itself is short, and the lens frame which is a part of the imaging unit is pressed and fixed with the tip surface (plane) of the screw. For this reason, there is no concentration of local force, and the lens frame can be made relatively thin. Therefore, this method is more advantageous in reducing the diameter of the distal end constituent portion of the endoscope insertion portion than in the case of using the pointed screw as in Patent Document 1 described above.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-56756 JP2003-260029A

  However, in the conventional fixing method using a flat-point screw, there is no consistency in the direction and position of the screw applied to the imaging unit, and no special consideration has been given. For this reason, when the end face of the flat tip screw hits the imaging unit, the rotational force of the screw is applied to the imaging unit, and the imaging unit may be turned to an unintended direction.

  For example, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, the center axis of the fixing screw and the center axis of the imaging unit are in contact with each other. In this case, when the fixing screw presses the imaging unit, the movement of the fixing screw in the rotation direction is directly transmitted to the imaging unit. For this reason, the imaging unit is twisted and attached in the rotational direction of the fixing screw with respect to the tip component portion in the imaging unit housing hole.

  As a result, the objective optical system has caused a declination with respect to the illumination optical system. Also, in many cases, the hard portion of the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion is configured to be short so that the bending of the distal end of the insertion portion is small. In this case, the fitting length of the imaging unit that enters the imaging unit storage hole is also shortened. The amount of twist due to the rotational force of the fixing screw tends to increase.

  When the objective optical system is deviated with respect to the illumination optical system, there is a deviation between the imaging region and the illumination region, so that a part of the endoscopic image cannot be illuminated, which hinders observation. There is a risk of coming. In addition, when the rotational force of the fixing screw acts in the direction in which the imaging unit is retracted with respect to the tip component, the tip opening of the imaging unit housing hole projects relatively, and the protruding tip opening portion May enter the endoscopic image.

  On the other hand, if a pointed screw is used as in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent the rotational force of the screw from acting on the imaging unit by bringing the apex of the screw into contact with the lens frame, and the above-described problems can be prevented.

  However, when using a pointed screw, the area of the screw pressing part against the frame of the imaging unit is small, and the contact part becomes point-like, so the pressing force of the screw is locally applied to the lens frame and the lens frame is deformed. If it is easy to cause and the tightening force is too strong, it may cause deformation or cracking in the components in the lens frame. For this reason, the lens frame is unnecessary from the original lens holding function, but it has to be formed to be thicker than that.

  The above-described circumstances are the same for the lens cleaning nozzle unit provided at the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion. When a body fluid or the like in the body cavity adheres to the surface of the objective lens provided at the distal end configuration part of the endoscope, it obstructs observation. Therefore, a general endoscope has a lens cleaning nozzle in the vicinity of the objective lens. In this case, cleaning water and pressurized air are jetted toward the lens surface to remove dirt and water droplets adhering to the lens surface. After the lens cleaning nozzle is inserted into a nozzle housing hole provided in the tip constituent member, a fixing screw screwed into the tip constituent member is applied to the side surface of the cleaning nozzle and fixed. This fixing method ensures the fixing strength of the lens cleaning nozzle, but if the lens cleaning nozzle becomes clogged, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new cleaning nozzle. This is because it is possible to ensure the sex.

  Usually, in order to reduce the diameter of the distal end configuration portion of the endoscope, the lens cleaning nozzle is formed by a thin circular tube, and a fixing screw for fixing the nozzle is a flat-tip screw having no projection, and the lens The local force is prevented from concentrating on the cleaning nozzle, and the storage space for the fixing screw itself is configured to be small.

  However, in the conventional fixing method using the flat-point screw, there is no consistency in the direction and position of application of the screw to the lens cleaning nozzle, and no special consideration has been given. For this reason, when the end face of the flat tip screw hits the side surface of the lens cleaning nozzle, the lens cleaning nozzle may be moved in an unintended direction by the rotational force of the screw. The opening of the lens cleaning nozzle (usually formed in a flat ellipse shape so as to be sprayed uniformly on the lens surface) must be arranged in a normal state such as the height direction and the level with respect to the objective lens surface. The lens surface is not efficiently exposed to the cleaning water, the cleaning effect is lowered, and the water drainage of the lens surface due to the air supply after the water supply is deteriorated.

  On the other hand, the use of a pointed screw can prevent the lens cleaning nozzle from moving, but since the force of applying screws is concentrated locally, the lens cleaning nozzle itself is deformed, and the air supply There is a possibility that the amount of liquid feeding is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reliably and easily place an arrangement member at a specified position of the distal end configuration portion while ensuring a reduction in the diameter of the distal end portion of the insertion portion without adding a special structure. An object is to provide an endoscope that can be fixed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disposition member that is movably disposed on the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion, and a position that is formed on the distal end configuration portion and that the placement member contacts when the disposition member is moved. A stopper part that abuts the arrangement member to define the mounting position of the arrangement member with respect to the tip component part, and a fixing means that is provided on the tip component part and that clamps the arrangement member and fixes the arrangement member to the tip component part. The fixing means includes a screw member, and the screw member is directed toward a normal mounting position where the placement member hits the stopper portion separately from a force for fastening the placement member when the placement member is tightened. It is an endoscope characterized in that it is arranged at the distal end constituting portion so as to abut on the outer periphery of the arrangement member in a direction that generates a force for moving the arrangement member .
The invention according to claim 2 is formed on the distal end construction part of the insertion portion, wherein the mounting hole of the locating member which is disposed at the distal end configuration portion installed to be movable in the direction along the central axis of the hole, the distal end construction part The arrangement member is provided at a position where the arrangement member hits when the arrangement member installed in the attachment hole is moved in a direction along the central axis, and the arrangement member is abutted against the arrangement of the tip portion. A stopper portion that defines the mounting position of the member, a screw hole that is formed in the tip configuration portion and communicates with the mounting hole, and is screwed into the screw hole and abuts on the outer periphery of the arrangement member installed in the mounting hole. and a screw member fixed to said mounting hole by tightening the locating member Te, the screw member is a screw member in contact with the tip is flat on the outer circumference of the locating member, the screw hole has a central axis When the screw member is screwed into the screw hole, the one side region of the tip surface of the screw member is located on the outer periphery of the placement member. The endoscope is characterized in that a rotational force of the screw member generates a force to move the arrangement member toward a normal mounting position of the mounting hole.
The invention according to claim 3, wherein the stopper portion is an endoscope according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a protrusion formed on the frame forming the locating member mounting portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably and easily fix the arrangement member at a specified position of the distal end configuration portion without requiring a special structure, and it is possible to reduce the diameter of the distal end of the insertion portion.

  An electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment is connected to the long insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3 provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion, and the operation portion 3. Universal cable 4, light guide connector 5 provided at the extension tip of universal cable 4, camera cable 6 connected to light guide connector 5, and camera connector provided at the extension tip of camera cable 6 7.

  The light guide connector 5 is connected to an illumination light source device (not shown). The camera connector 7 is connected to a camera control unit (hereinafter referred to as CCU) (not shown). A monitor (not shown) is connected to a CCU (not shown) to which the camera connector 7 is connected. Then, after an optical image of the test part is picked up by a solid-state image sensor of an image pickup unit as will be described later, signal processing is performed by the CCU, and the image of the test part is displayed as a video on the monitor.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 2 has a distal end configuration portion 8 arranged at the most distal position, and a bendable bending portion 9 is connected adjacent to the proximal end of the distal end configuration portion 8. And a rigid portion 10 is provided adjacent to the proximal end of the curved portion 9. As will be described later, an image pickup unit 32 having a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD is incorporated in the tip configuration portion 8. Further, the rigid portion 10 is a long and rigid linear portion.

  A grip 11 that is gripped when the operator holds the endoscope 1 is formed at the insertion portion side portion of the operation portion 3. Two bending operation levers 12 and 13 as operation means for performing an operation for bending the bending portion 9 are provided at a portion of the operation portion 3 located closer to the grip 11 than the portion of the grip 11.

  A fixing lever 14 for fixing the bending operation levers 12 and 13 at a desired operation position (that is, fixing the bending state in a desired state) is provided at a portion adjacent to the bending operation levers 12 and 13. . In FIG. 1, only the fixing lever 14 for the bending operation lever 12 is shown, and the fixing lever for the other bending operation lever 13 is not shown. The grip 11 is provided with a plurality of remote switches 15 for remotely operating a video recording device such as a VTR (not shown) or a CCU (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vent 16 is provided on the side wall surface of the light guide connector 5. The vent cap 16 has a valve function for selecting the internal / external communication state of the endoscope body. The vent cap 16 is normally closed and is in a watertight state in which water does not enter the endoscope 1. And by supplying air into the endoscope main body from the vent cap 16 and immersing the endoscope 1 in water, the water leakage inspection of the endoscope 1 can be performed based on the presence or absence of leakage of bubbles. Yes.

  A protective sheath 17 mainly for protecting the bending portion 9 can be attached to the insertion portion 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the protective sheath 17 includes a highly flexible tube-shaped sheath 18 and a mouth 19 provided at the base end of the sheath 18. The insertion part 2 of the endoscope 1 was inserted from the distal end component part 8 side through the opening part of the mouth part 19, and the insertion part 2 was inserted into the sheath 18 to be provided on the inner surface of the opening end part of the mouth part 19. The protective sheath 17 is attached to the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 by overcoming the grip convex portion 21 provided on the distal end side of the grip 11 and engaging with the operation portion 3 of the endoscope 1. The protective sheath 17 can be fixed in the mounted state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the distal end configuration portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 is provided with a distal end portion of a pair of light guides 31 and an imaging unit 32 as an illumination optical system. The light guide 31 is a light guide means made of an optical fiber or the like, and is an illumination that is arranged on the distal end surface of the distal end constituting portion 8 by guiding illumination light for illuminating the test portion in the body cavity from a light source device (not shown). Illumination light is emitted from the window 33 toward the portion to be examined.

  In addition, the imaging unit 32 includes imaging means for imaging a subject. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, an objective lens system 34 including an optical member such as a plurality of lenses as an objective optical system, This is a unit including an imaging unit 35 that captures an optical image of a portion to be examined by the objective lens system 34. The image pickup unit 35 incorporates a solid-state image pickup device (not shown) such as a CCD.

  The objective lens system 34 of the imaging unit 32 includes a lens group 36 as an observation optical lens incorporated in a metal rear lens frame 37 shown in FIG. 4 and is illuminated with illumination light emitted from the light guide 31. An optical image of the inspection unit is taken and formed on the solid-state image sensor of the imaging unit 35.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a substantially cylindrical first lens frame 39 to which a disk-shaped first lens 38 made of an optical member is bonded and fixed is disposed at the tip side portion of the objective lens system 34. The first lens frame 39 is fixed to the rear lens frame 37 with an insulating frame 40 interposed between the first lens frame 39 and the rear lens frame 37. The rear lens frame 37 and the first lens frame 39 serve as an exterior frame member that forms the periphery of the objective lens system 34 of the imaging unit 32, and the outer periphery thereof forms the outer periphery of the imaging unit 32.

  The first lens 38 of the imaging unit 32 also serves as an observation window optical member, and is exposed on the distal end surface of the distal end configuration portion 8 of the insertion portion 2. The insulating frame 40 is made of an electrically insulating material.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the front end surface of the first lens 38 is disposed so as to protrude forward from the front end of the first lens frame 39, and the corner of the protruding front end portion is tapered over the entire circumference. A chamfered portion 41 is formed.

  On the other hand, the main body member (tip member) of the distal end constituting portion 8 in the insertion portion 2 is formed by a first end tubular component 50 having a substantially cylindrical shape having an end face portion 91 which becomes the distal end face of the distal end constituting portion 8. Yes. The light guide 31 and the imaging unit 32 are disposed and fixed in grooves and holes formed in the first distal tubular part 50.

  The light guide 31 is formed by, for example, a light guide fiber bundle. The fiber bundle can be freely deformed except for the vicinity of its tip, and its cross-sectional shape is not specified. However, as shown in FIGS. For example, a portion in the vicinity of the tip is formed in a rectangular shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an imaging cable 42 is connected to the rear portion of the imaging unit 32. The imaging cable 42 is led to the camera connector 7 through the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, the universal cable 4, the light guide connector 5 and the camera cable 6 of the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. The camera connector 7 is connected to a video processor or the like (not shown).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.4 and FIG.8, the front-end | tip structure part 8 of the said insertion part 2 is comprised combining the some tubular member. The tubular member is roughly divided into the first distal tubular component 50 as a distal-end component main body, and a substantially cylindrical second distal tubular component 60 (outer member) fitted on the first distal tubular component 50. And a substantially cylindrical third tip tubular component 70 as an exterior member fitted on the outer periphery of the second tip tubular component 60 from the base end side.

  The first tip tubular component 50 has a tip portion formed as a wall portion, and an imaging unit housing hole 51 having a circular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. It is provided penetrating in the direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the image pickup unit accommodation hole 51 serves as a mounting portion for the image pickup unit in which the tip portion of the image pickup unit 32 is fitted and the image pickup unit 32 is arranged at a specified position.

  Further, a gap is formed between the front end portion of the imaging unit 32 attached to the imaging unit housing hole 51 and the first tip tubular part 50, and this gap is watertight by an adhesive as will be described later. In the sealed state, the imaging unit 32 is fixed to the first tip tubular component 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of claw parts 52 protruding inwardly are provided partially at the opening edge of the imaging unit accommodation hole 51 at intervals. Here, the claw portion 52 includes three claw portions 52a, 52b, and 52c that are respectively disposed in the lower portion and the left and right portions of the upper half, and these three claw portions 52a, 52b, and 52c are provided in the imaging unit housing hole. Positioning protrusions 51 are arranged at intervals around the opening periphery of 51. Each claw part 52a, 52b, 52c is formed integrally with the first tip tubular part 50 which is one of the frame members forming the main body part of the tip component part 8.

  Then, the image pickup unit 32 is inserted into the image pickup unit housing hole 51, and the tip of the image pickup unit 32 is abutted against each claw portion 52, whereby the attachment position of the image pickup unit 32 in the central axis direction is determined. That is, the claw portion 52 constitutes a position restricting stopper means for determining the mounting position in the front-rear direction (center axis direction) of the imaging unit 32 that is inserted into the imaging unit housing hole 51 and disposed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each of the claw portions 52 protrudes so as to enter a region inside the outer diameter of the first lens 38 positioned at the forefront of the imaging unit 32. Yes. More specifically, the claw portions 52a, 52b, and 52c protrude from the tapered chamfered portion 41 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the disk-shaped first lens 38, respectively. Further, the back surface of the claw portion 52, that is, the inner portion facing the chamfered portion 41 is formed as a tapered (inclined) portion 100 that matches the inclination of the tapered chamfered portion 41.

  Thus, since the tapered chamfered portion 41 and the tapered portion 100 come into contact with each other, there is no contact where the claw portion 52 is locally concentrated with respect to the chamfered portion 41 of the first lens 38, and a locally concentrated force is generated. Alleviating and preventing the first lens 38 from cracking. Further, since the claw portions 52a, 52b, and 52c are formed integrally with the first tip tubular component 50, the claw portions 52a, 52b, and 52c can be made as thin as possible and the protruding amount can be reduced. . For this reason, the chamfered portion 41 of the disk-shaped first lens 38 can be made small, and even with the first lens 38 having the same diameter, the effective outer diameter can be made large, and the diameter of the distal end portion of the endoscope can be reduced.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a screw hole 43 is formed in the side wall of the first tip tubular component 50, and the screw hole 43 penetrates to the image pickup unit storage hole 51 as an image pickup unit mounting portion. It is formed so as to communicate with the unit storage hole 51.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the screw hole 43 is on a radial line 32 a in the vertical direction passing through the central axis O of the imaging unit storage hole 51 in which the imaging unit 32 is arranged, in a lower part of the tip configuration portion 8. It is located in the area where it is placed.

  However, the screw rotation center shaft 44a of the screw hole 43 does not coincide with the radial line 32a, and is inclined with respect to the radial line 32a. The screw rotation center axis 44 a of the screw hole 43 coincides with the rotation center axis of the fixing screw screwed into the screw hole 43, and the center axis of the image pickup unit 32 is the center axis of the image pickup unit storage hole 51 for storing the image pickup unit 32. Approximate with O.

  A flat tip screw 44 having a flat tip is screwed into the screw hole 43 from below the first tip tubular component 50. In other words, the screw rotation center axis 44 a of the flat tip screw 44 is arranged so as to be shifted from the center axis O of the imaging unit accommodation hole 51. The screw rotation center axis 44a of the fixing screw and the center axis O of the image pickup unit housing hole 51 are not parallel and do not intersect with each other, so that they are arranged so as to intersect each other. Further, the axes are arranged so as to be substantially at right angles (orthogonal). For this reason, when the flat tip screw 44 is screwed into the screw hole 43, the tip surface of the flat tip screw 44 partially abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the imaging unit 32. That is, the entire end face 44b of the flat tip screw 44 does not uniformly hit the outer peripheral wall surface of the first lens frame 39 in the imaging unit 32, but one side of the end face 44b of the flat tip screw 44 shown in FIG. Only the region 44c in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the contact part hits the outer peripheral surface of the imaging unit 32 (FIG. 9B is a top view of the flat tip screw 44 viewed from the direction A in FIG. 9A).

  The normal flat-tip screw 44 uses a right-handed screw and is assumed to be used. The direction of the rotational force that the imaging unit 32 receives from the screw 44 when the screw end surface 44b of the flat tip screw 44 abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the imaging unit 32 depends on the region where the screw end surface 44b of the flat tip screw 44 contacts. Different. That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the screw end face center region 44d comes into contact, the screw works in the screw rotation direction. Assuming that the region 44c located on the right side of the paper surface from the center position of the screw end surface is in contact, it works upwardly on the paper surface. Further, if the region 44e located on the left side of the paper surface from the center position of the screw end surface comes into contact, it works toward the lower side of the paper surface.

  In the present embodiment, since the direction of the central axis of the screw hole 43 is inclined in the direction shown in FIG. 6, only the region 44 c of the flat tip screw 44 comes into contact with the first lens frame 39 of the imaging unit 32. That is, only the force in the upward direction in FIG. 9B is an effective force that acts on the first lens frame 39 and moves the imaging unit 32. Therefore, the arrangement state of the flat tip screw 44 has a relationship of generating a force in a direction to move the imaging unit 32 toward the distal end of the insertion portion when the flat tip screw 44 is applied to the first lens frame 39.

  When the flat tip screw 44 is screwed and rotated, the imaging unit 32 receives the tightening force and at the same time reaches the mounting position where the chamfered portion 41 of the first lens 38 located at the foremost position contacts the claw portion 52. When the chamfered portion 41 of the first lens 38 is pushed forward in a substantially straight line and reaches the proper mounting position where it abuts the claw portion 52, it stops and is positioned, and the imaging unit 32 is tightened to the proper mounting position. Fixed.

  After the screws are fixed, the filler 45 is filled in the remaining screw holes 43 as shown in FIG. By adopting such an attachment method, the imaging unit 32 is positioned and attached to the attachment position of the distal end component 8 of the endoscope 1. In addition, the imaging unit 32 is attached to the distal end configuration portion 8 of the endoscope 1 in a state of being electrically insulated by the insulating frame 40.

  Further, with the imaging unit 32 assembled, an adhesive is poured into the gap between the imaging unit housing hole 51 and the imaging unit 32 from the notch 53 that avoids the claw 52 from the endoscope front end side. Watertightness between the one lens frame 39 and the first tip tubular part 50 is ensured.

  Further, since the notch 53 is formed so as to open larger than the outer diameter of the first lens 38, an adhesive is provided between the first lens frame 39 and the first tip tubular component 50. It is easy to pour in.

  One of the plurality of cutout portions 53 is disposed at the tip of the abutting direction of the flat tip screw 44 that fixes the imaging unit 32 (that is, the central axis direction 44a of the flat tip screw 44). In the present embodiment, the notch 53a located on the upper side in FIG.

  Incidentally, there is usually a slight clearance in the fitting portion between the imaging unit housing hole 51 and the first lens frame 39 of the imaging unit 32. Therefore, when the flat tip screw 44 is applied to the first lens frame 39 to be fastened and fixed, the flat tip screw 44 is applied in the imaging unit housing hole 51 in addition to the influence of the screw rotational force of the flat tip screw 44. A current situation occurs in which the first lens frame 39 is biased in the pressing direction by the clearance. At this time, the first lens 38 is also biased together by the clearance in the screw contact pressing direction at the opening edge of the imaging unit housing hole 51.

  However, since the notched portion 53 (53a) is provided at the biased position and the claw portion 52 having the tapered portion 100 does not exist, the tapered chamfered portion 41 has an opening end such as the claw portion 52 or the like. It is possible to avoid interference by contacting the edge.

  As a result, the first lens 38 does not break due to interference with the claw portion 52 and the like. In addition, since the chamfered portion 41 and the claw portion 52 do not come into contact with each other, the phenomenon that the image pickup unit 32 is retracted does not occur, and the image pickup unit 32 is better fit.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, in the lower outer peripheral portion of the first tip tubular component 50, a substantially rectangular groove in which the tip portion 31a of the light guide 31 having a substantially rectangular cross section formed by an adhesive or the like is disposed. Two right and left light guide receiving portions 54 are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the illumination window 33 (optical member) is provided on the surface exposed to the outside corresponding to the position where the light guide receiving portion 54 is formed at the distal end of the insertion portion 2. A stepped portion 55 is formed for placing the. The illumination window 33 is an optical member that can transmit illumination light such as flat glass, and has an irregular shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the light guide 31 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, the step portion 55 has a shape substantially equal to the shape of the illumination window 33 and an end surface portion 91 that forms the distal end surface of the first distal tubular component 50. On the other hand, the end surface portion 91 of the first distal tubular part 50 is formed so as to be cut out with a hollow amount substantially equal to the thickness of the illumination window 33. Furthermore, two wedge-shaped claw portions 56 that face each other are formed on the step portion 55. A mounting portion for arranging the illumination window 33 is formed by the step portion 55 and the claw portion 56. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, two chamfered portions 81 are formed in the illumination window 33 at positions corresponding to the claw portions 56.

  When the illumination window 33 is arranged on the step portion 55, the illumination window 33 is assembled at a predetermined position of the step portion 55 by slidingly engaging from the side of the first tip tubular component 50 toward the center thereof. . At this time, since the claw portion 56 contacts the chamfered portion 81 of the illumination window 33, the illumination window 33 is accommodated in the mounting portion without moving forward of the distal end of the endoscope.

  The portion of the first tip tubular component 50 where the stepped portion 55 is not cut out remains as a flange-like portion, and the flange portion 57 serves as an abutment positioning portion when the second tip tubular component 60 is assembled. . Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a positioning hole 58 for engaging the pin 46 for positioning the three components is provided at a predetermined position on the outer peripheral portion of the first tip tubular component 50.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second tip tubular part 60 is made of metal and has a thin circular tube shape, one end of which is a stepped thick part 61, and the opening 66 has the first part in the first part. A contact portion 62 with which the flange portion 57 of the first tip tubular component 50 abuts is formed so that the end portions are flush with each other when the tip tubular component 50 is fitted in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, in the present embodiment, the engaging portion 65 formed by the inner peripheral surface of the stepped thick portion 61 includes the arc portion 82 of the illumination window 33 (in other words, the mounting portion). The illumination window 33 is mechanically secured to the first and second tip components 50, 60.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the second distal tubular part 60 is formed with a slit-like cutout portion 63 having a constant width cut out from the rear end side. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, by arranging the peripheral portion of the maximum outer diameter of the imaging unit 32 in the notch 63, interference between the imaging unit 32 and the second distal tubular part 60 is eliminated. The outer diameter of the insertion portion is kept small.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the second tip tubular part 60 is provided with a hole 64 for engaging the pin 46 at a predetermined position. Then, the positions of the first tip tubular part 50 and the second tip tubular part 60 are determined by the pin 46.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the third tip tubular part 70 has a thin circular tube made of metal, and the tip-side tubular part fits snugly into the outer periphery of the second tip tubular part 60. A large-diameter cylindrical portion 71 having an inner diameter is formed. A rear end side portion of the third distal tubular part 70 is a stepped small diameter portion 72. A slit 73 is formed at the distal end portion of the large diameter tubular portion 71 of the third distal tubular component 70. The width of the slit 73 is substantially equal to the diameter of the small diameter portion 47 of the pin 46. Then, when the second tip tubular part 60 is fitted into the third tip tubular part 70 and the tip of the third tip tubular part 70 comes into contact with the stepped thick portion 61 of the second tip tubular part 60. The mutual positional relationship is determined by engaging the small-diameter portion 47 of the pin 46 in the slit 73 of the third tip tubular part 70.

  The other end portion of the third distal tubular part 70 has a stepped small diameter portion 72. As shown in FIG. 4, the stepped small diameter portion 72 includes a curved portion 9 of the insertion portion 2. One end portion of the node ring 74 that is located at the foremost part of the joint ring 74 is fitted, and both are bonded and fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the base end of the light guide 31 having one end fixed to the distal end constituting portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 is fixed to the light guide connector 5. And the illumination light from the light source device which is not illustrated is guided to the front-end | tip of an insertion part through the light guide 31. FIG. The distal end portion of the light guide 31 is divided into right and left, and is substantially rectangular configured by the light guide receiving portion 54 of the substantially rectangular groove of the first distal tubular part 50 and the second distal tubular part 60 shown in FIG. Each is arranged in a shape space. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end side of the first tip tubular component 50 is directed toward the outer peripheral side of the first tip tubular component 50 so as to include the entire light guide receiving portion 54. An inclined slope 59 is formed.

  Therefore, when the tip end of the light guide 31 is inserted into another member in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 8 and assembled, the tip end of the light guide 31 is brought into contact with the inclined surface portion 59 to be along the first tip tubular shape described above. It becomes easy to guide to a substantially rectangular space constituted by the component 50 and the second tip tubular component 60.

  The tip portion of the light guide 31 inserted through the substantially rectangular space is bonded and fixed in a state where it abuts against the illumination window 33 as shown in FIG. And the illumination light sent through this light guide 31 is the recessed part (namely, the said light) in the edge part of the front-end | tip structure part 8 which consists of the said 1st front-end | tip tubular part 50 and the said 2nd front-end | tip tubular part 60. The light is emitted to the portion to be examined through the illumination window 33 that is locked to the light emitting end portion of the guide 31 and fixed in a watertight manner with an adhesive.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the light guide 31 is disposed at the distal end configuration portion 8 of the insertion portion 2, but a portion and a space that avoids the imaging unit 32 in the second distal tubular component 60. It is arranged efficiently using For this reason, diameter reduction of the insertion part 2 is achieved. Further, by forming the light guide 31 in a substantially rectangular shape (flat), it is possible to reduce the useless space in the tip configuration portion 8.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the light guide molding portion is arranged in an S shape along the longitudinal direction so as to avoid the maximum outer diameter portion of the imaging unit 32, thereby improving the assemblability. Further, even if stress is applied to the molded portion of the light guide 31 during assembly or bending operation, the second end tubular part 60 is stretched over the entire length in the longitudinal direction so that the strands of the light guide 31 are not easily broken. The inner peripheral surface of the distal tubular part 60 and the side surface of the light guide 31 are bonded and fixed. With such a structure, the endoscope 1 has an insertion portion 2 that can be inserted into a subject.

  In the case of using the endoscope 1 described above, the illumination light emitted from the light source device enters the light guide 31, and the illumination light guided by the light guide 31 is an illumination window at the distal end of the endoscope. It radiates | emits from 33 and illuminates an affected part. Then, an optical image of the illuminated affected area is picked up by the image pickup unit 32, and after the signal processing by the CCU (not shown), the image is displayed on the monitor.

  As described above, in the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, a flat-tip screw that is a fixing screw is used as a fixing means for fixing to the imaging means mounting portion, and the rotational force thereof is a regular value that the imaging unit is defined by the tip configuration portion. Since it is used as a force for pushing into the position, the following various effects are obtained.

  First, there is no need for a special configuration (combination of a conventional V-groove and pointed screw) for fixing the imaging unit 32 while urging the imaging unit 32 toward the distal end side, and the lens frame and the like can be made compact. At the same time, the diameter of the distal end constituting portion 8 of the endoscope 1 can be reduced.

  Further, when the imaging unit 32 is assembled to the distal end component 8, the possibility that the imaging unit 32 tilts (causes a declination) with respect to the distal end component 8 of the endoscope 1 is remarkably reduced. It is possible to prevent light failure.

  Further, the same effect can be obtained even when the fitting depth of the tip component 8 and the hard component is shallow. And the hard length of the front-end | tip structure part 8 can be shortened, and the full length of the imaging unit 32 can be shortened.

  Next, an electronic endoscope according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fixing unit of the imaging unit 32 is an example of the arrangement member that is arranged and fixed on the distal end configuration portion 8 of the insertion portion 2. However, in the present embodiment, the arrangement member is disposed on the distal end configuration portion 8 of the insertion portion 2. As the arranged member, the lens cleaning nozzle 110 is arranged at a normal mounting position in the vicinity of the objective lens. That is, in this embodiment, in addition to the light guide 31 described in the above-described embodiment, the illumination window 33 corresponding to the light guide 31, the imaging unit 32, and the like, the lens cleaning nozzle 110 is added as an arrangement member. This is different from the embodiment described above.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the lens cleaning nozzle 110 is disposed substantially in the middle of the light guide 31, and is fixed to the distal tubular member 50 that forms the main body member of the distal configuration member 8. The lens cleaning nozzle 110 flatly crushes the tip of a metal pipe of a thin-walled circular tube member and bends the flat tip at approximately 90 ° to open toward the outer surface of the first lens 38 (nozzle). Mouth) 110a is formed. As shown in FIG. 10, the exit port 110a is opened in a flat shape so as to obtain a flow rate for obtaining a sufficient cleaning effect without unevenness in the injection range L including the entire surface of the first lens 38. 11, the jaw portion 110b of the exit port 110a is attached and fixed at a position in contact with the distal end surface 111 of the distal tubular member 50, and is directed toward the surface of the first lens 38. It is installed so that the cleaning effect and the drainage effect by the cleaning water and pressurized air emitted from the emission port 110a can be obtained to the maximum.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a resin nozzle protection pipe 112 is water-tightly fitted and fixed to the cylindrical body 110c of the lens cleaning nozzle 110. By attaching the nozzle protection pipe 112 to the body portion 110c of the lens cleaning nozzle 110, it is possible to prevent the body portion 110c of the lens cleaning nozzle 110 from being deformed when a flat tip screw 113, which will be described later, comes into contact with and abuts. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the first tip tubular component 50 is formed with a nozzle housing hole 114 for housing the lens cleaning nozzle 110 to which the nozzle protection pipe 112 is bonded. The nozzle housing hole 114 is a circular inner hole whose opening side portion located on the front end surface 111 side is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the nozzle protection pipe 112 so that the lens cleaning nozzle 110 can be housed from this end. Further, the other end side portion of the nozzle housing hole 114 is connected to an air / water supply conduit 116 made of a flexible tube, and this air / water supply conduit 116 passes through the inside of the insertion portion 2 to operate the operation portion. 3 is connected to an air / water supply pump (not shown) via a control valve (not shown) provided at 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a screw hole 121 is formed in the side wall of the distal tubular part 50 so as to penetrate to the nozzle housing hole 114 as a lens cleaning nozzle mounting portion. As shown in FIG. 12, the screw rotation center axis 122a of the screw hole 121 does not coincide with the vertical meridian 110d passing through the central axis O of the nozzle housing hole 114, and is inclined with respect to the meridian 110d. Is provided.

  A flat tip screw 113 having a flat tip is screwed into the screw hole 121 from above the tip tubular component 50, and the tip surface of the flat tip screw 113 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle protection pipe 112 of the lens cleaning nozzle 110. It partially abuts against it. At this time, a contact state similar to the contact state of the flat tip screw 44 for fixing the imaging unit 32 described in the above-described embodiment is obtained. That is, only the vicinity of the outer periphery of the tip surface of the flat tip screw 113 hits the outer periphery of the nozzle protection pipe 112. In this case, the rotational force of the screw at the contact portion of the flat-tip screw 113 that is a right-handed screw with the nozzle protection pipe 112 causes the lens cleaning nozzle 110 to be pulled in from the distal end side of the insertion portion to the operation portion 3 side. work. Accordingly, when the flat tip screw 113 is screwed in and rotated, the nozzle protection pipe 112 and the lens cleaning nozzle 110 receive the tightening force from the flat tip screw 113, and at the same time, the jaw portion 110b of the emission port 110a is attached to the distal tubular member 50. It is drawn in a substantially straight line toward the operation unit 3 so as to abut on the front end surface 111 toward the proper attachment position, and is fastened and fixed in a direction in which the center of the emission port 110a and the center of the first lens 38 coincide.

  Here, the lens cleaning nozzle 110 is disposed on the image-up side of the imaging unit 32. That is, the water supply / air supply direction from the nozzle 110 is directed downward from the upper side of the first lens 38 so that the water droplets flow downward from the top when the water supply / air supply is performed. Therefore, normally, when performing endoscopic observation, the vertical direction of the insertion portion 2 is the direction shown in FIG. 10, so that the water droplets once ejected from the nozzle 110 return to the outer surface of the lens 38 due to gravity, and thus the field of view. Is prevented. An adhesive 45 for ensuring watertightness is applied to a fitting portion between the nozzle protection pipe 112 and the nozzle housing hole 114 and a screwed portion of the flat tip screw 113.

  And when using the endoscope which concerns on this embodiment, a dirt may adhere to the outer surface of the 1st lens 38 during observation, and a visual field may be disturbed. In this case, a control valve (not shown) provided in the operation unit 3 is operated to inject cleaning liquid from the lens cleaning nozzle 110 toward the outer surface of the lens, thereby removing dirt on the lens surface. Subsequently, in order to remove water droplets remaining on the lens surface, the control valve is operated again to inject pressurized air from the lens cleaning nozzle 110 toward the lens surface.

  According to the present embodiment, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, the tip constituting portion 8 of the insertion portion 2 can be made compact by fixing the lens cleaning nozzle 110 using the flat tip screw 113. Further, at the moment when the flat tip screw 113 comes into contact with the lens cleaning nozzle 110, a force for linearly pulling the lens cleaning nozzle 110 into the nozzle housing hole 114 is generated. For this reason, since the lens cleaning nozzle 110 can be reliably and easily fixed at a specified position with respect to the lens surface, it is possible to prevent the lens cleaning effect from being deteriorated due to a defective nozzle orientation due to variations in assembly.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the structure in which the screw is fixed from the side in a state of being fitted into the storage hole, the special fixing for urging in the specified mounting direction is performed. Since the configuration is unnecessary, it is possible to improve the assembling property in a space-saving manner without increasing the cost, and the diameter of the tip configuration portion in the insertion portion can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to other forms. In addition, according to the above description, the inventions according to the following items are also apparent.

<Appendix>
1. An electronic endoscope comprising: an imaging unit that images a subject; an imaging unit mounting unit that arranges the imaging unit; and a fixing unit that clamps and fixes the imaging unit arranged in the imaging unit mounting unit. When fastening the imaging means, the fixing means abuts on the outer periphery of the imaging means to fasten the imaging means to the imaging means mounting portion, and to properly attach the imaging means mounting portion separately from the force in the fastening direction. An electronic endoscope characterized by generating a force to move the imaging means toward a position.
2. Formed in the tip configuration part of the insertion part, screwed into a mounting hole for arranging the imaging means for imaging the subject and a screw hole communicating with the mounting hole, and abutted on the outer periphery of the imaging means arranged in the mounting hole A screw member for tightening and fixing the imaging means, and the screw member is a screw member having a flat tip abutting on the outer periphery of the imaging means, and the screw hole has a central axis at a central axis of the mounting hole. When the screw member is screwed into the screw hole, the one side region of the tip surface of the screw member comes into contact with the outer periphery of the imaging unit when the screw member is screwed into the screw hole, and the screw member An electronic endoscope characterized in that the rotational force of the lens generates a force for moving the imaging means toward a normal mounting position of the mounting hole.
3. The electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a rotation center axis of the fixing screw and a center axis of the imaging unit are arranged substantially at right angles without intersecting each other.
4). The electronic internal unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein stopper means for defining a mounting position of the imaging means in a central axis direction is formed on a frame member forming the imaging means mounting portion. Endoscope.
5). The electronic endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the stopper means includes a protrusion formed on a frame forming the imaging means attachment portion.
6). A lens cleaning nozzle disposed at a normal mounting position in the vicinity of the objective lens in the tip constituent part; and a fixing means for fastening the lens cleaning nozzle to the tip constituent part and fixing the nozzle to the tip constituent part. When the cleaning nozzle is tightened, the lens cleaning nozzle is tightened by coming into contact with the outer periphery of the lens cleaning nozzle, and the lens cleaning nozzle is moved toward the normal mounting position separately from the force in the tightening direction. Endoscope characterized by producing force to make.
7). The endoscope according to appendix 6, wherein a rotation center axis of the fixing screw and a center axis of the lens cleaning nozzle are arranged substantially at right angles without crossing each other.
8). Any one of appendix 5 to appendix 7, wherein the stopper means for defining the mounting position of the lens cleaning nozzle in the central axis direction is formed on a frame member forming the lens cleaning nozzle mounting portion. The endoscope described.
9. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the stopper means includes a protrusion formed on a frame forming the lens cleaning nozzle mounting portion.

The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The front view of the front-end | tip structure part in the insertion part of the said endoscope. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front-end | tip structure part of the insertion part in alignment with the KK line | wire in FIG. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip vicinity part of the insertion part in alignment with the AA in FIG. 2, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which expands and shows a part of front-end | tip of an objective optical system. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip vicinity part of the insertion part in alignment with the OJ line in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion in the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion along the line BB in FIG. The cross-sectional view of the tip vicinity part of the insertion part which follows the CC line in Fig.4 (a). The disassembled perspective view of the component of the front-end | tip structure part in the said endoscope. (A) is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the rotation direction of a flat tip screw which fixes the imaging unit in the said endoscope to a front-end | tip structure part, and an abutting direction, (b) is the said flat tip from the A direction shown by (a). Explanatory drawing which looks at the front-end | tip of a screw | thread, and shows the relationship between the rotation direction of the said flat tip screw, and the direction of the force applied when contact | abutting to an imaging unit. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front-end | tip structure part in the insertion part of the endoscope which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip vicinity part of the insertion part in alignment with the DD line | wire in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion along the line EE in FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 8 ... Tip structure part 32 ... Imaging unit 38 ... Lens 39 ... Lens frame 44a ... Screw rotation center axis 44 ... Flat tip screw 44 ... Screw member 51 ... Imaging unit Storage hole

Claims (4)

An arrangement member that is movably arranged at the distal end configuration portion of the insertion portion;
A stopper portion that is formed in the tip configuration portion and is provided at a position where the placement member abuts when the placement member is moved; and a stopper portion that abuts the placement member and defines a mounting position of the placement member with respect to the tip configuration portion ,
A fixing means provided at the tip component, and fastening the arrangement member to the tip component,
With
The fixing means includes a screw member, and the screw member moves the arrangement member toward a proper mounting position where the arrangement member hits the stopper portion separately from a force for tightening the arrangement member when the arrangement member is tightened. An endoscope characterized in that the endoscope is arranged at the distal end configuration portion so as to abut on the outer periphery of the arrangement member in a direction to generate a moving force . Formed in the distal end construction part of the insertion portion, and a mounting hole for movably installed in a direction along the locating member disposed on the distal end construction part on the central axis of the bore,
The tip component is provided at a position where the placement member hits when the placement member formed in the tip configuration portion and installed in the attachment hole is moved in a direction along the central axis. A stopper portion for defining the mounting position of the arrangement member with respect to the portion;
A screw hole formed in the tip configuration portion and communicating with the mounting hole;
A screw member that is screwed into the screw hole and abuts on an outer periphery of the placement member installed in the attachment hole and fastens the placement member to be fixed to the attachment hole ;
With
The screw member is a screw member having a flat tip that contacts the outer periphery of the arrangement member, and the screw hole is arranged so that a center axis thereof is shifted without intersecting a center axis of the mounting hole, When the screw member is screwed into the hole, one side region of the tip end surface of the screw member comes into contact with the outer periphery of the placement member, and the rotational force of the screw member causes the placement member to be properly attached to the mounting hole. An endoscope characterized in that it generates a force to move toward the mounting position.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a rotation center axis of the fixing screw and a center axis of the arrangement member are arranged substantially at right angles without intersecting each other. The endoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the stopper portion includes a protrusion formed on a frame that forms the arrangement member attaching portion.

Images