JP4787011B2 - Light source device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light source device for an endoscope, for example, and more particularly to a light source device to which a fiberscope is connected.

  In general, a fiberscope is detachably attached to a light source device and used for observing a subject in a dark body. The fiberscope irradiates the subject with illumination light from the light source of the light source device, and enables observation with reflected light from the subject. Usually, a fiberscope that cannot be connected to a predetermined light source device as it is is connected to the light source device and used with an adapter or the like attached.

  If a fiberscope that is not compatible with a fiberscope that can be connected to the light source device is connected to the light source device without an adapter attached, the tip of the fiberscope contacts the light source inside the light source device, etc. As a result, the light source device may be damaged.

  An object of this invention is to provide the light source device which can connect a fiberscope reliably by a safe method.

  The light source device of the present invention is a light source device for observing an endoscope to which a fiberscope for irradiating a subject with illumination light is detachably attached. The light source device includes a light source that emits illumination light, a lighting switch that activates the light source to emit illumination light, and a fiberscope attached so that the fiberscope does not contact the light source when attached to the light source device. A shielding member for blocking movement in the direction, and a shielding member in one of a shielding position for preventing movement in the attachment direction of the fiberscope and an open position for allowing movement in the attachment direction of the fiberscope And a position control means for controlling the position of the shielding member, and a judgment means for judging whether or not the fiberscope is attached to the light source device. The position control means has a lighting switch turned on, and the fiberscope is a light source. When it is determined that the shield member is attached to the apparatus, the position of the shielding member is set to the open position.

  The determination means preferably determines whether or not the fiberscope is attached only when the lighting switch is in the ON state. The determination means includes, for example, a light emitter that emits detection light toward a moving path in the fiberscope attachment direction, and a light receiving element that can receive the detection light, and the light receiving element does not receive the detection light. Judge that the fiberscope is attached.

  The shielding member preferably blocks the optical path of the illumination light when in the shielding position, and does not block the optical path of the illumination light when in the open position, and allows the illumination light to enter the fiberscope. Moreover, the shielding member is plate-shaped, for example.

  Preferably, the light source device further includes a condensing lens that condenses the illumination light, and the fiberscope is prevented from coming into contact with the condensing lens by the shielding member at the shielding position. Moreover, it is preferable that the adapter which can be used with a light source device without making the fiberscope which contacts the shielding member in a shielding position contact with a shielding member when it is attached to a light source device is attached to a light source device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the light source device which can connect a fiberscope reliably by a safe method is realizable.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the fiberscope is being attached to the processor (light source device) in the present embodiment.

  The fiberscope 20 irradiates the subject with illumination light, and transmits the reflected light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light to the eyepiece 26. The fiberscope 20 can be detachably attached to a plurality of light source devices. Here, the processor 30 of the electronic endoscope apparatus (not shown) is used as the light source apparatus.

  The processor 30 is provided with a lighting switch 34 for lighting the light source 32. When the lighting switch 34 is turned on, the light source 32 emits illumination light under the control of the system control circuit 36. The emitted illumination light is collected by the condenser lens 38 and then enters the incident end 20I of the fiberscope 20.

  The light guide 22 provided at the incident end 20I of the fiberscope 20 is inserted into the processor 30 when the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30. At this time, the light guide 22 is moved along an optical path of illumination light from an attachment port (not shown) provided in the connector 44 of the processor 30.

  A fiber bundle (not shown) extending from the incident end 20I to the emission end 20O at the distal end of the image guide 24 is provided inside the fiberscope 20. The illumination light incident on the incident end 20I is transmitted to the emission end 20O through the fiber bundle, and emitted from the emission end 20O toward the subject.

  The reflected light of the illumination light reflected from the observation site, which is the subject, passes through the objective lens provided in the image guide 24 and further reaches the eyepiece 26 via the eye lens (none of which is shown). Then, the subject image is observed at the eyepiece 26.

  The fiberscope 20 is not originally assumed to be used with the processor 30. For this reason, the fiberscope 20 needs to be attached to the processor 30 via the adapter after the adapter (not shown) for the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30.

  The adapter prevents contact between the fiberscope 20 and members within the processor 30 and allows the fiberscope 20 to be attached to the processor 30 at a predetermined attachment location. The user can recognize that the fiberscope 20 has moved to a predetermined mounting position and has been correctly mounted by obtaining a so-called click feeling by a known locking mechanism provided in the light guide 22 and the adapter. The adapter can be detachably attached to a connector 44 provided on the surface of the processor 30 using a screw (not shown).

  However, as shown in the figure, if the light guide 22 is inserted directly into the attachment port without using an adapter by mistake, the length of the light guide 22 is longer than the distance between the attachment port and the condenser lens 38. For this reason, the fiberscope entrance end 20I may come into contact with the condensing lens 38, the light source 32, or the like, which may damage them.

  However, in the present embodiment, even when the user mistakenly inserts the light guide 22 into the attachment port of the processor 30 without using an adapter, the processor 30 can be prevented from being damaged as described below.

  The processor 30 has a shielding plate 48 that blocks the movement of the light guide 22 as necessary so that the light guide 22 does not come into contact with members inside the processor 30 such as the condenser lens 38 and the light source 32 due to an erroneous operation by the user. (Shielding member) is provided. The shielding plate 48 is retracted from the illustrated shielding position and the illumination light optical path to prevent the light guide 22 from being inserted, that is, excessive movement in the mounting direction, while being inserted on the illumination light optical path. In this state, it moves between an open position (not shown) that does not hinder the insertion operation of the light guide 22. The position of the shielding plate 48 is adjusted by a motor 46 that rotates the shielding plate 48 under the control of the system control circuit 36.

  Since the shielding plate 48 also has a light shielding property, when the shielding plate 48 is in the shielding position, the illumination light is blocked and does not enter the fiberscope incident end 20I, and the shielding plate 48 is in an open position where the light path is not obstructed. Only, the illumination light is incident on the fiberscope incident end 20I.

  The processor 30 also includes an LED 50 (light emitter) that emits detection light D in a direction intersecting the movement path toward the movement path in the mounting direction of the light guide 22, that is, the optical path of the illumination light, and detection from the LED 50. A light receiving element 52 capable of receiving the light D is provided. Then, a signal indicating that the light receiving element 52 has received the detection light D or does not receive the detection light D is transmitted to the system control circuit 36.

  When the system control circuit 36 receives a signal indicating that the detection light D has been received, it is determined that the fiberscope 20 is not attached to the processor 30 because the light guide 22 is not inserted into the processor 30. . On the other hand, when the system control circuit 36 receives a signal indicating that the detection light D has not been received by the light receiving element 52, the light guide 22 is inserted into the processor 30, and the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30. To be judged.

  When the system control circuit 36 determines that the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30, the motor 46 moves the shielding plate 48 to the open position. The LED 50 is controlled by the system control circuit 36 so that the detection light D is emitted only when the lighting switch 34 is in the ON state.

  From the above, the shielding plate 48 is controlled so as to be in the open position only when the lighting switch 34 is in the ON state and the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30. That is, the shielding plate 48 is in an open position only when the light source 32 emits illumination light and the fiberscope 20 is attached to the processor 30, and the light source 32 does not emit illumination light. When the fiberscope 20 is not attached to the processor 30, the fiberscope 20 is in the shielding position.

  Therefore, as shown in the drawing, when the light guide 22 is erroneously inserted into the processor 30 when the adapter is not attached to the connector 44 and the click feeling is not obtained, the fiberscope incident end is inserted. 20I contacts the shielding plate 48 in the shielding position, and the light guide 22 is not moved further into the processor 30.

  Therefore, although the adapter for enabling the fiberscope 20 to be used with the processor 30 is removed from the processor 30, the fiberscope entrance end 20I contacts the condenser lens 38, the light source 32, etc. Is prevented from being damaged. Further, the user can recognize the necessity of the adapter by the contact between the fiberscope incident end 20I and the shielding plate 48.

  In the original proper usage, the lighting switch 34 is turned on after confirming that the fiberscope 20 has been correctly attached by clicking, but the lighting switch 34 is attached before the fiberscope 20 is attached. It is also assumed that the light guide 22 is erroneously inserted into the processor 30 with the 34 being turned on and the adapter removed.

  In this case, reception of the detection light D by the light receiving element 52 is stopped by the light guide 22 immediately after being inserted, and the shielding plate 48 starts to move from the illustrated shielding position to the open position, but is shielded by the motor 46. The movement of the plate 48 is adjusted so that it is not so quick, and it is possible to prevent the fiberscope incident end 20I from coming into contact with members in the processor 30.

  Further, when the fiberscope 20 is properly connected to the processor 30 with the adapter attached, the fiberscope incident end 20I is in the immediate vicinity of the shielding position of the shielding plate 48. That is, the shape of the adapter is adjusted so that the distance between the fiberscope incident end 20I and the shielding position of the shielding plate 48 is short when the fiberscope 20 is at a predetermined mounting position. It is assumed that it is used together with the processor 30. Similarly, in a fiberscope that does not require an adapter, the incident end of the fiberscope is designed to be in the immediate vicinity of the shielding position of the shielding plate 48. Yes.

  In this way, by bringing the incident end as close as possible to the condenser lens 38 and the light source 32, the efficiency of the illumination light can be improved when any fiberscope including the light source fiberscope 20 is used with the processor 30. Communication is possible.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the fiberscope 20 is attached to the light source device of the comparative example. 2, the configuration of the light source device 40 that is the same as or corresponds to the configuration of the processor 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 is indicated using the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1.

  Similarly to the processor 30, even in the light source device 40 that is not supposed to use the fiberscope 20, when the fiberscope 20 is inserted with the adapter 42 attached to the light source device 40, the fiberscope 20. Are properly attached as shown.

  However, in the light source device 40, since the shielding plate 48, the LED 50, the light receiving element 52, and the like are not provided, the light guide 22 is erroneously inserted from an attachment port (not shown) without the adapter 42 attached. When inserted, unlike the present embodiment, as described above, the light guide 22 may come into contact with the condenser lens 38, the light source 32, and the like, which may cause damage to members in the light source device 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the shielding plate 48 is provided in the processor 30, it is confirmed that the fiberscope 20 has already been attached to the processor 30, and it is necessary to allow illumination light to pass through. Only by opening the shielding plate 48, the processor 30 can be reliably protected from an erroneous mounting operation of the fiberscope 20 or the like.

  The light source device is not limited to the processor 30 of the electronic endoscope device in the present embodiment, and may be a light source device dedicated to a fiberscope. Further, instead of the LED 50 and the light receiving element 52, a micro switch for detecting that the fiber scope 20 has been inserted may be provided.

It is a figure which shows the state in the middle of the fiberscope being attached to the processor in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state in which the fiberscope was attached to the light source device of a comparative example.

Explanation of symbols

20 Fiberscope 30 Processor (light source device)
32 Light source 34 Lighting switch 36 System control circuit (position control means / judgment means)
38 Condensing lens 42 Adapter 46 Motor (position control means)
48 Shielding plate (shielding member)
50 LED (Judgment means)
52 Light receiving element (judgment means)

Claims (6)

A light source device for observing an endoscope in which a fiberscope for irradiating a subject with illumination light is detachably attached,
A light source unit for emitting the illumination light;
A lighting switch for activating the light source to emit illumination light;
When the fiberscope is attached to the light source device, a shielding member for blocking movement in the attachment direction of the fiberscope so as not to contact the light source unit ;
The shielding member is on the optical path of the illumination light, and is a shield position for preventing movement in the attachment direction of the fiberscope, and a position retracted from the optical path of the illumination light, and the attachment direction of the fiberscope Position control means for controlling the position of the shielding member so as to be in any one of an open position that enables the movement of the illumination light and allows the illumination light to enter the fiberscope ;
A judging means for judging whether or not the fiberscope is attached to the light source device only when the lighting switch is in an ON state ;
Moving means for moving the shielding member ,
When it is judged that the SL fiberscope is attached to the light source device, wherein the moving means includes a light source and wherein the moving the shield member to the open position from the blocking position. The determination unit includes a light emitter that emits detection light toward a moving path in the attachment direction of the fiberscope, and a light receiving element that can receive the detection light, and the light receiving element does not receive the detection light. 2. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein it is determined that the fiberscope is sometimes attached . The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member has a plate shape . The light source unit includes a condensing lens that condenses the illumination light, and the shielding member at the shielding position prevents an incident end of the fiberscope from contacting the condensing lens. The light source device according to claim 1. An adapter for attaching the fiberscope not originally assumed to be used with the light source device to the light source device;
The adapter enables use of the fiberscope in the light source device by bringing the incident end of the fiberscope in a state attached to the light source device via the adapter close to the shielding position. The light source device according to claim 1. The incident end of the fiberscope in a state of being attached to the light source device via the adapter,
The light source device according to claim 5 , wherein a fiberscope that does not require the adapter is located at the same position as an incident end of the fiberscope in a state where the fiberscope is attached to the light source device.

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