JP4789743B2 - Endoscope system and capsule endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system for collecting a capsule endoscope staying in a body cavity, and a capsule endoscope to be collected.

  2. Description of the Related Art Ultra-small capsule endoscopes that incorporate a solid-state image sensor, an illumination light source, and the like are known. When this capsule endoscope is swallowed by a patient, an observed site in a body cavity illuminated by an illumination light source is imaged by a solid-state imaging device, and image data obtained thereby is wirelessly transmitted to a receiving apparatus outside the body. . Image data wirelessly transmitted from the capsule endoscope is recorded on a recording medium of the receiving device, and displayed on the monitor as an endoscopic image during or after the examination.

  The capsule endoscope swallowed by the patient advances in the body cavity by the peristaltic movement of the digestive tract and is naturally discharged out of the body. However, when there is a stenosis part in the body cavity, the capsule endoscope may be caught in the stenosis part and the capsule endoscope may stay in the body cavity. In this case, it is necessary to collect the staying capsule endoscope.

Patent Document 1 describes a technique for collecting a capsule endoscope staying in a body cavity using a general endoscope (hereinafter referred to as a collecting endoscope). In this technique, the insertion portion of the collection endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, and the capsule endoscope is sucked and held by the suction port provided at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and then the insertion portion is pulled out of the body. Capsule endoscope is collected.
JP 2004-194976 A

  In the drawing of the above-mentioned patent document 1, the diameter of the capsule endoscope is drawn very small with respect to the diameter of the insertion portion of the recovery endoscope, but at the current technical level, the diameter of the capsule endoscope is drawn. Is manufactured in the same size or larger than the diameter of the insertion portion of the collecting endoscope. For example, the diameter of the capsule endoscope is about 10 mm. Therefore, in reality, when the collection endoscope sucks and holds the capsule endoscope, the field of view of the imaging unit provided at the distal end of the insertion section of the collection endoscope is the capsule endoscope. Therefore, there is a problem that the collecting endoscope cannot observe the inside of the body cavity when the suction endoscope is held.

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system in which the collection endoscope can observe the inside of a body cavity even when the collection endoscope sucks and holds the capsule endoscope, and the endoscope system. An object of the present invention is to provide a capsule endoscope to be used.

  The present invention is provided at a distal end portion of a capsule endoscope in which an illuminating unit that illuminates a site to be observed in a body cavity and an imaging unit that images the site to be observed, and an insertion unit that is inserted into the body cavity. An endoscope system including a collecting endoscope that sucks and holds the capsule endoscope by a suction unit, and the capsule endoscope sandwiches the imaging unit in the radial direction with respect to the illuminating unit. The facing region is a hollow region, the facing part of the case facing the hollow region is transparent, and the recovery endoscope is at the time of sucking and holding the capsule endoscope, The inside of the body cavity can be imaged through the cavity region and the facing part of the case.

  The suction part of the collection endoscope is formed so as to follow the outer shape of the case of the capsule endoscope and the suction channel provided at the distal end part of the insertion part, and is attached to the distal part of the insertion part. It is preferable that it is comprised from the food.

  The present invention has an illumination unit that illuminates a site to be observed in a body cavity, an imaging unit that images the site to be observed, and a case incorporating the illumination unit and the imaging unit, and is inserted into a body cavity A capsule endoscope that is sucked and held using a collection endoscope having a suction unit at a distal end portion of the unit, and a region facing the illumination unit across the imaging unit in a radial direction is a hollow region In addition, the facing part of the case facing the cavity region is transparent, and the cavity region and the case face each other even when the collection endoscope is sucking and holding the capsule endoscope. The inside of the body cavity can be imaged through the part.

  According to the present invention, even when the collection endoscope holds the capsule endoscope by suction, the collection endoscope can observe the inside of the body cavity.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 2 of the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 3 and a collection endoscope 4 that collects the capsule endoscope 3. The capsule endoscope 3 is swallowed into the body cavity from the mouth of the patient 5, and wirelessly transmits image data obtained by imaging the observed site in the body cavity to a receiving apparatus (not shown) outside the body. The receiving device receives the image data wirelessly transmitted from the capsule endoscope 3 and records the received image data on a recording medium.

  The recovery endoscope 4 includes an elongated insertion portion 6 that is inserted into the body cavity of a patient 5, an operation portion 7 provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 6, and a connection portion 8 that extends from the rear portion of the operation portion 7. And. The connection unit 8 includes a processor connector 9 connected to a processor device (not shown) and a light source connector 10 connected to a light source device (not shown).

  The distal end portion 6 b of the insertion portion 6 can be bent in the vertical and horizontal directions according to the operation of the angle knob 11 provided in the operation portion 7. A light guide fiber (not shown) is provided in the insertion portion 6. The operation unit 7 is provided with a forceps insertion opening 12 into which a treatment tool is inserted.

  The operation unit 7 is provided with a suction button 13. By operating the suction button 13, the liquid or gas in the body cavity can be sucked using the suction channel 15 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the insertion portion 6 and the operation portion 7. The suction channel 15 extends to a suction base 16 provided in the light source connector 10, and the suction base 16 is connected to a suction device 18 via a tube 17. The liquid sucked from the body cavity is accommodated in the aspirator 18. The suction channel 15 is connected to the forceps insertion opening 12 inside the operation unit 7 and also serves as a forceps channel. In other words, the treatment tool inserted from the forceps insertion opening 12 is inserted into the body cavity via the suction channel 15.

  The operation unit 7 is provided with a water supply button 14. By operating the water supply button 14, water is supplied to the nozzle 41 (see FIG. 3) provided on the distal end surface 6 a of the insertion portion 6 using a water supply channel (not shown) provided in the insertion portion 6 and the operation portion 7. can do. The nozzle 41 is provided so as to protrude from the tip surface 6a, and a blower outlet 41a (see FIG. 3) is provided on a surface facing the observation window 30 (see FIG. 3). When the water supply button 14 is operated, water is blown out from the outlet 41a of the nozzle 41 and sprayed onto the observation window 30, and the dirt on the observation window 30 is removed. The water supply channel extends to a water supply base 19 provided in the light source connector 10, and this water supply base 19 is connected to a water supply tank (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a circular observation window 30 is provided on the top of the distal end surface 6 a of the insertion portion 6. An objective optical system 34 including first to third lenses 31 to 33 is incorporated behind the observation window 30. The image light of the site to be observed that has passed through the objective optical system 34 is guided to the solid-state imaging device 36 via the prism 35. As the solid-state image sensor 36, a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like is used. A signal line (not shown) is connected to the solid-state image sensor 36. Image data acquired by the solid-state imaging device 36 is sent to a processor device (not shown) via a signal line and a processor connector 9 (see FIG. 1), and is displayed as an image on a monitor provided in the processor device.

  On the distal end surface 6 a of the insertion portion 6, illumination windows 37 and 38 are provided on both sides of the observation window 30. Illumination lenses 39 and 40 are fitted in these illumination windows 37 and 38, respectively. Illumination light from a light source device (not shown) travels to the insertion portion 6 via the light source connector 10 (see FIG. 1) and the light guide fiber, and is irradiated from the illumination windows 37 and 38 to the outside.

  A suction port 42 is provided below the distal end surface 6 a of the insertion portion 6. The suction port 42 is a circular opening formed at the tip of the suction channel 15. As described above, the suction channel 15 serves as a forceps channel, and the suction port 42 serves as a forceps port.

  A cylindrical hood 43 that comes into contact with and holds the capsule endoscope 3 is detachably attached to the distal end portion 6 b of the insertion portion 6. The inner diameter of the rear end portion 43 b of the hood 43 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal end portion 6 b of the insertion portion 6. The shape of the inner surface 43 c of the front end portion 43 a of the hood 43 is a shape that follows the outer shape of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the capsule endoscope 3. That is, the shape of the inner surface 43c of the distal end portion 43a of the hood 43 is a shape along the outer surface of the front cover 50 of the capsule endoscope 3 described later in detail, and the outer surface of the rear end portion of the rear cover 51 of the capsule endoscope 3. It has a shape along. The hood 43 and the suction channel 15 constitute a suction part.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the capsule endoscope 3 includes a hemispherical transparent front cover 50 and a rear cover 51 having a cylindrical shape and a hemispherical rear end side. The rear cover 51 is fitted to form a watertight space therein. The lower part 51b of the rear cover 51 is opaque, but the upper part 51a of the rear cover 51 is transparent.

  A first lens 52 is disposed at a central position facing the front cover 50, and the first lens 52 is held by a first lens frame 53. A second lens 54 is disposed behind the first lens 52, and the second lens 54 is held by a second lens frame 55. An objective optical system 56 is constituted by the first lens 52 and the second lens 54, and a solid-state imaging device 57 is disposed at the image forming position of the objective optical system 56. The solid-state image sensor 57 is mounted on the substrate 58. As the solid-state image sensor 57, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor is used.

  A fixed plate 59 is fixed to the side surface of the second lens frame 55, and an LED 60 as an illumination light source is attached to the front surface of the fixed plate 59. As viewed from the front, LEDs 61 and 62 are arranged on both sides of the LED 60. These LEDs 60 to 62 are located below the capsule endoscope 3.

  A circuit board 63 on which a control circuit and a drive circuit are mounted is disposed behind the solid-state image sensor 57. The control circuit controls each part constituting the capsule endoscope 3, and the drive circuit controls the drive of the solid-state image sensor 57. A circuit board 64 on which a storage circuit for temporarily storing image data obtained by the solid-state image sensor 57 is mounted is disposed behind the circuit board.

  Further, a circuit board 65 on which a wireless communication circuit and a power supply circuit are mounted is disposed behind the circuit board 64. The wireless communication circuit is connected to an antenna 66 disposed below each circuit board, and wirelessly transmits image data acquired via the antenna 66. The power supply circuit supplies the power of the battery 67 disposed behind the circuit board to each unit.

  An upper portion of the capsule endoscope 3, that is, a region facing the LEDs 60 to 62 across the objective optical system 56 is a hollow region 68. The cavity region 68 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The upper side of each circuit board has a shape indicated by reference numeral 69 and does not enter the cavity region 68. The hollow region 68 is covered by the upper part 50a of the front cover 50 and the upper part 51a of the rear cover 51. The upper part 50 a of the front cover 50 and the upper part 51 a of the rear cover 51 are facing parts facing the cavity region 68. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cavity region 68 of the capsule endoscope 3 covers the observation window 30 and the illumination windows 37 and 38 on the distal end surface 6 a of the insertion portion 6 of the recovery endoscope 4. It is formed in various ranges.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the capsule endoscope 3 is caught in a stenosis site in the body cavity of the patient 5 and stays in the body cavity, the insertion portion 6 of the collection endoscope 4 is inserted into the body cavity of the patient 5. The operation unit 7 is operated while looking at the monitor of the processor device connected to the collecting endoscope 4 to find the capsule endoscope 3.

  After finding the capsule endoscope 3 staying in the body cavity, the distal end portion 43 a of the hood 43 attached to the insertion portion 6 is pressed against the rear end portion of the rear cover 51 of the capsule endoscope 3. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the cavity region 68 of the capsule endoscope 3 faces the objective optical system 34 and the illumination lenses 39 and 40 (the observation window 30 and the illumination windows 37 and 38) of the insertion portion 6. . Since the lower part 51b of the rear cover 51 of the capsule endoscope 3 is opaque while the upper part 51a is transparent, the transparent upper part 51a is identified, and the objective optical system 34, the illumination lens 39, 40 face each other.

  Thereafter, the suction button 13 of the operation unit 7 is operated to generate a suction force in the suction channel 15 to hold the capsule endoscope 3 by suction. The rear end portion of the rear cover 51 of the capsule endoscope 3 comes into contact with the inner surface 43c of the distal end portion 43a of the hood 43, so that the capsule endoscope 3 is stably held. Instead of sucking and holding the rear end portion of the rear cover 51 of the capsule endoscope 3, the front cover 50 side may be sucked and held.

  Even in the state where the capsule endoscope 3 is sucked and held, the recovery endoscope 4 is inserted through the cavity region 68 of the capsule endoscope 3, the upper portion 51a of the rear cover 51, and the upper portion 50a of the front cover 50. The body cavity can be observed. Therefore, the recovery endoscope 4 can observe the inside of the body cavity while sucking and holding the capsule endoscope 3. The capsule endoscope 3 can be collected by releasing the suction after the insertion portion 6 holding the capsule endoscope 3 with suction is pulled out of the body cavity.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made using the electronic endoscope including the solid-state imaging device as the collecting endoscope. However, other types of endoscopes such as an endoscope including an image guide and an eyepiece unit may be used. It may be.

  In order to position the capsule endoscope and the insertion portion so that the cavity region of the capsule endoscope and the imaging portion of the insertion portion face each other, a concave portion is provided in the cover of the capsule endoscope and the hood of the insertion portion A convex portion may be provided on the base plate, and the concave portion and the convex portion may be fitted during suction. Of course, a configuration may be employed in which a convex portion is provided on the cover of the capsule endoscope and a concave portion is provided on the hood of the insertion portion. Further, a magnetic part may be provided on the cover of the capsule endoscope and a magnetic part may be provided on the hood of the insertion part, and positioning may be performed by a magnetic force during suction. It is also effective to provide a mark for positioning on the capsule endoscope and perform positioning based on this mark. In addition, it is also effective to use two treatment tools and make the capsule endoscope in a desired posture using a distal end surface of the insertion portion of the recovery endoscope. is there.

It is an external view of an endoscope system. It is sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope for collection | recovery. It is a figure which shows the front end surface of the insertion part of the endoscope for collection | recovery. It is sectional drawing of a capsule endoscope. It is a front view of a capsule endoscope. It is sectional drawing of the endoscope for collection | recovery which attracted-held the capsule endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

2 Endoscope System 3 Capsule Endoscope 4 Collection Endoscope 6 Insertion Section 43 Hood 51 Rear Cover 68 Hollow Area

Claims (3)

A capsule endoscope in which an illuminating unit that illuminates a site to be observed in a body cavity and an imaging unit that images the site to be observed are incorporated in a case, and a suction unit provided at the distal end of an insertion unit that is inserted into the body cavity In an endoscope system consisting of a collecting endoscope for sucking and holding the capsule endoscope and collecting it,
In the capsule endoscope, a region facing the illumination unit across the imaging unit in the radial direction is a hollow region, and a facing part of the case facing the hollow region is transparent, 2. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the recovery endoscope is capable of imaging the body cavity through the cavity region and the facing part of the case even when the capsule endoscope is sucked and held.   The suction part of the collection endoscope is formed so as to follow the outer shape of the case of the capsule endoscope and the suction channel provided at the distal end part of the insertion part, and is attached to the distal part of the insertion part. The endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising a hood. A distal end portion of an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity, and includes an illumination unit that illuminates a site to be observed in a body cavity, an imaging unit that images the site to be observed, and a case incorporating the illumination unit and the imaging unit In a capsule endoscope that is sucked and held using a collection endoscope having a suction part in the capsule endoscope,
A region facing the illumination unit across the imaging unit in the radial direction is a hollow region, and a facing part of the case facing the hollow region is transparent, and the recovery endoscope is A capsule endoscope characterized in that the inside of a body cavity can be imaged through the cavity region and the facing part of the case even when the capsule endoscope is sucked and held.

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