JP5649992B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that improves the observability by easily removing dirt adhering to the surface of an observation window, and more particularly to a surgical endoscope apparatus.

  In recent years, a surgical operation using an endoscope has been widespread for the purpose of minimally invasive medical treatment. In such an endoscopic operation, contamination of blood, fat, and the like is likely to occur, and it is a problem that the visual field is hindered by adhering to the observation window of the endoscope.

  As a countermeasure against this problem, for example, a technique of an endoscope apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This Patent Document 1 proposes a method of removing dirt adhering to an observation window of an endoscope apparatus by ultrasonic vibration or a surface acoustic wave obtained by converting it by a diffraction grating.

  In a conventional endoscope apparatus, a diffraction grating-shaped groove having a rectangular cross-sectional shape is formed as a deflecting portion on the outer surface of a glass plate serving as an observation window. ) To the adhesion surface (inner surface) of the piezoelectric vibrator of the glass plate, at least a part of the surface of the piezoelectric vibrator is located in the projection area of the groove.

  In this glass plate, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the piezoelectric vibrator is diffracted (deflected) by the grooves of the diffraction grating shape, and at least a part of the glass plate is in the above-described central direction, that is, the observation visual field region of the imaging module 34. It becomes possible to efficiently propagate in the center direction of the portion facing the surface, and it is possible to efficiently remove dirt on the glass plate.

JP 2009-254571 A

  However, in a configuration in which a surface wave is generated using a diffraction grating formed on an observation window and a dirt attached to the observation window is removed as in a conventional endoscope apparatus, the diffraction grating is in the body (outside). Since it is formed barely, dirt such as fat and blood accumulates during the operation, the conversion rate from ultrasonic vibration to surface acoustic wave is reduced, and surface acoustic waves are used to remove dirt attached to the observation window. There is a possibility that a stable supply cannot be achieved.

  Therefore, the present application has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present application is to observe without reducing the conversion (deflection) efficiency into surface acoustic waves for removing dirt adhering to the observation window. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of stably supplying a surface acoustic wave to a window.

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transparent observation window provided at the distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope so as to face an imaging optical system, and an inner surface of the observation window. And the ultrasonic wave vibration propagation direction from the vibrator is deflected to the surface acoustic wave traveling on the outer surface of the observation window. And a deflection unit.
An endoscope apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is provided on a transparent observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope so as to face the imaging optical system, and on an inner surface of the observation window. And a plurality of grooves formed on the outer surface of the observation window facing the vibrator, and a thin plate covering at least the plurality of grooves, as a sealed space, and propagation of ultrasonic vibration from the vibrator A deflection unit that deflects the direction to a surface acoustic wave traveling on the outer surface of the observation window.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus capable of stably supplying surface acoustic waves to an observation window without lowering the conversion (deflection) efficiency into surface acoustic waves for removing dirt on the observation window. be able to.

Overall configuration of endoscope system according to first embodiment of the present invention The block diagram mainly showing the electrical configuration of the endoscope system Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of a rigid endoscope same as the above Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3 Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of a water supply sheath same as the above FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the water supply sheath in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. The perspective view of the front-end | tip part which shows the state by which the insertion part of the rigid endoscope was insertedly arranged by the water supply sheath similarly The same fragmentary sectional view which shows the constitution of the tip part of the rigid endoscope IX-IX line sectional view of FIG. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the rigid endoscope which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Partial sectional view of the glass plate showing the enlarged diffraction grating shape Partial sectional drawing which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the rigid endoscope of a modification same as the above FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a glass plate showing an enlarged shape of the diffraction grating of FIG. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the rigid endoscope which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Partial sectional view of the glass plate showing the enlarged diffraction grating shape The fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the rigid endoscope of a 1st modification same as the above The fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of the rigid endoscope of a 2nd modification same as the above

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the drawings based on each embodiment are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the thickness ratio of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. It should be noted that the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for example, a rigid endoscope that performs laparoscopic surgery is illustrated.
1 to 9 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing an electrical configuration of the endoscope system. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the rigid endoscope, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the water feeding sheath, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the water supply sheath in the direction of arrow VI, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distal end portion showing a state where the insertion portion of the rigid endoscope is inserted into the water supply sheath, and FIG. 8 is a rigid endoscope. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an endoscope system 1 that is an endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a rigid endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 2 and the endoscope 2. The insertion portion 11 is mainly constituted by a water supply sheath 3, which constitutes a cleaning liquid supply means that is inserted and disposed therein, a video processor 5, a light source device 4, and a monitor 6.

  The endoscope 2 includes an operation unit 12 connected to the hard insertion unit 11, switches 13 provided on the operation unit 12, a universal cable 14 that is a composite cable extending from the operation unit 12, The light source connector 15 disposed at the extending end of the universal cable 14, the electric cable 16 extending from the side of the light source connector 15, and the electric connector 17 disposed at the extending end of the electric cable 16 And is configured. The light source connector 15 is detachably connected to the light source device 4. The electrical connector 17 is detachably connected to the video processor 5.

  The video processor 5 is electrically connected to the light source device 4 and the monitor 6. The video processor 5 converts the image data captured by the endoscope 2 into a video signal and displays it on the monitor 6. Further, the video processor 5 receives operation signals from the switches 13 disposed in the operation unit 12 of the endoscope 2, and controls the light source device 4 based on these signals, and uses physiological saline and the like. A control device is configured as control means for sending air from the video processor 5 to the water supply tank 24 in which the wash water is stored and controlling the supply of the wash water in the water supply tank 24 to the water supply sheath 3. . The water supply tank 24 is connected to an air supply tube 25 having an air supply connector 26 detachably attached to the video processor 5 at the end.

Next, mainly the electrical configuration of the endoscope system 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the video processor 5 includes a control unit 51 that is a CPU, a power / video signal processing circuit 52, a piezoelectric vibrator excitation circuit 53, a pump control circuit 54, and a pump 55 that is a compressor. , And is configured.

  The control unit 51 is electrically connected to the power / video signal processing circuit 52, the piezoelectric vibrator excitation circuit 53, and the pump control circuit 54, and controls each circuit. The power / video signal processing circuit 52 is also electrically connected to the monitor 6 and outputs an endoscope image signal to the monitor 6.

  The piezoelectric vibrator excitation circuit 53 has a function of vibrating the piezoelectric vibrator 37 of the endoscope 2, and is variably controlled by the amount of electric power for outputting the vibration strength of the piezoelectric vibrator 37 under the control of the control unit 51.

  The pump control circuit 54 is electrically connected to the pump 55, and outputs an electric signal for controlling the driving of the pump 55 under the control of the control unit 51.

  The light source device 4 includes a light source 56 such as a halogen lamp and a light source control circuit 57 that drives the light source 56. The light source control circuit 57 is electrically connected to the control unit 51 of the video processor 5 and is controlled by the control unit 51.

Next, the configuration of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 2 will be described below based on FIGS. 3 and 4.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 2 has a substantially disk-shaped glass plate 32 of a transparent member that is an observation window at the tip of a metallic tubular member 31 constituting the insertion portion exterior. Are joined via an adhesive.

  Inside the tubular member 31, an imaging module 34 including an imaging optical system and two light guides 33 for illumination are arranged here. Although not shown in detail in the imaging module 34 constituting the imaging optical system, an imaging optical system, a solid-state imaging device, and a driver chip thereof are incorporated, and the communication cable 35 is pulled out in the root direction. It is.

  In addition, on the inner surface (back surface) of the glass plate 32, a region that does not obstruct the observation field of view, that is, one region side outside the imaging module 34 arranged oppositely (here, a direction away from a part of the outer periphery by a predetermined distance). Further, a rectangular piezoelectric vibrator 37 is attached. A wiring 36 is connected to the piezoelectric vibrator 37 and is electrically driven. That is, in the piezoelectric vibrator 37, the wiring 36 that supplies a voltage for excitation is drawn out in the root direction of the endoscope 2. Further, the fixing of the piezoelectric vibrator 37 to the glass plate 32 is not limited to fixing with an adhesive, and solder or the like may be used. The piezoelectric vibrator 37 is driven at or near the resonance frequency to generate ultrasonic vibrations in the glass plate 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the glass plate 32 diffracts ultrasonic vibrations into a surface elastic wave (deflection) at a position on the outer surface facing the piezoelectric vibrator 37 attached to the inner surface (back surface). A diffraction grating 40 of the deflection unit is provided.

  The ultrasonic vibration generated from the above-described piezoelectric vibrator 37 propagates mainly in a direction perpendicular to the sticking surface (the inner surface of the glass plate 32) of the piezoelectric vibrator 37 and faces the piezoelectric vibrator 37. Is incident on the diffraction grating 40. The ultrasonic vibration incident on the diffraction grating 40 is converted (deflected) by the diffraction grating 40 into a surface acoustic wave propagating on the outer surface of the glass plate 32. The detailed configuration of the diffraction grating 40 will be described later.

The components of the endoscope 2 are sealed by a tubular member 31 and a bonded glass plate 32, and have a structure that can withstand sterilization with high-pressure steam.
Further, in the present embodiment, the inner surface of the glass plate 32 facing the imaging optical system of the imaging module 34 is planar, but part of the surface facing the imaging optical system is convex or concave. A part of the imaging optical system may be configured.

  Moreover, the light guide 33 of this Embodiment is extended to the universal cable 14, and the light guide 33 is terminated with the light source connector. The communication cable 35 and the wiring 36 are connected to the electrical connector 17 via the electrical cable 16.

  That is, in the endoscope 2, the communication cable 35 drawn from the imaging module 34 is connected to the video processor via the universal cable 14 and the electric cable 16, and the light guide 33 is connected to the light source 56 of the light source device 4 including the light source control circuit 57. 5 is connected to a piezoelectric vibrator excitation circuit 53 that constitutes a vibration means of the video processor 5. The wiring 36 drawn from the piezoelectric vibrator 37 is connected to the power supply / video signal processing circuit 52 of the video processor 5. .

Next, the water supply sheath 3 will be described below based on FIGS. 5 and 6.
The water supply sheath 3 includes a coated tube 21 having a distal end member, a connection portion 22 provided continuously to the proximal end of the coated tube 21, and a water supply tube 23 extending from a side portion of the connection portion 22. Configured. The extended end of the water supply tube 23 is connected to the water supply tank 24. The water supply tank 24 is connected to the other end of an air supply tube 25 having one end connected to an air supply connector 26 of the video processor 5.

  The covered tube 21 of the water supply sheath 3 includes a tube main body 41 and a substantially cylindrical tip member 42 fitted to the tip of the tube main body 41. One part of the thick portion of the tube main body 41 is formed with one water supply passage 43 having a circular cross section for water supply. The water supply path 43 is disposed up to the connection portion 22 and communicates with the water supply tube 23 via the connection portion 22.

  The distal end member 42 has an eaves portion 44 that is a plate body along the opening end surface at a position facing the water supply path 43 of the tube main body 41.

  The water supply sheath 3 configured as described above is connected so that the water supply path 43 communicates with the water supply tank 24 via the water supply tube 23. Then, physiological saline or the like which is the washing water in the water supply tank 24 is supplied into the water supply path 43 by the pressure in the water supply tank 24 being increased by the air from the pump 55 controlled by the pump control circuit 54. The liquid is made to flow to the distal end portion of the endoscope.

  In the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the insertion portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is inserted and disposed in the covering tube 21 of the water supply sheath 3, for example, laparoscopic surgery Used for surgery.

Here, the configuration of the diffraction grating 40 disposed on the glass plate 32 that is the observation window of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the diffraction grating 40 is a plurality of, in this case, five gaps 40 a having a rectangular cross section formed within the thickness of the glass plate 32. These gaps 40 a are formed in parallel in the glass plate 32 at equal intervals, and are each a straight long hole parallel to the plate surface of the glass plate 32.

  Each gap 40a is a space that is processed into a predetermined dimension having a rectangular cross section by etching or the like after forming a through hole from the side peripheral surface of the glass plate 32 by laser processing.

  At this time, each gap 40 a is formed within a predetermined distance (depth) from the outer surface of the glass plate 32. This predetermined distance (depth) is the same length as one period of the wavelength λ of the surface acoustic wave Φ propagating on the outer surface of the glass plate 32. That is, the plurality of gaps 40a constituting the diffraction grating 40 are formed within a distance (depth) of one cycle of the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave Φ propagating from the outer surface of the glass plate 32 to the outer surface. As a result, a reduction in conversion (deflection) efficiency from the ultrasonic vibration f propagating from the inside of the glass plate 32 by the diffraction grating 40 to the surface acoustic wave Φ propagating to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 is suppressed. Further, the interval (separation distance) between the adjacent gaps 40a is equal to one period (one wavelength) of the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave Φ (same distance), and the width (lateral) direction dimension is the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave Φ. It is preferable that it is about half (half wavelength) of one cycle.

  Moreover, the opening part of each space | gap 40a formed in the side peripheral surface of the glass plate 32 is airtightly sealed when the glass plate 32 is adhesively fixed to the front-end | tip of the tubular member 31. FIG. In addition, after processing each space | gap 40a, you may make it airtightly seal the opening part of each space | gap 40a formed in the side peripheral surface of the glass plate 32 previously with an adhesive material.

  Note that the gaps 40a are not limited to those formed by laser processing and etching processing, and may be formed by, for example, femtosecond laser processing. Since this femtosecond laser processing directly forms a space inside the glass plate 32, each gap 40a does not become a through hole, and no opening of each gap 40a is formed on the side peripheral surface of the glass plate 32. The precision which seals a part is not requested | required. Therefore, when the air gap 40a is formed by femtosecond laser processing, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with laser processing and etching processing.

  The endoscope system 1 configured as described above allows a user who is a doctor to perform an endoscope operation when the field of view deteriorates due to adhesion of mucous membrane, blood, fat, or the like to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 during the operation. The remote switch of the switches provided in the operation unit 2 is operated. Then, an excitation signal is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrator 37 from the piezoelectric vibrator exciting circuit 53 of the video processor 5 in accordance with the control signal by the switch operation, and an ultrasonic vibration f is generated in the glass plate 32 ( (See FIG. 8).

  Prior to this, cleaning water is supplied from the water supply sheath 3 to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 by operating the switches. That is, air is supplied into the water supply tank 24 from the pump 55 which is a compressor, and the cleaning water in the water supply tank 24 is supplied to the water supply sheath 3. This washing water is ejected from the tip of the tube main body 41 through the water supply passage 43 formed in the tube main body 41 of the water supply sheath 3, hits the eaves portion 44, and flows out along substantially the entire outer surface of the glass plate 32. become.

  The ultrasonic vibration f generated on the vibration surface, which is the inner surface (back surface) of the glass plate 32, to which the piezoelectric vibrator 37 is attached, propagates in the glass plate 32 in a substantially vertical direction. The ultrasonic vibration f reaches the diffraction grating 40 and is converted (deflected) into a surface acoustic wave propagating on the outer surface of the glass plate 32 by the diffraction grating 40, and on the center side and the center side of the glass plate 32. On the other hand, the outer surface of the glass plate 32 propagates linearly as a surface acoustic wave toward the outer peripheral portion on the opposite side across the diffraction grating 40 (see FIG. 8).

  Thus, the surface acoustic wave ripple removes dirt such as mucous membrane, blood, and fat adhering to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 in the propagation direction together with the supply of cleaning water. The surface acoustic wave propagates by concentrating the vibration on the outer surface of the glass plate 32, so that the vibration can be efficiently transmitted to the dirt adhered to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 to remove the dirt. it can.

  In this way, the endoscope 2 allows high-frequency high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations f to be converted (deflected) by the diffraction grating 40 and efficiently propagate as surface acoustic waves to the outer surface of the glass plate 32. The adhering dirt is mixed with the washing water, and a part thereof becomes a mist, and a part thereof is washed away with the washing water, so that the adhering dirt can be efficiently and surely removed.

  Further, in the endoscope 2, a diffraction grating 40 that converts (deflects) the ultrasonic vibration f generated from the piezoelectric vibrator 37 into a surface acoustic wave Φ is formed inside the glass plate 32 that serves as an observation window of the endoscope 2. The outer surface of the glass plate 32 can be made a smooth surface without irregularities. As a result, dirt such as mucous membrane, blood, fat and the like adhering to the outer surface of the glass plate 32 is easily removed by vibration due to surface elastic waves. In addition, by forming the diffraction grating 40 inside the glass plate 32, when the ultrasonic vibration f propagating through the glass plate 32 reaches the diffraction grating 40, it is difficult to escape from the diffraction grating 40 to the outer surface side of the glass plate 32. Become.

  In addition, since the glass plate 32 is a smooth surface on which the concave and convex grooves formed by the diffraction grating 40 are not formed on the outer surface, dirt such as mucous membranes, blood, and fat accumulates in the grooves of the diffraction grating 40, and the ultrasonic wave A decrease in the conversion (deflection) efficiency from the vibration f to the surface acoustic wave Φ is prevented. Further, since the outer surface of the glass plate 32 is a smooth surface, it is not necessary to remove dirt accumulated in the concave and convex grooves of the diffraction grating 40 during sterilization before and after the use of the endoscope 2. Thereby, the operation time for sterilization and disinfection of the endoscope 2 is shortened, and the work efficiency is also improved.

  As described above, the endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment forms the diffraction grating 40 inside the glass plate 32 of the endoscope 2, so that the diffraction grating is operated during the operation by the endoscope 2. No contamination accumulates on the 40, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the conversion (deflection) efficiency from the ultrasonic vibration f to the surface acoustic wave Φ, and the workability of sterilization and disinfection performed before and after use of the endoscope 2 It becomes the structure which can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the endoscope system 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below based on FIGS. 10 to 13. FIGS. 10 to 13 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the rigid endoscope, and FIG. 11 is a glass showing an enlarged shape of the diffraction grating. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the modified rigid endoscope, and FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the glass plate showing an enlarged shape of the diffraction grating of FIG. .

  In the description of the present embodiment, the components described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the components and operation is omitted. In the present embodiment, an aspect in which the gap shape of the diffraction grating 40 formed in the glass plate 32 that is an observation window is different from that of the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the diffraction grating 40 formed inside the glass plate 32 that is the observation window of the present embodiment has a height direction (gap width d1 in the depth direction of the glass plate 32). The dimensions are the same, and the gap 40b is continuously formed in a cross-sectional crank shape. The gap 40b is formed in a region where the vibration surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 37 face each other.

  Further, the air gap 40b here is formed by using femtosecond laser processing, and as described in the first embodiment, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with laser processing and etching processing. Of course, the air gap 40b may be formed by laser processing, etching processing, or the like.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the gap 40b constituting the diffraction grating 40 of the present embodiment also has a one-cycle distance (depth) of the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave Φ propagating from the outer surface of the glass plate 32. Formed inside. In the gap 40 b, the gap width d 1 in the vertical direction of the paper surface shown in FIG. 11 is set to be larger than the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration f incident on the diffraction grating 40.

  Further, the gap width d1 is such that the vibration surface on the incident side of the ultrasonic vibration f (here, the lower surface viewed toward the paper surface of FIG. 11) is the opposite surface (here, the upper surface viewed toward the paper surface of FIG. 11). It is the distance which does not contact. In other words, in the diffraction grating 40, the vibration surface that vibrates by receiving the ultrasonic vibration f out of the two opposing surfaces forming the gap 40b in the depth direction of the glass plate 32 abuts the other surface. The gap width d1 of the distance not to be set is set. The diffraction grating 40 is set to have a dimension (distance) of 0.1λ to 0.2λ with respect to the wavelength λ of the ultrasonic vibration f on which the entire width d2 of the glass plate 32 in the depth direction is incident.

  Note that the conversion (deflection) efficiency of the ultrasonic vibration f into the surface acoustic wave Φ depends on the shape of the vibration surface of the diffraction grating 40. Therefore, each width W1 of the unevenness of the vibration surface is set to a dimension (distance) of 0.5λ with respect to the wavelength λ of the incident ultrasonic vibration f. That is, the same dimension (distance) as the wavelength λ of the ultrasonic vibration f is set as the width W2 of the pair of irregularities on the vibration surface.

  By using the diffraction grating 40 having such a shape of the gap 40b, the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment can perform the diffraction grating during the operation by the endoscope 2 as in the first embodiment. No contamination accumulates on the 40, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the conversion (deflection) efficiency from the ultrasonic vibration f to the surface acoustic wave Φ, and the workability of sterilization and disinfection performed before and after use of the endoscope 2 It becomes the structure which can be improved.

  Note that the diffraction grating 40 is not limited to the continuous gap 40b, and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a plurality of U-shaped gaps, here, four gaps 40c are intermittently provided in parallel. It is good also as a structure. The diffraction grating 40 constituted by the plurality of gaps 40c also has the same positions as the gaps 40b described above in the positions formed on the glass plate 32 and the dimensions d1, d2, W1, and W2 of the gaps 40c.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the endoscope system 1 of the present invention will be described in detail below based on FIG. 14 to FIG. FIGS. 14 to 17 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the rigid endoscope, and FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the shape of the diffraction grating. FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end portion of the rigid endoscope of the first modified example, and FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the distal end portion of the rigid endoscope of the second modified example. It is a fragmentary sectional view.

  Also in the description of the present embodiment, the constituent elements described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the constituent elements and the actions are omitted. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of an aspect in which the diffraction grating 40 formed on the glass plate 32 that is an observation window is different from the first and second embodiments.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the diffraction grating 40 formed on the glass plate 32 of the transparent plate of the present embodiment is formed by a semiconductor manufacturing process or machining so as to be arranged in parallel at equal intervals. It is composed of a plurality of, here, five groove portions 40d. The diffraction grating 40 here, which is constituted by the groove portions 40b, is also formed in a region where the vibration surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 37 face each other.

  The glass plate 32 includes a transparent glass thin plate 45 made of the same material on the surface on which the diffraction grating 40 is formed so as not to obstruct the observation field of view, and includes the upper part of the diffraction grating 40 by optical welding or fusion. 32 is attached to the entire outer surface. In the present embodiment, the observation window is constituted by the glass plate 32 including the thin plate 45.

  As described above, the diffraction grating 40 has a plurality of grooves 40 d covered with the thin plate 45 and provided inside the glass plate 32 to be a plurality of sealed voids. As in the first embodiment, the diffraction grating 40 is within a distance (depth) of one period of the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave Φ propagating from the outer surface of the thin plate 45 attached to the glass plate 32. It is formed. The interval between adjacent groove portions 40d forming the diffraction grating 40 is preferably equal to one wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration f, and the width (lateral) direction dimension is about a half wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration f.

  Since the endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the diffraction grating 40 is not exposed to the surface by using the diffraction grating 40 configured by the plurality of groove portions 40d covered with the thin plate 45 in this manner, As in the first embodiment, during the operation by the endoscope 2, dirt does not accumulate on the diffraction grating 40, and the conversion (deflection) efficiency from the ultrasonic vibration f to the surface acoustic wave Φ is reduced. It is possible to prevent the sterilization and sterilization work performed before and after using the endoscope 2. Furthermore, even in the case of the shape of the diffraction grating 40 that is difficult to laser process, the diffraction grating 40 can be formed as a sealed space inside the glass plate 32 including the thin plate 45 that serves as an observation window here.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the thin plate 46 may be attached to a part of the outer surface of the glass plate 32 only in a range outside the observation field including the upper part of the diffraction grating 40. The thin plate 46 is formed with tapered surfaces 46a at the corners of all the edges so that no step is generated from the outer surface of the glass plate 32. Thus, the diffraction grating 40 can be formed as a sealed space inside the glass plate 32 by the thin plate 46 that integrally forms the plurality of groove portions 40d on the outer surface of the glass plate 32 and integrally covers the groove portions 40b. In such a configuration, the diffraction grating 40 can be formed on the outer surface of the glass plate 32, and the surface acoustic wave Φ can easily propagate to the outer surface of the glass plate 32.

  Further, when the material of the glass plate 32 is suitable for anodic bonding of glass or the like to which Na is added, the thin plate 46 is anodic bonded by using a different material from the glass plate 32 of silicon or metal, for example. It is also possible to paste by.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, the glass plate 32 and the thin plate 47 are formed with a recess 32a into which the thin plate 47 is fitted so as not to cause a step between the glass plate 32 and the thin plate 47. May be located in the same plane.

  The invention described in the above embodiment is not limited to the embodiment and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the described requirements can be deleted if the stated problem can be solved and the stated effect can be obtained. The configuration can be extracted as an invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope system 2 ... Rigid endoscope 3 ... Water supply sheath 4 ... Light source device 5 ... Video processor 6 ... Monitor 11 ... Insertion part 32 ... Glass plate 34 ... Imaging module 37 ... Piezoelectric vibrator 40 ... Diffraction grating 40a, 40b, 40c ... gap 41 ... tube body 42 ... tip member 43 ... water supply path 44 ... eaves part 51 ... control part 52 ... video signal processing circuit 53 ... piezoelectric vibrator excitation circuit 54 ... pump control circuit 55 ... pump 56 ... light source 57 ... light source control circuit d1 ... gap width d2 ... overall width f ... ultrasonic vibration W1, W2 ... width λ ... wavelength Φ ... surface acoustic wave

Claims (6)

A transparent observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope so as to face the imaging optical system;
A vibrator disposed on the inner surface of the observation window;
A deflection unit that is provided inside the observation window facing the vibrator and deflects a propagation direction of ultrasonic vibration from the vibrator into a surface acoustic wave traveling on an outer surface of the observation window;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflection unit is a gap sealed in the observation window.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gap is formed within a distance of one wavelength of a surface acoustic wave propagating to the outer surface from the outer surface of the observation window.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the space is a crank-shaped space formed continuously.   The internal view according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of the gaps are formed intermittently at equal intervals, and a distance between adjacent gaps is the same distance as one wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration. Mirror device. A transparent observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope so as to face the imaging optical system;
A vibrator disposed on the inner surface of the observation window;
A plurality of grooves formed on the outer surface of the observation window facing the vibrator and a thin plate covering at least the plurality of grooves are formed as a sealed space, and the propagation direction of ultrasonic vibration from the vibrator is determined by the observation window. A deflection unit that deflects the surface acoustic wave traveling on the outer surface of
An endoscope apparatus comprising:

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