JP5763035B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope system having an optical fiber holding device for holding an optical fiber incorporated in an endoscope and a light source device.

  Diagnosis using an endoscope is performed in the medical field. The endoscope has an illumination window at the distal end of the insertion portion inserted into the specimen, and the illumination light is guided from the light source device connected to the endoscope to the illumination window by the light guide, and the specimen is irradiated with the illumination light. can do. As a light guide for illumination, an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are bundled is used. The light guide incorporated in each of the endoscope and the light source device is optically connected by closely contacting the end surfaces of the light guide when the connector provided in the endoscope and the connector of the light source device are connected. .

  Since the connector of the endoscope is frequently attached and detached, dust or the like tends to adhere to the tip of the optical fiber. In addition, the tip of the optical fiber may be damaged by an impact at the time of attachment / detachment. If dust adheres to the tip of the optical fiber or a flaw occurs, the connection loss increases. In addition, when the optical power density at the tip of the optical fiber is high, the attached dust and scratches may burn and the tip of the optical fiber or ferrule may burn out, or the optical fiber may spread due to a fiber fuse phenomenon.

  In order to prevent burning of the optical fiber due to dust or the like, an optical fiber transmission line has been invented in which the optical power density at the connection portion of the optical fiber is lowered. For example, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a graded index collimator that functions as a collimator lens is fused and connected to the tip of a single mode fiber to widen the mode field diameter.

  In recent years, it has been studied to use a laser illumination device for endoscope illumination. This laser illuminator guides a short wavelength / high output laser beam to a phosphor by a light guide, and excites the phosphor by the laser beam to obtain illumination light. The light guide is not an optical fiber bundle, but a single multimode fiber having a large core diameter of, for example, 100 μm or more. Therefore, the diameter of the insertion portion can be expected to be reduced by applying the laser illumination device to the endoscope.

  The endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 3 includes a connection structure between optical fibers that guide laser light for exciting a phosphor. This endoscope apparatus uses a multi-mode fiber as an optical fiber, and a ferrule to which the optical fiber on the light source side is fixed and a graded index collimator are connected to the end face of the multi-mode fiber and the end face of the graded index collimator. The sleeve is held in contact with the sleeve. The endoscope side optical fiber is also held in the same configuration, and when the endoscope side connector and the light source device side socket are connected, the graded index collimator and the sleeve holding the ferrule are engaged with each other. To do. Thereby, graded index collimators connected to the tip of the optical fiber are optically connected.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-077549 JP 2002-350666 A JP 2011-152371 A

  In the endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the ferrule and the graded index collimator are detachably held with respect to the sleeve, and transmission loss generated between the optical fiber and the graded index collimator is large. Therefore, the present applicant has researched and developed an optical fiber holding device for reducing transmission loss between the optical fiber and the graded index collimator. In this holding device, a holding cylinder that holds the outer periphery of the graded index collimator, a rotary coupling member that is rotationally coupled to the holding cylinder, an urging member that is disposed inside the rotary coupling member, and a rotary coupling member are held. And a pressing member that presses the ferrule toward the graded index collimator side when urged by the urging member when rotationally coupled to the cylinder. As a result, the pressing member presses the ferrule toward the graded index collimator so as to be brought into close contact therewith.

  However, in the above holding device, when the rotational coupling member is rotationally coupled to the holding cylinder, the rotation of the rotational coupling member is transmitted to the pressing member and damages the ferrule, or the ferrule rotated together with the pressing member damages the graded index collimator. May end up.

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of reducing transmission loss and preventing damage to a ferrule and a graded index collimator attached to an optical fiber.

The present invention relates to a laser light source, a first optical fiber that guides laser light emitted from the laser light source, a light source device having a socket that holds the first optical fiber therein, an insertion portion that is inserted into a specimen, and a distal end portion of the insertion portion , A phosphor for irradiating illumination light by being excited by laser light, a second optical fiber for guiding the laser light to the phosphor, a connector for holding the second optical fiber inside, and a connector detachably connected to the socket An endoscope system comprising: a graded index collimator disposed on a socket and a connector; a holding cylinder that holds an outer periphery of the graded index collimator located on a distal end side; and an optical fiber A ferrule inserted at the base end side of the holding cylinder, and exposed to the holding cylinder. Rotary coupling Te, and a rotation coupling member which is fixed to the base end side of the holding cylinder, and a coil spring which is disposed within the rotating coupling member, disposed within the holding cylinder and rotating the coupling member, the rotation coupling member holding cylinder when rotated bound to, a pressing member for pressing the ferrule to the graded index collimator side receives the urging of the coil spring is inserted through the coil spring, provided on the pressing member, a plate-shaped flange for receiving the biasing force of the coil spring And a rotation restricting portion having a locked portion for restricting rotation around the axis with respect to the holding cylinder, and holding the socket side holding cylinder and the connector side holding. One of the cylinders is formed with the tip of the holding cylinder protruding from the tip of the graded index collimator, and the socket-side holding cylinder and the connector-side holding with the connector connected to the socket Tip contact each other, and wherein the gap is formed at the tip ends of graded index collimator.

The storage portion has a locking surface in which a part of the inner peripheral surface is formed in a flat shape, and the locked portion is a locked surface formed in a planar shape out of the outer shape of the flange portion. It is preferable. Further, the storage portion is formed with a locking portion that is a key groove or key protrusion extending along the axial direction, and the locked portion is a key protrusion or key groove formed in accordance with the locking portion. It is preferable. Or it is preferable that the accommodating part is formed in the polygonal cross-sectional shape, and a to-be-latched part is an outer peripheral surface of the flange part formed in the polygonal cross-sectional shape according to the accommodating part . The optical fiber is preferably a multimode fiber.

  An endoscope system according to the present invention is inserted into a specimen, a light source device having a laser light source, a first optical fiber that guides laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a socket that holds the first optical fiber therein. An insertion portion, a phosphor provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, for exciting the laser light to emit illumination light, a second optical fiber for guiding the laser light to the phosphor, and a second optical fiber inside An endoscope system including an endoscope having a connector that is held and detachably connected to the socket, and that uses the optical fiber holding device to hold the first optical fiber, and the second optical fiber. It is characterized in that at least one of the connectors for holding is provided.

  According to the present invention, since the pressing member that presses the ferrule to the graded index collimator side under the bias of the spring is restricted from rotating about the axis with respect to the holding cylinder, the transmission loss is reduced, It is possible to prevent the ferrule and graded index collimator attached to the optical fiber from being damaged.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the endoscope system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric constitution of an endoscope system. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector of an endoscope. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the socket of a light source device. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the optical fiber holding | maintenance apparatus of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical fiber holding device of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the holding cylinder, the screw member, the coil spring, and the pressing member from the base end side. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the connector and socket in which the optical fiber holding | maintenance apparatus was integrated. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd modification of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 11 includes an electronic endoscope 12, a processor device 13, and a light source device 14. The electronic endoscope 12 includes a flexible insertion portion 15 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 16 connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 15, and a connector connected to the processor device 13 and the light source device 14. 17 and 18 and a universal cord 19 connecting the operation unit 16 and the connector 18. A distal end (hereinafter referred to as a distal end portion) 20 of the insertion portion 15 includes a CCD image sensor (see FIG. 2; hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 21 for imaging a biological tissue (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) in a body cavity, Light projecting units 22 and 23 (see FIG. 2) are provided for irradiating with illumination light.

  The light source connector 18 is provided at the tip of the universal cord 19 and is detachably connected to a socket 56 (see FIG. 4) of the light source device 14. A processor connector 17 connected to a socket (not shown) of the processor device 13 is provided so as to branch from the light source connector 18.

  The operation unit 16 includes an angle knob for bending the tip 20 up and down, left and right, an air / water feed button for ejecting air and water from the tip of the insertion unit 15, and a release for recording a still image. Operation members such as buttons and switching buttons for switching between normal light observation and special light observation are provided.

  The processor device 13 is electrically connected to the light source device 14 and comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic endoscope system 11. The processor device 13 supplies power to the electronic endoscope 12 via the universal cord 19 and a transmission cable inserted into the insertion portion 15 and controls the driving of the CCD 21. In addition, the processor device 13 acquires an imaging signal output from the CCD 21 via a transmission cable, and performs various image processing to generate image data. Image data generated by the processor device 13 is displayed as an observation image on a monitor 24 connected to the processor device 13 by a cable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion 20 is provided with an imaging optical system 31, a CCD 21, light projecting units 22 and 23, and the like. A timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 32, an analog signal processing circuit (hereinafter referred to as AFE) 33, and a CPU 34 are provided in the operation unit 16, the connector 18, and the like.

  The imaging optical system 31 includes a lens group, a prism, and the like, and causes the CCD 21 to form an image of light that enters through the observation window 39 and enters the subject. The CCD 21 photoelectrically converts the image in the specimen imaged on the imaging surface by the imaging optical system 31 for each pixel, and accumulates signal charges corresponding to the amount of incident light. The CCD 21 outputs the signal charge accumulated in each pixel as an imaging signal.

  The TG 32 inputs a clock signal to the CCD 21. Based on the clock signal input from the TG 32, the CCD 21 performs an accumulation operation for accumulating signal charges and a read operation for reading signal charges at a predetermined timing. The clock signal output from the TG 32 is controlled by the CPU 34.

  The AFE 33 includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit, an automatic gain adjustment (AGC) circuit, and an A / D conversion circuit. After obtaining an analog imaging signal from the CCD 21 while removing noise, and after performing gain correction processing, It converts into a digital signal and inputs into DSP42 mentioned later. The CDS circuit acquires an imaging signal while removing noise generated by driving the CCD 21 by correlated double sampling processing. The AGC circuit amplifies the imaging signal input from the CDS circuit. The A / D conversion circuit converts the imaging signal input from the AGC circuit into a digital imaging signal having a predetermined number of bits, and inputs the digital imaging signal to the DSP 42. The driving of the AFE 33 is controlled by the CPU 34. For example, the CPU 34 adjusts the gain (gain) of the imaging signal by the AGC circuit based on the signal input from the CPU 40 of the processor device 13.

  In the light projecting units 22 and 23, the distal ends of the second optical fibers 35 and 36 inserted into the insertion portion 15, the operation portion 16, and the universal cord 19 are connected in the distal end portion 20. The light projecting unit 22 emits normal light and the light projecting unit 23 emits special light as illumination light.

The light projecting unit 22 includes a phosphor 37, and blue laser light is guided from the light source device 14 by the second optical fiber 35. The phosphor 37 is a phosphor that absorbs a part of blue laser light and emits light in an excitation state from green to yellow, and includes, for example, a YAG phosphor, a BAM (BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ ) phosphor, or the like. The blue laser light guided to the light projecting unit 22 is partly absorbed by the phosphor 37, thereby causing green to yellow fluorescence to be emitted from the phosphor 37 and a part of the blue laser light is transmitted through the phosphor 37. Therefore, the light projecting unit 22 irradiates the subject with pseudo white light (normal light) in which green to yellow fluorescence emitted from the phosphor 37 and blue laser light transmitted through the phosphor 37 are combined as illumination light. . In addition, since the blue laser light which permeate | transmits the fluorescent substance 37 is diffused by the fluorescent substance 37, the normal light irradiated from the light projection unit 22 is uniform within the visual field of the electronic endoscope 12. FIG.

  The light projecting unit 23 includes a light diffusing member 38 and guides blue-violet laser light from the light source device 14 through the second optical fiber 36. The light diffusing member 38 transmits and diffuses blue-violet laser light. Therefore, the light projecting unit 23 irradiates the subject with blue-violet light obtained by diffusing the blue-violet laser light as special light. Since the special light emitted by the light projecting unit 23 is diffused by the light diffusion member 38, it is uniform within the field of view of the electronic endoscope 12.

  The processor device 13 includes a CPU 40, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 42, a digital image processing circuit (DIP) 43, a display control circuit 44, an operation unit 45, and the like.

  The CPU 40 is connected to each unit via a data bus, an address bus, and a control line (not shown), and controls the entire processor device 13 in an integrated manner. The ROM 46 stores various programs (OS, application programs, etc.) for controlling the operation of the processor device 13 and various data such as graphic data. The CPU 40 reads necessary programs and data from the ROM 46, develops them in the RAM 47, which is a working memory, and sequentially processes the read programs. Further, the CPU 40 obtains information that changes for each examination such as examination date and time, character information such as subject and operator information from the network such as the operation unit 45 or LAN, and stores the information in the RAM 47.

  The DSP 42 generates image data by performing various signal processing such as color separation, color interpolation, gain correction, white balance adjustment, and gamma correction on the imaging signal input from the CCD 21 via the AFE 33. The image data generated by the DSP 42 is input to the working memory of the DIP 43. Further, the DSP 42 generates ALC control data required for automatic control (ALC control) of the illumination light amount, such as an average luminance value obtained by averaging the luminance of each pixel of the generated image data, and inputs the generated data to the CPU 40.

  The DIP 43 is a circuit that performs various types of image processing on the image data generated by the DSP 42. The image data that has been subjected to various types of image processing by the DIP 43 is temporarily stored in the VRAM 48 as an observation image, and then subjected to display control. It is input to the circuit 44.

  The display control circuit 44 acquires an observation image from the VRAM 48 and receives graphic data and the like stored in the ROM 46 and the RAM 47 from the CPU 40. Examples of the graphic data include a display mask for displaying only an effective pixel region in which the inside of the specimen is copied in the observation image, information such as the name of the specimen and the operator, character information such as the examination date and time, and GUI. The display control circuit 44 superimposes graphic data or the like on the observation image, converts it to a video signal (component signal, composite signal, etc.) corresponding to the display format of the monitor 24, and outputs it to the monitor 24. As a result, the observation image is displayed on the monitor 24.

  The operation unit 45 is a known input device such as an operation panel, a mouse, or a keyboard provided in the housing of the processor device 13. The CPU 40 operates each unit of the electronic endoscope system 11 according to an operation signal input from the operation unit 45 or the operation unit 16 of the electronic endoscope 12.

  The light source device 14 branches two laser diodes (laser light sources) of a blue LD 50 and a blue-violet LD 51 as a light source, a combiner 52 that combines the laser light emitted from the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51, and the combined laser light. A branch coupler 53, first optical fibers 54 and 55 into which laser light branched by the branch coupler 53 is introduced, a socket 56 that holds the first optical fibers 54 and 55 inside, and a CPU 57 are provided.

  The blue LD 50 emits blue laser light having a center wavelength of 445 nm. The blue laser light emitted from the blue LD 50 is guided to the light projecting unit 22 through the combiner 52, the branch coupler 53, the first optical fiber 54, the second optical fiber 35, etc. The normal light is irradiated into the subject.

  The blue-violet LD 51 emits blue-violet laser light having a center wavelength of 405 nm. The blue-violet laser light emitted from the blue-violet LD 51 is guided to the light projecting unit 23 through the combiner 52, the branch coupler 53, the first optical fiber 55, the second optical fiber 36, etc., and is irradiated into the specimen as special light. The

  The CPU 57 controls the light emission timing and the light emission amount of the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51. Based on the ALC control data input from the CPU 40 of the processor device 13, the CPU 57 automatically controls the light emission amounts of the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51 in real time so that the light amount is appropriate for observation.

  In addition, when performing normal light observation, the CPU 57 turns on the blue LD 50 to irradiate only normal light as illumination light. When performing special light observation, the CPU 57 simultaneously turns on the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51. Thus, normal light and special light are simultaneously irradiated into the specimen. In the case of special light observation, an observation image in which the contrast of the surface blood vessels is improved as compared with the case of normal light observation is taken.

  The first optical fibers 54 and 55 are held in the socket 56. In the connector 18, second optical fibers 35 and 36 are held. As will be described later, when the connector 18 is connected to the socket 56, the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 are connected. As the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36, for example, quartz multimode fibers having a core diameter of 100 μm or more are used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 18 includes a connector main body 60 that holds the second optical fibers 35 and 36, a ring handle 61 that is disposed on the outer peripheral portion and is rotatable with respect to the connector main body 60, and the ring handle 61. And a metal outer cylinder 62 fixed to the connector main body 60.

  The connector body 60 is provided with two optical fiber holding devices 63 that hold the second optical fibers 35 and 36. A pair of cam grooves 64 is formed on the inner periphery of the ring handle 61. One end of the cam groove 64 is exposed from the end surface of the ring handle 61. A guide key 65 projects from the outer periphery of the metal outer cylinder 62 in a direction along the connector insertion direction. The guide key 65 enters a key groove 70 provided on a socket 56 side, which will be described later, to which the connector 18 is connected. Note that the number of optical fiber holding devices 63 provided in the connector main body 60 is arbitrary, and here two configurations are shown as an example. Further, the connector body 60 is provided with a pipe line (not shown) for supplying air and water to the electronic endoscope 12, a position regulating pin, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the socket 56 includes a metal housing 66 having a conical portion 66 a and a tip cylindrical portion 66 b, and a socket body 67 disposed inside the metal housing 66. The metal housing 66 and the socket body 67 are fixed to the housing of the light source device 14. The socket main body 67 is provided with two optical fiber holding devices 68 for holding the first optical fibers 54 and 55 at positions corresponding to the optical fiber holding device 63 of the connector 18.

  A pair of engaging pins 69 projecting in the diameter direction is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion 66b. The engagement pin 69 engages with a cam groove 64 formed in the ring handle 61 of the connector 18. A key groove 70 is formed on the inner periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion 66b at a position on the back side of the engagement pin 69. The keyway 70 receives a guide key 65 provided on the metal outer cylinder 62 of the connector 18. The guide key 65 and the key groove 70 are provided for alignment between the optical fiber holding device 63 on the connector 18 side and the optical fiber holding device 68 on the socket 56 side. The second optical fibers 35 and 36 and the first optical fibers 54 and 55 held by the optical fiber holding devices 63 and 68 are respectively pushed by pushing the connector 18 toward the socket 56 along the connector insertion direction. Optically connected.

  When connecting the connector 18 and the socket 56, first, the tip cylinder portion 66 b on the socket 56 side and the metal outer cylinder 62 on the connector 18 side are engaged while the position of the key groove is aligned with the position of the guide key 65. Further, when the ring handle 61 is rotated while the engagement pin 69 is in contact with the end face of the ring handle 61, the engagement pin 69 is received from one end of the cam groove 64. Then, when the ring handle 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow P in the figure, the engaging pin 69 is drawn along the cam groove 64 and the connector 18 and the socket 56 are joined.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the first optical fiber 54 is held by the optical fiber holding device 68 of the present invention and incorporated in the socket 56 of the light source device 14. The first optical fiber 55 is similarly held by the optical fiber holding device 68 and incorporated into the socket 56. The optical fiber holding device 68 includes a first graded index collimator (hereinafter referred to as a GI collimator) 71, a first ferrule 72, a holding cylinder 73, a screw member 74 (rotary coupling member), and a coil spring 75 (attached). Force member) and a pressing member 76.

  The first ferrule 72 has a cylindrical shape provided with a fiber insertion hole 72a penetrating along the axial direction at the center. The first ferrule 72 has the same outer diameter as the first GI collimator 71. The first optical fiber 54 from which the coating 54a at the tip is peeled is inserted into the fiber insertion hole 72a, and is fixed by an adhesive. The distal end 72b of the first ferrule 72 is polished into a convex spherical shape or a planar shape together with the distal end of the first optical fiber 54 inserted into the fiber insertion hole 72a.

  The first GI collimator 71 includes a graded index fiber 71a and a cylindrical ferrule 71b that incorporates the graded index fiber 71a. The ferrule 71b is made of zirconia ceramics. In the first GI collimator 71, the incident end face 71c and the outgoing end face 71d are polished into a convex spherical shape and a planar shape, respectively. The first GI collimator 71 is brought into physical contact connection (hereinafter referred to as PC connection) with the first optical fiber 54 when the incident end face 71 c abuts against the tip 72 b of the first ferrule 72. Note that the shapes of the incident end face 71c and the outgoing end face 71d may be any combination of convex-convex, flat-convex, convex-flat, and flat-flat.

  Since the first GI collimator 71 has a larger core diameter than the first optical fiber 54, the first optical fiber 54 can be PC-connected to the first GI collimator 71 without the tip touching the outside air. Thereby, the dust collection effect does not occur at the tip of the first optical fiber 54.

  Further, since the first GI collimator 71 collimates by expanding the beam diameter of the laser light transmitted by the first optical fiber 54, the optical power density at the emission end face 71 d of the first GI collimator 71 is equal to that of the first optical fiber 54. Lower than the tip. Thereby, the connection loss is not significantly reduced by dust or scratches on the emission end face 71d. In addition, burning of the first GI collimator 71 due to burning of dust and the like on the emission end face 71d and spreading of the first optical fiber 54 due to a fiber fuse phenomenon do not occur. Furthermore, since the photochemical reaction between the laser light and the organic matter in the air is also reduced due to the reduction in the optical power density, the dust collection effect on the emission end face 71d is reduced.

The holding cylinder 73 includes a distal end side holding cylinder 73a and a proximal end side holding cylinder 73b. The front end side holding cylinder 73a is formed in a cylindrical shape, is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the first GI collimator 71 near the front end of the inner peripheral surface, and is fixed to the first GI collimator 71 with an adhesive, for example. The distal end side holding cylinder 73a is fixed by protruding a predetermined amount from the emission end surface 71d which is the distal end of the first GI collimator 71 to the distal end side. Hereinafter, the distal end side of the holding cylinder 73 fixed to the first GI collimator 71 is simply referred to as a distal end side, and the proximal end side with respect to the first GI collimator 71 is simply referred to as a proximal end side. The base end side holding cylinder 73b is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a ferrule storage portion 77, a flange storage portion 78, and a female screw 79 are formed in order from the distal end side of the inner peripheral surface thereof. The distal end portion 77a of the ferrule housing portion 77 has a larger inner diameter and is fitted on the proximal end portion of the distal end side holding cylinder 73a . Tip 77a of the base end side holding cylinder 73b is by fitted to the proximal end of the distal retention tube 73a, and the leading end side holding cylinder 73a, and a base end side holding tube 73b are integrated. The holding cylinder 73 is made of metal such as brass.

  In the holding cylinder 73, a first ferrule 72 is accommodated behind the first GI collimator 71, and a pressing member 76 is disposed behind the first ferrule 72. The first ferrule 72 is inserted from the proximal end side of the holding cylinder 73, and the distal end side is accommodated in the distal end holding cylinder 73a and the proximal end side is accommodated in the ferrule accommodating portion 77 of the proximal end holding cylinder 73b.

  The pressing member 76 is formed in a hollow shape having a flange portion 80 and a cylindrical portion 81 in order from the tip, and is made of a metal such as SUS, for example. The cylindrical portion 81 has an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the coil spring 75, and passes through the coil spring 75. The flange portion 80 is formed to have an outer diameter larger than that of the cylindrical portion 81 and is biased by the coil spring 75.

  The screw member 74 is formed in a hollow shape having a screw portion 82, a tapered portion 83, and a base end portion 84 in order from the distal end side, and is made of a metal such as brass, for example. As for the screw part 82, the external thread 85 is formed in the cylindrical outer peripheral surface. The screw member 74 is fixed to the proximal end side of the holding cylinder 73 by the male screw 85 screwing (rotatingly coupled) with the female screw 79 of the holding cylinder 73. A pressing member 76 and a coil spring 75 inserted through the pressing member 76 are housed inside the inner peripheral surface of the screw portion 82. The tapered portion 83 is formed so that the outer diameter gradually decreases from the proximal end side of the screw portion 82 toward the proximal end portion 84. A stepped portion 86 having a smaller outer diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the screw portion 82 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion 83, and the stepped portion 86 causes the coil spring 75 to be on the proximal end side of the screw member 74. Regulate leaving. The proximal end portion of the pressing member 76 is accommodated on the proximal end side of the stepped portion 86.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the flange accommodating portion 78 of the holding cylinder 73 includes two peripheral surfaces 91a and 91b having an arcuate cross section, and two planar locking surfaces 92a connecting the peripheral surfaces 91b and 91b. , 92b is formed. The flange portion 80 of the pressing member 76 accommodated in the flange accommodating portion 78 has an outer shape matched to the flange accommodating portion 78, and has two peripheral surfaces 93a and 93b having an arcuate cross section, and the peripheral surfaces 93b and 93b. It is formed in the outer shape which has two planar to-be-latched surfaces 94a and 94b which connect between. The two locked surfaces 94a and 94b function as rotation restricting portions. When the flange portion 80 is stored in the flange storage portion 78, the locked surfaces 94a and 94b are engaged by the locking surfaces 92a and 92b. Therefore, the rotation of the pressing member 76 around the axis with respect to the holding cylinder 73 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the optical fiber holding device 68 is incorporated in the holder portion 100 of the socket 56. The holder unit 100 includes an outer cylinder 101, an inner cylinder 102, a fixed cylinder 103, and a coil spring 104. The outer cylinder 101 includes a large-diameter portion 101a that engages with the holder portion 110 on the connector 18 side, a small-diameter portion 101b that fits the inner cylinder, and a step portion 101c that is positioned between the large-diameter portion 101a and the small-diameter portion 101b. Are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

  As for the inner cylinder 102, the outer peripheral surface is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 101, and the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holding device 68 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface. The inner cylinder 102 is arranged so that the tip of the inner cylinder 102 protrudes to the tip side of the optical fiber holding device 68. When the holder part 110 on the connector 18 side is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 101, the holder part 110. The front end portion of the optical fiber holding device 63 incorporated in is engaged. Incidentally, at the distal end portions of the outer cylinder 101 and the inner cylinder 102, tapers 101d and 102a whose inner diameter gradually decreases from the distal end side to the proximal end side so as to guide the connector 18 and the optical fiber holding device 63 to the inner peripheral surface. Is formed.

  The fixed cylinder 103 is formed in a cylindrical shape in which an engagement groove 103a is formed on the outer peripheral surface. A small diameter portion 101 b of the outer cylinder 101 is slidably inserted into the inner peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 103. The coil spring 104 is inserted between the small diameter portion 101 b of the outer cylinder 101 and is disposed between the stepped portion 101 c of the outer cylinder 101 and the front end surface of the fixed cylinder 103.

  The fixed cylinder 103 is fixed by engaging the engaging groove 103 a with the edge of the opening 67 a of the socket body 67. The outer cylinder 101 is fitted with the optical fiber holding device 68 through the inner cylinder 102, and the small-diameter portion 101 b is inserted through the coil spring 104 and fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 103.

  As described above, the optical fiber holding device 68 is incorporated in the holder unit 100. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the connector 18 and the socket 56 are connected, when the holder portion 110 on the connector 18 side is engaged with the holder portion 100, the optical fiber holding device 63 on the connector 18 side is engaged with the inner cylinder 102. Are engaged, and the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 are connected. Further, at this time, the coil spring 104 absorbs an impact caused by the engagement between the holder portion 100 and the holder portion 110 or the engagement between the inner cylinder 102 and the optical fiber holding device 63. Further, as described above, since the distal end side holding cylinder 73a is arranged to protrude by a predetermined amount from the emission end face 71d of the first GI collimator 71 to the distal end side, when the connector 18 and the socket 56 are connected, the optical fiber There is a gap between the first GI collimator 71 of the holding device 63 and the second GI collimator 111 of the optical fiber holding device 68 by the amount that the front end side holding cylinder 73a protrudes.

  When assembling the optical fiber holding device 68 of the present invention, for example, after fixing the distal end side holding cylinder 73a to the first GI collimator 71, the distal end side holding cylinder 73a and the proximal end side holding cylinder 73b are integrated to obtain the proximal end side holding. The first ferrule 72 to which the first optical fiber 54 is fixed is inserted from the base end side of the tube 73b. Further, the pressing member 76 having the coil spring 75 inserted is inserted behind the first ferrule 72 while the first optical fiber 54 is inserted into the pressing member 76. At this time, the flange portion 80 of the pressing member 76 is housed in the flange housing portion 78 of the holding cylinder 73. Then, the male screw 85 of the screw member 74 and the female screw 79 of the holding cylinder 73 are screwed together while the first optical fiber 54, the pressing member 76 and the coil spring 75 are inserted into the screw member 74. At this time, the locked surfaces 94a and 94b are locked by the locking surfaces 92a and 92b as described above, and the rotation of the pressing member 76 around the axis with respect to the holding cylinder 73 is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the rotation of the screw member 74 from being transmitted to the pressing member 76 and damage the first ferrule 72, and further, the rotation of the first ferrule 72 can be prevented, so that the first GI collimator 71 is damaged. Can be prevented.

  When the male screw 85 of the screw member 74 is screwed into the female screw 79 of the holding cylinder 73, the coil spring 75 is compressed between the flange portion 80 of the pressing member 76 and the step portion 86 of the screw member 74. Arranged. Accordingly, the pressing member 76 receives the bias of the coil spring 75 and presses the first ferrule 72 toward the first GI collimator 71, so that the front end surface of the first optical fiber 54 is connected in close contact with the first GI collimator 71. The Thereby, the transmission loss which generate | occur | produces between the 1st ferrule 72 and the 1st GI collimator 71 can be made small.

In the first embodiment, the rotation restricting portion formed on the flange portion has the two planar locked surfaces 94a and 94b with a part of the outer peripheral surface cut out. to not only may be a shape for regulating the rotation around the axis of the pressing member 76, as in the modification shown in FIG. 10, the housing portion 78 forms only one locking surface 92a, the flange portion 80, along with one of the locking surface 94a to be engaged with the engaging surface 92a, except locked face 94a may be a circumferential surface outer shape.

  Further, the rotation restricting portion formed on the flange portion 80 is not limited to the above-described one, and a key protrusion 96 extending in the axial direction is locked to the storage portion 78 as in the modification shown in FIG. The key groove 97 formed in accordance with the key protrusion 96 may be formed as a locked portion in the flange portion 80. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a key groove may be formed in the storage portion 78 and a key protrusion corresponding to the key groove may be formed in the flange portion 80. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the storage portion 78 may be formed in a polygonal, for example, quadrangular cross-sectional shape, and the flange portion 80 may be formed in a polygonal cross-sectional shape in accordance with the storage portion 78. In this case, the entire outer peripheral surface 98 of the flange portion 80 becomes a locked portion and is locked to the storage portion 78.

  In the first embodiment, the optical fiber holding device 68 incorporated in the socket 56 on the light source device 14 side has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is incorporated in the connector 18 of the electronic endoscope 12. The present invention can also be applied to the optical fiber holding device 63. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the optical fiber holding device 63 is a second GI having a core diameter equivalent to that of the first GI collimator 71 instead of the first GI collimator 71 and the first ferrule 72 of the first embodiment. A collimator 111 and a second optical fiber 35 are fixed, and a second ferrule 112 having the same outer diameter as that of the second GI collimator 111 is provided. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the optical fiber holding device 68 and the optical fiber is held. The second optical fiber 35 is held with the second ferrule 112 pressed against the second GI collimator 111 in the same manner as the device 68.

  In the first embodiment, the coil spring 75 is used as the urging member incorporated in the holding device 63. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coil member 75 is housed inside the screw member 74, and the pressing member 76. Any biasing member may be used as long as it is compressed between the screw member 74 and may be a spring member other than a coil spring or an elastic member made of an elastic material such as rubber.

  In the first embodiment, each of the connector 18 and the socket 56 is provided with two optical fiber holding devices 63 and 68 and holder portions 100 and 110 into which these are incorporated. The number is appropriately changed depending on the number of light sources provided in the distal end portion of the endoscope and the number of laser light sources incorporated in the light source device.

11 Electronic Endoscope System 12 Electronic Endoscope 14 Light Source Device 15 Insertion Unit 18 Connector 21 CCD
35, 36 Second optical fiber 37, 38 Phosphor 50 Blue LD (laser light source)
51 Blue-violet LD (Laser light source)
54, 55 First optical fiber 56 Socket 63, 68 Optical fiber holding device 80 Flange portion 94a, 94b, 98 Locked surface (locked portion)
96 Key projection (locked part)

Claims (6)

A light source device having a laser light source, a first optical fiber for guiding laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a socket for holding the first optical fiber therein;
An insertion portion to be inserted into a specimen, a phosphor provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion and excited by laser light to irradiate illumination light; a second optical fiber for guiding laser light to the phosphor; An endoscope having a connector for holding two optical fibers therein and removably connecting to the socket;
An endoscope system comprising
A graded index collimator disposed on the socket and the connector;
A holding cylinder for holding the outer periphery of the graded index collimator located on the tip side;
A ferrule attached to the end of the optical fiber, exposing the tip of the optical fiber from one end face, and inserted from the base end side of the holding cylinder;
A rotary coupling member that is rotationally coupled to the holding cylinder and is fixed to a proximal end side of the holding cylinder;
A coil spring disposed inside the rotary coupling member;
The ferrule is arranged in the holding cylinder and the rotary coupling member, and when the rotary coupling member is rotationally coupled to the holding cylinder, the ferrule is inserted into the coil spring to receive the bias of the coil spring and the graded index A pressing member for pressing toward the collimator side;
A latched portion that is provided on the pressing member and includes a plate-like flange portion that receives the bias of the coil spring , is housed in a housing portion in the holding cylinder, and restricts rotation about the axis with respect to the holding cylinder. A rotation restricting portion having a portion,
One of the holding cylinder on the socket side and the holding cylinder on the connector side is formed such that the tip of the holding cylinder protrudes from the tip of the graded index collimator,
In the state where the connector is connected to the socket, the tips of the holding cylinder on the socket side and the holding cylinder on the connector side are in contact with each other, and a gap is formed between the tips of the graded index collimator. Endoscope system. The storage portion has a locking surface in which a part of the inner peripheral surface is formed in a flat shape,
The engaged portion is an endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said one of the outer shape of the flange portion, which is an object to be locking surface formed in a planar shape. The storage portion is formed with a locking portion that is a key groove or key protrusion extending along the axial direction,
The engaged portion is an endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the engagement is a key projection or keyway formed to the locking part. The storage portion is formed in a polygonal cross-sectional shape,
The engaged portion is an endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the fit in the housing section which is the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion formed on the polygonal cross-sectional shape. The endoscope system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation coupling member is a screw member screwed into the holding cylinder. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a multimode fiber.

Images