JP5830421B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject.

  In recent years, endoscopes inserted into a subject have been widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. The endoscope can observe the inside of the subject by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the subject.

  In addition, the distal end portion provided on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion of the endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as the distal end side) includes a distal end hard member made of a hard conductive metal. An imaging unit for imaging the inside of the subject is provided in the hard member.

  In the distal end rigid member, a treatment instrument insertion conduit for supplying the treatment instrument into the subject, a forward water supply conduit for supplying the liquid into the subject, and an observation window described later of the imaging unit are provided. Various known conduits such as an air / water supply conduit for supplying gas or liquid are formed, and a light guide for supplying illumination light is inserted into the illumination window.

  In addition, the distal end surface of the distal end rigid member has an objective lens (observation window) positioned closest to the distal end among a plurality of objective lenses constituting the imaging unit, and illumination transmitted from the light guide to the subject. An illumination window for supplying light, a tip opening of the treatment instrument insertion conduit, a tip opening of the front water supply conduit, a nozzle attached to the tip opening of the air / water supply conduit, and the like are provided.

  Here, in Patent Document 1, in addition to reducing the diameter of the distal end portion and reducing the manufacturing cost, high frequency and static electricity in the subject in the case of using a high frequency treatment tool together with an endoscope are not contained in the distal end hard member. In order to prevent the image pickup unit from being applied to the image pickup unit, a configuration using a resin that is an electrically insulating member as the hard end member is disclosed.

JP 2007-089888 A

  By the way, in the conventional imaging unit in which the tip hard member is made of a conductive metal, a conductive member constituting the imaging unit, for example, a lens frame and a tip hard member made of a conductive metal, Has a configuration in which the image pickup unit is connected to the GND.

  However, as shown in Patent Document 1, if the distal end hard member is composed of an electrically insulating member, the imaging unit cannot be connected to the GND even if the lens frame is brought into contact with the distal end hard member, and the imaging unit If the above-described static electricity, high frequency, or the like is applied from the inside of the subject to a portion exposed from the distal end surface of the distal end of the imaging unit, the imaging unit may break down.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an endoscope having a configuration capable of reliably connecting an imaging unit to GND even if the distal end hard member is formed of an electrically insulating member. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and a distal end that is located on a distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. A distal end rigid member made up of an electrically insulating member, an imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject, and the distal end rigid member or an outer periphery of the distal end rigid member. A metal member that is electrically connected to GND and provided in the distal end hard member and deformed into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member inserted in state, anda conductive member deformable to said metal member is brought into contact to electrically conductive with an electrically conductive member in the image pickup unit, wherein the metal member, the destination At least the provided in the rigid member is a pipe line treatment instrument for treating the subject site in the subject is inserted.
An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention is an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and constitutes a distal end portion that is located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. A hard tip member composed of an electrically insulating member, an imaging unit for picking up an image of the subject provided in the hard tip member, and a GND provided in the hard tip member or on the outer periphery of the hard tip member And a metal member that is electrically connected to the distal end hard member, and is inserted in a state of being deformed into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member. A deformable conductive member that contacts and electrically conducts the conductive member in the imaging unit, and the metal member is disposed on an outer periphery of the distal end hard member. Overturned a, a curved pipe that constitutes the bending portion positioned in the insertion direction proximal end side of the distal end portion at the insertion portion.
An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention is an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and constitutes a distal end portion that is located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. A hard tip member composed of an electrically insulating member, an imaging unit for picking up an image of the subject provided in the hard tip member, and a GND provided in the hard tip member or on the outer periphery of the hard tip member And a metal member that is electrically connected to the distal end hard member, and is inserted in a state of being deformed into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member. And a deformable conductive member that contacts and electrically conducts the conductive member in the imaging unit, and the conductive member is formed in an elongated shape. , Is inserted in a state where the end side is deformed into the gap, the other end is fixed to the distal end rigid member.
An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention is an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and constitutes a distal end portion that is located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. A hard tip member composed of an electrically insulating member, an imaging unit for picking up an image of the subject provided in the hard tip member, and a GND provided in the hard tip member or on the outer periphery of the hard tip member And a metal member that is electrically connected to the distal end hard member, and is inserted in a state of being deformed into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member. And a deformable conductive member that contacts and electrically conducts the conductive member and the metal member in the imaging unit, and the conductive member is made of an elastically deformable member. It has been made.
An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention is an endoscope including an insertion portion that is inserted into a subject, and constitutes a distal end portion that is located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. A hard tip member composed of an electrically insulating member, an imaging unit for picking up an image of the subject provided in the hard tip member, and a GND provided in the hard tip member or on the outer periphery of the hard tip member And a metal member that is electrically connected to the distal end hard member, and is inserted in a state of being deformed into a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member. And a deformable conductive member that contacts and electrically conducts the conductive member and the metal member in the imaging unit, and the conductive member is made of a plastically deformable member. It has been made.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if a front-end | tip hard member is comprised from an electrically insulating member, the endoscope which has the structure which can connect an imaging unit to GND reliably can be provided.

The perspective view which shows the endoscope of this Embodiment 1 is a plan view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of FIG. 1 viewed from the II direction in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the distal end side of the insertion portion along the line III-III in FIG. Sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part in alignment with the IV-IV line in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure which electrically connects an imaging unit and the front piece of a bending tube using a conductive member Exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration for electrically connecting the imaging unit and the distal end piece of the bending tube using a jumper wire FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the base end of the jumper wire is fitted into a hole formed in the distal end piece of the bending tube in a state where the jumper wire of FIG. 6 is sandwiched between grooves formed in the distal end piece of the bending tube. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the front end side of the insertion part of an endoscope which has a structure which prevents that static electricity and a high frequency will be applied to an imaging unit at the time of using a conductive member for a front-end | tip hard member. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the front end side of the insertion part of an endoscope which has a structure which prevents that static electricity and a high frequency will be applied to an imaging unit at the time of using an electrically insulating member for a front-end | tip hard member. Sectional drawing which abbreviate | omitted one part and showed roughly the front end side of the insertion part which shows the modification of the shape of the electroconductive member of FIG. Sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part in alignment with the XI-XI line in FIG. Sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of an insertion part which shows another modification of the shape of the electroconductive member different from FIG. 10, FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view showing an endoscope according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the distal end side of the insertion portion along the line -III with a part omitted, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion along the line IV-IV in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 is provided on an insertion portion 2 to be inserted into a subject and a proximal end side (hereinafter simply referred to as a proximal end side) of the insertion portion 2 in the insertion direction S. The main part is composed of the operating part 6, the universal cord 7 extended from the operating part 6, and the connector 8 provided at the extending end of the universal cord 7.

  Since the connector 8 can be connected to a known light source device (not shown), a video processor, or the like, the endoscope 1 can be connected to a peripheral device.

  The insertion portion 2 includes a distal end portion 3, a bending portion 4, and a flexible tube portion 5 in order from the distal end side in the insertion direction S (hereinafter simply referred to as the distal end side), and a main portion is configured.

  The bending portion 4 is operated by bending operation knobs 6 a and 6 b provided in the operation portion 6, for example, in four directions of up, down, left and right, and is provided between the distal end portion 3 and the flexible tube portion 5. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the distal end surface 3s of the distal end portion 3, a subject 22 in a subject that is located on the most distal end side among lenses 22 (see FIG. 3) composed of a plurality of lenses 22a to 22c described later. An observation window 22a for observing the inspection site is provided. The number of lenses 22 is not limited to three.

  Further, the distal end surface 3s of the distal end portion 3 is composed of a distal end opening 84 of a front water supply conduit (not shown) for supplying a liquid toward the test site and a metal constituting the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40 which is a metal member. By supplying gas or liquid to the tip opening 40k of the channel pipe 41 (both see FIG. 3), for example, two illumination windows 81 and 82, and the observation window 22a, dirt attached to the observation window 22a is removed. The nozzle 83 connected to the front-end | tip opening of the air / water supply pipe line which is not shown in figure is provided.

  In addition, from the distal end opening 40k of the channel pipe 41, mucus or the like in the body cavity is selectively collected via the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40 by operating a suction operation button (not shown) provided in the operation section 6. In addition, various treatment tools inserted from the treatment tool insertion port 6i (see FIG. 1) are projected toward the test site.

  The illumination windows 81 and 82 are located close to the illumination windows 81 and 82 in the distal end portion 3 from the connector 8 connected to the above-described light source device through the universal cord 7, the operation portion 6, and the insertion portion 2. The illumination light supplied from the light source device is spread and irradiated to the test site by the light guide 35 (see FIG. 4) inserted up to.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 3 of the insertion portion 2 includes a distal end hard member 21 made of an electrically insulating member, and the distal end hard member 21 has a plurality of through holes 21h1 along the insertion direction S. To 21h5 (see FIG. 2) are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 20 for imaging the subject is inserted into the through hole 21h1 so that the observation window 22a is exposed from the distal end surface 3s (21s). .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the two illumination windows 81 and 82 and the respective illumination windows are exposed in the two through holes 21h2 so that the two illumination windows 81 and 82 are exposed from the front end surface 3s (21s). The above-described light guide 35 that supplies illumination light to 81 and 82 is inserted.

  Further, the above-described air / water supply conduit is inserted into the through hole 21h3, the above-described forward water supply conduit is inserted into the through hole 21h4, and a treatment instrument is inserted into the through hole 21h5. The channel pipe 41 of the common conduit 40 is inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40 includes a channel pipe 41 made of metal inserted into the through hole 21h5 of the distal end hard member 21, and an outer periphery on the proximal end side of the channel pipe 41. The main part is composed of a flexible tube 42 fitted and fixed at the tip side by thread winding or the like, and the treatment tool can be inserted into the space inside the channel pipe 41 and the tube 42 and the sucked liquid or solid The passage which can pass is formed.

  The treatment instrument insertion conduit 40 is opened at a treatment instrument insertion port 6i (see FIG. 1) of the operation unit 6. The channel pipe 41 is electrically connected to the above-described GND circuit of the video processor through the curved tube 12 and the connector 8 that are in contact with each other.

  The front water supply pipe and the air / water supply pipe are inserted into the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 6, and the universal cord 7, and the base end of each pipe is connected to a base (not shown) provided in the connector 8. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the imaging unit 20, an element frame made of metal is provided on the outer periphery on the base end side of a lens frame 25 made of metal that holds the lens 22 made up of a plurality of lenses 22 a to 22 c. The distal end side of 26 is fixed.

  Further, the lens frame 25 is fixed, for example, in the through hole 21h1 so that the tip is exposed to the tip surface 21s of the tip hard member 21 as shown in FIG.

  Further, a lens 27 and a cover glass 28 that protects the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 30 are fixed to the inner periphery on the base end side of the element frame 26.

  Note that a substrate 31 extends from the image pickup device 30, and the tip of a signal cable (not shown) inserted into the connector 8, the universal cord 7, the operation unit 6, and the insertion unit 2 is electrically connected to the substrate 31. As well as being connected to various electronic components.

  The signal cable transmits the electrical signal of the image of the test site imaged by the image sensor 30 to the video processor described above. Since the configuration of the other imaging unit 20 is well known, description thereof is omitted.

  A distal piece 12 s in an annular curved tube 12 that is a metal member constituting the bending portion 4 is fixed to the proximal end side of the outer peripheral surface of the distal end hard member 21. Furthermore, the distal end of the outer skin 11 constituting the outer surface of the distal end portion 3, the bending portion 4, and the flexible tube portion 5 is located closer to the distal end side than the portion where the distal end of the distal end piece 12 s is fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end rigid member 21. The side is fixed by, for example, bobbin bonding so as to cover the tip piece 12s.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the distal end hard member 21, specifically, between the outer periphery of the imaging unit 20 and the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40 in the radial direction R of the distal end hard member 21. A gap 51 is formed between the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 and the channel pipe 41 of the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the gap 51 is formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit 20 in the through hole 21h1 and the channel pipe 41 partially protruding from the through hole 21h1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the one end 50 i side of the deformable conductive member 50 is inserted into the gap 51 in a deformed state by being sandwiched between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41. . Examples of the conductive member 50 include a member that can be elastically deformed or plastically deformed and has conductivity, such as conductive silicone rubber.

  Specifically, when the imaging pipe 20 is mounted in the through hole 21h1 with the channel pipe 41 mounted in the through hole 21h5 and the conductive member 50 inserted in the through hole 21h1, the one end 50i side of the conductive member 50 is It is deformed by being sandwiched between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41. As a result, the one end 50 i side is inserted into the gap 51.

  The conductive member 50 electrically contacts the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41 by making surface contact with the element frame 26 that is a conductive member in the imaging unit 20 and the channel pipe 41. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the conductive member 50 is formed in an elongated shape, and the other end 50 t is fixed in contact with the inner wall of the through hole 21 h 1 of the distal end hard member 21. When the conductive member 50 is inserted into the through hole 21h1, the other end 50t is fixed on the inner wall of the through hole 21h1 so that the position on the one end 50i side is not shifted. The position between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41, that is, the gap 51 is set.

  The conductive member 50 is not limited to the other end 50t. For example, the one end 50i may be fixed in contact with the inner wall of the through hole 21h1 of the distal end hard member 21. That is, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the conductive member 50 may be fixed. In this case, the middle position of the conductive member 50 is inserted into the gap 51 in a deformed state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end hard member 21 is formed with a clearance space 59 that is a deformed clearance portion on the side of the one end 50 i of the conductive member 50. The escape space 59 communicates with the gap 51.

  The other endoscope configurations are well known and will not be described.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the distal end hard member 21, the conductive member 50 is defined with respect to the gap 51 between the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 and the channel pipe 41 of the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40. It is shown that the one end 50i side is inserted in a deformed state by being sandwiched between an element frame 26 made of metal and a channel pipe 41 made of metal and conducting to GND.

  According to this, even if static electricity, high frequency, or the like is applied to the lens frame 25 exposed on the tip surface 3s of the tip part 3, the lens frame 25 is composed of the element frame 26, the conductive member 50, the channel pipe. Since it is electrically connected to GND via 41, static electricity, high frequency, or the like is not applied to electronic components or the like mounted on the substrate 31 of the imaging unit 20.

  Therefore, even if the distal end hard member 21 is formed of an electrically insulating member, the endoscope 1 having a configuration that can reliably connect the imaging unit 20 to the GND can be provided.

  Hereinafter, modifications will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modification of the shape of the conductive member of FIG. 3, with the distal end side of the insertion portion omitted, and FIG. 11 is a XI-XI line in FIG. Sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of an insertion part in alignment with FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of an insertion part which shows another modification of the shape of the electroconductive member different from FIG. 10, FIG.

  In FIG. 3 in the present embodiment described above, the cross-sectional shape of the conductive member 50 is formed in a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto, and the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41 are electrically connected. Needless to say, any cross-sectional shape such as a circular shape may be used.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the distal end hard member 21, a gap 51 formed between the outer periphery of the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 and the channel pipe 41 in the radial direction R, The deformable conductive member 150 may be inserted in a state where the portion 150b having a circular cross-sectional shape is deformed.

  More specifically, similarly to the conductive member 50, the conductive member 150 is made of a member that can be elastically deformed or plastically deformed and has conductivity, for example, conductive silicone rubber, and is inserted into the gap 51. The main part is composed of a portion 150b having a circular cross-sectional shape and a portion 150a having a rectangular cross-sectional shape extending from the portion 150b.

  Further, the conductive member 150 is adhesively fixed by fitting the extension end of the portion 150a into the attachment hole 21p formed in the proximal end surface of the distal end hard member 21 in a state where the portion 150b is inserted into the gap 51 and deformed. Has been.

  In the configuration shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the relief space 59 constitutes a space where the deformed portion is located after the portion 150b is deformed, that is, a relief portion of the deformed portion 150b.

  As a method for attaching the conductive member 150, the channel pipe 41 is mounted in the through hole 21h5, the conductive member 150 is inserted into the through hole 21h1, and the extending end of the portion 150a is bonded and fixed to the attachment hole 21p. When the imaging unit 20 is mounted in the through hole 21h1 in the state, the portion 150a is deformed by being sandwiched between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41. As a result, the conductive member 150 is inserted into the gap 51.

  As described above, the conductive member into which the gap 51 is inserted may have a circular cross section.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the cross-sectional shape is triangular in the gap 51 formed between the outer periphery of the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 in the radial direction R and the channel pipe 41 in the distal end hard member 21. The deformable conductive member 250 may be inserted in a deformed state.

  More specifically, like the conductive members 50 and 150, the conductive member 250 is made of a member that can be elastically deformed or plastically deformed and has conductivity, for example, conductive silicone rubber, and has a cross-sectional shape. Is formed in a triangular shape.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the escape space 59 constitutes a space where the deformed portion is located after the conductive member 250 is deformed, that is, the escape portion of the conductive member 250 and the gap 51. A space for pushing the conductive member 250 into is formed.

  As a method for attaching the conductive member 250, if the channel pipe 41 is attached to the through hole 21h5 and the imaging unit 20 is attached to the through hole 21h1 with the conductive member 250 being inserted into the through hole 21h1, the conductive member 250 becomes conductive. The member 250 is deformed by being sandwiched between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41. As a result, the conductive member 250 is inserted into the gap 51.

  As described above, the conductive member into which the gap 51 is inserted may have a triangular cross section.

  Further, in the present embodiment described above, the gap 51 is formed between the element frame 26 and the channel pipe 41, and through the one end 50i side of the conductive member 50 inserted into the gap 51, It has been shown that the lens frame 25 and the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 are electrically connected to the channel pipe 41 that is electrically connected to the GND of the treatment instrument insertion conduit 40, that is, connected to the GND.

  Not limited to this, the gap 51 may be formed between the lens frame 25 and the channel pipe 41.

  In this case, the lens frame 25 and the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 are inserted through the one end 50i side of the conductive member 50 inserted into the gap 51 and deformed by being sandwiched between the lens frame 25 and the channel pipe 41. It is electrically connected to the channel pipe 41 conducted to GND.

  Further, the gap 51 may be formed between the imaging unit 20 and another metal member. For example, the gap 51 is formed between the imaging unit 20 and the distal end piece 12s of the bending tube 12 that conducts to GND. Alternatively, the one end 50i side of the conductive member 50 may be inserted into the gap formed at this position in a deformed state by being sandwiched between the element frame 26 and the tip piece 12s, for example.

  Also by this, since the imaging unit 20 is electrically connected to the bending tube 12 via the conductive member 50, the imaging unit 20 can be connected to GND.

  The other metal member is not limited to the tip piece 12 s but is a metal member that conducts to GND provided in the tip hard member 21, and is provided at a position where a gap 51 can be formed with the imaging unit 20. Any member may be used as long as it is provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the light guide 35 and the illumination windows 81 and 82 are provided in the through hole 21h2 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the distal end portion 3 is not used without using the light guide. It goes without saying that a light emitting element such as an LED may be provided on the front end surface 3s.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration in which the imaging unit and the distal piece of the bending tube are electrically connected using a conductive member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the imaging unit and the bending tube using jumper wires. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration for electrically connecting the tip piece of the jumper wire, and FIG. 7 shows the base end of the jumper wire in a state where the jumper wire of FIG. 6 is sandwiched between grooves formed in the tip piece of the bending piece. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the state fitted in the hole formed in the front-end | tip piece of a bending tube.

  By the way, as another configuration different from the present embodiment in which the imaging unit 20 is electrically connected to the tip piece 12s of the bending tube 12, the tip of the jumper wire is connected to the element frame 26 of the imaging unit 20 with solder, screws, or the like. Electrically connected and the base end is electrically connected to the tip piece 12s by solder, screws, or the like, or conductive adhesive in the space in the radial direction R formed between the element frame 26 and the tip piece 12s. Although the structure etc. which fill with an agent can be considered, since these operations require soldering work, screw mounting work and bonding work, there is a problem that the assemblability is poor.

  Therefore, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, for example, between the element frame 26 and the tip piece 12s, a leaf spring in which one end contacts the element frame 26 with an elastic force and the other end contacts the tip piece 12s with an elastic force. An elastic member 70 such as is provided.

  According to such a configuration, the imaging unit 20 is assembled to the distal end hard member 21, and the assembling operation is simply performed by assembling the distal end rigid member 21 assembled with the imaging unit 20 to the distal end piece 12 s via the elastic member 70. Thus, the imaging unit 20 can be easily conducted to GND.

  When using jumper wires, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the middle position of the jumper wire 80 whose tip is fixed to the imaging unit 20 is located behind the insertion direction S at the tip of the tip piece 12s. A structure may be adopted in which the base end is fixed by being inserted into a hole 12h formed in the distal end piece 12s by being sandwiched in a V-shaped groove 12v formed so that the groove width becomes narrower as it goes. In addition, since the midway position of the jumper wire 80 is sandwiched in the groove 12v, it is possible to ensure conduction of the imaging unit 20 to GND.

  At this time, the midway position and the base end of the jumper wire 80 are sandwiched and fixed between the outer skin and the outer periphery of the tip piece 12s in the radial direction R by the outer skin 11 covered on the outer periphery of the tip piece 12s. For this reason, it is prevented from coming out of the groove 12v and the hole 12h, respectively.

  According to such a configuration, the intermediate position of the jumper wire 80 can be easily set by the operation of sandwiching the middle position of the jumper wire 80 in the groove 12v and not using screw fixing, soldering, or the like only for fitting the base end into the hole 12h. Since the base end can be fixed, the assemblability is improved, and the image pickup unit 20 can be electrically connected to the GND via the jumper wire 80.

[Appendix]
As described in detail above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained. That is,
(1) An endoscope including an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
The distal end hard member that constitutes the distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion, is composed of an electrically insulating member, or is composed of a conductive member and is coated with an electrically insulating member on the outer surface;
In the distal end hard member, a static elimination member connected to GND, provided so that the distal end in the insertion direction protrudes forward from the distal end surface of the distal end portion in the insertion direction;
An endoscope comprising:

  (2) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the static eliminating member is formed of a needle-like member.

  Incidentally, in recent years, endoscopes inserted into a subject have been widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. The endoscope can observe the inside of the subject by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the subject.

  In addition, the distal end portion provided on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion of the endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as the distal end side) includes a distal end hard member made of a hard conductive metal. An imaging unit for imaging the inside of the subject is provided in the hard member.

  In the distal end rigid member, a treatment instrument insertion conduit for supplying a treatment instrument into the subject, a forward water supply conduit for supplying a liquid into the subject, an observation window of the imaging unit, gas or Various known conduits such as an air / water supply conduit for supplying liquid are formed, and a light guide for supplying illumination light is inserted into the illumination window.

  Further, on the distal end surface of the distal end rigid member, an observation window, an illumination window that supplies illumination light transmitted from the light guide to the inside of the subject, the distal end opening of the treatment instrument insertion conduit, the front water supply tube A nozzle or the like attached to the front end opening of the passage or the front end opening of the air / water supply conduit is provided.

  Here, in JP 2007-089888 A, in addition to reducing the diameter of the tip and reducing the manufacturing cost, there are high frequency and static electricity in the subject when a high frequency treatment instrument is used together with an endoscope. For the purpose of preventing application to the imaging unit in the distal end hard member, a configuration using a resin that is an electrical insulating member for the distal end hard member is disclosed.

  JP-A-9-090243 discloses a technique for preventing high frequency and static electricity in a subject from being applied to an imaging unit in a distal end rigid member when a high frequency treatment tool is used together with an endoscope. The structure which covered the outer surface of the front-end | tip hard member comprised from the electroconductive metal using the resin cover which is an electrical insulation member is disclosed.

  However, even if the configurations disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-089888 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-090243 are used, there is a problem that the imaging unit in the distal end hard member cannot be completely insulated.

  This is because the various members provided in the tip hard member are not only electrically insulating members, and therefore, the static electricity that avoids the electric insulating layer on the outer surface of the tip portion through the conductive member provided in the tip hard portion. This is because a high frequency is applied to the imaging unit.

  Therefore, if static electricity, high frequency, or the like is applied to the imaging unit, the imaging unit may break down.

  This supplementary note has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope having a configuration that can reliably prevent static electricity and high frequency from being applied to the imaging unit in the hard tip portion. And

  Hereinafter, a configuration for realizing the object of this appendix will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the distal end side of an insertion portion of an endoscope having a configuration that prevents static electricity and high frequency from being applied to the imaging unit when a conductive member is used as the distal end hard member. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the distal end side of the insertion portion of the endoscope having a configuration that prevents static electricity and high frequency from being applied to the imaging unit when an electrically insulating member is used as the distal hard member. is there.

  In the following, in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, only different points from the above-described embodiment will be described in order to simplify the description.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the distal end hard member 21 is composed of a conductive member such as a metal member, the outer peripheral surface and the distal end surface 21 s which are the outer surfaces of the distal end rigid member 21 are composed of an electrically insulating member. The covered cover member 38 is covered.

  The cover member 38 avoids the front end opening 84 of the front water supply conduit, the front end opening 40k of the channel pipe 41, the two illumination windows 81 and 82, the observation window 22a, and the nozzle 83 on the front end surface 21s. It is covered in the position.

  Further, the static elimination member 60 is fixed to the distal end hard member 21 or the cover member 38 with an adhesive or the like so that the distal end 60 s projects forward from the distal end surface 3 s of the distal end portion 3 in the insertion direction S.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the charge removal member 60 is formed of, for example, an elongated needle-like member along the insertion direction S, and is electrically connected to GND via a lead wire 61 extending from the proximal end.

  In FIG. 8, in the radial direction R, the static elimination member 60 protrudes forward from a position between the tip opening 40k of the channel pipe 41 and the observation window 22a. You may protrude ahead from 3 s of front end surfaces.

  Further, a plurality of static elimination members 60 may be provided, and further, the front end opening 84 of the front water supply conduit, the front end opening 40k of the channel pipe 41, the two illumination windows 81 and 82, the observation window 22a, the nozzle 83, or may be formed in a circumferential shape so as to surround only the observation window 22a.

  Moreover, the static elimination member 60 may be formed from the rod-shaped member. That is, the shape of the charge removal member 60 is not limited to a needle shape.

  The configuration of the charge removal member 60 shown in FIG. 8 is the same even when the distal end hard member 21 is made of an electrical insulating member as shown in FIG.

  According to such a configuration, static electricity, high frequency, or the like in the subject is applied to the static elimination member 60 that is electrically connected to GND protruding forward from the distal end surface 3 s of the distal end portion 3 before being applied to the imaging unit 20. Therefore, no static electricity or high frequency is applied to the imaging unit 20 in the first place. That is, the static elimination member 60 has the same function as a known lightning rod.

  Therefore, the endoscope which has the structure which can prevent reliably that static electricity and a high frequency will be applied to the imaging unit 20 in the front-end | tip hard member 21 can be provided.

Hereinafter, modifications will be described.
Since the tip 60s of the static elimination member 60 protrudes forward from the tip surface 3s of the tip 3, the subject 60 may be formed in a spherical shape so as not to be damaged by the tip 60s.

  Moreover, the static elimination member 60 may be insert-molded in the cover member 38 shown in FIG. 8, and when the distal end hard member 21 is made of an electrical insulating member as shown in FIG. Insert molding may be used.

  Furthermore, the tip 60s may be concave, and the static elimination member 60 has a flange portion 60f in order to prevent the static elimination member 60 from coming out of the distal end hard member 21 in the insertion direction S as shown in FIG. It may be formed.

  The flange portion 60f may be exposed in the above-described through holes 21h1 to 21h5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Tip part 3s ... Tip surface 4 ... Bending part 12 ... Bending pipe (metal member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Imaging unit 21 ... Hard tip member 26 ... Element frame (member which has electroconductivity of imaging unit)
40 ... Pipe for treatment instrument insertion (metal member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 ... Conductive member 50i ... One end of a conductive member 50t ... The other end of a conductive member 51 ... Gap 59 ... Escape space (escape part)
60 ... Static elimination member 150 ... Conductive member 250 ... Conductive member R ... Radial direction S ... Insertion direction

Claims (6)

An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
A distal end hard member made of an electrically insulating member, which constitutes a distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion;
An imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject;
A metal member connected to GND provided in the distal end rigid member or on the outer periphery of the distal end rigid member;
Conductivity in the imaging unit provided in the distal end hard member and inserted in a deformed state in a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member A deformable conductive member that brings the metal member into contact with and electrically conducts,
Equipped with,
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the metal member is a duct through which a treatment tool for treating at least a test site in the subject provided in the distal end hard member is inserted . An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
A distal end hard member made of an electrically insulating member, which constitutes a distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion;
An imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject;
A metal member connected to GND provided in the distal end rigid member or on the outer periphery of the distal end rigid member;
Conductivity in the imaging unit provided in the distal end hard member and inserted in a deformed state in a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member A deformable conductive member that brings the metal member into contact with and electrically conducts,
Comprising
The endoscope , wherein the metal member is a bending tube that covers an outer periphery of the distal end hard member and constitutes a bending portion that is located on the proximal side in the insertion direction of the distal end portion in the insertion portion. . An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
A distal end hard member made of an electrically insulating member, which constitutes a distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion;
An imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject;
A metal member connected to GND provided in the distal end rigid member or on the outer periphery of the distal end rigid member;
Conductivity in the imaging unit provided in the distal end hard member and inserted in a deformed state in a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member A deformable conductive member that brings the metal member into contact with and electrically conducts,
Comprising
The conductive member is formed in an elongated shape,
An endoscope, wherein one end side is inserted in a state of being deformed into the gap, and the other end is fixed in the distal end hard member . A space communicating with at least the gap is formed in the distal end hard member,
The endoscope according to claim 3 , wherein the space constitutes an escape portion on the one end side of the deformed conductive member. An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
A distal end hard member made of an electrically insulating member, which constitutes a distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion;
An imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject;
A metal member connected to GND provided in the distal end rigid member or on the outer periphery of the distal end rigid member;
Conductivity in the imaging unit provided in the distal end hard member and inserted in a deformed state in a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member A deformable conductive member that brings the metal member into contact with and electrically conducts,
Comprising
The endoscope, wherein the conductive member is formed of a member that can be elastically deformed . An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject,
A distal end hard member made of an electrically insulating member, which constitutes a distal end portion located on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the insertion portion;
An imaging unit provided in the distal end rigid member for imaging the subject;
A metal member connected to GND provided in the distal end rigid member or on the outer periphery of the distal end rigid member;
Conductivity in the imaging unit provided in the distal end hard member and inserted in a deformed state in a gap formed between the outer periphery of the imaging unit and the metal member in the radial direction of the distal end hard member A deformable conductive member that brings the metal member into contact with and electrically conducts,
Comprising
The endoscope, wherein the conductive member is made of a plastically deformable member .

Images