JP6833614B2 - Receptacle for optical connector, endoscopic image processing device and endoscopic device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention particularly relates to a receptacle unit for an optical connector, an image processing device, and an endoscope device for connecting an optical connector for an endoscope suitable for high-speed transmission.

Conventionally, in the medical field, an endoscope capable of observing an organ in a body cavity or the like by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the body cavity has been widely used.

When displaying an observation image of an organ in the body cavity on a monitor, an endoscope or the like in which a solid-state image sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) is arranged at the image pickup part at the tip or rear end of the endoscope insertion part is used. Has been done.

The signal output from the image sensor provided in the endoscope is converted into a video signal by an image processing device, which is an external device of the endoscope that is separate from the electronic endoscope, external camera, etc., and output to the monitor. To. Then, the electronic endoscope configured separately and the image processing device are connected via an endoscope connector.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a connection configuration between a connector portion of such an electronic endoscope and an image processing device. In the connector device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the connector is securely sealed with a simple configuration, and even if liquid remains in the connector on the device side that has come into contact with the liquid, the connector is connected when it comes into contact with another device. A technique for preventing short-circuiting of electrical contacts in the above is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-250103

By the way, when an image sensor having a high number of pixels is used, the amount of signals transmitted from the image sensor to the image processing device increases. Therefore, in recent years, an endoscope has made it possible to transmit a large amount of image data by using optical signal transmission via a thin optical fiber using an optical signal instead of electrical signal transmission via metal wiring using an electric signal. The device has appeared. Then, in such an endoscope device, a connector connection for optical transmission is used to connect the endoscope connector and the image processing device.

In such an optical transmission connector connection, the optical plug of the endoscope connector is connected by the receptacle portion of the image processing device. Since the fitting portion between the optical plug and the receptacle portion leads to a loss of light amount even if a slight deviation occurs, the fitting gap is small and highly accurate positioning is required.

Therefore, in the connection of the connector for optical transmission, shavings may be generated due to the attachment / detachment of the optical plug to the receptacle portion, which may cause various problems. In particular, the shavings may be scattered in the image processing apparatus, leading to an electrical short circuit, or the shavings may cause poor connection of the optical plug.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an optical connector receptacle unit, an endoscopic image processing device, and an internal structure that can eliminate as much as possible the problems caused by shavings generated when the optical plug and the receptacle unit are attached and detached. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscopic device.

The receptacle portion for an optical connector according to one aspect of the present invention is a receptacle portion for an optical connector to which an optical connector is mounted, a plug fitting portion into which the optical plug of the optical connector is inserted and removed, and a vertically downward portion of the plug fitting portion. It is provided with a discharge unit for discharging the shavings generated when the optical connector is attached and detached, and a storage unit for accumulating the shavings discharged from the discharge unit.

In the endoscope image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, in the receptacle portion for an optical connector to which the optical connector is mounted, the plug fitting portion into which the optical plug of the optical connector is inserted and removed and the plug fitting portion are vertical. An optical connector receptacle unit provided below and having a discharge unit for discharging shavings generated when the optical connector is attached or detached, and a storage unit for accumulating the shavings discharged from the discharge unit, and the above. A housing in which a receptacle for an optical connector is arranged is provided.

In the endoscope device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the receptacle portion for an optical connector to which the optical connector is mounted, the plug fitting portion into which the optical plug of the optical connector is inserted and removed and the plug fitting portion vertically below the plug fitting portion. An optical connector receptacle unit and an optical connector receptacle unit provided with a discharge unit for discharging shavings generated when the optical connector is attached / detached and a storage unit for accumulating the shavings discharged from the discharge unit. It includes an endoscopic image processing device including a housing provided with a receptacle for optical connector, and an endoscope having the optical connector connected to the receptacle for optical connector.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a receptacle part for an optical connector, an endoscopic image processing device, and an endoscopic device that can eliminate as much as possible a defect caused by shavings generated when the optical plug and the receptacle part are attached and detached. ..

A perspective view showing an endoscope device according to an aspect of the present invention. The perspective view showing the optical connector and the optical jack portion. The perspective view showing the state where the optical connector is connected to the optical jack portion. The same, perspective view of the optical jack part seen from the rear The same, sectional view showing optical jack part Similarly, a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the optical connector is attached to and detached from the optical jack portion. The perspective view of the optical jack portion of the first modification as viewed from the rear. The cross-sectional view which shows the optical jack part of the 2nd modification. Bottom view showing the optical jack portion of the second modification. The bottom view which shows the structure which further formed the hole part at the end part of the guide groove of the optical jack part of the 3rd modification on the adapter part side. The bottom view which shows the structure which formed the hole part in the middle part of the guide groove of the optical jack part of the 3rd modification. Bottom view showing a configuration in which a hole is formed at the end of the guide groove of the optical jack portion of the third modification on the optical master plug side. The perspective view which shows the optical connector and the optical jack part of the 4th modification.

Here, one aspect of the endoscope device will be described as an example. In the following description, the drawings based on each embodiment are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the thickness of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. It should be noted that the drawings may include parts having different dimensional relationships and ratios from each other.

Further, the endoscope device in the following configuration description will be described by taking as an example a so-called rigid mirror having a hard insertion portion used for surgery, but the present invention is not limited to this, and digestion of the upper or lower part of the living body is not limited to this. It is a technique that can be applied to a so-called flexible mirror whose insertion part is flexible because it is inserted into an organ or the like.

Hereinafter, the endoscope device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an endoscope device according to one aspect of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical connector and an optical jack portion, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which the optical connector is connected to the optical jack portion. A perspective view showing a state, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the optical jack portion viewed from the rear, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the optical jack portion, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which the optical connector is attached to and detached from the optical jack portion. Is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope device 1 includes an endoscope 2 and an endoscope image processing device (hereinafter, abbreviated as an image processing device) which is an external device that also serves as a light source device. It is configured to have (also referred to as a type video processor or a camera control unit) 3.

The endoscope 2 mainly has a long insertion portion 12, an operation portion 13 connected to the base end of the insertion portion 12, and an endoscope connector 20 connected to the image processing device 3. It is configured in.

In the endoscope 2, the operation unit 13 and the endoscope connector 20 are connected to each other via a flexible cable 16 as a universal cord.

In the insertion portion 12, a tip portion 21 mainly formed of a metal member such as stainless steel, a flexibly bendable curved portion 22, and the like are continuously provided in order from the tip side. The insertion portion 12 is a portion that is mainly inserted into the abdominal cavity, and a communication cable (not shown), an optical transmission fiber, a light guide, and the like are incorporated therein. The endoscope 2 of the present embodiment is a so-called rigid mirror for surgery in which the insertion portion 12 is rigid and is inserted into the abdominal cavity of a living body or the like.

The communication cable, the optical transmission fiber, the light guide, and the like are inserted into the flexible cable 16 via the operation unit 13 and are arranged up to the endoscope connector 20.

The optical transmission fiber is inserted into a fiber cable 17 extending from the endoscope connector 20 and arranged up to the optical connector 18.

The operation unit 13 is provided with various switches 26 for operating the image processing device 3 and the like.

The tip 21 of the insertion unit 12 has a built-in imaging unit using a CCD sensor, CMOS sensor, or the like (not shown), and a communication cable for drive control and optical transmission for high-speed transmission for transmitting an imaging signal from the imaging unit. Fiber for use is extended.

The image processing device 3 is a first receptacle section to which the optical connector 18 is connected to the front panel 30 constituting the housing, and is an optical jack section 40 as a receptacle section for the optical connector and the optical jack section 40. A second receptacle section to which the endoscope connector 20 is connected, which is arranged vertically below the light source connector section 31 as a receptacle section for the endoscope connector, and a panel section 32 for operation and status display. And a power switch 33 are provided. The image processing device 3 contains various electric circuit boards and a light source for illumination such as a halogen lamp (not shown).

A plurality of electric contacts are provided in the light source connector portion 31, and the image processing device 3 can electrically connect the endoscope 2 to the plurality of electrical contacts provided in the endoscope connector 20. Various drive elements are energized.

Here, the configurations of the optical connector 18 and the optical jack portion 40, which are the main parts of the present embodiment, will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
The optical connector 18 has a housing 51 of a resin block body, and an optical plug portion 52 which is a metal ferrule, for example, an outer columnar shape provided so as to extend from an end surface of the housing 51. There is. The optical transmission fiber is arranged so as to pass through to the end surface of the optical plug portion 52.

Further, the optical plug portion 52 is provided with a guide convex portion 53 for restricting rotation when connected to the optical jack portion 40 at a position vertically above.

The optical jack portion 40 includes a box-shaped adapter portion 41 to which the housing 51 of the optical connector 18 is mounted from the opening, and a plug fitting portion 42 which is, for example, a metal cylinder connected to the adapter portion 41. ,have.

In the plug fitting portion 42, a guide groove 43 in which the guide convex portion 53 of the optical plug portion 52 is engaged is formed along the longitudinal direction at a position vertically above.

Further, the plug fitting portion 42 is provided with an optical master plug 44 at an extending end that separates from the adapter portion 41. An optical fiber cord 45 through which an optical transmission fiber is inserted extends from the optical master plug 44.

When the optical connector 18 is connected to the optical jack portion 40, the optical plug portion 52 is inserted into the plug fitting portion 42. At this time, the guide convex portion 53 of the optical plug portion 52 is guided along the guide groove 43 of the plug fitting portion 42, and the rotation of the optical connector 18 is restricted.

Then, the fiber cores of the optical plug portion 52 are connected to each other by abutting the end faces of the end faces of the optical master plug 44 provided in the plug fitting portion 42, and the optical plug portion 52 is connected between the endoscope 2 and the image processing device 3. Optical communication will be possible.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the plug fitting portion 42 has an opening of the adapter portion 41 arranged in the front panel 30 of the image processing device 3, and the plug fitting portion 42 is arranged in the image processing device 3. It is installed.

By repeatedly inserting and removing the optical connector 18 by connecting it to the optical jack portion 40, the optical plug portion 52 and the plug fitting portion 42, in which the clearance is set to be minute for alignment, are rubbed against each other, resulting in shavings. appear.

Therefore, in the optical jack portion 40 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a hole portion 46 as a discharge portion is formed in a vertically lower portion of the plug fitting portion 42, and the hole portion 46 faces the hole portion 46. A box body 47 is provided as a storage portion having an opening vertically above the vertical portion.

The hole 46 formed in the plug fitting portion 42 is shown in a rectangular shape in FIG. 4, but is not limited to this, and may have any shape such as a circular shape.

The box body 47 is fixed to the lower surface or the back surface of the adapter portion 41 by adhesion, screw fastening, or the like. The box body 47 may be integrally formed with the adapter portion 41.

In the optical jack portion 40 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the optical plug portion 52 and the plug fitting portion 42 are rubbed against each other due to repeated attachment / detachment due to the connection of the optical connector 18, and shavings 100 are generated. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the light is discharged from the hole 46 formed in the vertically lower portion of the plug fitting portion 42 and accumulated in the box body 47.

In particular, since the precision alignment is required, the shavings 100 of the metal optical plug portion 52 and the plug fitting portion 42 are metal powder, and the substrate, electrical contacts, etc. provided in the image processing device 3 are used. There is a risk of causing electrical failures such as short circuits in various electrical elements. Therefore, by accumulating the shavings 100 in the box body 47, diffusion in the image processing apparatus 3 can be prevented as much as possible, and the occurrence of an electrical failure can be prevented.

That is, in the configuration in which the light source connector portion 31 having an electric contact is provided vertically below the optical jack portion 40 as in the image processing device 3 of the present embodiment, the light source connector portion 31 in the apparatus is provided vertically below the optical jack portion 40. Since the circuit board and the like are arranged, the possibility of electrical trouble can be suppressed by receiving the shavings 100 by the box body 47 to prevent diffusion.

In other words, even if the electrical component is arranged vertically below the optical jack portion 40, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of electrical defects due to the shavings 100.

Further, in the structure of the optical jack portion 40 of the present embodiment, even if the shavings 100 are not metal powders, the shavings 100 are accumulated in the plug fitting portion 42, so that the optical plug portion 52 is plug-fitted. Problems such as communication failure due to a decrease in the amount of light caused by difficulty in attaching / detaching to the 42 or the end face of the optical plug portion 52 and the end face of the optical master plug 44 not accurately abutting can be solved.

Further, although not included in the image processing device 3 here, in the case of a device provided with mechanically operating elements such as a gear and a link mechanism, there is a problem that the shavings 100 hinder the mechanical operation. Can also be suppressed. That is, the optical plug portion 52 and the plug fitting portion 42 are not necessarily made of metal, but have an effect due to the structure of the optical jack portion 40 of the present embodiment.

According to the above description, the endoscope device 1 of the present embodiment has an optical connector 18 as an optical plug and a receptacle portion due to the structure of the optical jack portion 40 as the receptacle portion for the optical connector provided in the image processing device 3. The problem caused by the shavings 100 generated when the optical jack portion 40 is attached / detached can be eliminated as much as possible.

(First modification)
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the optical jack portion of the first modification as viewed from the rear.
As shown in FIG. 7, the wall surface of the box body 47 comes into contact with or adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the plug fitting portion 42 without a gap so that the shavings 100 can be further prevented from diffusing into the image processing device 3. It may be a configured configuration. That is, the box body 47 is arranged so that the wall portion forming the opening covers the hole 46 without a gap.

(Second modification)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical jack portion of the second modification, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the optical jack portion of the second modification.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the optical jack portion 40 may form a guide groove 43 in which the guide convex portion 53 of the optical plug portion 52 is engaged vertically below the plug fitting portion 42.

As a result, the optical jack portion 40 is provided with a box body 47 so that the guide groove 43 serves as a discharge portion for discharging the shavings 100, and the openings face each other along the guide groove 43.

As in the first modification, the box body 47 may also be arranged so that the wall surface does not have a gap on the outer peripheral surface of the plug fitting portion 42.

(Third variant)
FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing a configuration in which a hole is further formed at the end of the guide groove of the optical jack portion of the third modification on the adapter portion side, and FIG. 11 is a guide of the optical jack portion of the third modification. A bottom view showing a configuration in which a hole is formed in the middle portion of the groove, FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing a configuration in which a hole is formed at the end of the guide groove of the optical jack portion of the third modification on the optical master plug side. Is.

As shown in FIG. 10, the optical jack portion 40 forms a guide groove 43 serving as a discharge portion for discharging the shavings 100 vertically below the plug fitting portion 42, as in the second modification. A hole 46 may be formed at the end on the adapter portion 41 side so as to communicate with the guide groove 43.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the optical jack portion 40 may form a hole portion 46 communicating with an intermediate portion of the guide groove 43 formed vertically below the plug fitting portion 42.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the optical jack portion 40 forms a hole portion 46 at the end portion on the optical master plug 44 side so as to communicate with the guide groove 43 formed vertically below the plug fitting portion 42. You may.

(Fourth modification)
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the optical connector and the optical jack portion of the fourth modification.
As shown in FIG. 13, when a plurality of electrical contacts 54 are provided in the housing 51 of the optical connector 18, a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) are also arranged in the adapter portion 41 of the optical jack portion 40. Will be set up.

In the case of such a configuration, when the metal shavings 100 are diffused in the adapter portion 41, a short circuit to a plurality of electric contact portions 54 on the optical connector 18 side and a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) in the adapter portion 41 may occur. Electrical failure can occur.

Therefore, by adopting the above-described embodiment and the configuration of each modification, it is possible to prevent short circuits and the like and suppress the occurrence of electrical defects.

The inventions described in the above embodiments are not limited to those embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made at the implementation stage without departing from the gist thereof. Further, each of the above-described embodiments includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by an appropriate combination of the plurality of disclosed constituent requirements.

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

1 ... Endoscope device 2 ... Endoscope 3 ... Endoscopic image processing device 12 ... Insertion unit 13 ... Operation unit 16 ... Flexible cable 17 ... Fiber cable 18 ... Optical connector 20 ... Endoscope connector 21 ... Tip portion 22 ... Curved part 26 ... Various switches 30 ... Front panel 31 ... Light source connector part 32 ... Panel part 33 ... Power switch 40 ... Optical jack part 41 ... Adapter part 42 ... Plug fitting part 43 ... Guide groove 44 ... Optical master plug 45 ... Optical fiber cord 46 ... Hole 47 ... Box 51 ... Housing 52 ... Optical plug 53 ... Guide convex 54 ... Electrical contact 100 ... Shavings

Claims (10)

In the receptacle section for the optical connector to which the optical connector is mounted
A plug fitting part into which the optical plug of the optical connector is inserted and removed,
A discharge portion provided vertically below the plug fitting portion and discharging shavings generated when the optical connector is attached or detached, and a discharge portion.
An accumulation unit that accumulates the shavings discharged from the discharge unit,
Receptacle unit for optical connector, which is characterized by being provided with. The receptacle portion for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the discharge portion is a hole portion formed in the plug fitting portion. The receptacle unit for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the discharge unit is a guide groove that regulates the rotation of the optical connector. The receptacle portion for an optical connector according to claim 3, wherein a hole portion communicating with the guide groove is formed. The receptacle section for an optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage section is a box body having an opening vertically above the discharge section. The receptacle portion for an optical connector according to claim 5, wherein the box body has a wall portion that is in contact with or adhered to the outer surface of the plug fitting portion without a gap so as to cover the discharge portion. It is characterized by having an adapter portion which is fitted in the housing of the optical connector and is provided with a second electric contact which is electrically connected to the first electric contact provided in the housing. The receptacle unit for an optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The receptacle unit for an optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The housing in which the receptacle for the optical connector is arranged and
An endoscopic image processing apparatus comprising the above. It has a receptacle section for an endoscope connector having a plurality of electrical contacts to which the endoscope connector of the endoscope is connected.
The endoscope image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the receptacle portion for an endoscope connector is arranged vertically below the receptacle portion for an optical connector. The endoscopic image processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9.
An endoscope having the optical connector connected to the receptacle for the optical connector,
An endoscopic device comprising.

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