JP7305345B2 - Endoscope and its damage prediction method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope, an endoscope apparatus, a damage prediction method, and a damage prediction program.

Flexible endoscopes inserted into body cavities may be damaged by repeated use. Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for detecting a break in an optical fiber by detecting an increase in reflected light from the fractured surface of the optical fiber built into the insertion portion of an endoscope when the breakage occurs. .

JP 2012-179225 A

Flexible endoscopes are subjected to mechanical loads because they are used while being bent in various directions within body cavities. The insertion portion of the endoscope is provided with an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site from a light source device. Damage to this fiber optic bundle due to mechanical load build-up can result in insufficient illuminating light being provided to the viewing site.

If such damage occurs while the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, it will be troublesome to end the examination in the middle and replace the endoscope with another one, and this will cause problems for both the examinee and the medical staff. It is a heavy burden for both parties. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to detect at an early stage, such as before the optical fiber bundle becomes damaged, that there is an accumulation of mechanical loads that may cause damage to the optical fiber bundle.

In Patent Document 1, disconnection of the optical fiber is detected based on the return light from the optical fiber for transmitting the illumination light for illuminating the observation site. However, this technique detects the damage after the optical fiber has been damaged. Therefore, although the optical fiber is not damaged, the mechanical load is accumulated, and it is impossible to grasp in advance a state in which the probability of damage to the optical fiber is increasing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an endoscope, an endoscope apparatus, and a damage prediction method that make it possible to predict damage to an optical fiber bundle of illumination light for illuminating an observation site. , and to provide a damage prediction program.

The endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope having an insertion section that is inserted into an object to be observed, and is an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section. and, at least inside the insertion portion, along the optical fiber bundle, transmitting light incident from a first end on the side opposite to the tip portion side to a second end on the tip portion side. an optical transmission line including a first optical fiber; a light reflecting member provided at the second end of the first optical fiber; and reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber. a light detection unit that detects the light that has been detected, a light amount of light detected by the light detection unit, and a difference between a light amount of light detected by the light detection unit in a state in which the first optical fiber is not damaged. and a prediction unit that predicts damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the above, and has the first optical fiber arranged on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope relative to the optical fiber bundle .

A damage prediction method of the present invention includes an endoscope having an insertion section inserted into an observation target, and an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to a distal end of the insertion section. wherein the endoscope is provided along with the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion section, and on the side opposite to the distal end side An optical transmission path including a first optical fiber for transmitting light incident from a first end to a second end on the distal end side is provided on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope from the optical fiber bundle, and and a light reflecting member is provided at the second end of the first optical fiber, the amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber , and the amount of the first light Damage to the optical fiber bundle is predicted based on the difference between the amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber in a state in which the fiber is not damaged.

A damage prediction program of the present invention is an endoscope having an insertion section inserted into an observation target, and an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section. The damage prediction program for predicting the damage of the optical fiber bundle in the endoscope, at least inside the insertion section along the optical fiber bundle, and on the side opposite to the distal end side An optical transmission path including a first optical fiber for transmitting light incident from a first end to a second end on the distal end side is provided on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope from the optical fiber bundle, and and a light reflecting member is provided at the second end of the first optical fiber, the amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber , and the amount of the first light The computer executes a step of predicting damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the difference between the amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber in a state where the fiber is not damaged. It is for

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope , a damage prediction method thereof , and a damage prediction program that enable prediction of damage to an optical fiber bundle of illumination light for illuminating an observation site.

It is a figure showing a schematic structure of endoscope device 100 which is one embodiment of an endoscope system of the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of the endoscope apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a light emitting/receiving section 30 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross-section of a main part of the endoscope device 100 shown in FIG. 2 taken along line AA (a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 10). 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a scope control unit 26 in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a modification of the configuration of the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 corresponding thereto in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a modification of the configuration of the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 corresponding thereto in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a modification of the configuration of the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 corresponding thereto in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100A that is a modification of the endoscope device 100; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100B that is a modification of the endoscope device 100; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100C that is a modification of the endoscope device 100;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope device 100 which is one embodiment of the endoscope device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 100 includes an endoscope 1 and a main body 2 including a processor unit 4 and a light source unit 5 to which the endoscope 1 is connected.

The processor device 4 is connected to a display unit 7 that displays captured images and the like, and an input unit 6 that is an interface for inputting various information to the processor device 4 . The processor device 4 controls the endoscope 1 , the light source device 5 and the display section 7 .

The endoscope 1 includes an insertion section 10, which is a tubular member extending in one direction and is inserted into a body cavity as an object to be observed, and an observation mode switching operation and photographing recording operation provided at the proximal end of the insertion section 10. , forceps operation, air/water supply operation, suction operation, electric scalpel operation, etc.; and a universal cord 13 including connector portions 13A and 13B for detachably connecting 1 to the light source device 5 and the processor device 4, respectively.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, inside the operation unit 11 and the insertion unit 10 are a forceps hole for inserting a biopsy forceps, which is a collection device for collecting living tissue such as cells or polyps, and an electric knife. Various channels such as a storage hole for storing the air, a channel for supplying air and water, and a channel for suction are provided.

The insertion portion 10 includes a flexible soft portion 10A, a bending portion 10B provided at the distal end of the flexible portion 10A, and a hard distal portion 10C provided at the distal end of the bending portion 10B. The tip portion 10C is covered with a material harder than the material covering the flexible portion 10A and the bending portion 10B, and is harder than the flexible portion 10A and the bending portion 10B.

The bending portion 10B is configured to be freely bendable by rotating the angle knob 12 . The bending portion 10B can be bent in any direction and at any angle according to the site of the subject on which the endoscope 1 is used, and the distal end portion 10C can be oriented in a desired direction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the endoscope apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

The light source device 5 includes a light source control section 51 and a light source section 52 .

The light source unit 52 generates illumination light for illuminating the observation site. The illumination light emitted from the light source unit 52 enters two light guides 20 (schematically shown as one in FIG. 2) built in the universal cord 13, and is provided at the distal end portion 10C of the insertion portion 10. The observation site is illuminated through the illumination lens 20a (schematically indicated by one in FIG. 2).

As the light source unit 52, a white light source that emits white light, or a plurality of light sources including a white light source and a light source that emits light of other colors (for example, a blue light source that emits blue light) is used. The light-emitting element used for the light source in the specification of the present application is, for example, an LD (Laser Diode) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The light source control unit 51 is composed of various processors that execute programs and perform processing, and is connected to the system control unit 44 of the processor device 4 . The light source control unit 51 controls the light source unit 52 based on commands from the system control unit 44 .

At the distal end portion 10C of the endoscope 1, an imaging optical system including an objective lens 21 and a lens group 22; Two light guides 20 are provided for leading to one illumination lens 20a.

The two light guides 20 extend from the tip portion 10C to the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13. As shown in FIG. With the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13 connected to the light source device 5, illumination light emitted from the light source portion 52 of the light source device 5 can be supplied to the two light guides 20. FIG. Specifically, each of the two light guides 20 is an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of flexible optical fibers (for example, plastic optical fibers) are bundled and covered with a covering member. , transmits illumination light emitted from the light source unit 52 to the tip portion 10C. The light guide 20 constitutes an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating the observation site to the distal end portion 10C of the insertion portion 10 .

A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, or the like is used as the imaging element 23 .

The imaging device 23 has a light receiving surface in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally, and an optical image formed on the light receiving surface by the imaging optical system is converted into an electric signal (imaging signal) at each pixel. and output. The imaging device 23 is equipped with color filters of primary colors or complementary colors, for example.

In the case where the light source unit 52 is configured to generate illumination light by splitting the white light emitted from the white light source in a time-division manner using color filters of a plurality of colors, the imaging device 23 is equipped with color filters. You can use what you don't have.

The processor device 4 includes a signal processing section 42 , a display control section 43 and a system control section 44 .

The signal processing unit 42 receives and processes the signal transmitted from the imaging element 23 to generate captured image data. The captured image data generated by the signal processing unit 42 is recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or flash memory (not shown).

The display control unit 43 causes the display unit 7 to display a captured image based on the captured image data generated by the signal processing unit 42 .

The system control unit 44 controls each unit of the processor device 4, and also sends commands to the scope control unit 26 of the endoscope 1 and the light source control unit 51 of the light source device 5, thereby controlling the entire endoscope device 100. do. The system control unit 44 controls the imaging device 23 and a light emitting/receiving unit 30 described later via the scope control unit 26 , and controls the light source unit 52 via the light source control unit 51 .

The system control unit 44 includes various processors that execute programs and perform processing, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

The various processors in this specification include processors whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacturing, such as CPUs (Central Processing Units), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), which are general-purpose processors that execute programs and perform various processes. Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which is a processor having a circuit configuration specially designed to execute specific processing, etc. .

More specifically, the structure of these various processors is an electric circuit combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

The system control unit 44 may be configured with one of various processors, or a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). may be

A scope control section 26 is provided inside the connector section 13B of the universal cord 13 . The scope control unit 26 is composed of the above-described various processors that execute programs and perform processing.

The scope control section 26 is connected to the system control section 44 of the processor device 4 by wiring inside the connector section 13B. The scope control section 26 controls the imaging element 23 and the light emitting/receiving section 30 based on commands from the system control section 44 .

A light emitting/receiving portion 30 is provided inside the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13 . Further, inside the endoscope 1, a light guide 31 is provided that extends from the vicinity of the light emitting/receiving section 30 in the connector section 13A to the inside of the distal end section 10C.

Specifically, the light guide 31 is an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of flexible optical fibers (for example, plastic optical fibers) are bundled and coated with a coating member. The test light emitted from the light source 33 is transmitted to the light reflecting member 32 of the tip portion 10C. The light guide 31 constitutes a fiber bundle, and each optical fiber constituting the light guide 31 constitutes a first optical fiber. Also, the light guide 31 constitutes an optical transmission line.

The light guide 31 is arranged on the side of the light guide 20 so as to extend along the light guide 20 . In other words, the light guide 31 is provided side by side with the light guide 20 along the light guide 20 . On the end surface of the second end portion of the light guide 31 opposite to the light receiving/emitting portion 30 side (the tip portion 10C side), for example, a metal such as aluminum is deposited by vapor deposition or the like to reflect light. A light reflecting member 32 is provided.

The light receiving/emitting unit 30, the light guide 31, and the light reflecting member 32 are used to predict damage to the light guide 20 (specifically, breakage of an optical fiber, etc.) due to mechanical load applied to the insertion unit 10. It is provided in

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the light emitting/receiving section 30 shown in FIG. The light receiving/emitting unit 30 includes a detection light source 33 , a half mirror 34 and a light detection unit 35 .

The detection light source 33 is a light source that generates test light EL necessary for predicting damage to the light guide 20 . The test light EL is, for example, light of the same color as the light emitted from the light source unit 52, but is not limited to this. The detection light source 33 is controlled by the scope controller 26 . The light reflecting member 32 is made of a material capable of reflecting the test light EL. The detection light source 33 constitutes a first light source.

The half mirror 34 is arranged between the light source 33 for detection and the light guide 31 and transmits the test light EL emitted from the light source 33 for detection. incident on the end face of the first end on the opposite side. Also, the half mirror 34 reflects the reflected light RL of the test light EL reflected by the light reflecting member 32 provided on the end surface of the second end of the light guide 31 toward the light detection section 35 .

The photodetector 35 detects the reflected light RL incident from the half mirror 34 . The photodetector 35 is composed of, for example, a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode, and outputs a signal (detection signal) corresponding to the light amount of the reflected light RL. A detection signal of the reflected light RL output from the photodetector 35 is input to the scope controller 26 .

The test light EL emitted from the detection light source 33 passes through the half mirror 34 and enters the light guide 31 . The test light EL travels through the light guide 31 toward the tip portion 10C and is reflected by the light reflecting member 32 arranged inside the tip portion 10C. The reflected light RL from the light reflecting member 32 is reflected by the half mirror 34 to enter the photodetector 35 and is detected by the photodetector 35 .

2 schematically shows only one set of the light receiving/emitting unit 30, the light guide 31, and the light reflecting member 32, the endoscope 1 includes two light guides. 20 are provided one by one.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part of the endoscope device 100 shown in FIG. 2 taken along line AA (a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 10). A signal cable 61 for electrically connecting the imaging device 23 and the scope control unit 26 and the like is arranged near the center of the outer circumference circle 10E indicating the outer circumference of the endoscope 1 . Below the signal cable 61, a hole 60 is formed in which the above-described forceps hole, various channels, and the like are arranged. Note that the positional relationship between the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 is the same throughout the endoscope 1 .

The two light guides 20 are arranged side by side with the signal cable 61 interposed therebetween. The light guide 31 is arranged close to each of the two light guides 20 in a region closer to the outer circumference of the endoscope 1 than each of the two light guides 20 . The area on the outer peripheral side of the light guide 20 is a circle (virtual circle VC in the drawing) centered on the center of the outer peripheral circle 10E and passing through the center of the light guide 20, in other words, the center of the outer peripheral circle 10E A region outside a circle whose radius is a straight line connecting the center of 10E and the center of the light guide 20 .

Also, the outer diameter of the light guide 31 is smaller than the outer diameter of the light guide 20 . The optical fibers included in each of the light guide 31 and the light guide 20 have the same configuration (same material, same diameter). With this configuration, the optical fibers included in each of the light guide 31 and the light guide 20 have the same resistance to mechanical load.

In this way, the light guide 31 is arranged near the light guide 20 and further arranged on the outer peripheral side of the light guide 20 . Therefore, when a bending force is applied to the endoscope 1, the light guide 31 receives a mechanical load equal to or greater than the mechanical load received by the light guide 20 arranged in the vicinity thereof. Therefore, if there is an accumulation of mechanical load that damages the light guide 20, the light guide 31 disposed in the vicinity thereof will also be damaged, as well as the light guide 20. FIG. Further, even if the mechanical load is accumulated to the extent that the light guide 20 is not damaged, the light guide 31 arranged in the vicinity thereof will be damaged before the light guide 20 .

If the light guide 31 is damaged, the light amount (luminance) of the reflected light RL is lower than the reference value, which is the value when the light guide 31 is not damaged. In the endoscope 1 of this embodiment, the scope control unit 26 predicts damage to the light guide 20 by monitoring whether the light amount of the reflected light RL has decreased from the reference value by a threshold value or more.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the scope control unit 26 in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.

The processor of the scope control unit 26 functions as the prediction unit 26A and the notification control unit 26B by executing programs (including a damage prediction program) stored in the ROM built into the scope control unit 26.

The prediction unit 26A predicts the occurrence of damage to the light guide 20 corresponding to each of the two light emitting/receiving units 30 based on the light amount of the reflected light RL detected by the light detecting unit 35 of each of the two light emitting/receiving units 30. Predict. In the following, the process of predicting the occurrence of damage to one light guide 20 corresponding to one set of the light emitting/receiving portion 30, the light guide 31, and the light reflecting member 32 will be described. 31 and the light guide 20 corresponding to the other set of the light reflecting members 32 are predicted to be damaged in the same manner.

Specifically, if the difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL detected by the light emitting/receiving unit 30 and the reference value is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH, the prediction unit 26A detects the light guide corresponding to the light emitting/receiving unit 30. 20 is damaged or a mechanical load is accumulated to the extent that damage may occur. If the difference between the amount of reflected light RL detected by the light receiving/emitting unit 30 and the reference value is less than the threshold value TH, the prediction unit 26A determines that the light guide 20 corresponding to the light emitting/receiving unit 30 is damaged. is not occurring and the mechanical load is not accumulated to the extent that damage may occur.

It is when the light guide 31 is damaged that the difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL and the reference value is equal to or greater than the threshold TH. In such a case, the portion of the light guide 20 in the vicinity of the damaged portion of the light guide 31 is also damaged, or there is a high possibility that this portion will be damaged in the near future. Therefore, the prediction unit 26A determines that the light guide 20 may be damaged when the difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL and the reference value is equal to or greater than the threshold TH.

The difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL and the reference value is less than the threshold TH when the light guide 31 is not damaged. If the light guide 31 is not damaged, it can be determined that the light guide 20 is not damaged because the accumulation of the mechanical load on the endoscope 1 is considered to be small. Therefore, the prediction unit 26A determines that there is no possibility of damage to the light guide 20 when the difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL and the reference value is less than the threshold TH.

The notification control unit 26B performs notification processing when the prediction unit 26A predicts that one of the two light guides 20 will be damaged. The notification control unit 26B, for example, via the system control unit 44, for example, issues a predetermined message (a warning message indicating that the light guide 20 may be damaged, or prompts a failure inspection of the endoscope 1). message, etc.) is displayed on the display unit 7. Instead of causing the display unit 7 to display the message, the notification control unit 26B may output the message from a speaker (not shown) provided in the endoscope device 100 . Alternatively, the notification control unit 26B may notify the administrator of the endoscope device 100 of the possibility of damage to the light guide 20 by causing the external electronic device connected to the processor device 4 to transmit the message. good.

The operation of predicting damage to the light guide 20 in the endoscope apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described.

When the connector portions 13A and 13B of the endoscope 1 are connected to the body portion 2 and the endoscope 1 is energized, the scope control portion 26 emits the test light EL from the detection light source 33 of the light receiving/emitting portion 30. . The prediction unit 26A acquires the detection signal of the reflected light RL of the test light EL, obtains the difference between the light amount of the reflected light RL and the reference value, and compares this difference with the threshold value TH to determine whether the light guide 20 is damaged. Predict. When the occurrence of damage to one of the two light guides 20 is predicted, notification processing is performed by the notification control section 26B. On the other hand, if the occurrence of damage to each of the two light guides 20 is not predicted, no notification processing is performed.

Further, when the notification process is not performed and the examination using the endoscope 1 is started after that, the scope control unit 26 emits the test light EL from the detection light source 33 and detects the reflected light RL. Acquisition of signals and prediction of damage to the light guide 20 based on the acquired detection signals are periodically performed, and notification processing is performed when occurrence of damage is predicted.

As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus 100, when there is a high possibility that the light guide 20 is damaged, or when there is a high possibility that the light guide 20 will be damaged in the future, the endoscope 1 is connected to the main body 2, and the user or the like is notified of this before the endoscope 1 is inserted into the body cavity. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation such as interrupting the examination and replacing the endoscope 1 with another after inserting the endoscope 1 into the body cavity. Therefore, the burden on both the subject and the inspector can be reduced, and efficient inspection becomes possible.

Moreover, even if the occurrence of damage is not predicted before the start of the examination, there is a possibility that the light guide 20 will be damaged by a strong mechanical load applied to the endoscope 1 during the examination. By periodically predicting the damage of the light guide 20 even after the start of the inspection, it is possible to inform the user that the light guide 20 has been damaged, and to prevent a situation in which the inspection accuracy is lowered. .

In addition, in the endoscope apparatus 100, the second end of the light guide 31 on the distal end portion 10C side extends to the hard distal portion 10C that is resistant to mechanical loads, and the light reflecting member 32 is arranged in the distal portion 10C. It is By arranging the light reflecting member 32 in the hard distal end portion 10</b>C in this way, it is possible to prevent the light reflecting member 32 from being damaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light amount of the reflected light RL from decreasing when the light guide 31 is not damaged, and to improve the prediction accuracy of the damage of the light guide 20 .

Also, in the endoscope apparatus 100, the light guide 31 extends from the distal end portion 10C through the bending portion 10B, the flexible portion 10A, the operating portion 11, and the universal cord 13 to the connector portion 13B. Thus, by providing the light guide 31 in the flexible portion of the insertion portion 10 excluding the distal end portion 10C, it is possible to predict damage to the light guide 20 in this portion. A portion of the insertion section 10 other than the distal end portion 10C (particularly the curved portion 10B) is where the light guide 20 is likely to receive a mechanical load. Therefore, by providing at least the light guide 31 in this portion, damage to the light guide 20 can be predicted with high accuracy.

Furthermore, the endoscope 1 also has flexibility between the operation section 11 and the connector sections 13A and 13B. Since this portion is not a portion to be inserted into a body cavity, it is less subject to mechanical load. However, there is a possibility that damage to the light guide 20 may occur at this portion. Therefore, since the light guide 31 is also provided in this portion, damage to the light guide 20 occurring in this portion can be predicted, and the prediction accuracy can be improved.

Also, in the endoscope 1 , the outer diameter of the light guide 31 is smaller than the outer diameter of the light guide 20 . According to this configuration, the possibility that the light guide 31 will be damaged before the light guide 20 is increased, and the possibility that the light guide 20 will be damaged in the future is reduced before the light guide 20 is damaged. Prediction becomes possible. As a result, the inspection can be prevented from being interrupted due to damage to the light guide 20 during the inspection by inserting the endoscope 1 into the body cavity. becomes possible. Further, since the outer diameter of the light guide 31 is smaller than the outer diameter of the light guide 20, the diameter of the endoscope 1 can be reduced.

Also, in the endoscope 1 , the light guide 31 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the light guide 20 . According to this configuration, the possibility that the light guide 31 will be damaged before the light guide 20 is increased, and the possibility that the light guide 20 will be damaged in the future is reduced before the light guide 20 is damaged. can be predicted. As a result, the inspection can be prevented from being interrupted due to damage to the light guide 20 during the inspection by inserting the endoscope 1 into the body cavity. becomes possible.

Further, in the endoscope 1, the optical fibers included in each of the light guides 31 and 20 have the same configuration, and the optical fibers included in each of the light guides 31 and 20 are resistant to mechanical load. They have the same endurance. Therefore, the possibility that the light guide 20 is damaged before the light guide 31 is damaged can be reduced, and the damage prediction accuracy of the light guide 20 can be improved.

Further, according to the endoscope apparatus 100, damage to the light guide 20 can be predicted only by the endoscope 1. FIG. Therefore, improvement of the processor device 4 and the light source device 5 becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost of the endoscope device 100 can be reduced. Also, functions can be added to an existing endoscope apparatus simply by exchanging the endoscope 1, and versatility can be enhanced.

In addition, the endoscope apparatus 100 uses a dedicated detection light source 33 for predicting damage to the light guide 20 . Therefore, it becomes easy to make the luminance of the test light EL supplied from the detection light source 33 constant, and an increase in the amount of heat generated in the light reflecting member 32 can be suppressed. Also, since only one reference value can be used, the amount of threshold information necessary for predicting damage to the light guide 20 can be reduced.

In the endoscope apparatus 100, the outer diameter of the light guide 20 and the outer diameter of the light guide 31 are different, but even if they are the same, damage to the light guide 20 can be predicted. Also, although the light guide 31 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope 1 with respect to the light guide 20, damage to the light guide 20 can be predicted if the light guide 31 is in the vicinity of the light guide 20. is.

Moreover, although the light guide 31 is an optical fiber bundle, it may be a single optical fiber. The mechanical strength can be enhanced by using the light guide 31 as an optical fiber bundle. As a result, the accuracy of predicting damage to the light guide 20 can be improved.

Also, the two light emitting/receiving units 30 may be shared. In this case, the two light guides 31 may be integrated at the end on the connector portion 13B side.

Also, the endoscope 1 is provided with two sets of the light reflecting member 32, the light guide 31, and the light receiving/emitting unit 30, but the number of sets may be one. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the light guides 31 are arranged at equal distances from each of the two light guides 20 in the region on the outer peripheral side of the two light guides 20. preferable.

Also, the light guide 20 and the corresponding light guide 31 may be integrally formed. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a modification of the configuration of the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 corresponding thereto in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG.

In the modification shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of (19 in the example of FIG. 7) optical fibers 31a (first optical fibers) are arranged along the circumferential direction of the light guide 20 over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 20. are arranged as follows. Each optical fiber 31 a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 20 . These multiple optical fibers 31a are covered with a covering member 31b. In this configuration, the light guide 31 is composed of 19 optical fibers 31a and the coating member 31b, and the light guide 20 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral portion of the light guide 31. As shown in FIG.

According to the modification shown in FIG. 7, the light guide 31 and the light guide 20 are located closer to each other than in FIG. Therefore, the mechanical loads applied to the light guide 31 and the light guide 20 can be made equal, and the accuracy of predicting damage to the light guide 20 can be improved. Further, since the light guide 31 is arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the light guide 20, the possibility that the light guide 20 will be damaged earlier than the light guide 31 can be increased. As a result, the accuracy of predicting damage to the light guide 20 can be improved.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 8, of the 19 optical fibers 31a shown in FIG. 7, those inside the virtual circle VC may be removed. According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy without hindering the diameter reduction of the endoscope 1 .

Modifications of the endoscope apparatus 100 will be described below.

(first modification)
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of an endoscope device 100A that is a modification of the endoscope device 100. As shown in FIG. The endoscope apparatus 100A has the internal structure except that the light receiving/emitting unit 30 is arranged inside the operation unit 11 and the light guide 31 is arranged from the distal end portion 10C to the inside of the operation unit 11. It has the same configuration as the scope device 100 . Even in the configuration of the endoscope apparatus 100A, since the light guide 31 is arranged in the portion between the distal end portion 10C and the operation portion 11, which is susceptible to mechanical load, the light guide 31 is not placed in this portion. Damage to a given light guide 20 can be predicted.

(Second modification)
The prediction unit 26A and the notification control unit 26B of the scope control unit 26 of the endoscope apparatus 100 may be implemented by the system control unit 44 by the processor of the system control unit 44 executing programs. Alternatively, the light emitting/receiving portion 30 may be built in the light source device 5 and the first end portion of the light guide 31 may extend to the vicinity of the light emitting/receiving portion 30 . In this configuration, the light emitting/receiving section 30 is controlled by the system control section 44 . With these configurations, the manufacturing cost of the endoscope 1 can be reduced.

(Third modification)
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of an endoscope device 100B that is a modification of the endoscope device 100. As shown in FIG. In the endoscope device 100B, the half mirror 34 and the light detection unit 35 of the light emitting/receiving unit 30 are built in the light source device 5, and the detection light source 33 of the light emitting/receiving unit 30 also serves as the light source unit 52 of the light source device 5. The configuration is the same as that of the endoscope device 100 except that the light guide 31 extends to the light source device 5 .

In the endoscope apparatus 100B, the illumination light L emitted from the light source unit 52 enters the light guide 20, passes through the half mirror 34, and enters the light guide 31. As shown in FIG. Reflected light traveling through the light guide 31 and reflected by the light reflecting member 32 is reflected by the half mirror 34 and detected by the light detection section 35 . A detection signal from the photodetector 35 is input to the system controller 44 . The photodetector 35 is controlled by the system controller 44 . In this modification, the system control unit 44 functions as the prediction unit 26A and the notification control unit 26B described above.

According to the endoscope apparatus 100B, the light source 33 for detection becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the endoscope device 100B can be reduced. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the light guide 20 and the light guide 31 are integrally formed, a configuration shown in FIG. It can be easily realized.

(Fourth modification)
FIG. 11 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope device 100C that is a modification of the endoscope device 100. As shown in FIG. In the endoscope apparatus 100C shown in FIG. 1, the connector sections 13A and 13B of the universal cord 13 connecting the body section 2 and the endoscope 1 are changed to a single connector section 13C. configuration. As shown in FIG. 11, the present invention can also be applied to an endoscope apparatus configured to connect the main body 2 and the endoscope 1 with a single connector 13C.

As described above, this specification discloses the following matters.

(1)
An endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into an observation object,
an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section;
A first optical fiber bundle is installed along the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion section, and transmits light incident from a first end on the side opposite to the tip side to a second end on the tip side. an optical transmission line including an optical fiber of
and a light reflecting member provided at the second end of the first optical fiber.

(2)
(1) The endoscope according to
The endoscope, wherein said second end of said first optical fiber is at said distal end of said endoscope.

(3)
(2) The endoscope according to
The endoscope, wherein the first end portion of the first optical fiber is closer to the operation portion side of the endoscope than the insertion portion.

(4)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (3),
The endoscope, wherein the first optical fiber is arranged at least on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope with respect to the optical fiber bundle.

(5)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (4),
The optical transmission line is a fiber bundle configured by bundling a plurality of the first optical fibers,
The endoscope, wherein the outer diameter of the optical transmission line is smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber bundle.

(6)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (4),
The endoscope, wherein a plurality of the first optical fibers are arranged in a circumferential direction along at least part of the outer periphery of the optical fiber bundle.

(7)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (6),
An endoscope in which the first optical fiber and the optical fibers forming the optical fiber bundle have the same configuration.

(8)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (7),
a light detection unit that detects light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber;
and a predicting unit that predicts damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the amount of light detected by the photodetecting unit.

(9)
(8) The endoscope according to
An endoscope comprising a first light source for providing said light to be incident on said first end of said first optical fiber.

(10)
(8) The endoscope according to
An endoscope in which the same light as the illumination light is supplied to the first end of the first optical fiber from a light source device that supplies the illumination light to the optical fiber bundle.

(11)
The endoscope according to any one of (8) to (10),
An endoscope further comprising a notification control unit that performs notification processing when occurrence of damage to the optical fiber bundle is predicted.

(12)
The endoscope according to any one of (8) to (11),
a connector section for connecting to a light source device that supplies the illumination light to the endoscope, or to both the light source device and a control device that controls the endoscope;
The endoscope, wherein the first optical fiber extends from the inside of the connector section to the distal end side along the optical fiber bundle.

(13)
an endoscope according to any one of (1) to (7);
a light detection unit that detects light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber;
an endoscope apparatus, comprising: a prediction section that predicts damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the amount of light detected by the light detection section.

(14)
(13) The endoscope apparatus according to
A light source device for supplying the illumination light to the optical fiber bundle,
The endoscope device, wherein the light incident from the first end of the first optical fiber is also used as the illumination light supplied from the light source device.

(15)
(13) or (14), the endoscope apparatus according to
An endoscope apparatus further comprising a notification control unit that performs notification processing when occurrence of damage to the optical fiber bundle is predicted.

(16)
Damage to the optical fiber bundle in an endoscope having an insertion section inserted into an observation target and an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section A damage prediction method for predicting,
The endoscope is arranged side by side along the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion section, and receives light incident from a first end on the opposite side of the distal end to a second end on the distal end. an optical transmission line including a first optical fiber that transmits to a part, and a light reflecting member provided at the second end of the first optical fiber,
A damage prediction method for detecting light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber, and predicting damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the amount of the detected light.

(17)
Damage to the optical fiber bundle in an endoscope having an insertion section inserted into an observation target and an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section A damage prediction program that predicts,
The endoscope is arranged side by side along the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion section, and receives light incident from a first end on the opposite side of the distal end to a second end on the distal end. an optical transmission line including a first optical fiber that transmits to a part, and a light reflecting member provided at the second end of the first optical fiber,
A damage prediction program for causing a computer to execute a step of predicting damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber.

100, 100A, 100B, 100C Endoscope device 1 Endoscope 2 Main unit 20, 31 Light guide 20a Illumination lens 21 Objective lens 22 Lens group 23 Imaging element 26 Scope control unit 26A Prediction unit 26B Notification control unit 30 Light receiving and emitting Part 31a Optical fiber 32 Light reflecting member 33 Light source for detection 34 Half mirror 35 Photodetector EL Test light RL Reflected light L Illumination light 4 Processor device 42 Signal processing unit 43 Display control unit 44 System control unit 5 Light source device 51 Light source control unit 52 light source section 6 input section 7 display section 10 insertion section 10A flexible section 10B bending section 10C tip section 11 operation section 12 angle knob 13 universal cords 13A, 13B, 13C connector section VC virtual circle

Claims (10)

An endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into an observation object,
an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section;
A first optical fiber bundle is installed along the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion section, and transmits light incident from a first end on the side opposite to the tip side to a second end on the tip side an optical transmission line including an optical fiber of
a light reflecting member formed by evaporating a metal onto the end surface of the second end of the first optical fiber;
a light detection unit that detects light reflected by the light reflection member and transmitted through the first optical fiber;
Damage to the optical fiber bundle is detected based on the difference between the amount of light detected by the light detection unit and the amount of light detected by the light detection unit when the first optical fiber is undamaged. a prediction unit that predicts,
An endoscope having the first optical fiber arranged on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope relative to the optical fiber bundle. The endoscope according to claim 1,
The endoscope, wherein the second end of the first optical fiber is at the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope according to claim 2,
The endoscope, wherein the first end portion of the first optical fiber is closer to the operation section side of the endoscope than the insertion section. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The optical transmission line is a fiber bundle configured by bundling a plurality of the first optical fibers,
The endoscope, wherein the outer diameter of the optical transmission line is smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber bundle that transmits the illumination light. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The endoscope, wherein a plurality of the first optical fibers are arranged in a circumferential direction along at least part of the outer periphery of the optical fiber bundle. The endoscope according to claim 1,
An endoscope comprising a first light source for providing said light to be incident on said first end of said first optical fiber. The endoscope according to claim 1,
An endoscope in which the same light as the illumination light is supplied to the first end of the first optical fiber from a light source device that supplies the illumination light to the optical fiber bundle. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An endoscope further comprising a notification control unit that performs notification processing when occurrence of damage to the optical fiber bundle is predicted. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A connector section for connecting with a light source device that supplies the illumination light to the endoscope,
The endoscope, wherein the first optical fiber extends from the inside of the connector section to the distal end side along the optical fiber bundle. An endoscope having an insertion section inserted into an observation target and an optical fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the distal end of the insertion section. A damage prediction method for predicting,
The endoscope is provided along with the optical fiber bundle at least inside the insertion portion, and receives light incident from a first end opposite to the distal end portion side to a second end portion on the distal end portion side. An optical transmission line including a first optical fiber that transmits to an end is provided on the outer peripheral side of the endoscope from the optical fiber bundle, and a metal is provided on the end surface of the second end of the first optical fiber. is deposited to provide a light reflecting member,
The amount of light reflected by the light reflecting member and transmitted through the first optical fiber, and the amount of the first light reflected by the light reflecting member without damage to the first optical fiber A damage prediction method for predicting damage to the optical fiber bundle based on the difference between the amount of light transmitted through the fiber and the amount of light.

Images