JPH0136482Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an endoscope, in which a solid-state image sensor is provided at the tip of the insertion tube, and a subject is displayed on a television screen or the like based on the video signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor. It relates to an endoscope that displays and observes.

[Background of the idea]

Most conventional endoscopes have an objective lens and an eyepiece placed at both ends of an optical fiber bundle for image transmission, and the image of the subject is formed on one end surface of the optical fiber bundle through the objective lens. The transmitted image that is transmitted through the lens and appears on the other end surface is observed through an eyepiece. That is, the conventional endoscope, as shown in Fig. 1,
An operating section main body 10, a flexible insertion section 12 that is connected to the operating section main body 10 and inserted deep inside the body, and a control device that includes a light source and various control mechanisms necessary for this endoscope. It is composed of a connecting portion 16 that connects the device 14.

In an endoscope of the type in which the transmitted image transmitted through the optical fiber is observed through the eyepiece, the operation section main body 1 is necessarily
0 includes a grip section that can be held by the operator with one hand, and an operation section main body 10 located above the grip section.
and an eyepiece provided at the top end of the screen.
That is, as shown in FIG.
0A is formed, and furthermore, an eyepiece section 17 including an eyepiece lens is provided at the upper part of the operation section main body 10.
In addition, on the front of the main body of the operation unit, there are a first operation button 18 for air and water supply, and a second operation button 2 for suction.
0 is set. With this configuration, the operator uses the middle finger 22A, ring finger 22B, and pinky finger 22C of the left hand on the operating section of the endoscope, as shown in FIG.
grip the grip part 10A of the operation part main body 10, and while looking into the eyepiece part 17, use the index finger 22D to
The operation buttons 18 and 20 are operated.

However, in the conventional endoscope shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the operator looks into the eyepiece 17, the operator must raise his/her arm to bring the operation section main body 10 close to the face. The user can either bend his/her body forward and bring his/her face closer to the eyepiece 17 of the operating section for observation. Therefore, the surgeon has to observe in an awkward position, which can cause numbness in the surgeon's arms, lower back, etc. if the observation takes a long time.
Undesirable.

On the other hand, in recent endoscopes, CCD, MOS
A solid-state image sensor, such as a type image sensor, is installed at the tip of the insertion section of the endoscope, and the image signal of the object obtained from this solid-state image sensor is displayed on a monitor TV screen, etc. via a control device, so that the object can be observed. A type of endoscope has been proposed. Unlike endoscopes that observe transmitted images within an optical fiber, this type of endoscope does not require the eyepiece section 17, so there are no structural restrictions on the operating section. It is desired that the shape of the operation part itself be such that it causes less fatigue even during long-time operation and is easy to handle.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was developed in light of these circumstances, and the purpose is to propose an endoscope that causes less fatigue even when used for long periods of time, and whose operation buttons are easy to operate. .

[Summary of the idea]

In the present invention, the operation unit main body of the endoscope includes a vertically long gripping part that is gripped by at least a ring finger and a little finger;
The lower end of this grip protrudes diagonally downward on the front side,
Its central axis A is at an obtuse angle θ (90° <
θ < 180°) and a connecting part connected on the same axis to the rear end of the insertion tube, the operator can easily grasp the operation part in a comfortable posture, and can avoid long-term work. There is little fatigue when using it.

In addition, the operation button is located at θ/2 toward the front from the central axis B of the grip on the front or top surface of the operation unit main body.
Since it is arranged within an angular range of , the operator can easily operate it with his or her index finger or middle finger.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the endoscope according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of an endoscope according to the present invention, in which 30 is an operating section, 32 is a control device, and 34 is a monitor television. A solid-state image sensor 37 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 36, and the control device 32 supplies a lamp that supplies light to the light guide, a drive signal to the solid-state image sensor 37, and processes a video signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor 37. It is equipped with a processing unit, power supply, etc. The monitor television 34 displays a video signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor 37 at the tip of the insertion section 36 on a screen via the control device 32. In addition, the connector 3 to which the lead wire of the solid-state imaging device of the endoscope is connected
8 is connected to a socket 40 of the control device 32, and a plug 42 containing a light guide etc. is connected to a socket 44.

FIG. 4 shows the overall structure of the operating section 30 of the endoscope according to the present invention.
is composed of a gripping part 48 and a connecting part 50. The grip portion 48 is vertically long and is normally gripped by the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the left hand, for example. A connecting portion 50 is integrally provided on the front side of the lower end of the gripping portion 48 and protrudes diagonally downward. The central axis A of this connection part 50
is an obtuse angle θ (90°<θ<
180°), and the rear end of the insertion portion 36 is connected to the distal end portion 52 of the connecting portion 50 so as to be continuous on the same axis. Although not shown in the drawings, the insertion portion 36 has a light guide made of a bundle of optical fibers, a lead wire connected to the solid-state image sensor 37, a pipe for air and water supply, and the like arranged therein. On the other hand, one side of the grip portion 48 (the surface where the back of the operator's left hand is located)
A connecting portion 55 of a cable 54 connected to the control device 32 is provided near the upper end of the gripping portion 48, and the cable 54 extends rearward substantially orthogonally to the central axis B of the gripping portion 48. The connecting portion 58 is normally hard, and since the connecting portion 55 is provided on the side of the gripping portion 48, the connecting portion 55 will not come into contact with the operator even if the operating portion is brought close to the body during operation. Easy to operate.

At the upper front surface of the operation section main body 46, a pair of operation buttons 56 and 58 that stand up toward the front are provided vertically in parallel. These operation buttons 56 and 58 are applied to, for example, a video tape recorder switch (VTR/SW) button, a suction button, an air/water supply button, etc., and when pressed, a valve device, a switch, etc. (not shown) is operated.
Depending on the amount of pushing, switching between air supply and water supply, or suction operation, etc. is performed. The operation buttons 56 and 58 are located in front of the central axis B of the gripping part 48 and connected to the central axis B of the gripping part 48 and the connection part 5.
It is provided in a range above the bisector C of the obtuse angle θ passing through the intersection O with the central axis A of 0. That is, it is provided in an angular range of θ/2 toward the front from the central axis B. This range is located in the area where the index finger 60 rests on the operation buttons 56 and 58 when the vertically long grip portion 48 is gripped with the left hand.

Therefore, if the operation buttons 56 and 58 are provided in this range, the grip part 48 can be held with the middle finger 6 as shown in the figure.
8. When gripped with the ring finger 70, little finger 72, and thumb 74, the operation buttons 56 and 5 are pressed with the index finger 60.
8 becomes extremely easy to operate.

The operating section main body 46 is provided with an angle operation knob (not shown), and this operating knob is rotated to rotationally drive a drum of an angle operating mechanism (not shown) installed in the operating section main body 46, and the insertion section 36 is rotated.
The direction of curvature of the distal end of the insertion section 36 including the solid-state imaging device 37 can be changed by moving the operating wire inserted therein forward and backward.

The operation of the embodiment of the endoscope according to the present invention constructed as described above is as follows. First, the operator holds the gripping portion 48 with the middle finger 68, ring finger 70, little finger 72, and thumb 74.
, bend the upper and lower arms of the left arm gripping the grip part 48 at right angles, and place the upper arm against the side of the operator.
Stabilize the wrist area. In this case, the insertion section 36
is θ in front of the lower end of the gripping portion 48 via the connecting portion
Since it protrudes at an angle (obtuse angle), the insertion portion 36
There is no need for complications such as contact with the user's body.

Then, the user operates the operation buttons 56 and 58 with the index finger 60 as necessary to perform operations such as recording on a video tape recorder, suction, and supplying air and water.

In addition, in the earlier embodiment, the grip part 48 is the middle finger 68,
The case has been described in which the grip part 48 is gripped with the ring finger 70, the little finger 72, and the thumb 74, and each operation button 56, 58 is operated with the index finger 60. Press the operation button 58 at the bottom with your index finger 60 and your middle finger 6.
8 may be used.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the operation buttons 56 and 58 are provided on the front surface of the operation section main body 46, but they may also be provided on the upper surface of the operation section main body 46 within the reach of the index finger 60 or middle finger 68 of the hand holding the grip section 48. good.

In the embodiment described above, two operation buttons were provided, but the number of operation buttons may be one or three or more.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the endoscope according to the present invention, the operating section main body includes a vertically elongated gripping part that is gripped by at least the ring finger and the little finger, and a lower end of the gripping part protrudes diagonally downward on the front side, Its central axis A forms an obtuse angle θ with the central axis B of the gripping part, and it is composed of a connecting part that is continuous on the same axis as the rear end of the insertion part, so the operating part can be gripped in a comfortable posture and can be used for long periods of time. There is little fatigue in operation, and there is no trouble such as the rear end of the insertion section coming into contact with the operator.

Further, since the operation button is provided in an angle range of θ/2 toward the front from the central axis B of the grip, it can be easily operated with the index finger or middle finger.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall structure of a conventional endoscope, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the shape of the operating section of the conventional endoscope, and Fig. 3 is the overall structure of the endoscope according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the shape of the operating section of the endoscope according to the present invention. 30... Operating section, 36... Inserting section, 37... Solid-state image sensor, 46... Operating section main body, 48... Gripping section, 50...
Connection part, 56, 57...operation button, θ...obtuse angle,
A, B...central axis, C...bisector of θ, O...intersection.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an endoscope in which a solid-state image sensor is provided at the tip of the insertion section and a subject is displayed on a display screen for observation based on a video signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor, the main body of the operation section of the endoscope includes at least There is a vertically elongated grip that is gripped by the ring finger and the little finger, and the lower end of this grip is protruded diagonally downward from the front side, and its central axis A is at an obtuse angle θ (90° <θ<
180°) and a connecting part that extends on the same axis at the rear end of the insertion section, and at least one
An endoscope characterized in that two operation buttons are arranged on the front or upper surface of the operation section main body within an angle range of θ/2 toward the front from the central axis B of the grip section.