JPH02110505A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the quality of a picture, which is image-picked up by a solid-state image pickup element, from being degraded, to lower the transmission loss of an illumination light and to reduce cost by transmitting the illumination light from an illumination light source to the tip part of an inserting part by an optical transmitting means, and irradiating a subject with the illumination light from this tip part. CONSTITUTION:An illumination light source 46 is provided near the tip part of an inserting part 2 to be arranged in back shaft direction of the inserting part 2 rather than a solid-state image pickup element 25 and the optical transmitting means is provided to be optically linked with the illumination light source 46 and to transmit the illumination light from the illumination light source 46 to a tip part 12. Thus, the transmission of heat to the solid image pickup element by the heating of the illumination light source can be prevented, and the quality of the picture to be image-picked up by the solid-state image pickup element is not degraded by the rising-up of a temperature in the solid image pickup element. Then, since a light source device in a separate body is eliminated and the optical transmitting means can be shortened, the transmission loss of the illumination light can be lowered and the cost can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] Mokuba Tsui relates to an endoscope that has a solid-state imaging cord at the distal end of the insertion section and an illumination light source near the distal end of the insertion section. .

[Prior Art] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity, it has become possible to observe intrabody cavity paraconvulsions, etc., and perform various therapeutic procedures as necessary using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes are widely used.

By the way, as an illumination means for illuminating the inside of a body cavity when using an endoscope, conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-857
As shown in Publication No. 28, an illumination lamp is installed at the distal end of the insertion section, or a light source device is provided separately from the endoscope, and light from this light source device is directed into the endoscope insertion section. There are some that are guided to the distal end of the insertion section by a light guide fiber inserted therethrough.

Furthermore, recently, an electronic endoscope has been put into practical use, in which a solid-state 1lj3 image element, such as a COD, is provided at the distal end of the insertion section as an lll image means.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such an endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device is placed at the distal end of the insertion section, when an illumination lamp is placed at the distal end, the solid-state image element approaches the illumination lamp. As a result, the tip of the insertion tube gets heated due to the heat generated by the lighting lamp.
Along with this, there is a problem in that the temperature of the solid-state image sensor increases and the image quality deteriorates.

In addition, when a light source device is provided separately from the endoscope and light from the light source device is transmitted to the distal end by a light guide fiber inserted into the insertion section, if the insertion section becomes long, The light transmission loss due to the light guide fiber increases, and a large amount of light guide fiber is required.
There is a problem that the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not deteriorate the image quality of the image formed by the solid-state image element, and can reduce the transmission loss of illumination light by 1 stroke. The purpose is to provide an endoscope that can be used for various purposes.

Means for Solving the Problems] The endoscope of the present invention has a solid body as an image means at the distal end of the insertion section [In an endoscope having two elements, the An illumination light source disposed axially rearward of the insertion section than the solid-state image sensor, and a light transmission means optically connected to the illumination light source and transmitting illumination light from the illumination light source to the distal end. It is something.

[Operation 1] In the present invention, the illumination light from the illumination light source is transmitted to the distal end of the insertion section by the light transmission means, and is irradiated onto the subject from this distal end.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 showing the tip of the insertion section and the adapter! FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope device 11 of this embodiment is as follows:
The insertion section 2 includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 2 and a winding drum unit 3 that winds up the insertion section 2.
The base side is fixed to the winding drum 4 of the winding drums 1 to 3, and is wound and stored on this drum 4.

The endoscope apparatus 1 also includes a video processor 41 separate from the winding drum unit 3, and a monitor 42 connected to the video processor 41.

The drum 4 is provided with rotary shaft portions (not shown) at both ends in the direction of the rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft portions are rotatably supported by a bearing portion 6 . A leg-shaped support pipe 7 for rotatably supporting the drum 4 is installed on the lower side between the two bearings FIS 6, and a handle 8 for transporting the drum 4 is installed on the upper side.

The insertion portion 2 is constructed by connecting a hard tip portion 12 to the tip of a flexible portion 17.

Further, a field-of-view conversion adapter (hereinafter referred to as "adapter") 50 capable of converting the viewing angle of the objective optical system, etc., is detachably attached to the tip t of the distal end portion 12.

The tip portion 12 and the tip portion 12, and the tip portion 12, The dowel 50 is constructed as shown in FIG.

The tip part -124,t is provided with a hard tip body 14, and the tip body 14 is formed with an observation hole 15 and an illumination through hole 16 in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the matchmaker part 2. has been done. An objective lens system 18 is installed in the observation hole 15.
It is named a. At the rear end of the tip main body 14, above the objective lens system 18, an optical rod 20, a first prism 21 whose rear end surface is formed as a slope, and a second prism 22 formed in a wedge shape are provided. , are joined in this order.

Incidentally, the second prism 22 is joined to the sloped surface of the rear end of the first prism 21 so that the thin part is on the tip side. Then, a solid image movement element 25 is fixed to the sloped rear end surface of the second prism 22 so that the image plane is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2. This solid-state diary element 251 is fixed on a flexible substrate 26, and on this flexible substrate 26, there is a ``child''?
AS product 27 is mounted. Further, a signal cable 28 is connected to the flexible board 26, and the signal cable 28 is connected to the flexible board 26.
is inserted into the flexible portion 17, extends from the base end of the insertion portion 2, and is disposed within the drum 4. The signal line 28 is, for example, inserted into one rotating shaft part through a sling/ring (not shown) provided in the drum 4, inserted into the handle 8 from one bearing part 6, and inserted into the handle 8 from the other bearing part 6. The bearing part 6 is led out. Furthermore, this signal line 28 is inserted into a signal line cable 29 extending from the side of the bearing part 6, and is connected to a signal connector 30 provided at the end of this signal line cable 29. There is.

This signal connector 30 is detachably connected to a video processor 41 that processes signals for the solid-state positive image element 25.

A substantially cylindrical illumination tube 61 is fitted around the outer periphery of the tip main body 14 . The illumination tube 61 has an outer fitting hole 62 into which the tip body 14 is inserted, and a lighting transmission hole 63 provided on the outer periphery of the outer fitting hole 62. A nail-shaped lighting tube holder 64 protrudes radially inward from the outer surface hole 62 at the tip of the lighting tube 61, and the lighting tube holder 64 is connected flush with the notch 13 provided in the tip body 14. It has become. The tip main body 14 and the illumination tube 61 are fastened, for example, with screws. At the tip of the lighting transmission hole 63 provided in the lighting tube 61,
A light distribution lens 31 is attached.

On the other hand, a heat insulating member 66 that protrudes rearward in a ring shape is incorporated into the rear end portion of the lighting tube 61 . A hole having the same diameter as the illumination transmission hole 63 is bored in the center of the heat insulating member 66 .

A screw is provided at the rear end of the outer surface of the lighting tube 61, and the cylindrical lighting housing member 45 is screwed into the threaded portion at the rear end of the outer surface of the lighting tube 61 so as to cover the heat insulating member 66. ing.

A lighting lamp 46 and a power source section 47 are housed in the lighting storage member 45. The power supply section 47 may have a built-in battery, or may be supplied with electricity from a power cable (not shown) installed inside the flexible section 17. Further, a spherical mirror 48 is provided at the rear end of the illumination lamp 46.

In front of the illumination lamp 46 and at the rear end of the heat insulating part 66,
A condensing lens 65 is incorporated, and the light distributing lens 3
1 and the condenser lens 65 are connected by the light guide fiber 32 inserted through the illumination transmission hole 63 of the illumination tube 61 and the heat insulating member 66.

Furthermore, the insertion section 2 is composed of a distal end section 12 and a flexible section 17, and the flexible section 17 has a smaller outer diameter than the distal end section 12. The lighting tube 61 is longer in the longitudinal direction than the tip end 12, and a gap 70 is formed between the flexible portion 17 and the outer fitting hole 62 of the lighting tube 61.

On the other hand, the adapter 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is adapted to be detachably connected to the tip of the illumination tube 61. The adapter 50 includes wA of the tip body 14.
An observation hole 55 and an illumination hole 56 are formed in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 2 at positions corresponding to the observation hole 15 and the illumination hole 16 of the illumination tube 61, respectively. A lens system 58, which together with the objective lens system 18 constitutes an imaging optical system, is mounted in the observation through hole 55, with a part thereof held by a lens frame 57. Further, a light distribution lens system 59 is attached to the illumination through hole 56.

Further, the rear end side of the adapter 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape,
This cylindrical portion 75 is fitted onto the illumination tube 61. Two female threads are formed at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 75. On the other hand, a rotatable connecting ring 76 is loosely fitted around the outer periphery of the illumination tube 61, and a male thread that is screwed into the female thread of the cylindrical portion 75 is provided at the distal end side of the connecting ring 76. The adapter 50 is fixed to the illumination tube 61 by screwing the female thread and the male thread together.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

When performing endoscopic observation in this embodiment, the signal connector 30 provided at the end of the signal line cable 29 is connected to the video processor 41, and the adapter 50 is connected to the distal end side of the illumination tube 61. .

The illumination light emitted from the illumination lamp 46 housed in the illumination storage tube 45 screwed into the rear end of the illumination tube 61 is transmitted to the input end of the light guide fiber 32 via the spherical mirror 48 and the condensing lens 65. incident. This illumination light is transmitted through the light guide fiber 32 and reaches the tip of the illumination tube 61, and the illumination light emitted from the tip of the light guide fiber 32 is transmitted through the light distribution lens 31 at the tip of the illumination tube 61 and the light distribution lens of the adapter 50. The light passes through the system 59 and is irradiated onto the subject.

The reflected light from the subject due to this illumination light is
The image is formed on the solid-state image sensor 25 by the objective lens system 18 of No. 4. The output signal of this solid state six child 25 is the signal 82
8. The signal is inputted to a video processor 41 via a slip ring (not shown) in the drum 4, a signal line in the signal line cable 29, and a signal connector 30, and is processed by the video processor 41. The video signal generated by this video processor 41 is then sent to the monitor 4.
2, and iqam is displayed on this monitor 42.

Furthermore, if light continues to be emitted from the illumination lamp 46, heat is transferred to the illumination tube 61 due to the heat generated by the illumination lamp 46, causing a rise in temperature. The heat generated by the lighting lamp 46 is insulated by the heat insulating member 66 provided in front of the lighting lamp 46.
This prevents heat from being transferred to the solid-state image sensor 25. Also,
The gap 70 between the rear end of the lighting tube 61 and the flexible portion 17 allows heat to be radiated.

According to this embodiment, the illumination lamp 46 is solid II! A heat insulating member 66 is provided in front of the illumination lamp 46, and a gap 70 is formed between the illumination tube 61 and the flexible portion 17. Nine! & The temperature of the element 25 is prevented from rising, and the S/N ratio of the monitor image does not deteriorate. In addition, since the illumination lamp 46 is placed near the tip 12, the light guide fiber is shorter than the conventional method in which a light source device is provided separately and the light guide fiber is inserted into the flexible part. It is possible to reduce transmission loss and cost.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the distal end of the insertion portion and the adapter in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the configuration and operation of the endoscope tip and the adapter are almost the same as those in the first embodiment, but the illumination transmission hole 63 between the condenser lens 65 and the light distribution lens 31 in the illumination tube 61 is Insert the rod lens 67 into the condensing lens 65
The illumination lamp 46 connects the light distribution lens 31 and the light distribution lens 31 as a light transmission path.

According to this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the solid-state image sensor 2
Since the rod lens 67 is used in the transmission path of the illumination light in addition to preventing the temperature rise as described in No. 5, the structure of the illumination system is simple and easy to assemble, resulting in cost reduction.

Other functions and effects of configuration 1 are the same as in the first embodiment.
ai5ru.

4 and 5 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the tip of the insertion part and the adapter, and FIG. 5 is a lighting storage when the lighting storage tube is removed from the lighting tube. FIG. 3 is a front view of the tube.

As shown in FIG. 4, a lighting housing tube 45 is screwed into the rear end of the lighting tube 61 with a threaded portion provided on the outer periphery of the lighting tube 61. As shown in FIG. This lighting storage tube 45 includes a lighting lamp 46 and a power source 111.
e47 storage section 51 and cooling fan 48. A housing section 52 for the motor 49 and power source 47 is provided. The positions η of these storage parts are 60 degrees apart from each other, as shown in FIG.
The storage parts 52 are arranged along the circumferential direction at regular intervals, and two storage parts 52 are provided in the opposite position, and the remaining four storage parts 51 are provided.

Cooling fan 48. In front of the housing section 52 for the f-150 and the electronic &t47, a ventilation hole 68 having a shape curved toward the flexible section 17 is installed at the position of the lighting tube 61 corresponding to the housing 152. It is being

On the other hand, an illumination transmission hole 63 is provided in the illumination tube 61 in front of the illumination lamp 46 , a light distribution lens 31 is attached to the tip of the illumination transmission hole 63 , and a condensing lens 65 is attached to the rear end of the illumination transmission hole 63 . Is it dressed? 1, the light distribution lens 31 and the condensing lens 65
For example, the light guide fiber 32 is inserted through the illumination transmission hole 63 for connection.

In this embodiment, the illumination tube 61 is fixed to the tip body 14 with a screw 81.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Fan 48
Rotate. The wind 1 generated by the fan 48 passes through a ventilation hole 68 provided in the lighting tube 61 and is blown onto the flexible portion 17. Wind circulates through the gap 70 between the illumination tube 61 and the flexible portion 17, cools the flexible portion 17 whose temperature has increased due to the heat generated by the illumination lamp 46, and cools the flexible portion 17, which has increased in temperature due to the heat generated by the illumination lamp 46. Prevent heat transfer. In this embodiment, the cooling effect is improved by making the outer periphery of the illumination tube in the gap 70 uneven to increase the surface area.

According to this embodiment, by using a configuration in which the cooling fan 48 is used to generate cooling air, the gap 70 between the flexible portion 17 and the lighting tube 61 is forcibly cooled. 46 can be efficiently cooled, and heat transfer to the solid-state image sensor 25 can be prevented.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the distal end of the insertion portion and the optical adapter in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a lighting tube 61 is fitted onto the tip main body 14, a heat insulating member 66 is installed at the rear end of the light tube 61, and a lighting housing tube 45 is attached to the outer periphery of the heat insulating member 66. The lighting storage tube 45 is located inside the flexible part 71, and the flexible part 71 is connected to the distal end part 12 of the lighting tube 61 at a small end.

As the light transmission means between the illumination lamp 46 and the endoscope tip, a light guide fiber or a rod lens is used as in the first or second embodiment.

Further, the illumination lamp 46 is inserted into the flexible portion 17,
An illumination lamp cable 53 connected to an external power source (not shown) is connected.

According to this embodiment, since power is supplied to the illumination lamp 46 from an external power source, it can be used for a long time.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are similar to those of the first or second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the distal end of the insertion section and the optical adapter in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the outer circumference of the tip main body 14 and the illumination tube 61 are
Electric contacts 92.86 are provided at mutually corresponding positions on the inner periphery of the two, respectively, via insulating members 91.85. This lighting tube 6 is connected to the electrical contact 86 on the side of the lighting tube 61.
One end of an electric cable 88 inserted through a cable insertion hole 83 provided in 1 is connected. The other end of this electric cable 88 is connected to the illumination lamp 46 fixed by a fixing member 87.

Furthermore, one end of an insufficiency cable 93 is connected to the electrical contact 92 on the side of the distal end main body 14 . This electric cable 9
3 is inserted into the flexible portion 17, and the other end is connected to an external t4 source (not shown).

In this embodiment, the tip body 14 is equipped with a lighting tube 61! ? Then both electrical contacts 92.86 are connected and the electrical cable 93.86 is connected. Electrical contacts 92.86. Power is supplied to the illumination lamp 46 from an external power source via an electrical cable 88 .

According to this embodiment, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the illumination lamp 4
6 from an external power supply, it can be used for a long time.

The other functions and effects of the structure 6 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the distal end of the insertion section and the optical adapter in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the lighting storage tube 45 is screwed to the lighting tube 61.
Inside, there are 1 C lights as an illumination light source! L implemented in A36
ED35 is stored. In addition, in order to obtain white light,
There are three LEDs that emit light of different colors.
Being beaten.

As in the first and second embodiments, a light guide fiber or a rod lens is used as the light transmission means between the illumination light source and the distal end of the endoscope.

According to this embodiment, since the LED 35 is used as the illumination light source, the life of the illumination light source is long.

The other functions and effects of the configuration 9 are the same as those of the fourth embodiment.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and is not limited to, for example, winding the insertion portion around a drum.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the illumination light source is
Since it is placed further back in the axial direction of the insertion section than the I& element, it is possible to prevent heat transfer to the solid-state image sensor due to the heat generated by the illumination light source, and the temperature upper limit of the solid-state image sensor reduces the image captured by the solid-state @@la image element. without deteriorating image quality, and
Since the illumination light source and the tip are connected by an optical transmission means, a separate optical device is not required, and the optical transmission means can be shortened, making it possible to reduce transmission loss and cost at the illumination target. effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a WI side view showing the tip of the insertion section and the adapter, Figure 2 being a perspective view showing the entire family celebration Alt device; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the insertion section distal end and an adapter in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to the third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the insertion section distal end and the adapter. 5 is a front view of the lighting storage tube after removing the lighting storage tube from the lighting tube, and FIG. 6 is a J cross-section showing the tip of the insertion portion and the optical adapter in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion tube distal end and optical adapter according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a sectional view showing an adapter. 1... Endoscopy & i5A placement 2... Insertion section 12.
・Tip 25 ・Solid-state image sensor 46 ・・
・Illumination lamp 66...Insulating member 70...Gap part

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an endoscope having a solid-state imaging device as an imaging means at the distal end of the insertion section, an illumination device disposed near the distal end of the insertion section and further rearward in the axial direction of the insertion section than the solid-state imaging cord. An endoscope comprising: a light source; and a light transmission means that is optically connected to the illumination light source and transmits illumination light from the illumination light source to the distal end.