JPH0213772B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a release operation system for an endoscope camera.

Generally, an endoscope camera is configured to include a mounting section that is detachably connected to an eyepiece section of an endoscope. In use, as shown in Fig. 1, the camera e is attached to the eyepiece part c of the endoscope a, which is equipped with the focus knob b for focus adjustment (focus adjustment), through the attachment part d. It is possible to take a photograph of an object that enters through the observation optical system and the eyepiece c by operating a shutter release button f provided on the camera e.

However, when installing this type of camera e, the shutter release button f of the camera e is located at the bending operation knob g, the air/water supply operation knob h, and the focus knob b on the endoscope a side. There is a problem that it is far away from i.

For this reason, when photographing subjects with rapid movement,
Alternatively, when taking pictures while adjusting the focus, there may be a delay in moving the hand operating the endoscope A side to the shutter release button F side, causing problems such as missing the shutter timing. There is a possibility that it will not be possible to take a desired photograph.

Therefore, in recent years, an electric release device has been adopted on the endoscope camera side, and a shutter release button for operating the release device has been installed on the operation section of the endoscope, and the release device on the camera side and the endoscope The shutter release button on the side can be electrically connected via an external exposed contact at the same time as the endoscope camera is attached, so that the camera release button can be operated from the endoscope side with the hand operating the endoscope. It was suggested that something should be done.

However, because the electrical connection is made by attaching and detaching the endoscope camera and the eyepiece of the endoscope, repeated attachment and detachment causes poor conductivity in the externally exposed contacts, and especially when disinfecting. By installing an electrical switch for the shutter release button on the endoscope side, which is highly necessary, it can lead to poor contact conductivity when performing gas sterilization, such as ethylene oxide sterilization. When the entire mirror is immersed in a chemical solution, it is difficult to make it completely watertight.
This caused problems that made it difficult to perform chemical disinfection, cleaning, etc. sufficiently.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to facilitate various operations of the endoscope without missing a shutter start without changing the structure of the endoscope. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope camera that is capable of taking photographs.

The first aspect of the invention described in the scope of claims is configured to include a mounting part that is detachably mounted on the eyepiece part of an endoscope, and an electric release device, and the mounting part is connected to the eyepiece part of the endoscope. In an endoscope camera that is attached to the eye and takes pictures through the eyepiece, an arm member is provided with a release button at the tip for operating the release device, and the release button is pressed inside the arm member when attached to the endoscope. It is supported by the mounting portion so as to be slidable in the mounting direction so as to be movable between a position close to the endoscope and a position away from the endoscope.

The second aspect of the invention described in claim 2 is configured to include a mounting part that is detachably mounted on the eyepiece part of an endoscope, and an electric release device, and the mounting part is connected to the endoscope. In an endoscope camera that is attached to the eye and takes pictures through the eyepiece, an arm member is provided with a release button at the tip for operating the release device, and the release button is pressed inside the arm member when attached to the endoscope. It is rotatably supported on the mounting portion so as to be movable between a position close to the endoscope and a position away from the endoscope.

The present invention will be explained below based on a first embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 in Fig. 2 is the operation section of the endoscope 2, and this operation section 1 has focus (focus adjustment).
An eyepiece section 3 is provided with a focus knob 3a for performing operations. Further, an insertion section 5 having a curved section 4 on the distal end side and a universal cord 6 are connected to the operating section 1, respectively. Further, the operating section 1 is provided with an angle knob 7 for operating the bending section 4 in a bending manner, and a lock lever 8 for maintaining the bending state obtained by the bending operation using the angle knob 7. An observation optical system (not shown) optically connects the distal end of the insertion section 5 and the eyepiece section 3 through the interior of the operating section 1, and an observation optical system (not shown) that optically connects the distal end of the insertion section 5 and the operating section 1.
An illumination optical system (not shown) is provided which optically connects the universal cord 6 with a connector (not shown) for connecting a light source device (not shown).

An endoscope camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 9 of the eyepiece section 3 of the endoscope 2 configured in this manner
is installed. This camera 9 is composed of a camera body 12 having a cylindrical mounting part 10 on the front side and an eyepiece part 11 on the rear side. A release device 13 is provided that electrically operates the shutter by operating a main release button (not shown). Therefore, by operating the main release button, a photograph can be taken using the film contained within the camera body 12. Further, this camera 9 can be detachably fixed to the eyepiece section 3 of the endoscope 2 via a mounting section 10 by bayonet engagement, for example.

The mounting portion 10 of the camera 9 configured as described above is provided with an auxiliary shutter release operating mechanism 14 which is a release operating means which is the gist of the present invention. The structure of this auxiliary shutter release operating mechanism 14 will be explained as shown in FIG.

That is, in the figure, 15 is an arm member having a desired length, and on the board side of this arm member 15, there are 3
An annular slide ring 15a having a cross section with one side closed and an inner side open is provided. The slide ring 15a of this arm member 15 is
The arm member 15 is fitted onto the outer circumferential surface of the mounting section main body 10a constituting the mounting section 10, and the arm member 15 is loosely inserted into the groove 17 carved in the collar section 16 provided on the endoscope connection side of the mounting section main body 10a. The arm member 15 can be fitted and freely extended toward the endoscope 2 side, that is, the arm member 15 can be linearly extended toward the operating section 1 side of the endoscope 2 along the axial direction of the eyepiece section 3 (longitudinal direction of the mounting section 10). It has a structure that allows it to be extended. And this arm member 15
An operation button 16a that can be protruded and retracted is provided on the outside of the extending end of the
Further, a release contact 18 consisting of a fixed electric contact 17a and a movable electric contact 17b is provided inside the operation button 16a.
6 constitutes a release operation section 19 that can open and close the release contact 18. Furthermore, regarding the relationship structure between the release operation section 19 and the release device 13 on the camera body 12 side, the arm member 15 side has a movable electrical connection on the base end surface of the arm member 15 so as to protrude toward the inner cavity of the slide ring 15a. The pieces 18a and 18b are arranged side by side, and the protruding sides of these movable electric contact pieces 18a and 18b are formed into an arc shape so as to be elastically biased toward the mounting portion main body 10a. Each of these movable electric contacts 18a,
18b, each fixed electric contact 17a on the extending side of the arm member 15, and the movable electric contact piece 17b are connected to the arm member 1.
5 and are connected by lead wires 20a and 20b inserted through the inside. In addition, on the mounting part 10 side, each movable electric contact piece 18a, 1 when the arm member 15 is fully extended toward the endoscope 2 side stopped by the collar part 16.
Fixed electrical contacts 21 correspond to the positions of 8b, respectively.
a, 21b are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion main body 10a,
These fixed electrical contacts 21a and 21b are connected to lead wires 22a and 22b provided in the side wall of the mounting portion main body 10a.
It is connected to the release device 13 on the camera body 12 side through the camera body 12 side. Therefore, when the arm member 15 is fully extended toward the endoscope 2, the fourth
As shown in the figure, each movable electric contact piece 18a, 18b and each fixed electric contact point 21a, 21b are electrically connected, and the operating structure is such that the shutter release operation can be performed using the release operation section 19. The extension of the arm member 15 is such that it is placed in a position where it will not interfere with various operating devices in the operating section 1 of the endoscope 2, and the mounting section main body 10a is electrically connected. Constructed using insulating material,
The movable electric contacts 18a and 18b are electrically insulated.

When photographing a subject such as an affected area in a body cavity through the endoscope 2 using the camera 9 configured as described above, the arm member 15 is moved (stored) toward the camera body 12 and the camera is 9
The attachment part 10 is inserted into the mount part of the eyepiece part 3 of the endoscope 2, and then rotated, for example, by about 60 degrees.
Bayonet engagement is thus achieved, and the camera 9 is smoothly fixed to the eyepiece 3 of the endoscope 2 without interfering with the lock lever 8 or the angle knob 7. Note that when the camera 9 is attached, the electrical continuity between the movable electrical contacts 18a, 18b and the fixed electrical contacts 21a, 21b is cut off, and even if the operation button 16a is operated by mistake, the release device 13 of the camera 9 will not be activated. I don't work. When the camera 9 is attached and the camera 9 is to be photographed, the arm member 15 is extended toward the endoscope 2 until the slide ring 15a abuts against the collar 16, so that the release operation section 19 can be used to perform various operations on the endoscope 22. As the movable electrical contacts 18a, 18b and the fixed electrical contacts 21a, 21b reach the vicinity of the knob, electrical continuity is established between the movable electrical contacts 18a and 18b and the fixed electrical contacts 21a and 21b, and the shutter can be operated from the auxiliary shutter release operating mechanism 14 side. Become. (3rd
As shown in the figure), when operating the camera 9 while performing various operations such as bending the endoscope 2 or adjusting the focus with the right hand, it is necessary to use the hand that grips the operating section 1, for example, the thumb of the left hand. If you extend the button and press the operation button 16a located close to your hand, the fixed electrical contact 17a and the movable electrical contact 17b will be electrically connected, and the release device 1 of the camera 9 will be activated.
3 is operated, and a photograph is taken through the eyepiece 3 using a film contained within the camera body 12.

Therefore, the camera 9 can be easily operated while performing various operations from the endoscope 2 side, and even a rapidly moving subject can be easily photographed without losing the shutter speed. Moreover, when this auxiliary shutter release operation is not required (for example, when operating using the main release button or when operating only the endoscope), the arm member 15 is moved from the camera 9.
If the camera 9 is stored on the side of the mounting section 10, it will not get in the way when operating the endoscope, and there will be no interference with the operation knobs of the operation section 1 when the camera 9 is mounted, making it easy to handle and operate. The installation operation is easy. In addition, since there is no need for a separate electrical switch system on the endoscope 2 side for connection with the camera 9, it is possible to prevent electrical troubles on the endoscope 2 side, and to sterilize the endoscope 2 with gas and chemicals. It can be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is used as an auxiliary shutter release operating system for a camera, and is used in combination with the main shutter release, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and only the release operating means provided on the mounting part is used for the camera. Of course, it can also be used as a shutter release operation system.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes, for example, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. The fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may also be used.

That is, the second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, in which the fixed electrical contacts 21a and 21b are made into long plate shapes along the moving direction of the arm member 15, so that the arm member 15 in the above embodiment can be viewed from inside. In contrast to the configuration in which electrical conduction occurs when the arm member 15 is extended (moved) to the mirror 2 side the most, the arm member 15 is connected to the camera body 12.
The structure is such that conduction is broken only when the arm member 15 is stored at the side, that is, when the amount of protrusion of the arm member 15 is the shortest. With this configuration, the shutter release operation can be performed even when the arm member 15 is moved to an appropriate position, and the operability when operating the camera 9 can be further improved.

The third embodiment is a modification of the first and second embodiments described above, in which two lead wires 25a and 25b are inserted into the inner cavity of the slide ring 15a without using fixed electrical contacts and movable electrical contacts. One end of these lead wires 25a and 25b is inserted into the arm member 15 and connected to the movable electrical contact 17b and the fixed electrical contact 17a on the release operation section 19 side, and the other end is The device is connected to the release device 13 through the side wall of the mounting portion main body 10a, and even in this case, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

In the fourth embodiment, the arm member 15 has a rotatable structure. Specifically, a bearing part 26 is provided on the mounting part main body 10a, and the arm member 1
5 is rotatably fixed via a shaft 27.
Then, when the arm member 15 is further extended toward the endoscope 2 by a rotational operation so that the arm member 15 is approximately parallel to the optical axes of the camera 9 and the endoscope 2, electrical conduction is established. Jacks 28a and 28b are provided on the arm member 15 side to maintain this state by a mechanical click action, and are electrically connected to the fixed electrical contacts 17a and the movable electrical contacts 17b.
Plugs 29a and 29b are provided on the mounting portion main body 10a side.

The fifth embodiment is a modification of the fourth embodiment, in which the shaft 2
Lead wires 30a and 30b are wound around the outer peripheral surface of 7,
One end of these lead wires 30a, 30b is inserted into the arm member 15 and connected to the movable electrical contact 17b and the fixed electrical contact 17a on the release operation section 16 side, and the other end is similarly passed through the side wall of the mounting section main body 10a. It is connected to the release device 13.

In addition, in FIGS. 5 to 8, the same components as those of the first embodiment described above are given the same numbers, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

According to the inventions 1 and 2 described in claims as described above, by moving the arm member in the direction of approaching the endoscope, the release button is placed close to the various operation knobs of the endoscope. Therefore, the release operation of the endoscope camera can be easily performed while operating the endoscope and adjusting the focus. Therefore, even when photographing a rapidly moving subject, it is possible to carry out photographing operations without losing the shutter speed. Moreover, the release button can be moved away from the endoscope when it is not needed, so it does not get in the way when operating the endoscope, or when attaching the endoscope camera to the endoscope. It does not interfere with the various operating knobs of the endoscope and is easy to handle. In addition, since endoscopes undergo no structural changes, there are no electrical problems on the endoscope side, and the endoscopes are thoroughly sterilized with gas, disinfected with chemical solutions, and cleaned. The effect is also great for endoscopes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the operation status of a conventional endoscope camera, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an endoscope camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a release operation means. 4 is a plan view along the line from FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the fifth embodiment. 2... Endoscope, 3... Eyepiece, 9... Endoscope camera, 10... Mounting part, 10a... Mounting part main body, 13... Release device, 14... Auxiliary shutter release operation Mechanism (release operation means), 1
5... Arm member, 16a... Operation button (release button), 19... Release operation section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device comprising a mounting part that is detachably mounted on the eyepiece of an endoscope, and an electric release device, and the mounting part is mounted on the eyepiece of the endoscope. , in an endoscope camera that takes pictures through an eyepiece, an arm member having a release button at its tip for operating the release device is brought close to the endoscope when the arm member is attached to the endoscope; An endoscope camera, characterized in that the endoscope camera is supported by the mounting portion so as to be slidable in the mounting direction so as to be movable between the position and the separated position. 2. It is comprised of a mounting part that is detachably attached to the eyepiece of an endoscope, and an electric release device, and the mounting part is attached to the eyepiece of the endoscope and images are taken through the eyepiece. In an endoscope camera, an arm member having a release button at its tip for operating the release device is arranged in a position where the release button is brought close to the endoscope and a position where the release button is separated from the endoscope when the arm member is attached to the endoscope. A camera for an endoscope, characterized in that the camera is rotatably supported on the mounting part so as to be movable between the parts.