JPH0213773B2 - - 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 endoscope camera can be electrically connected to the shutter release button on the side via an externally exposed contact at the same time as the endoscope camera is attached, allowing the hand operating the endoscope to operate the camera release from the endoscope side. Something like this was proposed.

However, because the electrical connection is made by attaching and detaching the endoscope camera and the eyepiece of the endoscope, repeated attachment and detachment may cause poor conductivity in the externally exposed contacts, and especially during disinfection. By installing an electrical switch for the shutter release button on the endoscope side, which is highly necessary, when performing gas sterilization, such as ethylene oxide sterilization, it may lead to poor contact continuity, and chemical disinfection (endoscope When the entire mirror is immersed in a chemical solution, it is difficult to make it completely watertight, resulting in problems that make it difficult to thoroughly disinfect and clean the mirror with a chemical solution.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a semi-rigid material along the side of the eyepiece part of the endoscope from the outer peripheral surface of the approximately cylindrical mounting part provided on the camera. A release button for operating a release contact is provided at the end of the arm member, and a lead wire for connecting the release device and the release contact is provided within the arm member to allow internal viewing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera for an endoscope that allows the user to easily take photographs without missing a shot while performing various operations on the endoscope without changing the structure of the mirror side. .

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. The operating section 1 is also provided with an angle knob 7 for operating the curved section 4 in a curved manner, and a lock lever 8 for maintaining the curved state operated by the angle knob 7.
Inside the insertion section 5, an observation optical system (not shown) optically connects the distal end of the insertion section 5 and the eyepiece section 3 through the inside of the operation section 1, and an observation optical system (not shown) that optically connects the distal end of the insertion section 5 and the operation section 1. 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 is attached to the eyepiece section 3 of the endoscope 2 configured as described above.
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, for example, by bayonet engagement.

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

That is, in the figure, 15 is a semi-rigid tube with a required length which is an arm member, and this is made of a semi-rigid member such as copper or aluminum.
Its properties include that it can be bent in any direction, such as left and right, up and down, and that it maintains its bent state because it does not have rebound resilience. The semi-rigid tube 15 has one end connected to the distal outer circumferential surface of the mounting section main body 10a constituting the mounting section 10 via the mounting opening 16, and the other end protruding toward the endoscope 2. That is, it is attached to the side of the eyepiece 3 so as to extend linearly along the optical axis direction. Further, a release contact storage member 17 is provided at the protruding end of the semi-rigid tube 15, and an operation button 18 (release button) located outside the release contact storage member 17 and capable of being protruded and retracted is provided for operation. A movable electric contact 19 and a fixed electric contact 20 are housed in the release contact housing member 17 by the button 18.
It constitutes a release operation section 21 that can open and close a release contact consisting of. Each of the movable electrical contacts 19 and the fixed electrical contacts 20 of the release operation section 21 are inserted into the semi-rigid tube 15, and one end is connected to the release device 13 of the camera 9 through the mounting opening 16 and the mounting section main body 10a. For example, it is connected to lead wires 22, 22, so that a shutter release operation can be performed from the release operation section 21 side.

When photographing a subject such as an affected area within a body cavity through the endoscope 2 using the camera 9 configured as described above, first the camera 9 is moved to the endoscope 2.
Attach to. That is, to attach the camera 9, first attach the semi-rigid tube 15 to the lock lever 8 on the endoscope 2 side.
To prevent interference with the angle lever 7, etc., move it in the direction of the arrow, that is, in the outward direction (vertical direction).
Bend it to This bending operation maintains the semi-rigid tube 15 in its bent state. In this state, the mounting part 10 of the camera 9 is attached to the eyepiece part 3 of the endoscope 2.
Bayonet engagement is achieved by inserting the camera 9 into the mount part of the endoscope 2 and then rotating it by about 60 degrees, and the camera 9 can be easily attached to the eyepiece part 3 of the endoscope 2 without interfering with the lock lever 8 and the angle lever 7. Fixed smoothly.

After the camera 9 has been attached, the semi-rigid tube 15 is bent back as necessary, and the release operation section 21 is placed in a position where the button can be easily operated with the thumb of the left hand that operates the endoscope 2, for example. In other words, the release operation section 21 is connected to the endoscope 2 by the semi-rigid tube 15.
It will be held close to the various operation knobs. When bending back the semi-rigid tube 15, the semi-rigid tube 15 can be bent not only in one direction but also in the left and right directions, and the release operation section 21 has a considerable degree of freedom and can be placed in any position. Of course, the release operation section 21 can be set to When photographing, for example, by pressing the operation button 18 set near the operation part 1 of the endoscope 2 with the hand operating the operation part 1, the fixed electric contact 20 and the movable electric contact 19 are electrically connected. , the release device 13 of the camera 9 operates, and a photograph is taken through the eyepiece 3 using a film contained within the camera body 12.

Therefore, you can easily operate the camera 9 while performing various operations such as focus knob operation and angle operation with your right hand, and you can easily operate the camera 9 even when shooting a rapidly moving subject without missing a shot start. can do. In addition, since no separate electrical switch system is required on the endoscope 2 side, electrical troubles on the endoscope 2 side can be prevented, and the endoscope 2 side can be thoroughly sterilized with gas, disinfected with chemicals, and cleaned. It is something that can be done.

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

Further, in the above embodiment, a semi-rigid tube made of a semi-rigid metal member such as aluminum or copper is used, but the semi-rigid tube may be made of other semi-rigid members. However, the same effect can be achieved. An example that takes this point into consideration is
A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, and a third embodiment is shown in FIG.

That is, in the second embodiment, the semi-rigid tube 15 is constructed from a semi-rigid plastic tube 30, and the plastic tube 30 is provided with a core wire 31 for electrically connecting the release device 13 and the release operation section 21. It was buried. The material of the plastic tube 30 may be any semi-hard member such as Teflon, nylon, or polyethylene. The core material 31 may also be made of semi-hard material such as copper, aluminum, or brass.

The third embodiment has an outer line 3 having a substantially circular cross section.
3, an inner wire 34 with a concave portion is brought into close contact with the inner wire 34, and the semi-rigid tube 15 is constructed by winding both of them so that adjacent comrades are brought into close contact with each other. This makes it possible to maintain the bent state (semi-rigidity).

In addition, in all of the above-mentioned embodiments, a tubular member such as a semi-rigid pipe was used as the arm member, but it does not necessarily have to be tubular, and even a semi-rigid material member may be used. Of course it's a good thing.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the arm member made of a semi-rigid member extends from the outer peripheral surface of the approximately cylindrical mounting portion of the endoscope camera along the side of the eyepiece portion of the endoscope. A release button for operating the release contact is provided at the end of this arm member, and a lead wire for connecting the release device and the release contact is provided within the arm member, so that the endoscope camera can be attached to the endoscope. By connecting, the release button will be placed close to the various operation knobs of the endoscope, making it easy to operate the endoscope camera release while operating the endoscope and adjusting the focus. Can be done. Therefore,
Even with rapidly moving subjects, you can easily perform shooting operations without losing shutter speed. Further, since no changes are made to the endoscope, it is possible not only to prevent troubles in the endoscope, but also to sufficiently perform gas sterilization, chemical disinfection, and cleaning of the endoscope. Furthermore, since the arm member is provided protruding from the mounting portion and the release button is provided on the arm member, the structure is simple and cost-effective.

In addition, since the arm member is made of a semi-rigid material, if the arm member is bent when attaching the endoscope camera to the endoscope, it will interfere with various operation knobs such as the lock lever and angle lever of the endoscope. It can be installed smoothly without any trouble, and the installation operation can be made easier. Moreover, the arm member can be bent in any direction such as left/right, up/down, etc., and can be fixed in that position.
The release operation section can be moved to a position where it can be easily operated, and further operability can be achieved.

[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 a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the main parts thereof,
The figure is a partial perspective view showing a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a partially sectional side view showing the third embodiment. 2... Endoscope, 3... Eyepiece, 9... Endoscope camera, 10... Mounting part, 13... Release device, 15... Semi-rigid tube (arm member), 18...
Operation button (release button), 19...movable electric contact piece,
20...Fixed electrical contact piece, 22...Lead wire.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Consists of a substantially cylindrical mounting part that is detachably attached to the eyepiece of an endoscope, and an electrical release device, and the mounting part is attached to the eyepiece of the endoscope and the eyepiece is removed. In an endoscope camera that takes pictures through the eye, an arm member made of a semi-rigid material is extended from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting part along the side of the eyepiece part of the endoscope, and an end of the arm member is provided. An endoscope camera characterized in that a release button for operating a release contact is provided in the arm member, and a lead wire for connecting the release device and the release contact is provided in the arm member.