JPH02210414A - Endoscope connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To align the optical axis of an image guide and the optical axis of a subject observing means by providing a tapered part for aligning the optical axes on a connector and pressing the tapered part by an energizing means, thereby connecting the connector and the subject observing means. CONSTITUTION:The front end part of a socket insertion part 23 is provided with the tapered part 24 which is so formed as to be reduced in diameter in the front end direction and further, a small diameter part is formed on the front end side of the tapered part 24. The tapered part 24 is provided in the socket insertion part 23 and the tapered hole 67 on a socket part 19 side in such a manner. This tapered part 24 and the tapered hole 67 are pressed by a coil spring 49. The optical axis of the connector 11 and the optical axis of the socket part 19 side are easily aligned in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope connector device for transmitting an object image.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention] In recent years, a blurry camera has been attached to the eyepiece optical system of an endoscope, so that it can be viewed by multiple observers on a TV monitor, or recorded using a video system and played back repeatedly. Methods are being taken to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

The above method is also applied to endoscopes used during surgery, such as angioscopes, but since these endoscopes are used during surgery, there is a distinction between clean areas and unclean areas. Generally i
-Review cameras and the like become unclean areas due to drawings that cannot be disinfected or sterilized, and the eyepiece of the endoscope to which the television camera is connected also becomes an unclean area and cannot be touched by the operator. To this end, an endoscope has been devised, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-232311, in which the operating section of the endoscope, which is frequently touched by the operator, is separated from the eyepiece section.

In addition, in order to make it simpler, smaller and lighter than an endoscope,
1-201134 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63278016, the eyepiece lens is removed from the endoscope and directly
A technique is shown in which an image guide is connected to a camera to form an image of a subject. Zarani, U.S. Patent No. 462 = 1
? No. I3 shows an endoscope with a removable eyepiece and insertion section.

By the way, when connecting an image guide and a TV camera or an eyepiece, the image transmitted through the image guide is incident on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state imaging element or the eyepiece optical system, and the - part of the image is It is necessary to align the optical axis on the image guide side with the optical axis on the -FV camera or eyepiece side.

However, the above conventional example, JP-A No. 63-278016,
No. Publication (.) does not mention this point, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-201134 uses a click mechanism.
The connector is held open freely (one is fixed, but active means 1J for aligning the optical axes is not provided).

Generally speaking, in Yoneda Patent No. 4,624,243, since the eyepiece and the insertion portion are connected by screwing, there was a problem in that the optical axis of the image guide and the optical axis of the imaging optical system were misaligned due to play in the screw portion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an endoscope connector that has a simple structure, allows easy film deposition, and allows the optical axis of the image guide to accurately match and cover the optical axis of the object observation means. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The endoscope-1 neck device of the present invention has the following features:
i- for aligning the optical axis with at least one of the first stage side
a tapered portion is provided, and the tapered portion is brought into contact with the biasing means,
] Connects the connector to the object observation means, etc.

In the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of connectors or object observation means.
A tapered portion is provided on at least one side, and the biasing means connects the tapered portion and the object observation means with their optical axes aligned.

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

FIGS. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the endoscope connector device, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the 1-vessel endoscope, and Figure 4 is a detail of section A in Figure 3. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the attached device to which the angioscope is connected, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cam ring and socket, and Figure 7 is a BB-force direction diagram of Figure 6. , FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line c-c' in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a clear view C in the case where the connector part and the socket part are connected together.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, the endoscope apparatus 1 of this embodiment is
is the T to which the angioscope 2 and the angioscope vi2 are connected.
It is composed of a V camera device 3, a light source device 4 that supplies illumination light to the angioscope 2, and a monitor 6 that displays an endoscopic image obtained from the angioscope 2.

The angioscope 2 includes a flexible and elongated insertion section 7 and a grip section 8 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 7. Further, a universal cord 9 extends from the rear end of the grip portion 8, and an image guide-1 connector 11 is provided at the end of the universal cord 9. A light guide cord] 2 extends from the side of the image guide connector 11, and this light guide cord 1
A lie 1-guide connector 13 is provided at the rear end of the lie 1-guide connector 13.

As shown in FIG.
5. The object image is transmitted to the imaging position of the objective lens 14.
L′? An incident end surface of the image guide connector 17 is provided. Further, a copper end face of a light guide fiber 18 for transmitting illumination light is provided at the rear of the light distribution lens 16, and this light guide fiber 18 is connected to the insertion part 7 and the grip part 8.
The universal cord 9 is inserted through the image guide connector 1 and the light guide connector 12 to reach the light guide connector 3.

The image guide connector 1 is detachably connected to the socket portion 19 of the TV camera device 3. When the image guide connector 11 is connected to one socket part, the direction of the light guide cord '12 is horizontally spaced, and the TV set 3 is connected in parallel. The light kite connector 13 can be easily connected to the light source socket part 21 of the light source device 4.

The light source device 4 has a light source unit (not shown) that generates illumination light, and the illumination light generated from this light source unit is transmitted to the light guide-Nova 18 installed in the connected light 1 to guide 2 connector 13. It is designed to supply almost 9A.

The TV camera device 3 is arranged on the right side of a TV camera (not shown), and a subject image transmitted through an image kite fiber 17 installed in an image guide connector 11 is incident on the TV camera.

Furthermore, the TV camera device 3 electrically converts the subject image incident from the image guide fiber 1-7, performs predetermined signal processing, and displays the endoscopic image on the monitor 6.

In FIG. 2, the image guide-1 connector 11 is attached to a main body portion 22 which is gripped when the abutment is connected to the socket portion 19.
and a socket insertion portion 23 formed to have a smaller diameter than the main body portion 22J inserted into the socket portion 19.

The main body part 22 and the socket insertion part 23 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the socket insertion part 23 is fitted into the main body part 22 and fixed with a screw 24a.

A tapered portion 24 is formed at the distal end of the socket insertion portion 23 so that the diameter becomes smaller in the distal direction, and a narrower diameter portion 26 is further formed on the distal end side of the tapered portion 24.

Socket insertion part 2 on the main body part 22 side from the tapered part 24
Pins 27 and 27 are screwed into the large diameter portion 25, which is the outer circumferential wall of No. 3, at an angle of 180 degrees to each other and protrude in the radial direction.

A cover glass 28 is attached to the distal end surface of the socket insertion portion 23 to prevent dust from entering the socket insertion portion 23. The image guide fiber 1 is placed in the socket insertion portion 23 by the cover glass 28.
7 is inserted, and this image guide fiber 17
The output end face of the light emitting device faces the cover glass 28 .

The tip of the image guide fiber 7 has a main body 2.
Flange part 29a1 on the 2 side, small diameter holding part 2 on the tip side
An image guide holding member 29 having a numeral 9b formed thereon is fitted onto the outside and fixed with an adhesive or the like.

A cylindrical centering member 31, which is slidably provided on the inner peripheral wall of the socket insertion part 23, is screwed into the peripheral wall of the holding part 29b in the radial direction, and is arranged at an angle of 180 degrees to the right of each other. The tips of the centering screws 32 and 32 that have been removed will come into contact with each other, so loosen one of the centering screws 32,
By screwing in the other centering screw 32, the longitudinal center of the image guide fiber 7 can be adjusted, that is, centered.

The outer circumferential wall of the centering member 31 and the centering screw 32
An adjustment recess 33 for moving the centering member 31 in the longitudinal direction is provided closer to the main body 22. An upper hole 36 is provided in the peripheral wall of the socket insertion portion 230 corresponding to the adjustment recess 33, and the centering screw 32
．． A hole 34 is formed in the peripheral wall of the soget insertion portion 23 corresponding to the hole 32.
．． 34 are provided.

In FIG. 1, the sockets 1 to '19 (, 19) provided in the TV camera device 3 are composed of a one-person portion 37 and a small diameter portion 38, the large diameter portion 37 is located inside the TV camera device 3, and the small diameter portion Attach the screws 4.1 and 41 through the mounting portion IJ39.39 so that the portion 38 is exposed to the outside of the TV camera device 3.
It is fixed by ,...

The circumference of the small diameter portion 38 is covered by a substantially cylindrical J pal member 42 so that there is a space between the small diameter portion 38 and the cover member 42. The end of the old cover portion 42 on the connector 11 side is closed and forms a wall portion 43 .

A small-diameter sliding portion 46 is formed on the connector 11 side by the stepped portion 44 of the small-diameter portion 38, and a substantially cylindrical cam ring 41 is slidably provided on this sliding portion 46. A flange portion 48 is provided on the outer circumferential wall of the cam ring 47 on the TV camera device 3 side. 49 is energized and set cJ. When the connector 11 is not connected, the cam ring 47 is a spring/19
In J, the flange part /I8 and the step part 4/l are in contact with each other.

Incidentally, a long hole 61 is provided in the peripheral wall of the cam ring 47 in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. The pin 62 is engaged, and rotation of the cam ring 47 is restricted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, cam grooves 51 and 51 are provided in the cam ring 7I7, as shown in J3. This cam groove 5
1.51 is a continuous vertical 2111 part 53 and diagonal groove part 571
and a horizontal groove portion 55, and a vertical groove portion 531 is open toward the connector 11 side of the cam ring 47. Further, the sliding portion 46 is provided with a 56.56 mm. This cam groove 56 continuously covers a vertical groove portion 57, an oblique groove portion 58, and a vertical groove portion 59.
Connector 1 consisting of vertical groove part 57G and sliding part/16
It has a frontage on the 1st side. Part 4J of the diagonal groove part 58 of this sliding part 46: When the TJ connector 11 is not connected,
As shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the slope 63 of.

A communicating hole 64 is provided in the socket portion 19, and the hole 64 has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 25 of the insertion portion 190 from the connector 11 side to the socket 1. The socket insertion hole 66 and the booper part 24 of the socket insertion part 23 inserted through the socket insertion hole 66 come into contact with each other, and the taper hole 67 having substantially the same taper angle as the socket insertion hole 66 and the taper part 24 of the socket insertion part 23 inserted through the socket insertion hole 66 come into contact. image guide fiber 17, 1
An imaging lens system 68 for forming an image of the subject is sequentially provided with a lens hole 69.

Incidentally, the center of the tapered hole 67 and the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 are aligned with each other.

Inside the lens hole 69, the imaging lens system 68 has a solid 11i3 imager 7 as an object observation means.
A ll-long image surface of 1 is provided. This solid side 11 child 7
1 is in contact with the tip 9η: of an adjustment screw 7272 for aligning the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 screwed into the socket portion 19 in the radial direction with the optical axis of the solid-state image element 71. C
11' The optical axis is adjusted by loosening one adjusting screw 72 and screwing the other adjusting screw 72.

The operation of the endoscope=1 connector device 5 configured as described above will be explained.

Adjustment of the light 1111 of the image guide fiber 17 inserted through the image guide connector 11 is performed as follows.

When one centering screw 32 screwed into the centering member 31 is loosened and the other centering screw 32 is screwed in, the image guide fiber 17 is pressed in the direction in which it is screwed in through the holding member 29. - (The optical axis moves, and the center line of the 7" connector 11 and the 1st beam of the image guide fiber 17 are adjusted.

In addition, a light rod-shaped T shell is inserted into the hole 36 in the adjustment recess 33, and the holding member 29 is moved via the centering member 31.
The output end face of the image guide fiber 17 is moved in the longitudinal direction.

The optical axis adjustment of the image guide connector 11 is performed as described above.

When connecting the image guide connector 11 to the TV camera device 3, connect it to the cam groove 56 of the socket part 19 and the small notch provided in the screw surface on the connector 11 side of the cover member 42. J, and push the connector 11 into the socket insertion hole 66 so that the pin 27 enters the IC hole.

In FIG. 9, when the pin 27 passes through the vertical groove 57 and approaches the diagonal groove 58, the diagonal groove 58 of the cam ring 51
Press the slope 63 of. , IJ Mu ring 51 is T V jJ
On the side of the camera device 3, there is a 49-C1lp
However, by rotating the connector 11, the 'Cl
J in figure ij (shi), the sea urchin pin 27 connects the cam ring 47 to the second J.
By rotating the connector 11, the pin 27 moves the C cam ring 51 in the direction of the arrow along the diagonal groove 58. 1.9 by increasing the biasing force of the spring 49 until it reaches the vertical groove 59 as shown in FIG.
The horizontal spiral portion 55 on the cam ring 47 side presses the pin 27 in the direction of the arrow E by the forces A and 1 and moves it to the inner end of the vertical groove portion 59 on the sliding portion 46 side. At the same time as the pin 27 is moved to the far end of the vertical groove portion 59, the nozzle portion 24 comes into contact with the back hole 67. The taper angle between the taper part 24 and the taper hole 67 is a3, and the taper part 24 is pressed against the taper hole 67 by the spring 19. , J, that is, the optical axis of the fiber 17 and the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 coincide with each other. By aligning the optical axes, the solid-state image sensor 7
A subject image with no vignetting is formed on the first goose image plane, and a clear endoscopic image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 6.

If an external force is applied to pull out the connector 11 in the connected state, the force J of the spring 49 and the diagonal vortex portion 58 prevent it from being pulled.

Furthermore, if an external force that causes the connector 11 to rotate is applied, the vertical groove portion 59 will be bent to prevent this.

When removing the connector 11 from the TV camera mount @3, first pull the connector 11, pull the pin 27 to the diagonal spiral portion 58, and rotate it after the IC. This allows the connector 11 to be removed from the socket 19.

As described above, in this embodiment, the socket insertion part 23 is provided with the tapered part 24, and the socket part 19 is provided with the 7-hole hole 67, and the tapered part 24 and the tapered hole 67 are connected to each other.
The optical axis of the connector 11 and the optical axis of the socket portion 19 can be easily aligned (by pressing).

Moreover, by providing the cam grooves 51 and 56, the two l connectors 11 can be easily attached and detached.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an inner 81 mirror=1 connector device connected to an eyepiece according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The structure of the image guide connector 11 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, the structure of the eyepiece section 76 is partially similar to the structure of the small diameter section 38 of the first embodiment, and similar members will be designated by the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

The eyepiece section 76, which serves as an object observation means, consists of a small diameter section 38, a large diameter section 37, and an eyepiece 77 from the connector 11 side. An eyepiece lens system 78 and an adjustment lens group 79 are provided as shown in FIG.
9 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed within a movable ring 81 that is slidably installed in the lens hole 69. A pin 82 is screwed into the outer circumferential wall of the movable ring 81 so as to protrude in the radial direction. It looks like this.

Further, the large diameter portion 371 of this pin 82 is a protruding portion that engages in a cam groove 86 provided in a cylindrical cam ring 83 rotatably fitted into the large diameter portion 37. It has become.

This cam groove 86 is provided obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction. The cam ring 83 is externally fitted onto the large diameter portion 37 by an adjustment ring 87, and is fixed to the adjustment ring 87 by a screw 88. In addition, the adjustment ring 87 is attached to the large diameter portion 3.
7 is rotatably installed.

The eyepiece 77 is provided with a cover glass 89, and the object image can be observed with the naked eye through the cover glass 89.

Note that the shape of the eyepiece 77 is similar to that of an external imaging device (=J
-f) It can be C cut J, and it has an eel shape.

The connection between the eyepiece part 76 and the connector 11 in this embodiment is the first one.
The procedure is carried out in the same manner as in Example [1].

Further, the diopter can be adjusted using an adjustment ring 87. However, by rotating the adjustment ring 87, the cam ring 83 is fixed to the adjustment ring 87.
rotates, and the pin 82, which is engaged in the cam groove 86 of the cam ring 83 and whose rotation is restricted by the elongated hole 84, moves in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the Tll moving ring 81 moves in the longitudinal direction, and the diopter can be adjusted.

In this embodiment, the eyepiece 76 can be easily connected to the connector 11, and the optical axis of the connector 11 and the eyepiece 76 can be easily connected.
It is possible to avoid alignment with the optical axis of the

Also, as in the first embodiment, the image of the family celebration can be easily observed with the naked eye without using the camera device 3 or monitor 6.

Furthermore, in addition to visual observation, a cine camera, still camera, etc. can be connected to the eyepiece 77, allowing for a wider range of uses.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a new view of an endoscope connector device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to connection with the TV camera device 3, as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the stopper hole 67 of the first embodiment is replaced with a stepped portion 91. The other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used to omit the explanation.

The connector 11 is located in the hole 64 of the socket portion 19 in this embodiment.
From the side, there is a socket insertion hole 66, a narrow diameter portion 92 formed at a stepped portion 91 to be smaller in diameter than the socket insertion portion 66, and an imaging lens system 6.
Lens holes 69 with numbers 8 and 10 are provided in order.

In this embodiment, when the connector 11 is pushed into the socket insertion hole 66, the tapered part 24 comes into contact with the edge 93 formed by the stepped part 91, the narrow diameter part 92, etc., and is pressed by the coil spring 49. maintained in the state. ] By being suppressed by the illumination spring 49 (-), the optical axis of the image guide fiber 17 and the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 are aligned, and a subject image without vignetting is focused on the imaging surface of the solid-state imaging cable 71. Image.

In this embodiment, the taper process only needs to be performed on the connector 11 side, and the same effect can be obtained at a lower cost.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, like the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to the connection of the TV camera device 3.

In this embodiment, the tapered portion 24 of the first embodiment is replaced with a stepped portion 96. The configuration thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given and the explanation will be omitted.

The socket insertion hole 23 of the connector 11 of this embodiment consists of a thinner diameter portion 97, a stepped portion 96, and a larger diameter portion 98 from the tip. The outer diameter of the narrow diameter portion 97 is the same as that of the tapered hole 6 on the socket portion 19 side.
7 and the lens hole 69.

In this embodiment, when the connector 11 is pushed into the socket insertion hole 66, the edge 101 formed by the tip end surface of the socket insertion portion 23 and the narrow diameter portion 97 comes into contact with the exit hole 67. Further, the coil spring 49 has a J: edge 101 and a tapered hole 6.
7 is pressed and held in this pressed state.

By being pressed by the coil spring 49, the optical axis of the image guide fiber 17 and the optical axis of the imaging lens system 68 are aligned, and a subject image without vignetting is formed on the imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 71.

Other configurations, operations, and effects (same as in the first embodiment).

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the configuration is simple, easy to operate, and the optical axis of the image guide and the optical axis of the object observation means can be accurately aligned. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an endoscope] A ZX cross-sectional view of the overall configuration of the connector device,
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the connector, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the angioscope, Figure 4 is a detailed view of section A in Figure 3, and Figure 5 (J shows the attached device to which the angioscope is connected). Explanatory drawings, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cam ring and socket part, FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line c-c' in FIG. 6. Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram when connecting the connector part and the socket part,
FIG. 0 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope connector device connected to the eyepiece according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
According to the embodiment, a cross-sectional view of the inner pA mirror=I connector device, the first
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an endoscope connector device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 1... Angioendoscope 5... Endoscope: 1 Connector device 11... Image guide connector 17... Image guide fiber

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope connector device comprising an image guide that transmits a subject image, and a connector that can detachably connect a proximal end of the image guide to a subject observation means, comprising: the connector or the subject observation means; An endoscope connector device, characterized in that a tapered portion is formed in at least one of the foregoing to align the optical axis, and the tapered portion is brought into contact with an urging means to connect the connector and the object observation means. .