JPH0230684B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus including a controlled means such as an air supply device.

[Problems with the Prior Art] In general, an endoscope is provided with an air supply device as a controlled means, for example, to facilitate photographing of the internal cavity of a human body. A cavity is created by supplying air to the endoscope, and a predetermined distance is maintained between the objective lens of the endoscope and the subject.

Conventionally, such endoscope devices have a method in which the piston mechanism is manually driven, and a method in which the piston mechanism is manually driven.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 10702, there is a system in which an air pump is driven by a motor for a certain period of time. The former type of device has the drawback that it is manual, which puts a heavy burden on the operator, while the latter type of device has a motor that is driven for a certain period of time, so air can be continued for an arbitrary period of time, or There is a problem in that it is difficult to adjust the amount of air supplied. In particular, in the case of this latter method, when a large amount of air is supplied at the start of observation, when the air supply is replenished during observation, and when the cloud at the end of the endoscope is removed by air supply, However, since each air supply amount is different, there is a problem in that a manual piston mechanism that can be finely adjusted must be installed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an endoscope device that can easily select the operating time of the fluid control means, which is set in advance to a predetermined time. It is in.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide an endoscope having a fluid conduit means and an operating section, and an endoscope disposed distally to the operating section that controls fluid to the fluid conduit means. and a time setting means for setting at least two types of times for activating the fluid control means, and activating the fluid control means in accordance with the set time of the time setting means. This is achieved by an endoscope apparatus including a control means for starting the control means, a starting means provided on the operation section for starting the control means, and a selection means for selecting the setting time of the time setting means. .

An embodiment of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] Referring to FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The endoscope apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a suction device and a water supply device in addition to an air supply device. In the figure, a suction tube 4 and a flow tube 6 extend to the distal end portion 2 of the endoscope. As shown in the figure, the end of the suction pipe 4 extends into the suction tank 7. At the opening of this suction tank 7, one end of a suction connecting pipe 8 is airtightly provided together with the suction pipe 4, and the other end is connected to a first suction port 11 of a suction pump 10. This suction pump 10 is further provided with a second suction port 12, and this second suction port 12 is communicated with the outside air via an auxiliary connecting pipe 14. A normally open flow control valve 1 is connected to the auxiliary connecting pipe 14.
5 is provided, and the opening and closing of this conduit is configured to be controllable. The first and second suction pumps 10
The suction ports 11 and 12 are each provided with a valve, and a discharge port 16 is also provided.

The air supply pipe 6 has an air supply pipe 18 in the middle of the pipe line.
The water pipe 20 is branched into a water pipe 20 , and the water pipe 20 extends into a liquid transport tank 22 . Water, physiological saline, or the like is stored in the liquid supply tank 22, and one end of a connecting pipe 24 is airtightly attached to the opening of the tank 22 together with the water supply pipe 20. The air supply pipe 18 is connected to the first air supply port of the flow pump 30 via a normally closed flow control valve 26 that controls opening and closing of the pipe line and a connecting portion 28 to which the other end of the connecting pipe 24 is connected. It is connected to 32. This flow pump 30 is further provided with a second air supply port 34 , and this air supply port 32 communicates with the outside air via an auxiliary connecting pipe 36 . A normally open flow control valve 3 is provided in the connecting pipe 36 to control opening and closing of the pipe.
8 is inserted.

Each of the flow control valves 15, 26, 38 includes a solenoid 40, 42, 44, and each of these solenoids is connected to a drive signal generator 4 as shown in the figure.
6, and this drive signal generator 46 is connected to a suction switch 48, a water supply switch 50, and an air supply switch 52.

The suction and water supply switches 48 and 50 are, for example, commonly known push button type switches, and the air supply switch 52 is, for example, a first switch, a second switch, as shown in FIGS. 2A, B, and C. and third contact pieces 64, 66 and 68, none of which are in contact as shown in FIG. 2A in a normal state,
As shown in FIG. 2B, when the push button 70 is pushed to the first stroke position, the first and second contact pieces 64, 6
6 come into contact with each other, a first insufflation signal is generated, and the second push button 70 is pressed as shown in FIG. 2C.
When pushed to the stroke position, the first, second and third contact pieces 64, 66, 68 are configured to come into contact with each other and a second air supply signal is generated. That is,
This air supply switch 52 selectively controls the first and second air supply switches.
It is configured to be able to generate an air supply signal.

The drive signal generator 46 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the suction switch 48 is connected to a trigger detection circuit 72 that detects the closing of the contact piece of this switch 48, and a time width generation circuit 74 that operates upon receiving a detection signal from this trigger detection circuit 72 detects this trigger. It is connected to the detection circuit 72. This time width generating circuit 74 includes a time width setting circuit 76 that sets the time width to be given to this circuit 74. The time width setting circuit 76 is a circuit whose time constant can be variably set using, for example, a variable resistor 78. The time width generating circuit 74 is a valve that closes the normally open circulation control valve 15 by energizing the solenoid 40 of the circulation control valve 15 for suction operation as long as this circuit continues to generate the activation signal for the set signal. It is connected to the drive circuit 80.

The first and second contact pieces 6 of the air supply switch 52
4 and 66 are connected to a trigger detection circuit 82 similarly to the suction switch 48, and this trigger detection circuit 82 is connected to a time width generation circuit 84.
The third contact piece 68 of the air supply switch 52 is connected to a time width setting circuit 86 included in the time width generating circuit 84 . This time width setting circuit 86 can set the time width to an arbitrary time _t1 using a variable resistor 88, and when the closing signal is supplied from the third contact piece 68, the set time can be changed to a circuit-specific value. The setting time is configured to switch to a specific setting time t ₂ which is usually longer than the setting time by the variable resistor 88 . The time range setting circuit 86 is connected to a drive circuit 90 that controls energization of the solenoid 42 of the normally closed flow control valve 26 and a valve drive circuit 92 that controls energization of the solenoid 44 of the normally open flow control valve 38. There is.

The water supply switch 50 is also connected to a trigger detection circuit 94 similar to the suction switch 48, and this trigger detection circuit 94 is connected to a time width generation circuit 100 having a time width setting circuit 98 including a variable resistor 96.
The time width generating circuit 100 is connected to the valve driving circuit 92 so as to supply its output.

This drive signal generator 46 includes a time width generation circuit 1 that includes a time width setting circuit 106 including a trigger detection circuit 102 and a variable resistor 104 as shown in the figure.
08 is further provided. These circuits are provided to remove clouds from the objective lens of the endoscope by supplying air after water supply is completed, and the trigger detection circuit 102 is connected to the time width generation circuit 100 for water supply.
and the time width generating circuit 10
6 is connected to valve drive circuits 90 and 92 similarly to the time width generation circuit 84 for air supply.

The air supply, water supply, and suction device for an endoscope according to the present invention is constructed as described above and is operated as follows. First, in a normal state, that is, when air supply, water supply, and suction are not performed, the suction pump 10 and the flow pump 30 are activated by turning on the power switch (not shown) of the device. At this time, since the flow control valves 15 and 38 are both open, outside air only flows into both pumps 10 and 30, and no suction flow is generated in the suction pipe 4.
Air and water are not supplied to the flow pipe 6, and neither air nor water nor suction is performed.

Next, when the suction switch 48 is pressed, the suction trigger detection circuit 72 is activated and an activation signal is applied to the time width generation circuit 74. The time width generation circuit 74 thereby continues to supply the suction operation signal to the valve drive circuit 80 for a period of time preset by the variable resistor 78 of the time width setting circuit 76. As a result, this valve drive circuit 80 starts supplying power to the solenoid of the suction flow control valve 15,
The flow control valve 15 is closed. This flow control valve 15
By closing, a negative pressure is generated in the suction tank 7, and the body fluid in the body cavity or the liquid to be delivered is suctioned through the suction tube 4. When the time set by the time width setting circuit 76 has elapsed, the solenoid 4 of the flow control valve 15
As a result of the power supply to 0 being stopped, the flow control valve 15 is opened and the suction operation is completed.

In the water supply operation, the trigger detection circuit 94 is activated by closing the water supply switch 50, and the time width generation circuit 100 continues to supply the water supply operation signal to the valve drive circuit 92 for a preset time. As a result, power continues to be supplied to the solenoid 44, and the flow control valve 38 is maintained in the closed state. Flow control valve 38
When the normally closed flow control valve 26 is closed, the outside air flow supplied from the flow pump 30 increases the pressure in the connecting pipe 24 and the liquid supply tank 22, causing the water to flow out. Alternatively, physiological saline is supplied to the water pipe 20
and flows into the flow tube 6 and is supplied into the body cavity. When a predetermined set time has elapsed, the time width generation circuit 100
stops generating the water supply signal, and as a result, power supply from the valve drive circuit 92 to the solenoid 44 is stopped, the flow control valve 38 is opened, and water supply is stopped.

Although the air supply operation is performed even after the water supply operation described above, first, a case based on the normal closing of the air supply switch 52 will be described. When the push button 70 of the air supply switch 52 is pressed to the first stroke position, the time width generation circuit 84 sets the air supply signal to the valve drive circuits 90 and 92 in response to the output of the trigger detection circuit 82. Continue feeding for time t ₁ . As a result, the flow control valve 26 is held open and the flow control valve 38 is held closed. Therefore, the external airflow is supplied from the flow pump 30 into the body cavity via the air supply pipe 18 and the flow pipe 6. Here, since the pressure within the connecting pipe 24 and the pressure within the water supply pipe 20 are approximately equal, simultaneous water supply is prevented. When the predetermined time _t1 has elapsed, the normally closed flow control valve 26 is closed and the normally open flow control valve 38 is opened, so that the air supply is stopped.

If the push button 70 is pushed to the second stroke position when the air supply switch 52 is closed, in addition to the contact between the first and second contact pieces 64 and 66, the third contact piece 68 As a result of being touched, the closing signal is applied to the time width setting circuit 86. Therefore, this circuit 86 selects a time width at a unique time t ₂ that is longer than the preset time t ₁ and continues to supply the air supply signal from the time width generation circuit 84 during time t ₂ . Become. That is, by changing the stroke position of the air supply switch 52, the air supply time can be changed.

In air supply that starts after water supply, the trigger detection circuit 102 is activated at the falling edge of the water supply signal that has been continuously supplied from the time width generation circuit 100, and during an arbitrarily determined air supply time after water supply, As a result of the time width generation circuit 108 continuing to supply the air supply signal to the valve drive circuits 90 and 92, air is supplied for a certain period of time.

An implementation example of an endoscope system incorporating the air supply, water supply, and suction devices as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The endoscope system shown in FIG.
10, a light source device 112,
In the illustrated example, a suction device 114 consisting of a suction pump 10 and a flow control valve 15 and a suction tank 7 are shown.
The suction device 118 consisting of the light source device 11
2, a liquid feeding tank 22 is attached to the light source device, and a flow pump 30 and a flow device 120 consisting of flow control valves 26 and 38 and a drive signal generator 46 are connected to the light source device 112. Built-in. On the side of the operation section of the endoscope 110,
Suction, water supply and air supply switch 4 as shown
8, 50, and 52 are provided. The connections between these switches 48, 50, 52 and the drive signal generator 46, as well as the connection between the flow control valve 15 and the drive signal generator 46, are made along the illustrated pipeline. In this embodiment, the suction device 114 is built into the light source device 112;
This is preferable from the point of view of circuit connection. Further, the drive signal generator 46 may be built into the operation section of the endoscope 110, or may be a separate body. Furthermore, the flow device 120 may also be provided separately. The switches 48, 50, 52 further include the light source device 11.
2 so that an assistant or the like in addition to the endoscope operator can press the switch, or only the air supply switch 52 may be replaced with a foot switch.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a suction device 114 and a flow device 120 are incorporated into a light source device 112, and a time adjustment switch 122 is further attached to the side of the endoscope operating section. has been done.
In FIG. 2, an air supply switch 52 whose set time is determined by the stroke position is used;
In the figure, the air supply switch is a conventional push button switch, and the time adjustment switch 1
22 corresponds to the third contact piece 68, and is configured to change the air supply time from _t1 to _t2 by closing the time adjustment switch 122. This time adjustment switch 122 may be wired in a circuit so as to change not only the air supply time but also the water supply and suction time.

In the above embodiment, the time setting was explained as being able to be set to either of the two preset times t ₁ and t ₂ , but the multi-stage time can be selected by changing the switch type and circuit configuration. It is easy to do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the endoscope device of the present invention, the operating time of the fluid control means can be easily changed by operating a switch, so that, for example, the operation time of the fluid control means can be changed easily. When performing Qi continuously,
Alternatively, it is possible to quickly deal with cases where air supply is insufficient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the air supply, water supply and suction device of the endoscope of the present invention, and Fig. 2 A, B and C are
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the air supply switch and its operation; FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an embodiment of the drive signal generator shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an implementation example of the present invention. 2... endoscope tip, 4... suction tube, 6... flow tube, 7... suction tank, 8... suction connecting tube, 1
0... Suction pump, 15... Normally open flow control valve, 1
8... Air pipe, 20... Water pipe, 22... Liquid feeding tank, 26... Normally closed distribution control valve, 30... Distribution pump, 38... Normally open circulation control valve, 40, 42, 4
4... Solenoid, 46... Drive signal generator, 4
8...Suction switch, 50...Water supply switch, 5
2... Air supply switch, 64, 66, 68... Contact piece, 70... Push button, 72, 82, 94, 1
02...Trigger detection circuit, 74, 84, 100,
108... Time width generation circuit, 76, 86, 98,
106... Time width setting circuit, 78, 88, 96,
104... Variable resistance, 80, 90, 92... Valve drive circuit, 110... Endoscope, 112... Light source device, 114... Suction device, 118... Suction device, 1
20...Flow sending device, 122...Time adjustment switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having a fluid conduit means and an operating section;
In an endoscope apparatus comprising a fluid control means disposed distal to the operation section that controls fluid to the fluid conduit means, at least two types of times are set for making the fluid control means active. a time setting means for setting the time, a control means for activating the fluid control means according to a time set by the time setting means, a starting means provided in the operating section for starting the control means, and a time setting means for setting the time. An endoscope apparatus comprising a selection means for selecting a setting time of the means.