JPH03191312A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately obtain the depth or position of damage (flaw) by provid ing plural flaw detection members or flaw detection members and a supporting member for an insertion part on the insertion part at specific intervals. CONSTITUTION:The flaw detection members 20a and 20b or flaw detection members 20a and 20b and the supporting member for the insertion part 7 are provided on the specific intervals. Then curvature is provided between the flaw detection members 20a and 20b, or flaw detection members 20a and 20b and supporting member and the flaw detection members 20a and 20b are held stably in the sample. Namely, a tip part 10 as the insertion part tip side and the play parts of a curved part 11 and a flexible tube part 12 in a conduit 30 are suppressed by the contact between the inside of the conduit 30 and EC coils 20a and 20b or tip part 10 by the curvature of the curvature part 10 to stabilize the EC coils 20a and 20b in the conduit 30. Consequently, the depth or position of the damage (flaw) can accurately be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application 1] The present invention relates to improvement of an endoscope device for detecting flaws in pipes and the like.

[Prior Art] In recent years, endoscopes (scopes or fiberscopes), which can diagnose and inspect internal organs in body cavities by inserting an elongated insertion section into body cavities, have been widely used. There is. In addition, it is used not only for medical purposes but also for industrial purposes to observe and inspect objects inside pipes of boilers, machines, chemical blunts, etc., or inside machines.

Furthermore, electronic endoscopes using solid-state Wi image elements such as charge-coupled devices (CODs) as image carriers are also used.

An eddy current flaw detection coil, which is a flaw detection detection member, is provided at the tip of the endoscope including this electronic endoscope and at the front of the tip,
An endoscopic device (intraduct inspection device) for inspecting/probing corrosion, scratches, etc. inside a pipe has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-33313.

Furthermore, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-157670, an endoscope apparatus has been proposed in which an eddy current flaw detection coil, which is a flaw detection member, is provided on the front surface of the distal end of the endoscope.

This pipe inspection device using eddy current testing is capable of detecting the depth or position of damage (flaws) at high speed without contacting the test part.

Furthermore, devices that perform flaw detection using ultrasonic waves or the like are also being considered.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned endoscope device, the insertion part does not remain in a stable state within the subject, and for example, when the insertion part is inserted or pulled, flaw detection cannot be detected due to the vibration of the insertion part. There is a problem that the flaw detection position of the member may be unstable, and the depth or position of the damage (flaw) may not be accurately obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope device that can stabilize an insertion section within a subject and accurately determine the depth or position of injury (1). It is said that

[Means for Solving the Problems] In an endoscope apparatus in which a flaw detection member is provided in an insertion section of an endoscope, a plurality of the flaw detection detection members or a plurality of the flaw detection detection members and a supporting member of the insertion section are provided. He is trying to provide the insertion portion at predetermined intervals.

[Function] With the above-described configuration, the space between the flaw detection detection members or the flaw detection detection member and the support tJS material is curved to hold the flaw detection detection member in a stable state within the subject.

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

1 to 4 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the curved portion of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, and FIGS. The figure is an explanatory view when the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into a subject.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope device 1 includes an endoscope 2, which is an electronic endoscope with a solid-state image sensor and a flaw detection member installed at its tip, and an endoscope 2 that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 2. Light supplied ′fA
The device 4 and the solid-state ** element of this endoscope 2 are driven, and the [IE! A video processor 5 equipped with a video processing circuit that converts a signal into a video signal and a flaw detection signal processing circuit that obtains the size of a flaw or the like based on a signal from a flaw detection coil provided in the endoscope device; It consists of a monitor 6 that displays the video signal from the browser + j5.

The endoscope 2 includes an insertion section 7 that can be inserted into a subject, a large-diameter operation section 8 connected to the proximal base of the insertion section 7,
It is comprised of a universal cord 9 extending from the side of the operating section 8.

A connector is provided at the @ portion of the universal cord 9, and this connector is detachably connected to the connector device 3.

The connector device 3 is configured to be detachably connected to the light source bag 4, and the connector IAfi
A universal cord 14 extends from 14.

A connector is provided at the end of the universal hood 14, and this connector is detachably connected to the video processor 5.

The video processor 5 is connected to the monitor 6,
The upper monitor 6 is adapted to display the video signal from the video processor 5.

The insertion section 7 includes a rigid distal end section 10 in which a solid-state image sensor or the like is installed, a curved section 11 connected to the rear end of the distal end section 2 and capable of bending, for example, vertically/horizontally, and this curved section. 11, and an elongated and flexible flexible tube section 12 connected to the rear end of the tube section 11.

The operation section 8 is provided with a bending operation knob 13 for manually bending the bending section 11.
is connected to one end of a bending wire (not shown), and the other end of this bending wire is connected to a tip bending piece that is one of a plurality of bending pieces (not shown) constituting the bending section 11. For example, by rotating the bending operation knob 13, the bending wire is pulled and the bending portion 11 is bent.

A flaw detection coil (hereinafter referred to as EC coil) 20a, which is one of the flaw detection detection members and which detects the location and size of flaws etc. by eddy current loss, is provided at a position toward the tip of the curved portion 11. A similar EC coil 20b is provided on the outer periphery of the curved portion 11 at a position toward the proximal side of the curved portion.

Details of the bending portion 11 and the FC coils 20a, 20b will be explained using FIG. 1.

A plurality of curved portions (not shown) are connected in the curved portion 11, and each of the curved portions moves in a bending direction around the connected portion as an axis, so that the curved portion 11 is curved as described above. It has become.

Further, inside the curved portion 11, a light guide 15 for guiding the illumination light from the device 4 to the tip portion 10;
A signal line 16 connected to the prisoner imaging device, and the EC
A signal line 21a connected to the coil 20a and the E C
A signal line 21b connected to the EC filter 20b is installed inside the EC filter 20a, 20b/fi, and screws are threaded on the outer periphery of the leading and rear ends so that the EC filters 20a and 20b/fi can be attached and removed. EC signal contacts 2a and 22bIf which are contacts
i is provided.

The threaded screw as described above is, for example, the EC coil 2.
0b, the outer periphery of the tip end screw is E.
The cover is made thinner than the inner diameter of the C coil 20b.

The EC coils 20a and 20b also have the curve f2S1.
A contact is provided opposite to the C signal contact 228.22b provided in the C coil 20a,
20b] is connected to the file 20.

Further, one of the EC coils 20a, 20b is connected to the EC coil 20a, 20b.
Instead of the coils 20a and 20b, support members having the same shape and made of, for example, synthetic resin may be used.

The operation of the endoscope apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

When the insertion section 7 is inserted into a conduit 30, which is a subject, the EC coils 20a, 20b come into contact with a part of the inner circumference of the conduit 30, as shown in FIG. 3(a), for example. In this state, the EC coils 20a, 20b are not in a stable state, and when the insertion section 7 is inserted or pulled, the FC coils 20a, 20b are unable to detect defects on the inner periphery of the conduit 30. The position is not in a fixed direction.

However, by operating the bending operation knob 13 and bending the bending part 11, as shown in FIG. 3(b), for example, as shown in FIG.
1] The coil 20b and the inner circumference of the conduit 30 come into contact with each other, so that the position of the inner circumference of the conduit 30, which is detected by the EC coils 20a and 20b, is in a fixed direction. Also,
Depending on the bending angle, the inner periphery of the EC coil 20a and the conduit 30, and the inner circumference of the EC coil 20b and the conduit 3
Similarly, the inner periphery of the EC coil 20a contacts the EC coil 20a.
, 20b detect flaws at a position on the inner circumference of the conduit 30 in a fixed direction.

Furthermore, when testing the curved portion 30a of the conduit 30, for example, as shown in FIG. The inner periphery of the conduit 30 and the EC
The inner periphery of the coil 20b and the front pipe line 30 are in contact with each other, and similarly, the position of the inner circumference of the pipe line 30, which is detected by the EC coils 20a and 20b, is in a fixed direction. Furthermore, an EC coil 2 is installed on the inner circumference of the curved portion 30a of the conduit 30.
Flaws can be detected while aligning 0a.

In addition, when the inner diameter of the conduit 30 is different or when the number of turns of the EC coil is changed, the EC coil can be easily replaced, and the EC coil can be easily installed due to the diameter of the outer circumference of the screw. can be determined.

Furthermore, other flaw detection detection members can be used in place of the EC coil.

Further, in place of one of the EC coils 20a and 20b, a support member having the same shape and made of, for example, synthetic resin may be used.

That is, according to this embodiment, the distal end portion 1 on the distal end side of the insertion section
0, the play part in the pipe line 30 on the distal end side of the curved part 11 and the flexible tube part 12 is fixed to the cough pipe line 3 by the bending of the curved part 10.
0 inside and EC coil 20a.

20b or the tip 10, the C coils 20a, 20b can be stably placed in the conduit 30, and the depth or position of the damage (10) can be accurately determined. be.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a curved portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The curved part 11 of the endoscope has a coiled EC signal line 21a.
An iron core 23b around which is wound is arranged.

Further, an iron core 23a is arranged in the EC coil 20a so as to be guided to the iron core 23b, and this iron core 23a has
A signal line connected to a detection coil 27 that detects the location and size of a flaw or the like by eddy current loss is wound into a coil.

Furthermore, the iron cores 23a and 23b serve as a transformer.

With this configuration, the iron cores 23a, 23
By the induction b, it is possible to connect the signal line with the endoscope device such as the EC coil 20a, and there is an effect that noise due to the contact can be prevented and the watertightness of the curved part can be improved. .

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

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a curved portion of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The curved portion 11 of the endoscope includes a light guide 15, an image guide 17 that guides an image of a subject, etc. from the distal end to an eyepiece connected to the rear end of an operation section (not shown), and an EC. A signal line 21a is provided inside, and a coil 24b is provided on the outer peripheral surface. An EC signal line 21a is connected to this coil 24b.

Further, a coil 24a is disposed on the inner diameter surface of the EC coil 20a so as to be guided to the coil 24b.
48 is connected to a signal line connected to detection coils 28a and 28b that detect the location and size of a flaw or the like by eddy current loss.

The detection coils 28a and 28b are wound in different directions so as to be self-comparison type.

Furthermore, the coils 24a and 24b form a ring-shaped transformer.

With this configuration, the coils 24a, 2
4b, the EC coil 20a and the endoscopy u! The signal line can be connected to the coil 2.
The shape of the ring-shaped transformer formed by 4a and 24b is small,
This has the effect that the curved portion 11 and the EC coil 20a can be made into thin rods.

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

Note that the detection member may be one that performs flaw detection using, for example, ultrasonic waves.

Further, the tip portion may be an optical adapter in which a solid-state image sensor or the like is installed.

Furthermore, the flaw detection detection member may be fixed to or integrated with the curved portion.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the flaw detection member or the support member can stabilize the flaw detection member at the deep flaw position U in the pipeline, and prevent damage and damage caused by the flaw detection test. (
This has the effect that the degree of vi for detecting the size of scratches, etc. can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the curved portion of the endoscope, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, and FIGS. The figure is an explanatory diagram when the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into a subject, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the curved part of the endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3
It is an explanatory view of the curved part of the endoscope concerning an example. 11...Bending portion 20a...EC coil 20b...EC coil 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure Procedure Amendment (branch) 1. Display of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 332262 2, name of component force Endoscope device 3, person making amendment Relationship with the case

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope apparatus in which a flaw detection detection member is provided in an insertion section of an endoscope, wherein a plurality of the flaw detection detection members or a support member of the flaw detection detection member and the insertion section are provided in the insertion section. An endoscope apparatus characterized in that the endoscope apparatus is provided at a predetermined interval.