JPH036806B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device that can be used with less pain to the patient even when inserted into a body cavity for a long time.

[Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Therewith] In recent years, endoscopes have been developed that allow diagnosis of affected areas within the body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion section into the body cavity and using observation means or imaging means provided at the distal end of the insertion section. is now widely used.

It is desirable that the diameter of the endoscope is as small as possible, since if the insertion part has a large diameter, it will cause great pain to the patient during insertion and removal and if the endoscope remains inserted for a long time.

On the other hand, if the insertion section is made small in diameter and has sufficient flexibility, it will buckle when inserted into the body cavity, making it impossible to insert it deep into the body cavity as desired. For this reason, reducing the flexibility and increasing the hardness makes it easier to insert, but it becomes difficult to insert into a site with a large amount of bending, and forcing the insertion causes great pain to the patient. In addition, when the insertion portion is inserted for a long time to observe changes over time, there is a problem in that the insertion portion presses against the curved inner wall of the body cavity, causing great pain to the patient.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and while it is possible to insert the insertion section into a body cavity without buckling it, it is possible to insert the insertion section into a body cavity without buckling the insertion section. A solid body that can be oriented in a predetermined direction and can be easily inserted into a body cavity, while also reducing the pain caused to the patient when the insertion part is left inserted in a body cavity for a long time. The purpose is to provide an endoscope with a built-in image sensor.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an endoscope in which an imaging means using a solid-state imaging device is provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion, and an inner insertion portion and an external portion that is detachably attached to the inner insertion portion. The insertion part is formed with a double structure with an outer insertion part that can be fitted, and a curved part that can be freely bent is formed near the tip of the outer insertion part.

[Embodiments of the Invention] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the entire first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the distal end of the insertion section, and FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment. The front end side of the inner insertion portion is shown in a state where the outer insertion portion is pulled out backward in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment has the following features:
A flexible and elongated insertion section 2, a large-diameter or wide-width operation section 3 connected to the rear end side of the insertion section 2, and an inner insertion section 2A extending to the rear of the operation section 3. The light source device 7 is connected to the connector 4 at the rear end by attaching the connector receiver 6 of the light guide cable 5.

On the distal end side of the insertion section 2, a hard distal end section 8 and a bendable section 9 adjacent to the distal end section 8 that can be bent on the rear side are successively connected. By rotating the knob 10, the bending portion 9 can be bent in the left-right direction or the up-down direction.

The light source device 7 also includes a TV as a display device.
A monitor 11 is integrally attached, and is capable of displaying a video signal captured by an imaging means formed on the distal end side of the insertion section 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the insertion section 2 is removably fitted into the inner insertion section 2A with a small diameter (as shown in FIG. 3, the insertion section 2 has a larger diameter than the inner insertion section 2A). It has a double structure with an outer insertion part 2B (shown in Figure 1).

The outer periphery of the inner insertion portion 2A is formed of a flexible tube 13 having sufficient flexibility, and the front end thereof is fixed to the hard tip portion 8A. This tip 8A includes an objective lens 15 and an objective lens 15.
A solid-state image sensor 16 is disposed at the imaging position to form an imaging means.

A light guide 17 formed of a flexible optical fiber bundle and a hollow tube 18 forming a channel for forceps insertion are inserted into the inner insertion portion 2A, and the outer diameter thereof is made sufficiently small. .

The outer insertion part 2B, which can be externally fitted into the inner insertion part 2A, is formed of a flexible mantle tube 19 on the outside and a flexible hollow tube 20 on the inside. The front end of 20 is fixed to a hard tip 8B.

The front end side of this tip portion 8B is
It has a tapered opening shape that fits into the rear end of A, and a pin 23 biased by a spring 22 is accommodated in a recess 21 formed on the outer periphery of the tip 8A, as shown in FIG. At this time, the pin 23 formed of a magnet resists the biasing force of the spring 22 by passing a direct current through the coil 24 formed on the outer periphery of the pin 23. A removable engagement means is formed that can be moved out of the recess 21, disengaged from the recess 21 and the pin 23, and withdrawn the outer insertion portion 2B.

A C-shaped groove is formed on the outer periphery of the tip 8B outside the recess that houses the coil 24, and the C ring 25 is formed with a C-shaped groove.
(may also accommodate an O-ring), and the spring 2
2 is prevented from protruding.

Joint pieces 26, 26... are rotatably connected to the curved part 9 adjacent to the distal end 8B of the outer insertion section 2B, and wires 27, 27 (not shown in the figure) are connected to opposing inner walls of the rear end of the distal end 8B. The ends of the wires (one pair shown) are fixed, and by rotating the bending operation knob 10 on the hand side, these wires 2
7, 27 is indexed and the other is relaxed to form the curved part 9.
It is designed so that it can be bent in the vertical direction, etc.

Note that the distal end side of the hollow tube 18 forming the forceps channel inserted into the inner insertion portion 2A is opened forward (from the upper or lower side perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2) adjacent to the imaging means in the distal end portion 8A. The distal end of the treatment instrument is communicated with a through hole (not shown) from which it can protrude, while the rear end of the hollow tube 18 is connected diagonally to the connector receiver 6 of the light guide cable 5, as shown by the broken line in FIG. It is designed to communicate with an insertion port 28 that opens at the bottom. This insertion port 28 can be closed with a rubber stopper or the like when no treatment instrument is inserted.

By the way, illumination means such as an illumination lamp (not shown) is housed in the light source device 7, and this illumination light is transmitted to the light guide 17 in the inner insertion part 2A via the light guide in the light guide cable 5. The light is irradiated from the output end at the tip of the light distribution lens 30 to the object side. Further, the object illuminated with this illumination light is imaged by the objective lens 15 on the light receiving part of the solid-state image sensor 16, and in this light receiving part, it is separated into each surface element, photoelectrically converted, and accumulated as electric charge, as shown in the figure. The accumulated signals are transferred by the clock signal applied through the non-operational drive circuit and are sequentially output from the output register. (In addition, a mosaic-like three primary color filter is arranged in front of the light receiving section, and the light is received after being separated into signals corresponding to each pixel of the color image.) Readout using the above clock signal. The generated signal is amplified by a preamplifier, for example, and then passes through a signal line in the light guide cable 5, in which the connector receiver 6 is attached to the connector 4 at the rear end of the inner insertion portion 2A, to a biden process (not shown) in the light source device 7. entered into the section,
AD to the frame memory in this video processing section
It is now being converted and written. The written data is then read out and separated into three primary color signals on which a synchronization signal is superimposed.
It is applied to the RGB input end of the TV monitor 11 and displayed as a color image.

Note that the outer insertion portion 2B has a softness lower than that of the inner insertion portion 2A to prevent buckling during insertion.

The operation of the first embodiment configured in this way will be described below.

First, when observing an affected area such as an internal organ in a body cavity, first insert the inner insertion part 2A from the distal end side of the outer insertion part 2B (or insert the outer insertion part 2B from the rear of the inner insertion part 2A). , pin 2
3 is accommodated in the recess 21 and both members are connected to each other as shown in FIG. Insert up to In this case, the curved portion 9 is inserted while being curved as necessary. When inserted, the insertion portion 2 has appropriate flexibility and appropriate hardness (that is, not too soft).
Therefore, it can be inserted without buckling during insertion.

Therefore, if a biopsy is desired for diagnosis, a treatment instrument can be inserted through the insertion port 28 of the connector receiver 6 to collect a tissue piece.

Furthermore, when observation in the same condition for a relatively long period of time is required, such as when investigating changes in symptoms of the affected area or whether symptoms are improving after treatment, etc., use the control panel. 3
The engagement is released by operating a switch attached to the tip 8B to supply current to the coil 24 of the tip 8B and retracting the pin 23 from the recess 21. Then, with the inner insertion section 2A remaining in the body cavity without moving with respect to the patient's body, the outer insertion section 2B is slid backward on the axis of the inner insertion section 2A and pulled out of the body cavity. Specifically, by pushing the inner insertion part 2A into the outer insertion part 2B and pulling the operating part 3 of the outer insertion part 2B backward, the outer insertion part 2
Only B can be extracted from the body cavity. This pulled out outer insertion part 2B is the inner insertion part 2A.
It is placed outside the body cavity with a long light guide cable 5 connected to the connector 4 at the rear end inserted therethrough.

Inner insertion portion 2 from which the outer insertion portion 2B has been pulled out
The A side has a sufficiently small diameter and is highly flexible, so even when inserted into a curved body cavity path, the restorative force that acts on the body cavity wall, etc. that is particularly bent by the insertion portion 2A is small. It becomes weak enough,
The patient feels little or no pressure, and the pain can be significantly alleviated even when the device is inserted for a long time.

The power source for energizing the coil 24 is as follows:
The operation unit 3 can be formed with a rechargeable battery or the like. Alternatively, the operating section 3 may also be provided with a connector that can be connected to the light source device 7 side, so that power to the light source device 7 can be supplied.

In addition, when pulling out the outer insertion part 3B side, if the light guide cable 5 is short, the connector 4 and the connector receiver 6 should be removed and then pulled out.
Further, the insertion port 28 for the treatment instrument can also be provided on the connector 4 side.

FIG. 4 shows the distal end side of the inner insertion portion in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this second embodiment, the tip portion 8A' is
(Inner side) A tip main body 31, an annular cover member 32 attached to the front end of the tip main body 31, for example, by screwing, and the cover member 32 fits into the inner periphery and becomes movable back and forth. It is composed of a lens frame 33.

Lens frame 33 in which objective lens 15 is housed and fixed
Recesses 34, 34 are formed in the rear end surface and the front surface of the tip main body 31 opposite to the rear end, for example, at two locations, upper and lower, and springs 35, 35 made of shape memory metal are accommodated, respectively. One end of each spring 35 is fixed to the lens frame 33 side, and the other end is fixed to the tip body 31.
When the temperature is low before heating, the temperature shown in FIG. As shown by the solid line, the shape memory metal forming each spring 35 in a contracted state undergoes a phase transition to the high temperature phase side, so that each spring 35 can be in an expanded state. Due to this extension, the lens frame 33 protrudes forward to the position shown by the two-dot chain line, and in this state, the light receiving part (light receiving surface) of the solid-state image sensor 16 is located at the imaging position of the objective lens 15.
It is designed to be set in a position where it faces.

Note that the light guide 1 inserted into the insertion portion 2A
7 has its front end fixed at the tip main body 31, and the illumination light emitted from this front end passes through a lens and then passes through a short light guide 36 attached to the lens frame 33.
The light is transmitted to the side, and the object can be illuminated through the light distribution lens 30. Others are listed in 1 above.
This is similar to the example.

According to this second embodiment, when the lens frame 33 is inserted into a body cavity, the shape memory metal forming each spring 35 is kept in the low temperature phase side (that is, not heated), thereby preventing the lens frame 33 from protruding. Therefore, when inserted through the oral cavity, the length of the hard tip can be shortened, which has the advantage of reducing pain to the patient.

Note that when each of the springs 35 is expanded, the heat generated when the solid-state image sensor 16 is operated can also be used without energizing each spring 35 or the heater. In other words, each spring 35 is expanded by applying current to operate the solid-state image sensor 16 for an appropriate time, the current is stopped, and each spring 35 is automatically contracted for a short time thereafter. You can also do it.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

In the endoscope 41 of this embodiment, a channel 42 for the treatment instrument is not formed on the inner insertion section 2A' side, but is formed on the outer insertion section 2B', and this channel 42 is formed on the side of the operating section 3. The distal end side of the treatment instrument inserted through the insertion opening 43 can be projected from the front end side of the channel 42 by communicating with the formed insertion opening 43 .

The distal end side of the outer insertion portion 2B' is schematically shown in FIG. 6. That is, an outlet communicating with the channel 42 is formed at the upper side of the tip, and an insertion hole 44 having a shape through which the inner insertion portion 2A' can be inserted is formed at the lower side.

The rest of the structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. By providing the channel 42 on the outer insertion portion 2B' side, the outer diameter of the inner insertion portion 2A' can be made smaller, and the pain caused to the patient during insertion and removal can be further reduced.

Note that the distal end side of the outer insertion portion 2B' may be made of a hard material or may be made of a flexible member.

In the first embodiment, the coil 24 is a heater, the spring 22 is also made of shape memory metal, and by energizing the heater (or spring),
It is also possible to create a structure in which the pin 23 can be retracted from the recess 21 by contracting the spring. Note that the illumination means is not limited to one that transmits illumination light through the light guide 17 and emits it from the distal end thereof, but may also be formed of a light emitting diode, a small lamp, etc. provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to insert the insertion portion into a body cavity without buckling the insertion portion, and at the same time, the distal end of the insertion portion can be directed in a predetermined direction by having a curved portion. This makes it easy to insert into the body cavity, and it also has the effect of reducing the pain caused to the patient when the insertion part is used while being inserted into the body cavity for a long time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view showing the external appearance of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the distal end side of the insertion portion in FIG. 1. , FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the distal end side of the inner insertion portion in a state where the outer insertion portion side in FIG. 2 is removed, and FIG. 4 shows the distal end side of the inner insertion portion in the second embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal sectional view, FIGS. 5 and 6 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the external appearance of the third embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the distal end side of the outer insertion portion. FIG. 1,41... Endoscope, 2... Insertion section, 2A...
Inner insertion part, 2B, 2B'...Outer insertion part, 3...
...Operation unit, 4...Connector, 5...Light guide cable, 7...Light source device, 8...Tip part, 8
A, 8A', 8B... Tip part, 9... Curved part, 1
0... Curved operation knob, 11... TV monitor, 13
... Soft tube, 15 ... Objective lens, 16 ...
...Solid-state image sensor, 17...Light guide, 18...
... hollow tube, 19 ... mantle tube, 21 ... recess, 22 ... spring, 23 ... pin, 24 ... coil, 31 ... tip main body, 32 ... cover member,
33...Lens frame, 34...Concave portion, 35...Spring, 42...Channel.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An endoscope in which an imaging means using a solid-state imaging device is provided on the distal end side of the insertion section, which includes an inner insertion section and an outer insertion section that can be detachably fitted onto the inner insertion section. 1. An endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device, characterized in that an insertion section is formed with a double structure, and a bendable curved section is formed near a distal end of the outer insertion section. 2. The endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the inner insertion portion is formed using a member that is sufficiently more flexible than the outer insertion portion. 3. The endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the inner insertion portion and the outer insertion portion are detachable by means of engagement means on the distal end side of the insertion portion.