JPH045966B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light source device for an endoscope, which has an improved socket portion for connecting a connector of a light guide of an endoscope.

Generally, a light source device for an endoscope has a socket for connecting a connector of a light guide, and with the connector connected to this socket, a light source lamp is turned on and the light is sent to the light guide side. ing. By the way, in endoscopy, different endoscopes are used for each patient, or multiple endoscopes are used for the same patient, so when the light source lamp is turned on, the endoscope light guide connector is is often removed from its light source device socket. At this time, strong light leaked from the socket to the outside, causing glare to patients and doctors, and potentially causing harm to their eyes. For this reason, a method has been proposed that detects when the connector is disconnected and dims the light source lamp (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-60526).

This uses movable contacts and switches inside the socket body to detect the attachment of the connector, but since the socket body becomes extremely hot due to the radiant heat from the light source lamp, the contacts may oxidize or corrode, causing contact failure. There was a high possibility that defects would occur. There was also the risk of getting an electric shock if you accidentally touched the contacts.

It is also possible to install an illuminator and a light receiver inside the socket body and detect the attachment state by blocking the light when the connector is attached to the guide tube. Since the light from the lamp is weak compared to the light source, the light from the lamp may cause malfunction, and for the same reason as mentioned above, the socket itself becomes hot, so
The illuminators and light receivers also reached high temperatures, resulting in short lifespans and uncertain detection operations.

The present invention has been made focusing on the above circumstances,
The purpose is to provide a light source device for an endoscope in which the detection operation of the light guide attachment/detachment detection mechanism is reliable and safe.

That is, the present invention provides a socket with an arc-shaped protrusion that penetrates through a wall that constitutes the insertion passage, is elastically supported in the same penetration direction, and protrudes toward the inside of the insertion passage on the side facing the insertion passage. an interruption member made of a leaf spring and having a plate spring disposed on the side of the interruption member facing the outside of the socket and displaceable in accordance with the displacement of the relay member; An optical light guide attachment/detachment detection element is provided, which constitutes a detection optical path that is opened and closed by the displacement of the shaped part, and detects insertion and removal of the light guide end according to the opening and closing of the detection optical path. It is possible to detect the insertion and removal of the ride guide without being affected by the radiant heat of the socket and the light of the light source lamp, and there is no risk of electric shock, and reliable detection operation can be obtained with a simple configuration.
The aim is to improve safety.

The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an endoscope light source device 2.
A front panel portion 1a of the main body 1 is provided with a connector receiving portion 1b formed by a recessed portion. A socket 4 is provided in this connector receiving portion 1b through an opening 3 provided in the front panel portion 1a, and an endoscope (not shown) and an endoscope light source device 2 can be connected through this socket 4. I'm starting to be able to do it. The socket 4 may be made of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic material, and may be used as a connector 1 of an endoscope (not shown), which will be described later.
The first socket member 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape having approximately the same diameter as the first socket member 5, and the second socket member 6 is similarly formed into a block shape from a plastic material. Together they constitute the socket body 4a.

Specifically, the second socket member 6 has a rectangular flange 6a around its rear end as shown in FIG. 2, and a recess 6b into which the first socket member 5 is fitted in its front end. formed and composed. Also the first
The socket member 5 is constructed by fitting a fixing ring member 5a made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion equivalent to that of the first and second socket members 6, such as a plastic material, onto its outer peripheral surface. By inserting the fixing ring member 5a on the rear end side of the first socket member 5 into the recess 6b,
The first and second socket members 5, 6 are fitted together. Note that 6c is a threaded portion provided on the upper surface of the protruding end side of the wall constituting the recess 6b;
are the first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6
This is a protrusion to ensure a tight fit.

Then, the socket main body 4 configured in this way
a is located at the rear of the front panel section 1a and the main body 1
The collar portion 6a is fixed and supported by a plurality of screws 10 to a socket mounting plate 9 provided upright therein, and the front side of the first socket member 5, which is the front portion thereof, has the opening 3. Penetrated and exposed to the outside. Further, the threaded portion 6c of the second socket member 6 is screwed together with the fixing flange member 11 inserted through the opening 3 from the outside of the front panel portion 1a, and is fixed on the front panel portion 1a. The difference in thermal expansion ensures a connection between the first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6 that will not loosen even due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Further, this socket 4 is provided with a light guide connection system 12, an air supply connection system 13, and a terminal connection system 14, respectively, and an endoscope connector 15 can be freely attached and detached to these connection systems 12, 13, and 14 through the socket 4. It is now possible to install it. Here, the structure of the connector 15 attached to the socket 4 will be explained. As shown in FIG. fitted,
A light guide end portion 17 whose tip is cut at an acute angle and an air supply path provided in the endoscope (not shown)
The end portions 18 of the air supply path that are connected to the air supply path are provided in a line protruding from the center side, and furthermore, various types of equipment such as an endoscope or an imaging device (not shown) are provided around the light guide end portion 17 and the end portion 18 of the air supply path. It is constructed by protruding a large number of terminals 19 for transmitting electrical signals. In addition, 2
0 is a water supply nozzle provided on the side surface of the connector 15;
Similarly, 21 is a suction nozzle, 22 is a high frequency connection terminal, and 23 is a gas supply nozzle.

The structures of each light guide connection system 12, air supply connection system 13, and terminal connection system 14 that receive the connection portions of the various connectors 15 are as described below.

That is, the light guide connection system 12 connects the light guide end 1 to the first socket member 5 corresponding to the position of the light guide end 17 of the connector 15.
A straight insertion hole 24a is bored in the axial direction with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second socket member 6, and the diameter gradually becomes smaller toward the rear end of the second socket member 6, which is connected to the insertion hole 24a. An insertion passage 25 is formed by drilling a tapered insertion hole 24b. and,
The tapered insertion hole 24b is set to have the same diameter as the light guide end 17 on the rear end surface of the second socket member 6, and the light guide end 17 is inserted into the insertion passage 25 from the front panel portion 1a. By doing so, the first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6 can be inserted smoothly as shown in FIG. 4 without causing troubles such as hooking of the tips caused by the difference in level. , together with insertion passage 2
5, insert the entrance surface of the light guide end 17 into the insertion passage 25.
The condenser lens unit 26 provided at the rear stage can be securely connected to the optical axis of the light source lamp (not shown). It goes without saying that the socket mounting plate 9 is provided with a through hole 27, and the total length of the insertion passage 25 is set so that the tip of the light guide end 17 protrudes from the socket mounting plate 9 when inserted. It is something that

Next, if we explain the air supply connection system 13, this is L
Connect the air pipe 28 formed in the shape of a letter to the socket main body 4a.
The first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6 of
It is organized over a period of time, and the details are as follows.

That is, the air supply pipe 28 is constituted by an L-shaped tube having a first connecting portion 28a at the distal end and a second connecting portion 28b at the base end. An air pipe rubber 29 formed into a cylindrical shape is integrally inserted (lined) into the first connecting portion 28a of the air pipe 28, and the end of the air pipe of the connector 15 is passed through the air pipe rubber 29. The section 18 is connected to the air pipe 28
It is now possible to connect to. Also, the air pipe 28
The air supply pipe 28 is located downstream of the connecting part 28a on the straight pipe part on the distal end side which is on the side of the first connecting part 28a.
A flange portion 30 is integrally provided with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of. On the other hand, as for the structure on the side of the socket body 4a, the first socket member 5 has a through hole 31 having a diameter that allows the air supply pipe rubber 29 to smoothly pass through, corresponding to the position of the air supply path end 18 of the connector 15. is drilled in the axial direction. Further, the structure of the second socket member 6 is such that the front end portion located at the rear stage of the through hole 31 has a hole on the side of the second socket member 6, for example, in the main body 1, following the outer shape of the bent portion of the air supply pipe 28. A housing channel 32 that opens downward and has a width approximately the same as the outer diameter of the exhaust pipe 28 is provided, and the air supply pipe is provided on the front end surface of the second socket member 6, which corresponds to one opening of the housing channel 32. A recess 3 called a counterbore into which the flange portion 30 of 28 is accommodated.
3 will be provided. Further, the accommodation path 32 is completely opened at the front end of the second socket member 6 toward the fitting end surface of the first socket member 5. Air pipe 2
Opening part 34 constituted by a wide notch larger than 8
When the socket main body 4a is connected, the air supply pipe 28 is inserted into the accommodation passage 32 of the notch 35, which is composed of the accommodation passage 32 and the open part 34.
At the same time, the flange portion 30 of the air pipe 28 is placed in the recess 33, and the flange portion 30 of the air pipe 28 is accommodated.
The tip tube portion of the socket member 5 is inserted into the through hole 31 of the first socket member 5.
As shown in FIG. 2, the air supply pipe 28 can be installed in the socket main body 4a while being positioned as required. Note that 36 is an air supply tube that is connected to the second connecting portion 28b and connects the air supply pipe 28 to an air supply air pump (not shown) installed in the main body 1. By inserting the air passage end 18 of the connector 15 into the air pipe rubber 29 through the socket 4, the air passage and the air supply source can be connected.
At the same time, by adopting the L-shape and the notch 35, the air supply pipe 28 is connected to the first socket member after the fixed flange member 11 is released from the screw fixation and the fixed flange member 11 is removed from the front panel portion 1a. 5 to the outside of the front panel portion 1a through the hole 3, the system for replacing the air pipe 28 is ready.
From this state, by pulling out the tip of the air tube 28 toward the front panel portion 1a, the air tube 28 can be carried out of the main body 5 through the opening 34. It goes without saying that the loading process is performed in reverse.

Next, the terminal connection system 14 will be explained as shown in FIG. That is,
Reference numeral 39 in the figure is a contact, and this contact 39 is made of a conductive pipe material, and as shown in FIG. A section 41 is provided. A lead wire 4 is provided in the inner cavity on one end side of this contact point 39.
2 is inserted, and the lead wire 42 is fixed at a caulking portion 39a set at one end of the contact 39 by crimping, so-called caulking.

Further, as the pipe material constituting the contact point 39, a pipe material having an inner diameter that can be inserted into the terminal 19 of the connector 15 is used as is, and the inner surface forms the connection surface. The assembly and production is extremely simple due to the use of .

On the other hand, reference numeral 43 in the figure denotes a contact insertion hole formed in the first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6 in the axial direction thereof. A plurality of them are provided corresponding to the positions of... The front end surface of the second socket member 6 above these contact insertion holes 43 is provided with fitting recesses 44 into which the pins 40 of the contacts 39 are fitted, respectively. At the stage of connecting the socket member 5 and the second socket member 6, each contact insertion hole 4 is
3. Insert each contact 39... into the fitting recess 44, and insert each pin 40... into the fitting recess 44. From this state, the coupling structure between the first socket member 5 and the second socket member 6 is completed. By completing the above, each contact 39 is positioned and fixed by a pin 40, and the structure is such that connection with each terminal 19 of the connector 15 by fitting is ensured.
It goes without saying that the inner diameter of the contacts 39... is set according to the outer diameter of the terminals 19... of the connector 15, and each contact 39... pin 40...
In particular, considering the arrangement of the contacts 39 shown in FIG. 2 and the force applied to the socket 4,
The pin 40 located on the peripheral side from the axis is the sixth
As shown in the figure, they are arranged with a center angle θ about the axis of the socket 4.

Therefore, by removably attaching the connector 15 of the endoscope to the socket 4, the light guide end 17 can be inserted into the insertion hole 24a and the tapered insertion hole 24.
b to the light source lamp, the air supply path end 18 is connected to the air supply source via the air pipe 28, and the terminal 19 is connected to the contact point 3.
9, it can be connected to the lead wire 42 at once. Note that 38 indicates a contact holding plate made of an electrically insulating material.

On the other hand, numeral 45 in the figure indicates a light guide attachment/detachment detection mechanism, and the light guide attachment/detachment detection mechanism 45 is explained as follows.

That is, 46 is a relay member, and this relay member 4
6 is formed of a leaf spring, for example. The structure includes a substantially U-shaped protrusion 46 in the middle part.
a, and a horizontally shaped support portion 46b is formed at one end. The other end of the leaf spring is formed in a vertical position, and a rectangular plate portion 47 (corresponding to a plate body) constituting the operating end 37 is attached to the side edge of the end. It is integrally provided so as to protrude outward in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the spring. Therefore, the relay member 46 is configured to include the operating end 37. The support portion 46b of the relay member 46 is fitted with a fixing screw 4 on the inner bottom surface of a recess groove 75 formed on the upper outer surface of the wall portion constituting the recess 6b of the second socket member 6.
8, and the protruding and recessed portion 46a of the relay member 46 is tapered by penetrating the opening 49 located downstream of the recess 6b and opening into the tapered insertion hole 24b in which the second socket member 6 is provided. It is disposed so as to be freely protrusive and retractable within the insertion hole 24b. Furthermore, the plate-shaped portion 47
The lower end of the opening 49 is elastically locked to the rear opening edge of the opening 49, and the operating end 37 is connected to the socket 4.
The structure is such that it is placed on the outside. Thus, in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the connector 15, the protruding and recessed portion 46a of the relay member 46 protrudes and retracts using the second socket member 6 as a stopper, and further follows this protruding and recessed portion 46a, and the operating end 37 engages the fixing screw. It is designed to swing around the 48 side as a fulcrum. In addition, 50 is the fixing screw 48
Shows the relief part. Then, this plate-shaped portion 47
A light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 located outside the socket 4 and installed inside the main body 1 is attached,
It is possible to detect whether the connector 15 is set in the socket 4 or not. Here, the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 will be explained. As shown in FIG. (not shown) is installed inside the light receiving section 5.
3b are installed facing each other at a distance, and the light emitting part 5
An optical detection element 55 called a photo interrupter is employed, which constitutes a detection optical path 54 between the photointerrupter 3a and the light receiving element 53b. The light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 is located above the plate-shaped part 47 so that the plate-shaped part 47 is inserted into the detection optical path 54, and is operated by the movement of the plate-shaped part 47. It is becoming more and more common. That is, the plate-shaped portion 47
By blocking the detection optical path 54, it is detected that the connector 15 is not inserted, and by opening the detection optical path 54 by swinging the plate-shaped portion 47, it is possible to detect the insertion state of the connector 15. It's summery. Note that 56 is a notch provided in the plate-shaped portion 47 corresponding to the detection optical path 54 for opening and closing the optical path. In conjunction with the blocking of the detection optical path 54, a signal instructing the light source lamp to dim is sent, and when the connector 15 is removed, the light emitted to the outside through the socket 4 can be controlled to be weak. It's becoming like that. Note that the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 is attached by attaching the light emitting section 53a and the light receiving section 53b to the tops of the two support columns 57, 57, which are erected in advance on the upper side of the second socket member 6, so that the light emitting section 53a and the light receiving section 53b are facing downward. Screws 58, 58 in the state
The mounting base 52 is fixed with screws.

On the other hand, numeral 59 in the figure is a printed circuit board on which circuits necessary for control are mounted, and on this printed circuit board 59, the ends of the lead wires 42 connected to the contacts 39 are connected via connectors (not shown). A terminal unit 60 for connection is installed. The printed circuit board 59 is inserted and supported between the mounting base 52 of the light guide insertion/removal detection element 51 and the fixing portions of the screws 58, 58, especially when the socket 4 is assembled, and the socket 4 and the printed circuit board 59, Furthermore, the terminal unit 60 constitutes an integrated unit. Thus, the socket 4 including the printed circuit board 59 is integrated into a unit, and after the socket is installed, the lead wires 42 connected to the respective contacts 39 are connected to the terminal unit 60 via connectors (not shown).
By connecting to the endoscope, all electrical connections related to the endoscope can be made.

Next, the operation of the endoscope light source device 2 configured as described above will be explained.

When performing an endoscopy, first insert the connector 15 of the endoscope into the socket 4, and then
It is connected to the socket 6 with a fixing ring 61 provided in the socket. As a result, the light guide end 17 is inserted into the insertion hole 24a and the tapered insertion hole 24b and positioned at the light source, and the air supply path end 18 is connected to the air supply pipe 28 via the air supply pipe rubber 29, and furthermore, The mirror terminals 19 are inserted into and connected to the respective contacts 39. On the other hand, in the light guide detection mechanism 45,
As the light guide end 17 is inserted, the relay member 4
The protruding portion 46a of No. 6 protrudes outward, and the plate-like portion 47 also swings as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, thereby opening the detection optical path 54. After that, when the power is turned on by operating the operation switch (not shown) on the operation panel (not shown) provided on the main body 1, the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 disposed outside the socket 4 will be connected to the relay member 47. Since it is detected that the connector 15 is inserted by operating the
Intense light necessary for collimation is introduced into the end face of the light guide end 17 through the light guide 6 . Endoscopy is thus performed by inserting the insertion section (not shown) of the endoscope into the body cavity.

Then, while this light source is on, the socket 4 can be opened by using a different endoscope or multiple endoscopes.
When removing the connector 15 from the
1 from the socket 4 and the connector 15 from the socket 4, the connector 15 will be removed from the socket 4. On the other hand, in conjunction with the removal of the connector 15, the protruding and recessed portion 49a returns to its original retracted state due to elastic force, and at the same time, the light guide disposed outside the socket 4 can be attached and detached using the plate-like portion 47. An operation for blocking light from the detection optical path 54 of the detection element 51 is performed. Thus, the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 detects that the connector 15 is not inserted, and the light from the light source lamp is dimmed to a light that does not dazzle the patient or doctor and does not harm the eyes. Become. Then, when the connector 15 of the replaced endoscope is inserted into the socket 4 again, strong light is introduced into the endoscope due to the effect of the connector 15 when inserted as described above.

Thus, by employing the relay member 46 provided with the plate-shaped portion 37 disposed outside the socket 4 to operate the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 disposed outside the socket 4, the light guide The detachable element 51 is a socket 4 which becomes extremely hot due to radiant heat from the light source lamp.
The detection operation is achieved at a point that is completely unaffected by the heat of the sensor and the light of the light source lamp.

Therefore, a reliable detection operation of the light guide attachment/detachment detection mechanism 45 can be obtained. Moreover, since deterioration of the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 due to heat is also suppressed, the reliability including the life span is high. Moreover, the light guide attachment/detachment detection element 51 is connected to the socket 4, which is never touched by hands.
Since it is installed outside the building, there is no risk of electric shock and it is safe. In addition, since the light guide detection element 51 is disposed outside the socket 4 and is operated from the socket 4 side using the relay member 46, the structure is extremely simple. Further, since there is no need to provide any special mechanism in the connector 15 or the socket 4, the endoscope light source device 2 has the advantage that it does not need to be enlarged.

As explained above, the present invention includes a light guide attachment/detachment detection element installed on the outside of the socket, and a plate-like member provided with the light guide attachment/detachment detection element on a relay member that moves as the connector is attached/detached. Since the connector is operated to detect whether the connector is attached or detached from the socket, a detection operation that is not affected by the radiant heat of the socket or the light from the light source lamp can be achieved. Furthermore, since the light guide attachment/detachment detection element is installed outside the socket, there is no risk of electric shock.

Therefore, a reliable detection operation of the light guide detection mechanism can be obtained, and safety is also excellent. Moreover, the structure is simple because the light guide attachment/detachment detection element is installed outside the socket and can be operated by the operating end of the relay member. Further, since there is no need to provide a special mechanism inside the connector or socket, the light source device for an endoscope does not need to be enlarged.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure around the socket of an endoscope light source device, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing the structure around the connector of the endoscope, FIG. 4 is a state diagram showing the insertion state of the light guide, and FIG. 5 is a flat view showing the structure around the contacts in the socket. The sectional view and FIG. 6 are layout diagrams showing the pin arrangement of the contacts. 4...Socket, 15...Connector, 16...
Light guide, 17...Light guide end, 25
... Insertion path, 46 ... Relay member, 47 ... Plate-shaped portion (plate-like body), 51 ... Ride guide attachment/detachment detection element,
54...Detection optical path.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A socket configured with an insertion passage into which a light guide end of an endoscope connector is removably inserted, and a wall portion forming the insertion passage passed through the socket. The light guide is elastically supported in the penetrating direction, and has an arc-shaped protruding and recessed part protruding toward the insertion passage on the side facing the insertion passage, and is configured to allow insertion of the light guide end. an interruption member made of a leaf spring that is elastically displaced as the connection occurs; a plate-like member provided on the side of the interruption member facing the outside of the socket and displaced in accordance with the displacement of the relay member; and an optical light guide attachment/detachment detection element that constitutes a detection light path that is opened and closed by displacement of the plate-shaped portion and detects insertion and removal of the light guide end according to opening and closing of the detection light path. A light source device for an endoscope.