JPH0513484B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope using a solid-state image sensor.

[Prior Art] Endoscopes generally allow direct observation of a subject through an image guide using an optical fiber bundle. An endoscope that can obtain images of the human body has also been developed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such an endoscope, the structure of the tip of the endoscope, especially the solid-state image sensor or the objective optical system for forming an optical image on the solid-state image sensor, has to be efficiently constructed. An important point is where to place it at the tip.

In addition, as solid-state imaging devices become highly integrated, the number of signal lines increases and the diameter of the signal line bundle increases, and the arrangement of the signal line bundles requires the placement of light guides, forceps channels, air and water channels in a limited space. This is a big problem for endoscopes that have to do this. Furthermore, since each signal line is composed of extremely thin conductive wires, it is extremely weak in strength and must be handled with care. In particular, the connection end of the signal line to the solid-state imaging device is configured in an unbound state, and there is a risk of the wire breaking easily if it is bent due to the bending operation of the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope in which the connection end of the signal line connected to the solid-state image sensor disposed at the tip of the endoscope insertion section is not disconnected. There is.

[Structure of the Invention] The present invention includes a flexible flexible portion, a metal hard portion fixed to the tip of the flexible portion, a solid-state image sensor provided within the hard portion, and a solid-state image sensor that uses the solid-state image sensor. In an endoscope equipped with a signal line for outputting an obtained image of a subject, a space is formed behind the position where the solid-state image pickup device is arranged in the rigid part, and the signal line is not connected in this space. In a bundled state, each tip is connected to the solid-state image sensing device, and in the flexible part, the leading end is covered with a shield wire connected to the hard part to make the bundled state.

[Function] The signal lines connected to the solid-state image sensor are covered with a shielded wire in the flexible part that is bent, so that they are bundled, and the signal lines do not come apart and interfere with each other or interact with other built-in objects. There is no interference and there is no risk of wire breakage. In addition, the signal lines are unbound in the space provided behind the solid-state image sensor, and the connection lines near the connection to the solid-state image sensor have a high degree of freedom, reducing stress concentration on the connection. disappears.

[Example] A first example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. In the figure, 1 is an endoscope, 2 is a flexible soft part of the endoscope 1, and 3 is a distal end part. Further, 4 is a light guide using optical fiber or the like, and this light guide 4 is connected to a connector 5.
It is designed to be connected to the light source device 6 via. 7 is a light source lamp.

A hard part 8, which is an X-ray shield made of metal such as lead alloy, is attached to the tip part 3. This hard part 8 has a mounting hole 9 through which the tip of the light guide 4 is inserted and fixed, and
It has an imaging hole 10 parallel to this mounting hole 9.
An objective lens group 11 is attached to the front of the imaging hole 10. 12 is a spacer ring, and 13 is a mounting ring. And this objective lens group 11
A solid-state image sensor 14 is housed at the imaging position. This solid-state image sensor 14 is fixed between an insulating plate 15 and an annular holding plate 16. Reference numeral 17 denotes an output signal line, and as shown in FIG. 2, one end enters the space behind the solid-state image sensor 14 within the rigid portion 8. The space is surrounded by the rear wall surface of the rigid portion 8, the solid-state image sensor 14, and the insulating plate 15. The signal wire 17 becomes unbound within that space and is fixed to the solid-state image sensor 14, and furthermore, the signal wire 17 is covered with a shield wire 18 in the flexible part of the endoscope, and becomes a plurality of signal wires 17. They are tied together. The end of the shielded wire 18 and the unbound portion 17a of the signal line 17 following the end are located within the rigid portion 8, and the shielded wire 18 is electrically connected to the rigid portion 8.

Further, the signal line 17 is connected to an image reproduction circuit 19 provided on the operating side of the insertion section 2. 20 is an image sensor control circuit, and 21 is a cathode ray tube monitor.

In the endoscope configured as described above, illumination light from the light source lamp 7 travels through the light guide 4 and is led out from the output end of the distal end portion 3 to illuminate the subject A within the body cavity. The image of the object A is captured by the objective lens group 11.
The images are sequentially scanned by the image sensor control circuit 20 and converted into pixel signals, which are sent to the image reproduction circuit 19 via the signal line 17. The image reproduction circuit 19 generates horizontal and vertical synchronization signals for the cathode ray tube monitor 21 based on the signals from the image sensor control circuit 20, and further inputs the pixel signal to this monitor 21 as a brightness signal for the cathode ray tube monitor 21. , reproduces the image of subject A.

Then, while viewing the image displayed on the monitor 21, the operator uses external X-ray fluoroscopy using an X-ray imaging device (not shown) to confirm the position of the endoscope tip 3 during the endoscopy. Implement.

At this time, X-rays are irradiated toward the endoscope, but since the solid-state image sensor 14 is surrounded by a rigid part 8 that is an X-ray shield, the X-rays are absorbed by this rigid part 8. It does not reach the solid-state image sensor 14. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solid-state imaging device 14 from malfunctioning due to the influence of X-rays. Furthermore, the shielding effect of the shield wire 18 that covers the signal wire 17 makes it possible to eliminate noise generated by X-ray irradiation, so that a clear endoscopic image can always be obtained even under X-ray fluoroscopy. .

It goes without saying that the shielded wire 18 can also prevent noise caused by other electromagnetic waves.

In addition, the signal wire 17 of the endoscope in this embodiment is bundled with a shield wire 18 in the flexible part 2 of the endoscope insertion portion, and even when the insertion portion of the endoscope is bent, the signal wire 17 is They do not rub against each other, or come into contact with or rub against other built-in objects, eliminating the risk of wire breakage. In addition, since the signal line 17 is not bundled at the connection part with the solid-state image sensor 14, there is a high degree of freedom, and disconnection at the connection part can be eliminated.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and common parts are given the same reference numerals and explanations are omitted. In the case of , the rigid part 8 of the metal X-ray shield
An X-ray shielding case 22 made of lead-containing metal is housed inside the X-ray shielding case 22 , and a solid-state imaging device 14 is housed within this shielding case 22 with an insulating plate 15 interposed therebetween. An X-ray shielding plate 23 is attached to the front side of the image sensor 14 via an annular holding plate 16. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the first
In addition to the same effect as in the embodiment, even if the amount of irradiated X-rays is large and the shielding body 8 alone cannot shield the X-rays, the shielding case 22 and the shielding plate 23 double the X-rays. Since it can shield X-rays, it has a high shielding effect and can reliably block X-rays.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the endoscope of the present invention, the solid-state image sensor is provided in the metal tip rigid part, and the signal line from there is covered with a shield wire, so that it can be clearly seen even under X-ray fluoroscopy. An endoscopic image is obtained. Then, a space is formed behind the location of the solid-state image sensor in the rigid part,
The signal lines from the solid-state image sensor are unbound within that space, and are tied with shielded wires inside the flexible section behind them, so even if the endoscope insertion section is bent, the signal lines will not come apart inside the flexible section. This eliminates interference between other built-in components and signal lines, and also increases the degree of freedom of the signal lines near the connection to the solid-state image sensor, thereby preventing disconnection of the signal lines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an endoscope showing a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope, and Fig. 3 is an internal diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope. 1... Endoscope, 2... Soft part, 8... Hard part,
14... Solid-state image sensor, 17... Signal line, 17a
...Unbound part, 18...Shield wire, A...Subject.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flexible soft part, a hard metal part fixed to the tip of the soft part, a solid-state image sensor provided in the hard part, and a solid-state image sensor provided with the solid-state image sensor. In the endoscope, a space is formed behind the position where the solid-state image sensor is arranged in the rigid part, and the signal lines are in an unbound state in this space. each end is connected to the solid-state imaging device, and within the flexible part, the end is covered with a shield wire connected to the hard part to form a bundled state.