JPH052889Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] This invention relates to an endoscope imaging device.

When taking photographs using an endoscope, one affected area is often photographed from many angles. In this case, it is necessary for the endoscope operator, that is, the photographer, to change the direction of the distal end insertion portion of the endoscope while taking a photograph using the operation section of the endoscope, which causes trouble in the photographing operation. Furthermore, if the photographer needs to take pictures while operating a treatment tool such as forceps, the photographer's hands are occupied with operating the treatment tool, making it difficult to take pictures.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an endoscope photographing device that can easily take photographs while operating the endoscope.

Embodiments of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

According to the endoscope photographing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1, a light source unit 6, and an endoscope camera 7 are coupled to each other. The endoscope 1 has a distal end insertion section 2, a flexible section 3, a hand operation section 4, and a light source connection section 5. The light source unit 6 includes a light source 13 and this light source 1.
A light emission control circuit 17 for controlling the light emission of No. 3 is provided. Furthermore, this light source unit is provided with an internal release switch 8 and an external release input terminal 9. For example, a foot switch 11 is connected to the external release input terminal 9. The endoscope camera 7 is provided with a film winding motor 15 and a motor drive circuit 19 for driving this motor. Also,
A shutter 16 and a shutter drive circuit 20 for controlling opening and closing of the shutter 16 are provided. The shutter 16 faces the eyepiece 24 of the endoscope 1 via the half mirror 23. A light receiving element 14 is disposed close to the half mirror 23 and is connected to a photometry circuit 18 which is connected to a light emission control circuit 17. This photometry circuit 18 and the motor drive circuit 19
And the shutter drive circuit 20 is connected to a trigger circuit 21. An in-camera release switch 12, an in-light source release switch 8, and an external release input terminal 9 are connected in parallel to an input terminal of this trigger circuit 21 via a signal line 10.

The light source 13 of the light source unit 6 is optically coupled to the distal end insertion section 2 via a light guide tube (optical fiber tube) 28 of the endoscope 1. Further, the camera 7 is optically connected to an endoscope objective lens 27 via an endoscope eyepiece 25 and an image guide tube (optical fiber tube) 26.

FIG. 2 shows an equivalent electrical circuit system of the endoscopic photographing apparatus as described above. When taking a photograph while operating the operating section 4 of the endoscope 1 in the above-mentioned endoscope photographing device, when the endoscope operator finds the desired photographing area, he or she operates the foot switch 11 with his foot or asks an assistant to take a photograph. A request is made to operate the release switch 8 in the light source. When the foot switch 11 or the release switch 8 in the light source is closed, the trigger circuit 21 applies a trigger signal to the light emission control circuit 17, the photometry circuit 18, and the shutter drive circuit 20, thereby activating these circuits 17, 18, and 20. As a result, the shutter 16 is opened, the light source 13 is turned on, and the photometry circuit 18 measures the amount of exposure based on the light incident on the light receiving element 14 while the shutter is open, and when the appropriate amount of exposure is reached, supplies a light emission stop signal to the light emission control circuit 17. do.
As a result, the light source 13 is turned off, and the shutter drive circuit 20 closes the shutter 16. When automatic exposure photography is completed in this way, the trigger circuit 21
gives a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 19 to drive the motor 1
5 to wind the film.

As described above, according to this invention, an external release input terminal for connecting a release switch, a foot switch, etc. is provided in the light source unit, so that the endoscope operator has both hands occupied in order to operate the endoscope's operation section. Even if the camera is located at a certain location, the desired location can be easily photographed by using one's own feet or by asking an assistant to operate the camera. As a result, I no longer have to take my eyes off the endoscope to find the release switch or check the endoscope control lever after taking a picture. Therefore, the endoscope operator can concentrate on operating the endoscope with both hands, and errors in operation are reduced. What's more, there is no camera shake when taking pictures.

In the above embodiment, the light receiving element 14, the photometry circuit 18,
An automatic exposure device consisting of a light emission control circuit 17 and a light source 13 is incorporated separately into a light source unit 6 and an endoscope camera, but the components of this automatic exposure device are the light source unit and the endoscope camera. You may concentrate on incorporating one of them. Further, the light emission control circuit of the light source unit may be controlled by a trigger circuit 22 provided within the light source unit as shown in FIG.

Further, in the above embodiment, the release signal transmission means is constituted by a signal line connected to the release switch and foot switch in the light source, but this release signal transmission means may be constructed using a fluid path, an optical fiber tube, an acoustic medium, or the like. Good too.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an endoscopic imaging device according to an embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit system of the endoscopic imaging device of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an electric circuit system of an endoscope imaging device according to another embodiment. 1...Endoscope, 4...Operation unit, 6...Light source unit, 7...Endoscope camera, 8...Light source internal release switch, 9...External relay switch input terminal, 10...Signal line , 11... Foot switch, 12... Relay switch, 13... Light source, 14... Light receiving element, 16... Shutter, 17
... Light emission control circuit, 18 ... Photometry circuit, 20 ...
Shutter drive circuit, 21... trigger circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] Equipped with an endoscope camera and a light source unit,
The endoscope has a built-in signal line that electrically connects these, the endoscope camera has an in-camera release switch, and a trigger circuit that activates various circuits by the release switch, and the light source unit has a It has an internal release switch in the light source, an external release switch input terminal, and a light emission control circuit that controls the light emission of the light source by a signal from a trigger circuit. An endoscope imaging device characterized in that the devices are connected in parallel via the signal line.