JPH0622907A - Connector for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the handling of a cable in the case where an electronic endoscope is demounted from the peripheral device and to prevent the intrusion of water, etc., into a connector having a number of electrical contact points. CONSTITUTION:A holding cap 20 for holding a male connector 17 for connecting an electronic endoscope and an outside processor device 19 is arranged on a male connector 12 for connecting the electronic endoscope and a light source device 10. The holding cap 20 keeps the inside of the male connector 17 in sealed state in installation. Accordingly, when the male connector 17 is connected and held with the holding cap 20, two cables 13 and 15 are bound to one cable, and the handling in transportation, etc., for cleaning is facilitated, and also the waterproof state in cleaning can be secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for an electronic endoscope,
In particular, it relates to a structure of a connector of an electronic endoscope which is detached from peripheral devices for cleaning or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic endoscope apparatus has a CCD (Charge Coupl), which is a solid-state image sensor provided at the tip of the electronic endoscope, in which an electronic endoscope (electronic scope) is inserted into an object to be observed.
The image captured by the ed device) is displayed on the monitor. The schematic configuration of this electronic endoscope apparatus is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the electronic endoscope 1 is provided with a CCD 2 at the tip of the insertion portion and an operation portion 4 having an operation knob 3 and the like arranged near the middle thereof. This operation unit 4
Is connected to the light source device 7 via the connector 6 attached to the cable 5 branching on the way, and is also connected to the external processor device 9 via the other connector 8. According to this electronic endoscope device, irradiation light is guided from the light source device 7 to the tip of the electronic endoscope 1 via the optical fiber bundle (light guide) arranged in the cable 5, and for example, in the frame sequential manner. In the case of equipment of the formula, R (red), G (green), B
The (blue) light illuminates the inside of the body to be observed, such as inside the body cavity. Then, the image inside the body to be observed is captured by the CCD 2, and the image signal output from the CCD 2 is supplied to the external processor unit 9 via the signal line provided in the cable 5. It The external processor device 9 performs processing such as amplification and gamma correction on the image signal from the CCD 2 and then supplies the processed signal to a monitor (not shown). The image captured by the CCD 2 is finally obtained. Is displayed on the monitor.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-described conventional electronic endoscope apparatus, the electronic endoscope 1 is a peripheral device for cleaning the electronic endoscope 1 after use or when storing the electronic endoscope 1. Although detached from the processor device 9, the cable 5 attached to the electronic endoscope 1 is divided into two as described above, which makes it inconvenient to carry and difficult to handle. In addition, the external processor device 9
There are many electrical contacts in the connector 8 to be connected to, and if water enters the inside of the connector 8 during cleaning, corrosion or electrical failure will occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to facilitate the handling of a cable when an electronic endoscope is detached from a peripheral device and to provide a connector having many electric contacts. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for an electronic endoscope that does not have a risk of water or the like entering.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic endoscope connector according to the present invention has a connector member for connecting an electronic endoscope and a light source device to an electronic endoscope. And a holding member for holding a connector member for connecting the external processor device and the external processor device.
The invention according to the second aspect is characterized in that the inside of the connector member to which the holding member is attached is sealed.

[0007]

According to the structure of the first aspect, the cable attached to the electronic endoscope is connected to the light source device and the external processor device by the two connectors at the time of use, while the cable is connected to the external light source device at the time of cleaning. The two connectors are removed, and the connector member connected to the external processor device side is attached to the holding member of the connector connected to the light source device side. Therefore, the two cables can be handled as one bundle.

Further, according to the structure of the second aspect, since the connector member is attached in a hermetically sealed state by the holding member, it is possible to protect the inside of the connector in which the electrical contacts are arranged from the intrusion of water.

[0009]

1 shows the structure of a connector for an electronic endoscope according to a first embodiment. In the drawing, a light source device 1 is shown.
A male connector 12 is connected to a female connector 11 attached to 0, and a cable 13 of an electronic endoscope (not shown) is connected to the male connector 12. This cable 13
An optical fiber bundle serving as a light guide and a conductive wire bundle serving as a signal line and a power supply line are arranged inside, and an end portion 14 of the optical fiber bundle is introduced into the light source device 10 as shown in the drawing. Further, the conductive wire bundle passes through the male connector 12 and is taken out again as a cable 15, and the cable 15 is connected to the external processor unit 19 by connecting the male connector 17 to the female connector 18. . Then, a holding cap 20 having a female connector structure for connecting and holding the male connector 17 on the processor side to the male connector 12 on the light source side is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the detailed construction of the male connector 17 and the holding cap 20 on the processor side.
First, in the male connector 17, a conductive wire 23 which is a signal wire and a power supply wire is arranged inside the main body tube 22, and the conductive wire 23 is electrically connected to the pin 24 at the tip. This body tube 22
A slide cylinder 25 is attached to the outer periphery of the slide cylinder 25 in a state of being urged toward the tip by a spring 26, and a stopper 27 for restricting the sliding range is provided on the inner periphery of the slide cylinder 25.
Therefore, the sliding cylinder 25 moves in the axial direction on the outer circumference of the main body cylinder 22. Further, in the main body cylinder 22, an O-ring 2 for ensuring a sealed state at the position shown in the figure.
8, the gaskets 29 and 30 are attached, and the ball groove 31 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip end portion of the main body cylinder 22.

On the other hand, in the holding cap 20, the pin 2
A pin receiver 32 for fitting 4 is attached, and
An engagement cylinder 33 slightly protruding from the pin receiver 32 is formed, and the engagement cylinder 33 holds a ball 34 inside. The ball 34 is configured so that a part thereof can protrude from the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the engagement cylinder 33, and is engaged with the ball groove 31 on the male connector 17 side. Therefore, when the connectors are connected, the main body tube 22 is moved to the rear side against the biasing force of the spring 26 while the sliding tube 25 of the male connector 17 is moved rearward.
When the sliding cylinder 25 is inserted into the inside and then the sliding cylinder 25 is moved to the tip end portion, the sliding cylinder 25 pushes the ball 34 to engage with the ball groove 31. As a result, a firm connector connection can be achieved, and at the same time, the sliding cylinder 25 and the engaging cylinder 33 can be connected.
The sealed state is achieved by the combined state of the above and the presence of the O-ring 28.

FIG. 3 shows the overall structure when the male connector 17 is connected to the holding cap 20, and when cleaning after use or disassembling and storing, the male connector on the light source side is shown. After 12 is removed from the light source device 10 and the male connector 17 on the processor side is removed from the external processor device 19, the male connector 17 is connected and held to the holding cap 20 provided on the male connector 12 by the above procedure. Therefore, the cable 15 does not dangle without being placed and the electronic endoscope can be easily transported. Further, in the case of cleaning, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of cleaning water by the above-mentioned closed structure. It should be noted that the male connector 12 on the light source side does not need to be waterproof because it is simply provided with the optical fiber end portion 14, the intake port, the water supply port, and the like. In the embodiment, as shown in the figure, the cable 13 and the cable 15
Is configured to be bundled by the break preventing member 35.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and this second embodiment corresponds to the electronic endoscope of the type shown in FIG. That is, as shown in the figure, the cable 13 connected to the electronic endoscope has a branch portion 36.
A cable 37 in which the optical fiber bundle is arranged is bifurcated into a male connector 38, and the male connector 38 is connector-connected to the light source device 10. This male connector 38 is provided with a holding cap 40 having the same structure as described above.
Is attached. On the other hand, the cable 41 in which the conductive wire bundle is arranged has a male connector 42, and the male connector 42 is configured to be connected to the external processor device 19 and at the same time connected and retained to the holding cap 40. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, by connecting the male connector 42 to the holding cap 40 at the time of cleaning after use, the handling is facilitated, and at the same time, the waterproof function of the male connector 42 can be achieved.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the connector is connected to the sliding cylinder 2.
5, the ball groove 31 and the ball 34 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods such as a screw joining method can be applied. Further, a waterproof cap is put on the male connectors 17, 42 on the processor side, and a simple holding member is provided on the male connectors 12, 38 on the light source side so that the male connectors 17, 42 can be connected and held by the holding members. You may

[0015]

As described above, according to the invention described in the first aspect, the electronic endoscope and the external processor device are connected to the connector member for connecting the electronic endoscope and the light source device. Since the holding member for holding the connector member for holding the connector is provided, the two cables can be handled together, and the cables can be easily handled during transportation and movement.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the holding member is structured to ensure the hermetically sealed state with respect to the attached connector member, water or the like enters the connector having many electrical contacts. It is possible to maintain a good operating state even after cleaning without worrying about

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connector for an electronic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a male connector on a processor side and a holding cap in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a male connector on a processor side is connected to a holding cap of a male connector on a light source side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connector configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection state between a conventional electronic endoscope and peripheral devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Electronic endoscope, 7, 10 ... Light source device, 9, 19 ... External processor device, 12, 38 ... Male connector (light source side), 17, 42 ... Male connector (processor side), 11, 18 ... Female connector , 20, 40 ... Holding cap, 22 ... Main body tube, 25 ... Sliding tube, 31 ... Ball groove, 33 ... Engaging tube, 34 ... Ball.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope in which a connector member for connecting an electronic endoscope and a light source device is provided with a holding member for holding a connector member for connecting an electronic endoscope and an external processor device. Mirror connector. 2. The connector for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the holding member seals the inside of the attached connector member.