JPH07184844A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To better a housing, withdrawing or inserting of a long-sized insertion part and a bending operation by providing a holding part near an operating part provided on the base end side of the flexible long-sized insertion part to hold and fix the insertion part. CONSTITUTION:An electronic endoscope 1 is made up of a slender insertion part 2, an operating part 3 connected to a base end of the insertion part 2, a universal cord 4 extended from the operating part 3, a light guide connector 5 provided on the cord 4 and the like. The insertion part 2 is made up of a long-sized soft part 11, a bending part 12 provided sequentially on the tip side thereof and a hard tip part 13. In this case, for example, the insertion part 2 is held near the base end of the operating part 3. For example, a holding part 8 is formed in a shape of a fish hook. Thus, the soft part 11 not inserted into an object is hooked on the holding part 8 so as not to let the insertion part 2 bother an operator thereby ensuring efficient inspection.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a holding portion for holding a long insertion portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in medical fields and industrial fields. The endoscope has a flexible insertion portion and a rigid insertion portion. An endoscope having a flexible insertion portion has an advantage that it can be inserted into a bent lumen or the like.

Usually, an industrial endoscope is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 59-15.
Although it is stored in a case as shown in 8199, it is very difficult to store and take out in a case with a long insertion portion length.

[0004]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application No. 62-2
In the configuration shown in 98358, in which the insertion portion is wound around the drum, the storability is good, but the structure becomes complicated, resulting in a high cost. In Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-71690, a scope is integrally provided with an insertion portion and a universal cord holding portion. However, the bending operation cannot be performed as it is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope which is inexpensive and has a simple structure and which can improve the usability even when the length of the insertion portion is long.

[0006]

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] By accommodating a holding portion for holding and fixing the insertion portion or holding it by hooking the insertion portion to an operation portion which is continuously provided to the long insertion portion, it is possible to store or take out the insertion portion. The insertion and bending operation can be improved.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Shows the appearance of the electronic endoscope of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the internal structure.

The electronic endoscope 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has an elongated insertion portion 2, an operation portion 3 connected to the base end of the insertion portion 2, and an operation portion 3 extended from the operation portion 3. A universal cord 4, a light guide connector 5 provided on the universal cord 4, and a signal connector (C provided on a signal cord 6 extending from the light guide connector 5).
And a CU connector 7 and a holding portion 8 for holding the insertion portion 2 is provided, for example, in the shape of a hook near the proximal end of the operating portion 3.

The light guide connector 5 is detachably connected to a light source device (not shown), and by connecting to the light source device, illumination light is supplied to the light guide 9 as shown in FIG. Further, the signal connector 7 is a CCU not shown.
Alternatively, it is detachably connected to the video processor.

The insertion portion 2 has a flexible long flexible portion 11, a bendable bending portion 12 provided at the tip of the flexible portion 11, and a hard portion provided at the tip of the bending portion 12. And the tip portion 13 of the. The bending portion 12 is the operation portion 3
It is possible to bend in a desired direction by operating the bending operation switch 14 provided for the bending operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, a light guide 9 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 2 to transmit the illumination light supplied from the light source device, and further to the illumination window from the end face on the tip 13 side. The light is emitted to the front through the illumination lens 15 attached to, and illuminates the inspection target site or the like.

An imaging window (observation window) is provided adjacent to the illumination window at the tip portion 13, an objective lens 16 is attached to the observation window, and a solid surface is provided on the focal plane of the objective lens 16. For example, a CCD 17 as an image pickup element is arranged to photoelectrically convert the formed image. A signal line is connected to the CCD 17, and the signal line reaches a contact (not shown) of the signal connector 7 through the insertion portion 2 and the like.

FIG. 2 also shows a curved structure. Bending pieces 21, 21, ... Are accommodated in the bending portion 12 and are adjacent to each other.
Reference numerals 1 and 21 are pivotally connected to each other so as to be rotatable.
One end of the angle wire 22 is fixed to the tip end side of the curved portion 12, and one end of a shape memory alloy (hereinafter abbreviated as SMA) 23 is fixed to the other end of the angle wire 22.

Both ends of the SMA 23 are connected to a conducting wire 24 for electrically heating the SMA 23, and the conducting wire 24 is connected to a control circuit 25 housed in the operating section 3.

The control circuit 25 includes a bending operation switch 14
The SMA is generated by generating a current and a voltage required for a desired bending angle based on a signal corresponding to the operation of the bending operation switch 14 and energizing both ends of the SMA 23 through the energizing wire 24 to heat the SMA. The contraction is performed and the angle wire 22 is pulled by this contraction to bend the bending piece 21.

The other end of the SMA 23 is fixed to a fixing ring (not shown) of the flexible portion 11 to form a fixed end. Therefore, when the SMA 23 contracts, the angle wire 22
The position connected to is moved to the hand side, and the angle wire 2
2 will be pulled and the bending piece 21 will be bent.

The control circuit 25 is a universal cord 4
It is connected to one end of a power cable 26 inserted through the other end, and the other end of the power cable 26 has a contact 27 of the signal connector 7.
By connecting the signal connector 7 to the CCU, the CCU supplies power necessary for the operation of the control circuit 25. The electronic endoscope 1 having such a configuration is inserted into a pipe for inspection while operating the bending operation switch 14 so that the distal end portion 13 side is directed in a desired direction. When the length becomes longer (for example, 10 to 20 m), it is not considered to be inserted into the observation object over the entire scope insertion portion, and it may be considered that only about 3 to 4 m from the tip is inserted for consideration.

In such a case, by hooking the flexible portion 11 not inserted into the object on the holding portion 8 as shown in FIG. 1, efficient inspection can be performed without disturbing the operator.

The operating portion 8 has a simple structure,
Can be cheap. Also, when storing, the flexible portion 11 and the like can be hooked on the holding portion 8 and stored. In this case, since it can be taken out in the housed state even when taken out, the operability of housing and taking out is good.

Further, since the bending operation actuator is arranged only at the front end portion of the insertion portion 2, the bending operation can be performed even if the insertion portion 2 is held in a loop state. Further, it is not impossible to hold, fix and carry and store the flexible part 11 in a loop in the holding part 8.

Since the control circuit 25 is provided in the electronic endoscope 1, it is possible to control the variation in the shrinkage ratio of the SMA 23 on the distal end side of the insertion portion 2 in a one-to-one correspondence. There is also an advantage that it is easy to secure.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3
Shows the electronic endoscope 31 of the second embodiment. In this electronic endoscope 31, the flexible portion 11 is directly connected to the light guide connector 5, and is connected to the operation portion 3 from the light guide connector 5 via the connection cord 32.

The operation section 3 is provided with a bending operation switch 14 as in the first embodiment, and an SMA control circuit 25 is housed therein, and the bending operation switch 14 is provided.
Operation is performed by setting the bending angle. Further, the operating portion 3 is also provided with a holding portion 8 for holding the insertion portion 2 as in the first embodiment.

Further, the operation section 3 is provided with a TV monitor 33 for displaying an observation image. The control circuit 25 is connected to the electrical contacts of the signal connector 7 via a power cord not shown in FIG. Further, the TV monitor 33 is also connected to the electrical contacts of the signal connector 7 via a signal line (not shown), and the video signal generated by the CCU is input. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, there is a merit that the bending operation can be performed while confirming the observation image by the TV monitor 33 provided in the operation section 3. On the other hand, in a general videoscope, the TV monitor is provided separately, and it is difficult to perform the bending operation while checking the image.

In addition, the monitor-integrated operation unit 3 is thus provided.
However, since the TV monitor 33 and the operation unit 3 do not rotate together even if the insertion unit 2 is twisted because it is not directly connected to the insertion unit 2, the operability is not impaired. Other functions and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows the structure near the bending actuator unit in the third embodiment. In the flexible tube portion (soft portion) 42 of the insertion portion 41, a flex 43 formed by spirally winding two sets of strip-shaped elastic thin plates each having a large inner diameter on the front end side and a small inner diameter on the rear end side is formed. Stored,
On the outside of each flex 43, a blade 44 formed of a mesh tube braided with metal thin wires or synthetic fibers is laminated, and connected via a connecting member 45 with solder or the like.

Further, the outer side thereof is covered with an outer cover 46 made of a synthetic resin material such as thermoplastic elastomer. A bending actuator unit (abbreviated as bending unit) 47 such as SMA or rubber artificial muscle is provided inside the distal end side of the flexible tube portion 42 having a large inner diameter. The rear end of the bending unit 47 is fixed to the connecting member 45 via the connecting member 48, and the front end side is connected to the bending portion 5 via the angle wire 49.
It is fixed at the tip of 0.

Further, a lead wire / tube or the like 51 is connected to the rear end of the bending unit 47, passes through the flexible tube portion 42 having a small inner diameter, and is guided to a controller (not shown). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the bending unit 47 is provided in the flexible tube portion 42 having a large inner diameter, and the lead wire / tube 51 is provided in the flexible tube portion 42 having a small inner diameter together with the signal line 52 and the light guide 53. Therefore, the filling rate is suitable for each. A holding unit is provided in the operation unit (not shown).

With such a structure, even in the case of a long endoscope, for example, since the outer skin on the rear end side is thick and has low flexibility, the insertion portion is inserted when inserted into the pipe. Good insertability without meandering. Further, since the outer skin on the distal end side is thin and highly flexible, it can be easily inserted into a U-shaped tube, an elbow or the like.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the third embodiment. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, two flexible tubes 42a and 42b are connected by adhesion or the like via caps 54a and 54b which are caulked and fixed to their respective ends.

The flexible tube 42a in the portion containing the bending unit 47 is large, and the flexible tube 42b in the portion containing the lead wire, tube, etc. behind it is small. In this way, the two flexible tubes 42a and 42b having different inner diameters may be connected to each other. Other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment. Further, the function and effect are similar to those of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an image pickup unit section 61 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The image pickup unit portion 61 is, for example, one in which the objective lens 16 and the CCD 17 housed in the tip portion 13 of the electronic endoscope 1 of FIG. 1 are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the first lens frame 6
An objective lens 64 and an infrared cut filter 65 are attached to the second and second lens frames 63, and a CCD 67 is attached via a protective glass 66. in this case,
Before and after the infrared cut filter 65, a certain amount of space 68 (for example, a total of about 1 mm on both sides) is provided in advance.

Therefore, the CCD 6 mounted in FIG.
When a CCD 67 'having a spectral characteristic different from that of No. 7 is used, as shown in FIG. 7B, the infrared cut filter 65' having a thicker thickness corresponding to the spectral characteristic of the CCD 67 'is used.
The space 68 is provided even when attaching the, so that it can be easily handled.

If the space 68 is not provided in this way,
Although it is possible to deal with the case where the thickness of the infrared cut filter is made thin, when making the thickness thick, the conventional lens design does not have enough margin between individual lenses, so the lens design must be changed. However, this requires a great deal of labor, time, and cost. The CC to use
When D is changed, for example, the spectral characteristic changes due to a change in the manufacturing process of the CCD chip during the production or the like for the purpose of changing the characteristic such as improvement of dark current.

FIG. 8 shows an image pickup unit section 71 in a modification of the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 7A, the spaces 68 are provided on both sides of the infrared cut filter 65, but in this modification, the space 68 is previously provided in the objective lens 64 to design the lens system.

Therefore, when the CCD 67 is changed to the CCD 67 'and an infrared cut filter having a larger thickness than that of the CCD 67 is required, the space 68 is required to have an additional thickness as shown in FIG. 7B. Infrared cut filter 65 ″ can be arranged.

Although the illumination light transmitted by the light guide is emitted from the tip portion of the insertion portion in the above-described embodiments and the like, the blue light is emitted in the tip portion 81 as in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. The LED 82, the green LED 83, and the red LED 84 are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the green and the red are respectively the fibers 83a,
Light may be guided to the illumination window 85 on the front end surface by 84a, and blue, green, and red illumination light may be emitted from this illumination window 85.

In this case, the emission luminance level Y is 0, 3R +
0, 59G + 0, 11B so that the blue LED 82,
White light may be emitted by setting the emission brightness of the green LED 83 and the red LED 84.

An image pickup unit 86 is attached to an image pickup window adjacent to the illumination window 85 at the tip portion 81. The image pickup unit 86 includes an objective lens 87 attached to a lens frame,
It is composed of an infrared cut filter 88 and a CCD 89. A holding unit is provided in the operation unit (not shown).

The illumination means having such a structure has an advantage that the outer diameter of the tip portion 81 can be made smaller than in the case where the three LEDs 82, 83 and 84 are arranged side by side in the illumination window 85. Further, the loss of illumination light amount in the red LED 84 and the green LED 83 is larger than in the case where the three LEDs are arranged side by side in the illumination window 85, but since the light intensity is higher than the light amount of the blue LED 82, this blue color is Even if the emitted light amounts of green and red are determined as a reference, there is a sufficient light amount margin, so that the emission luminance level of white light can be kept the same as in the conventional technique.

Although the electronic endoscope has been described in the first embodiment and the like, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image guide is provided in the flexible insertion portion without incorporating the solid-state image pickup device. It can also be applied to an optical endoscope having a fiber inserted. Further, the holding portion may be provided near the operation portion.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the holding portion is provided in the operating portion, even in the case of a long insertion portion, it is possible to store the endoscope or insert it into an observation object. The usability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the outer appearance of an electronic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of an electronic endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of an electronic endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure in the vicinity of a bending actuator unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a sectional view taken along line AA and BB of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a structure near a bending actuator unit in a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an image pickup unit portion in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an image pickup unit portion in a modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system at a tip end portion in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Operation part 4 ... Universal cord 5 ... Light guide connector 8 ... Holding part 11 ... Flexible part 12 ... Bending part 13 ... Tip part 14 ... Bending operation switch 17 ... CCD 21 ... Bending Piece 22 ... Angle wire 23 ... SMA 24 ... Energizing wire 25 ... Control circuit 26 ... Power cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope including a flexible elongated insertion portion and an operation portion provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion, wherein the insertion portion is held and fixed near the operation portion. An endoscope having a holding portion for performing the operation.