JPH07289511A - Light source connector of endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to surely maintain a light guide in a hermetic state, to take illumination light from the widest possible angle and to efficiently transmit the illumination light without loss by disposing a glass member of a high refractive index formed to a rod shape having a high refractive index and thin cover glass of a low refractive index opposite to an incident end face of the light guide. CONSTITUTION:The light guide 13 is fixed in a light guide rod 30 in such a manner that its incident end face 13a faces a prescribed position. A mounting part 31 having a difference in level is formed in the part in front thereof. The glass member 32a is inserted into the small-diameter mounting part 31a of this mounting part 31 in such a manner that this member comes into tight contact with the incident end face 13a of the light guide 13. The cover glass 33 is mounted at the large-diameter mounting part 31b in tight contact with the glass member 32. The glass member 32 consists of a rod-shaped member having a thickness in order to widen the sealing area and has the high refractive index. The cover glass 33 is used to protect the glass member 32 and is formed of the thin glass material having the low refractive index.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light source connector which is detachably connected to a light source device in an endoscope used in the medical field and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is inserted into a dark place such as the human body for inspection and diagnosis. However, since it is necessary to illuminate an observation target portion in the body with illumination light, A light source device including a light source lamp is provided. Then, the light guide soft portion is connected to the main body operation portion of the endoscope,
A light source connector detachably connected to the light source device is provided at the tip of the light guide flexible portion. on the other hand,
An illumination window is provided at the tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope into the body cavity, and an illumination window is provided at the tip of the insertion portion from the light source connector in order to transmit the illumination light from the light source device to the illumination window. A light guide made of an optical fiber bundle is inserted between the above parts. A light guide rod as a light guide insertion member projects from the light source connector, and when the light source connector is connected to the light source device, the light guide rod is inserted even inside the light source device.

By the way, since the endoscope is inserted into a human body or the like, it is necessary to clean the endoscope every time it is used. Moreover, from the viewpoint of hygiene, disinfection and sterilization are performed in order to perform more thorough cleaning. Then, in order to improve the efficiency of the cleaning work, not only the insertion portion directly inserted into the body, but the entire endoscope including the main body operation portion and the light guide flexible portion is immersed in the disinfecting solution for a predetermined time. Clean and disinfect. In the light guide rod of the light source connector, if the incident end surface of the light guide is directly exposed, the incident end surface may be damaged due to contact with the disinfecting solution.

Therefore, in order to protect the incident end face of the light guide, a glass member is attached to a position in front of the incident end face of the light guide on the light guide rod, and the incident end face of the light guide is covered with this glass member. The airtightness is ensured, and thus the incident end face is protected from being directly exposed to the disinfecting liquid or the like. In order to further improve the airtightness, it is necessary to widen the adhesion area of the outer surface of the glass member to the inner surface of the light guide rod. For this purpose, the glass member is formed in a rod shape, and the thickness of the glass member is increased as much as possible so that the circumferential barrel portion is elongated.

[0005]

By the way, when the length of the glass member is lengthened, the light having a large incident angle of the light condensed on the incident end surface of the light guide is directed toward the inner surface of the light guide rod. Since the light is not directly incident on the incident end surface of the light guide, there is a problem that the amount of light transmitted by the light guide is significantly reduced. Therefore, in order to allow light with a large incident angle to reach the incident end face of the light guide directly, the incident end face of the light guide should be kept outside the glass member that is the incident face of light by making the glass member as thin as possible. It is preferable to bring it closer to the surface. As described above, in order to solve the contradictory propositions of improving the airtightness of the glass member and increasing the amount of light transmitted through the light guide, it is conceivable to use a glass member having a high refractive index. However, a glass member having a high refractive index does not have chemical resistance, and it often contains a substance harmful to the human body such as lead, which is not preferable when used for medical purposes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to reliably protect a light guide and to take in illumination light from a wide angle as much as possible so that the light guide does not cause a loss. It is to enable efficient transmission.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an incident end surface of a light guide for transmitting illumination light in a light guide insertion member detachably connected to a light source device. A glass rod-shaped glass member having a high refractive index is opposed to the light-incident end face of the light guide, and a thin glass cover glass having a low refractive index is provided in front of the glass member. The feature is that it is configured to be attached.

[0008]

[Function] By using a glass member having a high refractive index,
Even if it is made into a rod shape and has a considerable thickness, the refracting action allows the illumination light from a large angle to be directly incident on the incident end surface of the light guide, so that the light converging property is improved. Moreover, since the adhesion area can be increased, the portion of the light guide facing the incident end is reliably kept airtight. In order to protect the glass member from directly contacting the disinfectant solution, a thin cover glass is attached to the front surface of the glass member. Since this cover glass has a predetermined refractive index, this refraction may contribute to a certain degree to the converging function of the illumination light, and since it is formed to be thin, the light guide portion of the light guide can be used. Since the distance to the end face does not become so long, the light collection efficiency does not decrease. Low-refractive-index glass usually has excellent chemical resistance, so by using it as a cover glass, even if it comes into direct contact with a disinfectant solution, etc., it will not be particularly damaged and will also contain harmful substances. Because it is not
This is effective for ensuring patient safety.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope,
Further, FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a connecting portion to the light source device,
Further, FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a main part of the light source connector.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an endoscope, 2 is a light source device, and the endoscope 1 comprises a main body operating portion 10 and an insertion portion 11 inserted into a body cavity. Main unit operation unit 1
A light guide flexible portion 12 is continuously provided at 0. The insertion portion 11 has a flexible portion 11a for most of the length from the side where the insertion portion 11 is connected to the main body operating portion 10. An angle portion 11b is provided at the tip of the flexible portion 11a, and a distal end hard portion is provided at the angle portion 11b. The parts 11c are successively arranged.

As is well known, the observation mechanism of the endoscope 1 is composed of an illumination window and an observation window (both not shown) provided in the hard tip 11c. The inside of the body cavity can be observed through the observation window in a state where the illumination light is emitted from the illumination window toward the inside of the body cavity. In the case of an electronic endoscope, the observation of the inside of the body cavity performed through the observation window is performed by arranging the solid-state image sensor at the image forming position of the objective lens attached to the observation window, and observing with the solid-state image sensor. The image of the target portion is converted into an electric signal, taken out, and subjected to predetermined signal processing to be displayed on the monitor device M as a color image. In the case of an optical endoscope, the image guide is made to face the image forming position of the objective lens, and the image in the body cavity is transmitted to the eyepiece section connected to the main body operation section through this image guide. However, an operator or the like who operates the endoscope can observe the eyepiece by contacting the eyepiece.

The light source device 2 supplies illumination light to the observation target portion, and the endoscope 1 has a light guide 13 in order to efficiently transmit the illumination light with low loss. It is installed. The light guide 13 is composed of an optical fiber bundle in which a large number of ultra-fine optical fibers are bundled, and the emission end of the illumination light faces the illumination window, and from the insertion portion 11 to the light guide flexible portion 12 via the main body operation portion 10. The light-incident end 13 a extends to the light source connector 14. The light source connector 14 is detachably connected to the socket portion 20 provided in the light source device 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a light source lamp 21 is mounted inside the light source device 2, and the illumination light from this light source lamp 21 is reflected by a reflecting mirror 22 and a condenser lens 23. The light is collected through the light guide 13 and is incident on the incident end 13a of the light guide 13. In addition, 2 in the figure
Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotating color filter, which in the case of an electronic endoscope, sequentially irradiates illumination light with red, green, and blue wavelength light through a light-blocking region in order to drive a solid-state image sensor in a frame sequential method. It is for doing. Further, 25 is a light amount adjusting member, and these rotary color filter 24 and light amount adjusting member 2 are provided.
5 is used only in the case of an electronic endoscope,
Generally, these are not provided in an optical endoscope.

The light guide connector 3 is attached to the light source connector 14.
The light guide rod 30 is inserted into the insertion portion 20a of the socket portion 20. As is clear from FIG. 3, the light guide rod 30 is formed in a tubular shape, and the light guide 1 is provided inside.
3 is fixed so that its incident end face 13a faces a predetermined position. And in the light guide rod 30,
A mounting portion 31 having a step is formed, and a glass member 32 is fitted into the small-diameter mounting portion 31a of the mounting portion 31. A cover glass 33 is attached to the large-diameter mounting portion 31b at the front position of the glass member 32. Here, the glass member 32 is made of a thick rod-shaped member and has a high refractive index as its characteristic. On the other hand, the cover glass 33 is thin and is made of a glass material having a low refractive index. By the way, the light source lamp 2
The light from No. 1 is first incident on the outer surface of the cover glass 33, and then is incident on the incident end surface 13 a of the light guide 13 via the cover glass 33 and the glass member 32 in order.
Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of light collection efficiency to make the distance from the outer surface of the cover glass 33, which is the light incident portion, to the incident end surface 13a of the light guide 13 as much as possible in terms of light collection efficiency. Therefore, the cover glass 33, the glass member 32, and the light. Guide 13
It is preferable that the light-incident end surfaces 13a are closely contacted with each other, but even if there is a slight air gap, there is no particular problem.

The high-refractive-index glass member 32 and the small-diameter mounting portion 31a of the light guide rod 30 are sealed between the sealing material 3 and the glass member 32.
The glass member 32 is formed in a rod shape and is thick in the axial direction, so that the sealing area can be made extremely wide. As a result, a good airtight holding function can be exerted in the mounting portion of the glass member 32 of the light guide rod 30, so that the protective function of the light guide 13 can be fully exerted, and at the time of cleaning the endoscope 1. , Light source connector 14
Even if the whole including the above is immersed in the disinfectant solution, not only the disinfectant solution itself but also the vapor of the disinfectant solution does not enter.

The glass member 32 is made of glass having a high refractive index, and this glass material is used as the light guide 13.
Although not so much, it has poor chemical resistance, and when it is brought into direct contact with a disinfectant solution, it is affected by this disinfectant solution and loses the smoothness of its surface, resulting in a so-called frosted glass. However, a cover glass 33 having a low refractive index is attached to the front surface of the glass member 32.
Are fixed to the large-diameter mounting portion 31b via a sealant 34. As a result, it is possible to prevent at least the glass member 32 made of glass having a high refractive index from being directly exposed to the disinfecting liquid, and to protect the glass member 32. Further, as the cover glass 33, general quartz glass can be used,
This quartz glass has excellent chemical resistance, and even if it is brought into contact with an antiseptic solution, it does not deteriorate, damage, or deteriorate.

Since the glass member 32 is long, the incident end surface 13a of the light guide 13 serves as an incident surface for the light from the light source lamp 21 and the cover glass 33.
Although it is far away from the outer surface of the glass member 3,
Since 2 is made of glass having a high refractive index, light incident from the light source lamp 21 to the cover glass 33 at a considerably large angle may also be directed to the inner surface of the light guide rod 30 by this refraction action. None, light guide 1
3 can reach the incident end face 13a without fail and can be directly incident on the incident end face 13a. Therefore,
From the light source lamp 21, the illumination light can be efficiently taken into the light guide 13 from a wide angle and can be transmitted inside the light guide 13, so that the illumination light amount toward the subject can be increased. .

Now, referring to FIG. 3, as the glass member 32, for example, HOYA having a refractive index (nd) = 1.80518.
FD6 (trade name) is used, the cover glass 33 has a refractive index (nd) of about 1.45857, and the cover glass 33 has a thickness of 2 mm.
When the thickness of 2 is 10 mm and the diameter of the incident end surface 13a of the light guide 13 is 3.5 mm, when the illumination light with an incident angle of 60 ° is taken in from the light source side, first, in the cover glass 33. By refracting, it is incident on the glass member 32 at an angle of 36.7 °.
Then, when the light enters the glass member 32, further 2
It will be refracted by 8.65 °. Therefore, the light captured at this 60 ° angle is, as shown by the phantom line in the figure,
Instead of being directed to the inner surface of the light guide rod 30, as shown by the solid line, the light is surely directly incident on the incident end surface 13a of the light guide 13, and this incident end surface 13
The light condensing property at a becomes good, and the amount of light transmitted by the light guide 13 increases. And numerical aperture (NA)
If a light guide 13 having a wavelength of about 0.87 is used, light with an incident angle of up to 60 ° can be efficiently transmitted without loss. In addition, the glass member 32 is
Since the sealing area is remarkably widened by setting the thickness to mm, it is possible to strictly keep the portion of the light guide 13 facing the incident end surface 13a in an airtight state.
You can protect it effectively.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a glass member formed in the shape of a thick rod having a high refractive index is disposed opposite to the incident end face of a light guide, and the front face of the glass member is further provided. A thin, low-refractive-index cover glass is attached so that the light guide can be reliably kept in an airtight state, and the illumination light can be taken in from as wide an angle as possible and transmitted efficiently without loss by the light guide. It has the effect of becoming.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a connecting portion of a light source connector of an endoscope to a light source device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a light source connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Light source device 13 Light guide 13a Incident end 14 Light source connector 21 Light source lamp 30 Light guide rod 31 Mounting part 31a Small diameter mounting part 31b Large diameter mounting part 32 Glass member 33 Cover glass 34 Sealant

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light guide insertion member detachably connected to a light source device is provided so as to face an incident end face of a light guide for transmitting illumination light, and the incident end face of the light guide has a high refractive index. A light source connector for an endoscope characterized in that a thick rod-shaped glass member having a high refractive index is arranged to face each other, and a thin cover glass having a low refractive index is attached to the front surface of the glass member. .