JPH0731581A - Cover type endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a cover type endoscope equipped with an endoscope cover to which lens covers formed out of a plastic material are easily and surely fixed without damaging the optical effective range of an observing optical system and an illuminating optical system of a covering endoscope. CONSTITUTION:A lens cover 63 for an observing optical system and a lens cover 64 for an illuminating optical system formed out of a transparent plastic resin are disposed in positions corresponding to an observing optical system 22 and an illuminating optical system disposed in a forward end component part 41a of an insert part 41 of a covering endoscope inserted in a covering endoscope inserting through hole 62 of the forward end surface 60a of the forward end component part. The resin-made observing optical system lens cover 63 and illuminating optical system lens cover 64 are so constructed that gate parts 63a, 64a are formed on the outside of the optical effective ranges 63b, 64b on the face side opposed to the observing optical system 22 and the illuminating optical system, and the side parts of the lens covers 63, 64 are made to adhere and fix to the forward end component part 60 to secure watertight.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover type endoscope in which an endoscope cover having a lens cover made of plastic fixed thereto is covered with a cover endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in industrial fields, medical fields, and the like. When an endoscope used in the medical field is inserted into the body cavity of a patient, body fluid or the like adheres to the tip or insertion part of the endoscope, so the endoscope once used for a patient is reused. At that time, they were washed and sterilized to prevent infections caused by the endoscope.

In particular, various conduits for air supply, water supply, suction, etc., provided in an endoscope are used for the body through a conduit that is inserted from the distal end opening opening in the body cavity of the patient into the insertion section. Since it communicates with the outside, the inside of the conduit including the tip opening must be completely cleaned and disinfected. However, it takes a lot of time for the user to completely clean and disinfect the inside of the duct, which has been a factor of reducing the use efficiency of the endoscope.

Therefore, in order to reduce the hassle of cleaning and disinfecting, the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity while the endoscope is attached to the cover that has been cleaned and disinfected, and inspection and treatment are performed. There has been proposed a so-called cover-type endoscope in which only the cover is discarded after the inspection / treatment is completed.

The cover-type endoscope is an endoscope cover provided with channels on the cover side that form various conduits that open in the body cavity of the patient, and an observation means that does not need to be opened in the body cavity of the patient. It is composed of a cover endoscope in which a lighting unit is provided on the endoscope side.

That is, at the time of an endoscopic examination, the cover endoscope is inserted into the endoscope cover with a channel to perform an inspection / treatment in the body cavity, so that the cover endoscope can be used during the inspection / treatment. Since body fluid does not adhere to the tip and insertion part of the, it does not become dirty, and after the inspection and treatment is completed, only the endoscope cover is discarded to clean the cover endoscope,
The disinfection is simplified.

Further, in this cover-type endoscope, it is desired to reduce the outer diameter of the insertion portion in order to reduce the pain of the patient. For this reason, it has been desired that the lens cover fixed to the distal end portion of the endoscope cover is optically formed to have the minimum necessary size. For example, US Patent No. 4
The lens cover fixed to the tip portion of the endoscope cover disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 97458 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-16154 is also formed to have a minimum size necessary for the observation optical system and the illumination optical system. I am trying to do it.

[0008]

However, since the lens cover fixed to the distal end of the disposable endoscope cover is made of flat glass, it is difficult to polish and process, and therefore it is expensive to use as a disposable. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost, an inexpensive lens cover made of a transparent plastic material is fixed to the tip of the endoscope cover.

However, this resinous lens cover has the following problems. It was necessary to reduce the diameter of the lens cover, and there was a sprue on the side of the lens cover to improve productivity, but when the lens cover is separated from the runner, this spout protrudes to the side of the lens cover. I have left. Therefore, an adhesive must be applied to the lens surface of the lens cover in order to bond and fix the lens cover to the endoscope cover tip portion, which may impair the optical effective range of a predetermined optical system. There was a problem that the adhesive strength was weakened.

Therefore, a sprue portion projecting on a side surface portion of the lens cover can be securely fixed to the distal end portion of the endoscope cover without deteriorating the optical effective range of the lens cover formed of the plastic. After removing them one by one by hand, the side parts were adhesively fixed to the tip part of the endoscope cover. For this reason, post-processing after molding the lens cover is expensive, and the cost reduction effect pursued by forming the lens cover from a plastic material is halved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a lens cover formed of a plastic material can be easily formed without impairing the optical effective range of the observation optical system and the illumination optical system of the cover endoscope. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cover-type endoscope having a fixed endoscope cover.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cover-type endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope cover having a lens cover formed of plastic fixed to the distal end thereof, and this endoscope cover. A cover-type endoscope including a cover endoscope covered with a cover endoscope, wherein a spout of a lens cover fixed to a distal end portion of the endoscope cover is opposed to a predetermined optical system of the cover endoscope. It was provided outside the optical effective range of the surface to be installed.

[0013]

With this structure, the resin lens cover provided on the endoscope cover is an optical effective range of the observation optical system of the cover endoscope or a predetermined optical system such as an illumination optical system. Is securely fixed to the tip portion of the endoscope cover without damaging.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus equipped with a cover-type endoscope, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a distal end portion of the cover-type endoscope, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of a lens cover, FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a sprue part of a lens cover and an optical effective range.
The endoscope used in this embodiment is an electronic endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 is an apparatus having a cover-type endoscope 2, and the cover-type endoscope 2 is covered with an endoscope cover 3 and this endoscope cover 3. And the cover endoscope 4.

The endoscope device 1 includes various peripheral devices connected to the cover-type endoscope 2, for example, a light source device 51, a video processor 52, a fluid control device 53, and an endoscope cover 3.
The cart 5 is provided with the endoscope cover expander 54 and the like used when inserting the cover endoscope 4 into the insertion portion cover 31. A monitor 55 that receives an image signal from the video processor 52 and displays an endoscopic image is mounted on the upper surface of the cart 5.

The endoscope cover 3 comprises a flexible insertion portion cover portion 31, a thin and soft operation portion cover portion 32 and a universal cord cover portion 33 formed of a polymer material such as vinyl chloride. The insertion section cover section 31 includes an endoscope insertion section (not shown), the operation section cover section 32 includes an endoscope operation section 42, and the universal code cover section 33 includes an endoscope universal code 43 and a connector 44. Each is covered.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the endoscope cover 3
Is an elongated cover outer cover 3 that forms the insertion portion cover portion 31.
4 is airtightly connected to the tip forming portion 60 at the tip portion 35. A treatment tool insertion through-hole 61, a cover endoscope insertion through-hole 62, or an air supply not shown
A through hole for water supply is formed, and a through hole 6 for inserting a treatment tool is formed.
A flexible tube 61a is connected to the proximal end of 1 to form a treatment instrument insertion conduit.

Further, an observation optical system disposed at the tip forming portion 41a of the insertion portion 41 of the cover endoscope 4 inserted into the cover endoscope inserting through hole 62 of the tip forming portion tip surface 60a. 22 and an illumination optical system lens cover 63 and an illumination optical system lens cover 64 formed of transparent plastic resin are provided at positions corresponding to the illumination optical system 22 and the illumination optical system (not shown).

This resinous lens cover 6 for the observation optical system
3 and the illumination optical system lens cover 64 are
a and 64a are provided outside the optical effective ranges 63b and 64b on the surface side opposite to the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system, and the side surface portions 63c and 64c of the lens covers 63 and 64 are provided in the tip forming portion 60. Watertightness is secured by adhesion and fixing.

Reference numeral 65 is a cleaning nozzle for supplying air and water to the observation optical system lens cover 63 and the illumination optical system lens cover 64, which communicates with the air supply and water transmitting through hole.

The operation of the endoscope cover 3 having the above-mentioned lens covers 63 and 64 will be described. First, the cover endoscope 4 is arranged in the cover endoscope insertion through hole 62 provided in the insertion portion cover portion 31 of the endoscope cover 3. Then, the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system arranged in the distal end constituent portion 41a of the cover endoscope 4 adhere the lens cover side surfaces 63c and 64c to the distal end constituent portion 60 of the insertion portion cover portion 31 by adhesion. It is provided opposite to the resin observation optical system lens cover 63 and the illumination optical system lens cover 64.

Then, the cover type endoscope 2 in which the cover endoscope 4 is attached to the endoscope cover 3 is inserted into the body cavity. At this time, the part illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the distal end surface of the cover-type endoscope 2 into the body cavity is displayed on the monitor screen 55 via the observation optical system 22 to make the cover-type endoscope 2 the target observation part. Insert and inspect and treat.

The used cover type endoscope 2 is removed from the body cavity, the cover endoscope 4 is removed from the endoscope cover 3, and the used endoscope cover 3 is discarded.

As described above, the sprue of the resin cover for the observation optical system and the lens cover for the illumination optical system, which are arranged at the distal end portion of the endoscope cover, is provided opposite to the observation optical system and the illumination optical system. By forming it on the lens surface side, there is no convex part such as a cut part of the sprue on the side surface of the lens cover, so the side surface of the lens cover can be attached to the tip of the endoscope cover without post-processing of the side surface of the lens cover. It can be securely and easily adhered and fixed to the tip forming portion of the.

Further, the sprue of the lens cover for the observation optical system and the lens cover for the illumination optical system is formed outside the effective range of the optical system of the lens surface facing the observation optical system and the illumination optical system. Therefore, the visual field range of the observation optical system is not damaged and the illumination range of the illumination optical system is not damaged.

Further, by fixing the sprue part of the lens cover provided in the distal end constituent part of the endoscope cover toward the inside of the through-hole for inserting the cover endoscope, the spout part is outside as shown in FIG. The angle of view θb of the present embodiment, which is fixed toward the inside, is wider than the angle of view θa when the angle of view is fixed toward the inside, and the inside of the body cavity is not damaged by the angle of view. Therefore, it is also excellent in safety.

FIGS. 5 and 6 relate to a first modification of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing the tip of a cover-type endoscope having an integrated lens cover, and FIG. 6 is an illustration of the integrated lens cover. It is a perspective view showing a schematic shape. As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the observation optical system lens cover 63 and the illumination optical system are provided so as to correspond to the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system (not shown) of the cover endoscope 4 in the above-described embodiment. Although the lens covers 64 are individually arranged, in the present embodiment, a substantially D-shaped integrated lens cover 71 that integrally covers the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system (not shown) of the cover endoscope 4 is arranged. is doing.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sprue 71a of the integrated lens cover 71 has the observation optical system visual field range (optical effective range) 63b and the illumination optical system illumination range (similar to the above embodiment. The optical effective range 64b is not damaged, and is provided on the lens surface side of the cover endoscope 4 opposite to the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system (not shown).

For this reason, the cover-type endoscope distal end forming section 60
By providing the adhesive portion 60a on the lens cover side surface portion 7
Both 1c and 1c are adhesively fixed to the tip forming portion 60.

The adhesive portion 6 on which the sprue portion 71a is disposed
0a has a relief groove 60 deeper than the protrusion height of the sprue 71a.
b is formed. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, instead of individually disposing the lens covers corresponding to the observation optical system and the illumination optical system of the cover endoscope provided in the endoscope cover, they are formed as an integral lens cover. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

Further, by using the outside of the optical effective range of the lens surface of the integrated lens cover as a bonding margin,
Both the outside of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover and the side surface of the lens cover can be adhesively fixed to the tip forming portion, so the adhesive strength is improved.

FIGS. 7 and 8 relate to a first application example of the first modification, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a tip portion of a cover type endoscope in which another integral lens cover is arranged. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of another integrated lens cover. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the spout portion 72a of the substantially D-shaped integrated lens cover 72 disposed on the front surface of the observation optical system 22 of the cover endoscope 4 and the illumination optical system (not shown) is provided as described above. Similar to the embodiment, the observation optical system visual field range (optical effective range) 63b and the illumination optical system illumination range (optical effective range)
64b is a position where it is not damaged, and on the inner side that is not flush with the lens cover side surface portion 72c on the lens surface side that faces the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system (not shown) of the cover endoscope 4. It is provided.

Therefore, by providing the adhesive portion 60c on the endoscope cover tip forming portion 60, both the outer peripheral portion of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover 72 and the lens cover side surface portion 72c are formed on the tip forming portion 60. It is fixed by adhesion.

The adhesive portion 6 on which the sprue portion 72a is disposed
0c has a relief groove 60 deeper than the protrusion height of the sprue part 72a.
forming d. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this manner, by using the outer peripheral portion of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover as a bonding margin, both the outer peripheral portion of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover and the side surface portion of the lens cover are formed into the tip forming portion. Since it can be adhered to or fixed by welding, the adhesive strength is further improved.

9 and 10 relate to a second application example of the first modified example, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a tip end portion of a cover type endoscope in which another integral lens cover is arranged. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of another integrated lens cover. As shown in FIG. 9, the integrated lens cover 7 of this embodiment
Reference numeral 3 denotes an observation optical system visual field range (optical effective range) 63b and an illumination optical system illumination range (optical) of the observation optical system 22 of the cover endoscope 4 and a lens cover arranged in front of an illumination optical system (not shown). The effective range) 64b is at a position where it is not damaged, and the observation optical system 2 of the cover endoscope 4 is used.
2 and a rib 73d is formed on the entire outer circumference of the lens surface side opposite to the illumination optical system (not shown).
3a is provided.

For this reason, an adhesive portion 60e is provided on the endoscope cover tip forming portion 60, and the rib 73d on the outer periphery of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover 73 and the lens cover side surface portion 73c are attached to the tip forming portion 60. Adhesive fixed.

The adhesive portion 6 on which the sprue portion 73a is disposed
0e has a relief groove 60 deeper than the protruding height of the sprue part 73a.
forming f. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

Since the rib is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the optical effective range of the integrated lens cover as described above, this rib can be used as a bonding margin. Therefore, the rib outer peripheral surface and the rib tip surface of the integrated lens cover can be used. Since it can be bonded or fixed by welding to the tip forming portion, the adhesive strength is significantly improved.

Further, since the ribs improve the adhesive strength, the optical effective range can be made thin, and therefore the observation optical system visual field range (optical effective range) and the illumination optical system illumination range (optical effective range). ) Is easy to secure.

By the way, in the cover-type endoscope, in order to prevent deterioration of optical performance such as the field of view and uneven light distribution of the endoscope optical system for the cover, a resin lens cover fixed to the endoscope cover is used. However, the optical system of the cover endoscope is arranged in close contact or with a slight gap. Therefore, the resin lens cover for the illumination optical system fixed to the endoscope cover is deformed by the heat of the illumination light of the cover endoscope, which causes uneven light distribution and flare ghost. Therefore, the deformation of the resin lens cover due to heat can be prevented as follows.

As shown in FIG. 11, the integral lens cover 71 of the endoscope cover 3 has a cover endoscope observation optical system 22.
Only abut. Therefore, a space 81 is formed between the integrated lens cover 71 and the cover endoscope illumination optical system 23. Further, the space portion 81 is further provided as a space portion between the endoscope cover tip forming portion and the cover endoscope tip forming portion and a space portion between the endoscope cover inserting portion and the cover endoscope inserting portion. It is in communication.

As described above, by providing the space between the lens cover and the cover endoscope illumination optical system, heat generated from the cover endoscope illumination optical system is directly conducted to the lens cover. Is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the lens cover from being deformed by heat generated from the illumination optical system.

Further, the space between the lens cover and the cover illumination optical system for the cover is the space between the endoscope cover tip forming section and the cover endoscope tip forming section and the endoscope cover insertion. Since the space is communicated with the space and the endoscope insertion portion for the cover, it is possible to further prevent the lens cover from being deformed by heat by circulating the air in the space.

The lens cover is not limited to the integrated lens cover, and the lens cover provided corresponding to each optical system is configured as described above to prevent the lens cover from being deformed by heat. It can be further prevented. Further, it becomes possible to further improve the cooling effect by circulating the cooling air instead of circulating the air. Further, it may be filled with an inert gas such as CO2.

By the way, the illumination light transmitted through the integrated lens cover is reflected in the lens cover depending on the emission angle of the illumination light, and the reflected light enters the observation optical system to cause flare. Was there. For this reason, in order to prevent flare due to reflected light, the lens cover is made thin to increase the number of reflections in the lens cover to attenuate the reflected light.However, by forming the lens cover thin, There was a problem that the lens cover of was fragile. Therefore, by configuring the lens cover as follows, it is possible to provide a lens cover that is hard to break and that prevents flare due to reflected light from occurring.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the lens cover 91 is formed thick to secure its strength, while
In order to prevent reflected light from entering the observation optical system 22, a groove 92 having a predetermined depth is formed as a reflection surface on the lens cover surface located between the observation optical system 22 and the illumination optical system 23.

The operation of the lens cover 91 formed as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the lens cover 91
Is disposed on the endoscope cover 3, the illumination light (solid line) emitted from the endoscope illumination optical system 23 for the cover is not affected by the groove 9
It does not enter the observation optical system by being reflected by the reflecting surface 92 'formed by 2. Further, the illumination light (broken line) emitted from the cover endoscope illumination optical system 23 does not pass through the lower portion of the groove 92, is reflected by the lens cover surface, and does not enter the observation optical system.

As described above, by forming the groove having a predetermined depth for forming the reflecting surface on the lens cover, it is possible to prevent reflected light from entering the observation optical system.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, an uneven portion 93 is provided on the reflecting surface 92 'of the groove 92 to form a rough surface, or
By coloring the inside of the groove 92 with black paint 94 or the like, the light transmitted through the groove 92 can be completely eliminated, and flare due to the reflected light in the lens cover can be prevented with higher efficiency.

A groove 92 provided to prevent flare
Is not limited to the groove formed in a straight line as shown in FIG. 12, but may be formed along the periphery of the observation optical system or the periphery of the illumination optical system as shown in FIG. The effect can be obtained.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a lens cover formed of a plastic material can be easily formed without impairing the optical effective range of the observation optical system and the illumination optical system of the cover endoscope. Thus, it is possible to provide a cover-type endoscope including a fixed endoscope cover.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus field including a cover-type endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a tip portion of a cover-type endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of a lens cover.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a sprue part of a lens cover and an optical effective range.

5 and 6 relate to a first modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a distal end portion of a cover-type endoscope in which an integrated lens cover is provided.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of an integrated lens cover.

7 and 8 relate to a first application example of the first modified example, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a tip end portion of a cover-type endoscope in which another integrated lens cover is arranged.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of another integrated lens cover.

9 and 10 relate to a second application example of the first modified example, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a tip end portion of a cover-type endoscope in which another integrated lens cover is provided.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic shape of another integrated lens cover.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a space portion formed by the endoscope cover and the cover endoscope of the cover-type endoscope.

12 and 15 relate to a lens cover for preventing flare due to reflected light, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a lens cover provided with flare preventing means.

13 is a view for explaining the operation of the lens cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an application example of flare prevention means.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a modification of flare prevention means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Cover-type endoscope 3 ... Endoscope cover 4 ... Cover endoscope 63 ... Lens cover 63a ... Gate 63b ... Optical effective range

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cover-type endoscope including an endoscope cover having a lens cover formed of plastic fixed to a distal end thereof, and a cover endoscope covered with the endoscope cover, wherein A cover-type endoscope, wherein a spout of a lens cover fixed to a tip end portion of the mirror cover is provided outside an optically effective range of a surface of the cover endoscope facing a predetermined optical system.