JPH0815614A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an endoscope device which permits easy operation of various functions of the endoscope device and is capable of improving operability, safety and durability. CONSTITUTION:A light guide connector 12 of a code 11 of an endoscope 2 contg. an image pickup means is connected to a light source means 3 and a connector 14 at the terminal of a signal cable 13 extended from this light guide connector 12 is connected to a control unit 4 having a signal processing function and control function. A hand switch 7 is mounted via a mounting member 23 at a clamping part 9 of the endoscope 2. The operation to control freeze, light quantity control, etc., is executed via a control unit 4 connected with a connector 27 of this hand switch 7 by operating operation buttons 24a, 24b, etc., disposed at the switch 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus having switch means mounted on an endoscope and operated to control various functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of various functions of an endoscope, there is an image rotation correction on a monitor as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-260015. In this specification, this image rotation correction is an endoscope. It is shown that the rotation correction means other than the above is used. In this case, since the operator of the endoscope cannot freely perform the image rotation correction, the image rotation correction cannot be performed in real time, and the endoscopic procedure is interrupted during that time.

Another function of the endoscope is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-1.
As in Japanese Patent No. 97430 and US Patent No. 4168702, there are release and trigger of peripheral devices and cameras, or on / off operations such as air supply, water supply, gas supply, and inhalation.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-197430, an electric switch operation button therefor is fixedly provided on the endoscope body, and in US Pat. No. 4168702, a shutter which is fixedly interlocked with the endoscope body and the camera, A release switch is provided.

[0004]

When the switch is fixedly provided on the endoscope body or the camera as described above, a watertight and airtight structure of the switch portion is required for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing the endoscope. If the watertightness or airtightness is insufficient, water or gas may enter inside, which may cause malfunction of the switch or malfunction, as well as malfunction of the endoscope itself. In particular, in the case of high-pressure steam sterilization, steam that has entered the switch section will later condense, causing malfunction.

Further, if the switch is fixed, there is no degree of freedom in the size of the user's hand, the method of gripping the endoscope, and the like. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-197430 discloses a structure in which a foot switch is used to operate the release operation of the camera.
In this case, for example, it is necessary to confirm which foot switch is being used in order to avoid operating the wrong foot switch when using another foot switch such as an electric knife, and the procedure is interrupted during that time. And
It becomes difficult to perform endoscopic procedures smoothly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and various functions of the endoscope apparatus can be easily operated, and further, operability, safety and durability can be improved. An object is to provide a mirror device.

[0007]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems An endoscope provided with an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, which is constructed separately from the endoscope, and has various functions of the endoscope or the endoscope. An endoscope having switch means for performing various operations of controlling various functions of peripheral devices used, and forming attachment means for detachably attaching the switch means to a portion of the endoscope on the near side. By attaching the switch means to the proximal portion, it is possible to perform desired control by the switch means without interrupting the endoscopic procedure.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 (a) and 1 (b) relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) shows the overall configuration of the endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1 (a) is an arrow view in the A direction.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the endoscope apparatus 1 of the first embodiment has an endoscope 2 having an observation optical system and an illumination optical system.
A light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 2, a control unit 4 for performing signal processing for the image pickup means built in the endoscope 2, and a video signal output from the control unit 4. Color monitor 5 to display
A VTR 6 connected to the control unit 4 and the color monitor 5 as a video recording / reproducing device for recording and reproducing a video signal, and detachably mounted on the near side of the endoscope 2 for remote control. And a hand switch 7 as a switch means for performing the operation.

The endoscope 2 is, for example, a rigid and elongated insertion portion 8
And a wide-width gripping portion (also referred to as a main body) 9 that is formed in a large diameter at the proximal side portion of the rear end of the insertion portion 8 and is grasped by an operator, and rearward from the rear end of the gripping portion 9. The flexible cord 11 is extended, and a light guide connector 12 that can be detachably connected to the light source device 3 is provided at the end of the cord 11. Also, this light guide connector 1
A signal cable 13 is extended from the side portion of 2, and the signal connector 14 at this end can be detachably connected to the control unit 4.

When the light guide connector 12 is connected to the light source device 3, the illumination light generated by the lamp inside the light source device 3 is supplied to the light guide 16 from the end face of the light guide connector 12. The light guide 16 constituting the illumination optical system includes the cord 11, the grip portion 9 and the insertion portion 8.
The supplied illumination light is transmitted through the inside and is emitted forward from the illumination window at the tip of the insertion portion 8. The light guide 16 is inserted into the insertion portion 8 by being branched into two, for example.

A subject such as a diseased part illuminated by the emitted illumination light is focused on its focal plane by an objective optical system 17 (as an observation optical system) attached to an observation window formed adjacent to the illumination window, for example. Connect the statues. This image is transmitted to the grip portion 9 side by, for example, the relay optical system 18 arranged in the insertion portion 8 so that the optical axis of the objective optical system 17 and the optical axis thereof coincide with each other. A solid-state image sensor (not shown), such as a CCD, is provided at an image forming position of the relay optical system 18 in the grip portion 9.
Are arranged to photoelectrically convert the formed optical image.

The CCD is connected to the signal line inserted through the cord 11 and the signal cable 13, and the end of the signal line reaches the signal connector 14. By connecting the signal connector 14 to the control unit 4, the CCD drive signal from the CCD drive circuit in the control unit 4 is applied to the CCD, the photoelectrically converted image signal is read out, and the control unit 4 is driven. Signal processing is performed by the video signal processing circuit to convert the video signal into a standard video signal, which is output to the color monitor 5 to display the subject image in color on the monitor screen. This video signal processing circuit has functions such as electronic zoom (enlargement / reduction) of an image, left-right or upside-down inversion (mirroring) of an image, electrical distortion correction of a peripheral image of the image, and freeze.

Further, the color monitor 5 and the VTR 6 are connected by a cable, and an image displayed on the color monitor 5 is
You can also record in TR6. Further, the image recorded on the VTR 6 can be reproduced on the color monitor 5.

The control unit 4 has a control unit composed of a CPU and the like. The control unit is electrically connected to the light source device 3 by a cable 21, and is also electrically connected to the VTR 6 by a cable 22. On the other hand, a signal can be transmitted and received so that its function and operation can be controlled. The control unit can also control the function of the video signal processing circuit in the control unit 4.

The hand switch 7 has operation buttons (operation switches) 24a, 24b on an attachment member 23 as an attachment means that is detachably attached (attached) to the grip portion 9.
And a function changeover button (function changeover switch) 25 for performing a function changeover operation. These buttons 24a,
24b and 25 are cables 2 extended from the mounting member 23
It is connected to a connector 27 provided at its end via 6, and this connector 27 can be detachably connected to a connector receiver 28 of the control unit 4.

The connector receiver 28 is connected to the control input terminal of the control unit, and the control input terminal is "H" or "L".
By applying the binary signal of, the light amount adjustment by controlling the opening / closing operation of, for example, the aperture of the light source device 3 via the control unit,
Outputting a still image (freeze) to the video signal processing circuit in the control unit 4, stopping output of a still image (returning to a moving image), enlarging / reducing an image, reversing the image horizontally, vertically reversing, correcting distortion. ON / OFF, start / stop of recording on the VTR 6, and the like can be performed.

The mounting member 23 of the hand switch 7 has a C-ring shape in which the ring shape is cut out as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), and this mounting member 23 is made of resin or the like having elasticity. It is made of the above material and is elastically attachable to and detachable from the grip portion 9 by this elastic force. That is, the radius of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 23 is set to be slightly smaller than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion 9.

Therefore, by pressing the C-ring-shaped cutout portion against the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion 9, the cutout portion is deformed by elastic force so that the cutout portion is opened, and the grip portion 9 is deformed as shown in FIG. 1B. It is easy to wear. Further, the mounted attachment member 23 can be easily removed from the grip portion 9 by applying a force that separates (from the grip portion 9) the portion opposite to the cutout side. The hand switch 7 can be attached and moved to any position in the axial direction or the circumferential direction of the grip portion 9.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When performing an endoscopic examination, the light guide connector 12 of the endoscope 2 is connected to the light source device 3, and the connector 14 of the signal cable 13 is connected to the control unit 4. Further, the connector 27 of the hand switch 7 is also connected to the control unit 4.

Then, the mounting member 23 of the hand switch 7
The notch side of the hand switch 7 is pressed to a position on the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion 9 where it is easy to operate, so that the hand switch 7
Can be attached detachably. Therefore, the user can attach the hand switch 7 at a position where it can be easily operated, and it is not necessary to interrupt other operations during the endoscopic examination, and the button 24a,
By operating 24b and the like, operations for controlling the functions of the endoscope and various functions of peripheral devices such as the light source device 3 used together with the endoscope can be performed. Further, the hand switch 7 can be easily removed by performing an operation opposite to the attaching operation.

According to the first embodiment, there are the following effects. 1. The hand switch 7 is attachable to and detachable from the grip portion 9 of the endoscope 2, and the hand switch 7 can be attached and used only when necessary. 2. Since the hand switch 7 and the endoscope 2 are separate bodies,
(It is possible to reliably prevent moisture or water vapor from entering the endoscope from the operation switch portion (operation button portion if it is not a separate body). Mirror failure can be prevented and reliability and safety can be improved. In particular, it is possible to prevent steam from leaking from the operation switch portion, so that high pressure steam sterilization of the endoscope becomes possible.

3. Since the hand switch 7 can be attached to the grip portion 93 at any position in the axial direction and the circumferential direction,
Operability is improved. 4. When the hand switch 7 fails, only the hand switch 7 needs to be replaced, which contributes to improving the durability of the endoscope 2.

5. If the hand switch 7 is made disposable, cleaning when it is not disposable,
During disinfection and sterilization, it is possible to completely prevent malfunctions and failures due to the intrusion of water or gas into the hand switch 7, thus improving safety. 6. The endoscope operator can operate reliably without the need for assistance such as an assistant, and quick operation becomes possible.

As a modification of the first embodiment, the following configuration may be adopted. 1. The function switching button 25 may be omitted. 2. The configuration is not limited to the configuration of the operation buttons 24a and 24b and the function switching button 25 shown in FIG. 1, and the numbers may be different and the mounting positions may be provided at positions different from the illustrated positions. 3. The mounting member 23 does not have to be resin. Any material that is elastically removable can be used.

4. The mounting member 23 is not elastically mounted, but may be securely mounted by a screw or the like (not shown). 5. In addition to the functions that can be operated by the hand switch 7, control such as on / off of automatic gain control (AGC: automatic adjustment of brightness) and adjustment of color tone may be performed. Further, as in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-260015, an image rotating means for rotating the direction of the image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device around the optical axis and a drive mechanism for driving the image rotating means are provided for monitoring. The above image rotation correction may be performed.

6. Instead of a normal endoscope, a stereoscopic endoscope may be adopted. In this case, the functions that can be operated by the hand switch 7 include, in addition to the above-mentioned functions, adjustment of the image position of the left and right images on the monitor in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction,
It may be possible to adjust the magnification, brightness, and color tone of the left and right images. 7. When a plurality of operation buttons are provided, which operation button has what kind of function is arbitrary.

Next, the endoscope apparatus 31 of the second embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described with reference to FIG. This endoscope device 31 is the first
The sheath 3 is provided outside the insertion portion 8 of the endoscope 2 in the embodiment.
It has a structure that covers 2.

The sheath 32 is attached to the grip portion 9 by the O-ring 3.
It is detachably attached in a watertight or airtight manner by interposing 3 or the like. The proximal portion 34 of the sheath 32 has a base 35, 36
Are formed and are connected to a pump 39 for water supply and a pump 41 for suction respectively via tubes 37 and 38, respectively.

A gap 42 is provided between the sheath 32 and the insertion portion 8 of the endoscope 2, and water can be fed from the water bottle 43 and sucked into the suction bottle 44 through the gap 42. A nozzle 45 is formed on the distal end surface of the sheath 32, and it is possible to flow the water sent to the distal end side so as to spray it onto the outer surface of an observation window (not shown) on the distal end surface of the insertion section 8. As a result, it is possible to clean the observation window such as dirt and cloudiness. The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the pumps 39 and 41 by cables 46 and 47, respectively, so that signals can be exchanged with the control unit 4.

Further, the hand switch 48 in this embodiment has a structure in which the hand switch 7 in the first embodiment is further provided with a fluid control button 24c for operating and stopping the pump 39 and the pump 41. Has become. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, in the operation of the first embodiment, it is possible to further control water supply, suction, etc. by operating the hand switch 48 on the hand side. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, the observation window can be washed by operating the hand switch 48.

Further, as a modified example of the second embodiment, the following structure may be adopted. 1. Instead of the combination of water supply and suction, any one of water supply, suction and air supply, or a combination thereof may be possible. 2. The hand switch 48 may be separated into a plurality of pieces instead of one, and the hand switches may be independently configured for each function.

Next, the endoscope apparatus 51 of the third embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described with reference to FIG. The endoscope 52 in this embodiment has a flexible insertion portion 8 ', and a CCD 55 is arranged at the imaging position of the objective lens 17 at the hard tip portion 54. Further, a bendable bending portion 55 is formed adjacent to the rear of the tip portion 54. The bending portion 55 pivotally supports a bending piece (not shown) so as to be bendable in the axial direction of the insertion portion 8, and attaches the other end side of the bending operation wires 56a and 56b having one end fixed to the tip end portion 54. By pulling or loosening, it is possible to bend to the pulled side.

In this embodiment, the wires 56a and 56b are
The other end side of the racks is racks 57a, 57b in the grip portion 9 '.
Attached to the racks 57a and 57b, respectively.
A pinion 58 is arranged between the racks 57a, 57.
b. The pinion 58 is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 59, and the bending portion 55 is bent according to the rotation direction of the motor 59.

The motor 59 reaches the connector 14 from the grip portion 9'via the signal line (not shown), the cord 11 and the signal cable 13. And this connector 14
Can be detachably connected to the control unit 60.
This control unit 60 has a configuration in which a bending control circuit such as a drive circuit for driving the motor 59 is further provided in the control unit 4 of FIG.

The hand switch 61 in this embodiment is further provided with a bending instruction button 62 for giving a bending instruction to further bend the bending portion 55 vertically and horizontally in the hand switch 7 of FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the third embodiment can be controlled by operating the hand switch 61 in which the bending portion 55 is attached to the grip portion 9'in the operation of the first embodiment. According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the bending operation can be performed by operating the hand switch 61. Therefore, the bending operation can be easily performed by one-handed operation.

As a modification of the third embodiment, the following structure may be adopted. 1. The motor provided in the control unit 60 for the bending operation and the pinion 34 in the grip portion 9 may be connected by a flexible shaft to rotate the pinion 34.

2. Racks 57a, 57b, pinion 58
However, the bending operation may be performed by any method. 3. The function of the second embodiment may be added. 4. The bending state of the bending portion 55 may be displayed on the monitor.

Next, the main part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is the same as the T in the fourth embodiment.
The endoscope 71 of the external V camera system is shown. The TV camera externally attached endoscope 71 is a rigid endoscope 72, and a TV adapter 75 detachably connected to the endoscope 72.
A TV camera 76 is detachably connected to the TV adapter 75.

The endoscope 2 of the first embodiment has a CC inside the grip portion 9.
However, the endoscope 72 in this embodiment is an optical endoscope in which the CCD is not built in the grip portion 73, and the eyepiece 74 is formed at the rear end of the grip portion 73. There is.

The eyepiece 74 can be observed with the naked eye, and a TV camera 76 can be connected to the eyepiece 74 via a TV adapter 75. The CCD built in the TV camera 76 can be connected to the control unit 4 of FIG. 1 through a signal cable 77 extending rearward from the TV camera 76. Further, the grip portion 73 is provided with a light guide base 78, and the light source device 3 of FIG. 1 is provided via a light guide cable (not shown).
Can be connected to.

Further, in this embodiment, the hand switch 79
Can be detachably connected to the TV camera 76.
The hand switch 79 has a structure without the function switching button 25 in FIG. 1, for example. Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The operation and effect of the fourth embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment. Further, the following configuration may be adopted as a modified example of this embodiment. 1. The hand switch 79 may be attached to the TV adapter 75 or the endoscope 72 instead of being attached to the TV camera 76. 2. The TV adapter 75 may be omitted, and the TV camera 76 may be directly detachably attached to the endoscope 72. Note that different embodiments and the like may be configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like, and these embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Supplementary Note] (1) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is provided with a detachable sheath covering the outer periphery of the insertion portion. (2) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope has a curved portion on the distal end side of the insertion portion. (3) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the endoscopes includes a separate endoscope and a TV camera. (4) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the switch means comprises a mounting member for an endoscope, a button for operating a function, a connector for connecting to a control unit, and a cable for electrically connecting the button and the connector. apparatus. (5) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation correction of the image on the monitor is performed by the switch means.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a switch unit which is constructed separately from the endoscope and which performs an operation for controlling various functions of the endoscope apparatus. Since the attachment means for detachably attaching to the near side of the endoscope is formed, the switch means can be attached at the near side of the endoscope to control various functions of the endoscope or peripheral devices, and to operate. It is possible to improve the sex.

Further, since the switch means is separate from the endoscope, it is possible to prevent water or water vapor from invading the inside of the endoscope through the switch portion, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the endoscope. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a hand switch from the A direction.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an endoscope apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope device 2 ... Endoscope 3 ... Light source device 4 ... Control unit 5 ... Color monitor 6 ... VTR 7 ... Hand switch 8 ... Insertion part 9 ... Gripping part 11 ... Cord 12 ... Light guide connector 13 ... Signal cable 14 ... Connector 23 ... Mounting member 24a, 24b ... Operation button 25 ... Function switching button 26 ... Cable 27 ... Connector 28 ... Connector receiver

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope including an observation optical system and an illumination optical system, and operations for controlling various functions of an endoscope apparatus including the endoscope, which is configured separately from the endoscope. An endoscope apparatus, comprising: a switch means for performing the operation; and an attachment means for detachably attaching the switch means to a proximal portion of the endoscope.