JPH09108181A - Electron endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electron endoscope device for preventing unintentional burning by an electrically conductive member provided on the armor of an insertion part inserted into a coelom at the time of using an electric apparatus. SOLUTION: The insertion part 21 of an electronic endoscope 2 is formed by an armor metallic member 24, a CCD 10 and a signal cable 13 are covered with a shielding member 25 inside the armor metallic member 24 and the shielding member 25 is connected through a GND line 25a to the ground terminal of a video processing circuit 3. By providing an insulation part 26 on the outer periphery of the shielding member 25, the shielding member 25 and the armor metallic part 16 of a CCU 4 are electrically insulated and the armor metallic member 24 and the shielding member 25 are electrically insulated. The armor metallic part 16 for constituting the CCU 4 is connected to the ground of a commercial power source by a ground line 17. Power is supplied to the video processing circuit 3 from the commercial power source in an electrically insulated state by placing an isolation circuit 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus in which a solid-state image pickup device is used as an image pickup means, and the image pickup means is incorporated in an insertion portion provided with a conductive member on at least a part of its outer surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting a slender insertion portion into a body cavity, an organ can be observed and, if necessary, a treatment instrument can be inserted into a treatment instrument channel to perform various treatments and treatments. Mirrors are widely used.

In some of these endoscopes, a charge-coupled device (CC
There is an electronic endoscope using a solid-state image pickup device such as D) as an image pickup means.

In this electronic endoscope, an optical image of a subject is formed on an image pickup surface of a solid-state image pickup device via an objective optical system, and the optical image formed on this image pickup surface is converted into an electric signal. , The photoelectrically converted electric signal is transmitted to the signal processing means by the electric signal transmitting means.

The electric signal is generated into a video signal by the signal processing means, the video signal is transmitted to a monitor device, and an optical image of the subject is displayed on the screen of the monitor device for observation. It is a thing.

The electronic endoscope is an external device, for example,
When used at the same time as an electric device such as a high-frequency treatment instrument, high-frequency noise radiated from the high-frequency treatment instrument is easily mixed in an electric signal which is photoelectrically converted by the solid-state imaging device and transmitted to the signal processing means. When this high frequency noise is mixed in the electric signal transmitted to the signal processing means, the image quality of the endoscopic image displayed on the screen of the monitor device is significantly deteriorated.

Therefore, in an electronic endoscope provided with a solid-state image pickup device, noise is prevented from being mixed into an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup device when an electric device is used. A conductive member is arranged on the exterior of the mirror insertion portion, and this conductive member is grounded to the ground of the signal processing means to be shielded. Further, the signal processing means and the external power supply means for supplying power to the signal processing means are insulated by the isolation means.

[0008]

However, if a problem occurs in the insulation between the signal processing means and the external power supply means, the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope supplies power. There is a risk of being connected to the ground of the means.
If, for example, a high-frequency treatment tool is used in a state in which the ground and the conductive member of the insertion section are in conduction, the high-frequency treatment tool is used for the conductive member forming the shield provided on the exterior of the insertion section of the electronic endoscope. A current flows, and a high frequency current flows from the ground of the signal processing means toward the ground of the power supply means. At this time, if the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion is located inside the body cavity, unintentional burn may occur in the body cavity near the conductive member.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when an electric device is used, it is possible to prevent unintentional burns due to a conductive member provided on the exterior of an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity, thereby ensuring safety. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic endoscopic device having improved performance.

[0010]

In the electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention, at least one of an outer surface of the image pickup means using a solid-state image pickup element and a signal transmission means for transmitting an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup element. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an electronic endoscope housed in an insertion portion provided with a conductive member in a portion; and a signal processing unit that processes an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor into a video signal. The electrically conductive member provided in the insertion portion is electrically insulated from the image pickup means, the signal transmission means, and the signal processing means in the insertion portion.

According to this structure, the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion is electrically insulated from the image pickup means, the signal transmission means and the signal processing means in the insertion portion.
Unintentional burns due to the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion are prevented.

[0012]

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, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an electronic endoscope in which an exterior of an insertion portion is made of a hard metal member. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mirror and a signal processing means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is an electronic device in which a solid-state image pickup device, for example, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 10 is incorporated as an image pickup means at the distal end side of an insertion portion 21. The endoscope 2 and the CCD of this electronic endoscope 2
A camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 4 incorporating a video process circuit 3 which is a signal processing means for processing an electric signal output from 10 into a video signal, and an output from the video process circuit 3 connected to the CCU 4. Monitor 5 that displays the captured video signal as an endoscopic image
And a light source device 7 having a built-in light source 6 for supplying illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2.

An objective optical system 12 for forming a subject image on the image pickup surface of the CCD 10 is disposed behind the lens cover 11 at the tip of the insertion portion 21. The electric signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 10 and a signal processing circuit described later is transmitted to the video process circuit 3 via a signal cable 13 which is a signal transmitting means inserted through the insertion portion. Further, a light guide fiber 14 that illuminates the test portion by irradiating illumination light from the tip surface of the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion portion 21.

A gripping portion 22 is continuously provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion 21 of the electronic endoscope 2, and the gripping portion 22 is inserted through the insertion portion 21 and the gripping portion 22 so that the grip portion 22 is inserted. CC
The universal cord 23 in which the signal cable 13 and the light guide fiber 14 extending to U4 and the light source device 7 are inserted is extended. The universal cord 23 is provided with connectors 23a and 23b, and the respective connectors 23a and 23b are detachably connected to the CCU 4 and the light source device 7.

That is, the illumination light emitted from the light source 6 of the light source device 7 is transmitted through the light guide fiber 14 and illuminates the subject from the front end surface of the insertion portion. An optical image of the subject illuminated by the illumination light passes through the objective optical system 12 in the insertion portion 21 and forms an image on the image pickup surface of the CCD 10. The optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the CCD 10 is converted into an electric signal and transmitted to the CCU 4 via the signal cable 13. Then, the video signal is processed by the video process circuit 3 in the CCU 4 and output to the monitor 5 via the video cable 15, and an endoscopic image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 5.

Now, referring to FIG. 2, the electronic endoscopes 2 and C
The configuration of the video process circuit 3 of the CU 4 will be described. As shown in the figure, the exterior portion of the insertion portion 21 located on the distal end side of the grip portion 22 of the electronic endoscope 2 is a hard conductive member, for example, a metal pipe 24 formed of a metal member.

The CCD 10 and the signal cable 13 are provided in the metal pipe 24 which forms the exterior of the insertion portion 21.
Are covered with a shield member 25 such as a metal pipe or a braided pipe formed of a conductive member. The shield member 25 connects the GND line 25a to the ground terminal 3a of the video process circuit 3 to form a shield. That is, the potential of the shield member 25 is held at the ground level of the video process circuit 3.

Further, an insulating portion 26 formed of an insulating material such as ceramic, resin or rubber so as to cover the outer periphery of the shield member 25, a grip portion 22 and a universal cord 23.
Is provided. This insulating portion 26 is connected to the shield member 25.
By providing it on the entire outer periphery of the shield member 2
5 and the exterior metal part 16 of the CCU 4 are electrically insulated, and the metal pipe 24 and the shield member 25 are electrically insulated. That is, the metal pipe 24 forming the insertion portion 21 is completely electrically insulated from the shield member 25 and the exterior metal portion 16 of the CCU 4. It should be noted that although the insulating portion 26, the grip portion 22 and the universal cord 23 are integrally shown in the figure, this is the same as the insulating portion 2 described above.
6, to show that the grip portion 22 and the universal cord 23 are insulating members.

On the other hand, the exterior metal part 16 constituting the exterior of the CCU 4 is connected to the earth of the commercial power source by the earth wire 17. Therefore, the G of the video process circuit 3 is
The ND terminal 3a is in a floating state with respect to the ground of the commercial power supply. Power is supplied to the video process circuit 3 from a commercial power source in a state where the isolation circuit 18 is arranged and is electrically insulated. Therefore, the metal pipe 24 provided in the insertion portion 21 of the electronic endoscope 2 is in a floating state with respect to the video process circuit 3 and the commercial power source.

By constructing the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 as described above, the metal pipe 24 constituting the exterior portion of the insertion portion 21 of the electronic endoscope 2 is insulated from the video process circuit 3 by the insulating portion 26. On the other hand, since the video process circuit 3 is insulated from the commercial power source by the isolation circuit 18, the video process circuit 3 is doubly insulated from the ground of the commercial power source. Therefore, in the unlikely event that a defect occurs in either the insulation between the metal pipe 24 and the video process circuit 3 or the insulation between the video process circuit 3 and the commercial power supply, the operator may notice this. If an electric device such as a high-frequency treatment tool is used instead, the high-frequency current will flow to the ground of the commercial power supply even if the high-frequency current flows to the metal pipe provided on the exterior of the insertion part of the electronic endoscope. Since it is not present, unintended burns due to the metal pipe 24 do not occur.

It should be noted that the electronic endoscope 2 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with an insulating portion 26a as shown by a broken line on the outer peripheral surface of the hard metal pipe 24 which constitutes the exterior of the insertion portion 21, and is constructed in the same manner as described above. Therefore, even if the insulating portion 26a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe 24 is peeled off and the metal surface of the metal pipe 24 is exposed, a high frequency current does not flow to the ground of the commercial power source. Unintentional burn does not occur.

As described above, the insulating portion is provided between the metal pipe provided as the exterior portion of the insertion portion and the shield member that covers the CCD and the signal cable, and the operation portion located at the proximal end of the insertion portion is provided. By forming with an insulating member,
The metal pipe of the insertion part can be in a floating state.

A shield member for the electronic endoscope,
By connecting the video process circuit of the CCU with the GND line, it is possible to prevent high frequency noise radiated from the high frequency treatment tool from being mixed into an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD and transmitted to the signal processing means. it can. As a result, the noise radiated from the electric device is not mixed with the electric signal transmitted to the signal processing means, and the image quality of the endoscopic image displayed on the screen of the monitor device is not deteriorated.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining the structure of the electronic endoscope 2A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the insertion portion 21 of the electronic endoscope 2A of the present embodiment is composed of a metal pipe 24 which is a hard conductive member, and a second metal pipe 31 which is inserted in the metal pipe 24.
A light guide fiber 14 for supplying illumination light is arranged in a gap formed between the second metal pipe 31 and the metal pipe 24. A tip member 32 is provided at the tip of the insertion portion 21, and the lens cover 11 is arranged on the tip member 32.

On the other hand, an image pickup unit 33 is fitted inside the second metal pipe 31. The image pickup unit 33 includes an objective optical system 12 formed by arranging a plurality of optical lenses at the tip of a unit tube 34 which is a third metal pipe formed of a conductive member, and a rear side of the objective optical system 12. A signal cable 13 for driving the CCD 10 and transmitting a signal is provided from the rear of the CCD 10 provided with the CCD 10.

The proximal end of the unit pipe 34 is electrically connected to the general shield 13a of the signal cable 13 in the grip 22 to form a shield.
The outer peripheral surface of the unit pipe 34 is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 35 made of an insulating material such as fluororesin, and the unit pipe 34 is attached to the second metal pipe 31 and the metal pipe 24 constituting the insertion portion 21. It is insulated.

In the objective optical system 12 provided at the tip of the unit tube 34, a plurality of optical lenses are arranged in an objective lens frame member 36 formed of an insulating member such as resin material or ceramics. There is. Then, the metal fixed frame member 3 disposed behind the objective lens frame member 36.
7 is fixed to the tip of the unit pipe 34. At this time, the second metal pipe 31 and the metal pipe 24 are covered with the heat-shrinkable tube 35 by overlapping and covering the outer periphery of the tip end portion of the objective lens frame member 36.
And secure a sufficient creepage distance between the unit pipe 34 and
I am trying to provide reliable insulation.

Further, the grip portion 22 continuously provided on the proximal side of the insertion portion 21 is formed of an insulating resin member or the like, and the metal pipe 24 and the second portion of the conductive member constituting the insertion portion 21 are formed. Of the second metal pipe 31 and the metal pipe 24 and the unit pipe 34 are sufficiently secured in the grip portion in the same manner as the tip end side of the insertion portion 21. In order to ensure reliable insulation, the heat-shrinkable tube 35 is set to a predetermined length and overlapped.

From the rear end of the grip portion 22, a universal cord 23 is provided, in which the outside of the general shield 13a is insulation-coated with an outer cover made of silicon or polyvinyl chloride. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, when the image pickup unit having the objective optical system and the image pickup means built in the unit tube made of the conductive member is arranged inside the insertion portion having the exterior member made of the conductive member, In coating the unit tube with a heat-shrinkable tube, the tip of the heat-shrinkable tube is covered with an insulating objective lens frame member located at the tip of the unit tube, and the proximal end of the heat-shrinkable tube is covered. Is set to a predetermined length so as to secure the creepage distance from the second metal pipe 31 and the metal pipe 24 inside the grip portion, and is insulated from the conductive member forming the unit pipe and the insertion portion. can do. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining an electronic endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a curved portion is provided in an insertion portion having an exterior formed of a hard metal member. As shown in the figure, the insertion portion 40 of the electronic endoscope 2B of the present embodiment connects a plurality of bending pieces with a distal end side hard portion 41 formed of a metal pipe or the like which is a hard conductive member from the distal end side. Curved portion 42 formed
And a proximal hard portion 43 formed of a metal pipe or the like, which is a hard conductive member, are connected to each other.

Inside the insertion portion 40, the curved portion 42 is provided.
An angle wire 44 for bending the arm up and down and left and right is inserted. The angle wire 44 is adapted to be connected to an angle lever provided on the operating portion (grasping portion). By operating this angle lever, the angle wire 44 is advanced and retracted to move the bending portion 42 vertically and horizontally. Curved in any direction of the distal end side of the distal end side hard portion 41
1a can be directed in a desired direction.

An imaging unit 45 is provided inside the insertion section 40. This imaging unit 45 is
The objective optical system 12 and the CC are provided inside the distal-side rigid portion 41.
A unit tip portion 46 composed of D10 is arranged, and a signal processing circuit for processing an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 10 inside the proximal rigid portion 43 and an electric signal processed by the signal processing circuit are sent to the CCU 4. The rear end 47 of the transmitting unit is arranged. A connection cable 48 for connecting the CCD 10 and the signal processing circuit in the rear end 47 of the unit and transmitting the drive signal and electric signal of the CCD 10 is arranged inside the bending portion 42. .

The image pickup unit 45 built in the insertion portion 40 is covered with a shield member 50 such as a braided pipe formed of a conductive member or a braided wire-shaped shield mesh, as in the above-described embodiment, and the shield member is also provided. The outer peripheral surface of 50 is covered with a flexible heat-shrinkable tube 51 made of, for example, polyolefin. As a result, the imaging unit 45 is insulated from the distal-side hard portion 41 and the proximal-side hard portion 43 that are formed of the conductive member that forms the insertion portion 40.

Further, since the heat-shrinkable tube 51 is overlapped and covered with the fixed frame member 52 formed of an insulating member integrally fixed to the distal end portion of the shield member 50, the second embodiment is performed. Similar to the embodiment, the creepage distance between the tip rigid portion 41 and the imaging unit 45 is sufficiently secured to ensure reliable insulation.

Further, a grip portion (operation portion) 22 is continuously provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion 40 as in the above embodiment, and a universal cord extending from this grip portion is connected to the light source device and the CCU. It is supposed to be done.

The electronic endoscope 2B shown in FIG. 4 is provided with an insulating portion 26a as shown by a broken line on the outer peripheral surfaces of the distal end side hard portion 41 and the hand side hard portion 43 of the insertion portion 40 as in the first embodiment. It may be provided in the. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the image pickup unit is divided into the unit front end portion and the unit rear end portion, and the unit front end portion and the unit rear end portion are connected by the connection cable. It can contribute to the thinning of the portion. Other effects are similar to those of the above-described embodiment.

A signal processing circuit 55 is provided inside the rear end portion 47 of the image pickup unit as shown in FIG.
The signal processing circuit 55 includes an IC 57 and a capacitor 5 on a substrate 56 made of FRP or a ceramic member.
8. . . , Resistance 59. . . Is a hybrid IC on which electrical components such as the above are mounted, and this hybrid IC is formed by making the wiring pattern on the substrate as short as possible in order to prevent noise from entering.

Therefore, the electric components such as the capacitors 58 and the resistors 59 mounted on the substrate are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of each component is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

In this way, the electric parts to be arranged on the substrate are
By arranging the electric component in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the electric component and the longitudinal direction of the substrate are orthogonal to each other, the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the substrate and the wiring pattern on the substrate are minimized to further reduce the mixing of noise. You can Other functions and effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[Additional Notes] 1. An electronic endoscope in which an image pickup means using a solid-state image pickup element and a signal transmission means for transmitting an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup element are housed in an insertion portion provided with a conductive member on at least a part of an outer surface, and In an electronic endoscope apparatus including a signal processing unit that processes an electric signal photoelectrically converted by a solid-state image pickup device into a video signal, a conductive member provided in the insertion unit, an imaging unit in the insertion unit, and a signal transmission unit And an electronic endoscope device electrically insulated from the signal processing means.

2. An insertion part whose exterior is formed of a conductive member,
An image pickup means using a solid-state image pickup element provided in the insertion part, a signal transmission means for transmitting an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup element, and an electric signal transmitted by the signal transmission means into a video signal. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a signal processing means for processing; a shield means for covering the image pickup means and the signal transmission means; and an insulating means for covering an outer periphery of the shield means.

3. A tip side hard portion having an image pickup means using a solid-state image pickup element internally, a hand side hard portion having at least a part of an electric component forming a signal processing circuit provided therein, the tip side hard portion and the hand side hard portion And a signal transmission means for transmitting an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup device and the image pickup means, which is arranged between the image pickup means and the electric part, and which has a curved portion internally provided with a connection cable. Signal processing means for processing the electric signal transmitted by the signal transmission means into a video signal, shield means for covering the image pickup means, connection cable, signal processing circuit and signal transmission means, and insulating means for covering the outer periphery of the shield means. An electronic endoscope apparatus including:

4. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to supplementary note 2 or supplementary note 3, further comprising a power supply means for supplying electric power to the signal processing means, and insulating the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion from the signal processing means. In addition, the signal processing means and the power supply means are insulated from each other so that the conductive member provided in the insertion portion is doubly electrically insulated.

5. The electronic endoscope device according to supplementary note 2 or supplementary note 3, wherein the insulating layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion.

6 The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, further comprising a power supply means for supplying electric power to the signal processing means to insulate the conductive member provided in the insertion portion from the signal processing means, and Insulation between the processing means and the power supply means.

7. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein shield means is provided on the outer periphery of the image pickup means and the signal transmission means, and the exterior of the shield means is covered with an insulating means.

8. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of appendices 2 or 3 or 7, wherein the shield means is electrically connected to a ground terminal of the signal processing means.

9. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of appendices 2 or 3 or 7, wherein an exterior of a grip portion continuous with the proximal end of the insertion portion is formed of an insulating member.

10. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of appendices 2 or 3 or 7, wherein the insulating means is a heat-shrinkable tube.

11. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 2,
An objective optical system arranged to face the image pickup surface of the image pickup means is composed of a lens frame member holding an optical lens and a fixed frame member, and the lens frame member is formed of an insulating member.

12. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 3,
An objective optical system arranged to face the image pickup surface of the image pickup means is composed of a lens frame member holding an optical lens and a fixed frame member, and the fixed frame member is formed of an insulating member.

13. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 11, wherein a lens frame member formed of the insulating member is covered with an end portion of a heat-shrinkable tube forming an insulating unit.

14. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 12, wherein a fixed frame member formed of the insulating member is covered with an end portion of a heat-shrinkable tube forming an insulating means.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an electric device is used, unintentional burns due to the conductive member provided on the exterior of the insertion portion inserted into the body cavity are prevented, and safety is ensured. It is possible to provide an electronic endoscopic device having an improved efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an electronic endoscope in which the exterior of the insertion portion is made of a hard metal member and a signal processing means.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of the electronic endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an electronic endoscope in which a bending portion is provided in an insertion portion having an exterior formed of a hard metal member according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of the rear end of the imaging unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope apparatus 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Video process circuit (signal processing means) 10 ... CCD (imaging means) 13 ... Signal cable (signal transmission means) 21 ... Insertion part 24 ... Exterior metal member (conductivity) Member) 25 ... Shield member 26 ... Insulation part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device in which an image pickup means using a solid-state image pickup element and a signal transmission means for transmitting an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image pickup element are housed in an insertion portion provided with a conductive member on at least a part of an outer surface thereof. In an electronic endoscope apparatus including an endoscope and a signal processing unit that processes an electric signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor into a video signal, a conductive member provided in the insertion section, and an image in the insertion section An electronic endoscope apparatus characterized in that the means, the signal transmission means, and the signal processing means are electrically insulated.