JPH09173278A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize an internal space of the body of an operating part with a good assembling performance at a fixing part of a switch provided at the operating part. SOLUTION: First and second image control buttons 22 and 23 provided at an operating part 3 of an endoscope are each constituted of a pressing part 35 comprising an elastic body and a button shaft 36 which is fixed on the pressing part 35 sticking downward. A pressing part fixing member 38 is provided on the outer circumference of the button shaft 36, a button fixing member 40 is screwed down on a lower part thereof so that the pressing part 35 is fixed sandwiching an armor member 37 and a connection plate 41 between the pressing part fixing member 38 and the button fixing member 40. A connection member 43 for fixing a substrate 45 and a substrate fixing plate 44 are arranged between the two button fixing members 40 and a substrate 45 carrying a switch body 29 thereon is fixed on a substrate fixing member 44 with one screw 46. At this point, one side of the substrate 45 contacts the internal surface of the member 37.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has an insertion portion to be inserted into a portion to be inspected such as a lumen, and an operation portion provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion. The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with an input unit for inputting the electric signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an endoscope, a switch is provided as an input unit for inputting an electric signal for operating instructions to an operation unit near the insertion unit, and image processing such as freeze and release of an endoscope image is performed. The one that can give various operation instructions regarding the endoscope is widely used.

The structure of the input section generally includes a switch pressing section protruding from the operation section main body to the outside, and a switch main body fixed inside the operation section main body. By pushing the pressing portion, the contact portion of the switch body fixed on the substrate in the operation portion body is opened and closed to send an electric signal.

As a method of fixing the board for disposing the switch body, a groove for inserting the board is provided in the operation section body and the groove is slid into the groove, or screwed to the operation section body. There is a method. When fixing with screws, at least 2 to prevent the board from rotating.
The structure of fixing with a book screw is adopted.

[0005]

However, all of the conventional switch body fixing methods have problems in terms of assemblability and arrangement space.

In the structure in which the board is fixed with the two screws described above, the board is fixed in a narrow working space in the operating portion, so that the work of fixing the two screws is difficult and the assembly workability is poor. There is.

Therefore, if a method of adhering the substrate to the fixing base using an adhesive is used without using screws for fixing the switch main body, a difficult work such as fixing a plurality of screws in a narrow space is not performed. Therefore, the assemblability is improved.

However, in the fixing method using an adhesive, a large bonding area must be secured in order to secure sufficient fixing strength. Therefore, the size of the substrate itself becomes large, and a large amount of space for disposing the substrate is required, which may affect other built-in objects in the operation part, resulting in an increase in the size of the operation part itself. The operability may be adversely affected. In addition, since it takes a drying time for the adhesive to dry sufficiently, there is a problem in terms of workability in terms of time, as in the case of the above-described fixing method using screws.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and has a switch board fixing structure which has a good assembling property in the input section of the operation section and which can effectively use the internal space of the operation section main body. The purpose is to provide an endoscope.

[0010]

An endoscope according to the present invention comprises:
It has an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity and an operation section provided on the proximal end side of the insertion section, and an input section for inputting electrical signals for various operation instructions to the main body of the operation section. In the endoscope, the input section is provided with a switch pressing portion protruding outside the exterior member of the operation section main body and a switch main body, and a board provided inside the operation section corresponding to the switch pressing section. And at least one side of the substrate contacts the inner surface of the exterior member, and has one fixing means for fixing the substrate to the exterior member.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of an endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an endoscope, and FIG.
Is a plan view showing the external configuration of the operating portion of the endoscope, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the operating portion, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the restriction hole of the grip portion reinforcing member, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the mounting portions of the first and second image control buttons, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mounting portions of the first and second image control buttons seen from below, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the component structure of a pressing part fixing member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment.
Is an elongated insertion part 2 to be inserted into a body part such as a body cavity.
And an operation portion 3 formed at the end portion of the insertion portion 2 on the base end side.
And a universal cord 4 extending from the side portion of the operating portion 3 to the outside, and a connector 5 is provided at the end of the universal cord 4. Then, an endoscope system is configured based on the endoscope 1.

The universal cord 4 includes a light source device 6 which supplies illumination light to the endoscope 1, and a control unit 7 which processes an image signal obtained by controlling an image pickup device provided in the endoscope 1. And a solid-state image sensor (not shown) provided in the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2 such as CC.
An electric signal of the observation image picked up by D is sent to the control unit 7 and signal processing is performed. Further, the control unit 7 is connected to a monitor 8 for displaying an image obtained by signal processing, a video printer 9 for printing out the image, and a VTR device 10 for recording the image. Furthermore, the endoscope 1
A suction device 11 is connected to the operation portion 3 of the so as to communicate with the channel inserted from the distal end portion into the insertion portion 2,
Bodily fluids and the like can be sucked through the channels.

The structure of the endoscope 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The insertion portion 2 has a tip portion 12 provided at the tip.
And a bendable bending portion 14 provided at the rear portion of the tip portion 12 and a long flexible portion 15 provided at the rear portion of the bending portion 14 are connected in series. There is.

On the side of the insertion section 2 of the operation section 3, there is provided a grip section 16 which an operator holds, and on the side surface of the operation section 3, the bending section 1 is provided.
A bending operation lever 17 for bending operation of the cable 4 is provided, and the universal cord 4 extends on the other side surface.

Further, a suction button 19 for performing a suction operation is provided on the central axis 18 in the longitudinal direction of the operating portion 3 shown in FIG. A suction mouthpiece 21 for connecting to the suction device 11 via a tube is provided on a side portion of the suction button 19. When the suction button 19 is detached from the operation section 3, the suction mouthpiece 21 is gripped and the suction button 19 is rotated to attach / detach from the operation section.

Below the suction button 19 of the operation unit 3, a first image control button 22 and a second image control button 2 for instructing an image control to the control unit 7 are provided.
3 are provided so as to be orthogonal to the central axis 18 and arranged in parallel. These first and second image control buttons 22 and 23 are arranged at positions where it is easy to press with the index finger of the operator's gripping hand.

Further, a button base 26 is provided at the other end of the operating portion 3 opposite to the side where the insertion portion 2 extends, and the surface of the button base 26 on which the bending operation lever 17 is located. The third image control button 24 and the fourth image control button 25 are provided symmetrically with respect to the central axis 18 on the button arrangement surface 27 along the. The third and fourth image control buttons 2
The button placement surface 27 on which the buttons 4 and 25 are provided is 15 ° to the operation unit longitudinal direction so that the thumb of the operator's gripping hand can easily press the third and fourth image control buttons 24 and 25. It is formed at an angle in the range of 45 °.

By arranging the first to fourth image control buttons 22 to 25 in this manner, the operator can easily operate the four image control buttons with two fingers, the thumb and the index finger. Is possible.

Further, between the first image control button 22 and the suction cap 21 of the suction button 19, a suction cap 21 is provided at a position adjacent to the image control button 22 when the suction button 19 is removed. A convex regulating member 28 that does not interfere with the image control button 22 of No. 1 is provided.

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross section of the operating portion 3 in the longitudinal direction (see FIG.
A-A cross section) of FIG. The operation unit 3 is provided with the above-described first to fourth image control buttons 22, 23, 24, and 25, and the image control buttons in the operation unit 3 are electrically extended in the pressing direction extension. Switch main bodies 29 and 30 made up of conventional switches are arranged. Wirings (not shown) are connected to the switch bodies 29 and 30, respectively, and are connected to the control unit 7 through the universal cord 4 and the connector 5.

A bending wire 31 formed by twisting a metal wire is inserted into the operating portion 3, and a bending mechanism (not shown) provided in the operating portion 3 for bending the bending portion 14 is provided. It connects to the bending portion 14 of the insertion portion 2. Inside the grip portion 16, a grip portion reinforcing member 32 is provided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The bending wire 31 is inserted into the restriction hole 33 formed in the grip portion reinforcing member 32, and is restricted in the grip portion 16 by the restriction hole 33. A coil-shaped wire protection member 34 is provided before and after the restriction hole 33 through which the bending wire 31 is inserted.
The wire 1 is protected by being inserted through the wire protection member 34.

As shown in FIG. 5, a screw portion is threaded on the inner surface of the regulation hole 33 at the same pitch as the coil pitch of the wire protection member 34. When the wire protection member 34 is fixed, the wire protection member 34 is screwed into the restriction hole 33 for temporary fixing, and then fixed by adhesion or the like.

In the operation section 3, the channel 13 communicating with the channel port to which the suction button 19 is attached is also provided.
Is provided and extends through the insertion portion 2 to the distal end portion 12.

The structure of the fixed portion of the switch body 29 corresponding to the first and second image control buttons 22 and 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the fixing portion of the image control buttons 22 and 23 and the switch main body 29 (cross section BB of FIG. 4), and FIG. 7 is a view of the fixing portion of the switch main body 29 from below (direction C of FIG. 6). FIG.

First and second image control buttons 22 and 23
Is composed of a pressing portion 35 made of an elastic body, and a button shaft 36 that is fixedly connected to the pressing portion 35 and projects downward. By providing a convex portion on one side of the pressing portion 35 (on the side of the first image control button 22 in the figure), the first image control button 22 and the second image control button 23 can be visually confirmed. It can be easily identified only by the sense of touch without doing.

A substantially cylindrical pressing portion fixing member 38 is provided on the outer periphery of the button shaft 36 and is fitted into the exterior member 37. The lower portion of the pressing portion 35 is attached to the exterior member of the operating portion 3. 37
Watertight pressure is applied so as to be in close contact with. On the lower end portion of the pressing portion fixing member 38, a screw portion that is screwed with the button fixing member 40 is engraved on the outer peripheral portion of the portion protruding inward of the exterior member 37.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pressing portion fixing member 38 has a chamfered portion 39 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof to prevent rotation of the outer casing member 37. In FIG. 8, (a)
Is a perspective view of the pressing portion fixing member 38, (b) is a D- of (a)
It is D sectional drawing. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end surface of the pressing portion fixing member 38 does not turn up the lower portion of the pressing portion 35 even when a force is applied to the pressing portion 35 in an oblique or lateral direction with respect to the pressing direction. Thus, it is arranged so as to be lower than the outer peripheral surface of the exterior member 37. Further, the upper end surface of the pressing portion fixing member 38 is provided with a jig tool fixing hole 48 for attaching a jig when the pressing portion fixing member 38 is replaced and attached.

A button fixing member 40 is screwed into the screw portion at the lower end of the pressing portion fixing member 38, and the exterior member 37 and a thin plate-like connecting plate 41 are sandwiched between the button fixing member 40 and the pressing portion fixing member 38. It is fixed in the state. The button shaft guide portion 4 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the button shaft 36 on the inner peripheral surface of the button fixing member 40, and controls the horizontal shake of the button shaft 36.
2 is provided so as to project inward.

Between the two button fixing members 40, a connecting member 43 for fixing the substrate 45 on which the switch body 29 is mounted and a substrate fixing member 44 are provided. The connecting member 43 and the board fixing member 44 correspond to the button fixing member 4
In order to easily assemble 0 into the pressing portion fixing member 38, it is divided into two bodies. The connection member 43 is the connection plate 41.
It is suspended and fixed to the exterior member 37 with screws and screws 47. With only the connecting member 43 attached and fixed, the button fixing member 40
By assembling, since the member for fixing the substrate does not largely project, the mounting work is good.

The switch body 2 is provided on the substrate 45 so as to face the positions on the extension of the two button shafts 36 in the pressing direction.
9 is fixed, and the board 45 and the board fixing member 44 are connected and fixed by one screw 46. And the substrate 4
The board fixing member 44 holding 5 is suspended and fixed to the connecting member 43 by the screw 46. At this time, one side of the substrate 45 is arranged so as to contact the inner surface of the exterior member 37 as shown in FIG. 7. The fixing with the screw 46 can be replaced by a method of press-fitting and fixing a resin pin.

When the pressing portion 35 or the like is broken and needs to be replaced, the head portion of the pressing portion 35 is damaged to expose the upper surface of the pressing portion fixing member 38 therein, and the jig provided on the exposed surface is exposed. A jig is inserted into the tool fixing hole 48 and fixed, and the exterior member 3
The pressing portion fixing member 38 is removed by rotating the button fixing member 40 from the inside of 7. This makes it possible to remove the pressing portion fixing member 38 from the exterior member 37 and remove the pressing portion 35 without damaging the exterior member 37.

Returning to FIG. 4, the switch body 30 corresponding to the third and fourth image control buttons 24 and 25 is the substrate 5
0 is mounted on the board, and the board 50 is mounted on the board fixing base 49.
In contrast, it is fixed with screws not shown. The board fixing base 49 is fixed to the inside of the operation portion 3 with screws so as to sandwich the button base 26 and the exterior member 37.

In the above structure, the first and second parts are assembled during assembly.
Switch body 29 corresponding to the image control buttons 22 and 23
When fixing the switch body 29, the board 45 on which the switch body 29 is mounted is fixed to the exterior member 37 of the operation portion 3 with one screw 46, and one side of the board 45 is bonded to the inner surface of the exterior member 37. Prevent rotation.

In order to give an image control instruction on the operation unit 3, the user presses the first or second image control button 22, 23 with the index finger or the like. As a result, the pressing portion 35 is pressed downward, the button shaft 36 presses the switch body 29, the switch body 29 is turned on and off, and the switch body 29 sends an electrical switch control signal to the control unit 7. When the pressing of the first or second image control button 22 or 23 is stopped, the elastic force of the pressing portion 35, which is an elastic body, causes the button shaft 36 to separate from the switch 29, and the output of the switch control signal is stopped.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, when fixing the board 45 on which the switch body 29 is mounted in the operation portion 3, the board 45 can be fixed by only one screw 46. Since it can be firmly fixed without rotating, the workability at the time of attaching the substrate 45 can be improved. At this time, since a large space is not required in the mounting portion, the internal space of the operation portion main body can be effectively used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the operation unit of the endoscope according to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the projection 51 projects from the inner surface of the exterior member 37 in the vicinity of the board 45 on which the switch body 29 is mounted, and the upper surface of a part of the board 45 and the projection 51 are pressed against each other. doing. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

First and second image control buttons 2 during assembly
When fixing the switch main body 29 corresponding to Nos. 2 and 23, the board 45 on which the electrical switch main body 29 is mounted is attached to the exterior member 37 from below with one screw 46 as in the first embodiment. Fix it against. As a result, the substrate 45
The upper surface of the edge portion joined to the inner surface of the outer casing member 37 comes into pressure contact with the protrusion 51, and the substrate 45 is firmly fixed.

According to the structure of this embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the projection 51 provided inside the exterior member 37 is provided.
By fixing the substrate 45 by press-contacting it, the substrate 45 can be more firmly and reliably fixed.

[Additional Notes] (1) An insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity and an operation portion provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion are provided, and electric signals for instructing various operations are provided to the main body of the operation portion. In the endoscope having an input section for inputting, the input section is equipped with a switch pressing section protruding from the exterior member of the operation section main body and a switch main body, and corresponds to the switch pressing section. And a substrate provided inside the operation portion, and at least one side of the substrate contacts the inner surface of the exterior member,
An endoscope comprising one fixing means for fixing the substrate to the exterior member.

(2) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein a regulating means for regulating the vertical movement of the substrate is provided on the inner surface of the exterior member of the operation section main body.

(3) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the substrate is suspended and fixed to the exterior member of the operation section body via a connecting member.

(4) The endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the fixing means has one screw for fixing the substrate to the exterior member of the operation portion main body.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the endoscope having the switch substrate fixing structure which is easy to assemble in the input portion of the operating portion and can effectively utilize the internal space of the operating portion main body. There is an effect that can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an external configuration of an operation unit of the endoscope.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an operation unit of the endoscope according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure around the restriction hole of the grip portion reinforcing member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a mounting portion of first and second image control buttons.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mounting portions of the first and second image control buttons as seen from below.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a component structure of a pressing portion fixing member.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an operation unit of the endoscope according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 3 ... Operation part 16 ... Gripping part 22 ... 1st image control button 23 ... 2nd image control button 29, 30 ... Switch main body 35 ... Pressing part 36 ... Button shaft 37 ... Exterior member 38 ... pressing portion fixing member 40 ... button fixing member 43 ... connecting member 44 ... board fixing member 45 ... board 46 ... screw

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input having an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity and an operation section provided on a proximal end side of the insertion section, wherein an electric signal for inputting various operation instructions is input to a main body of the operation section. In the endoscope including a section, the input section is equipped with a switch pressing section protruding outside the exterior member of the operation section main body and a switch main body, and the inside of the operation section corresponding to the switch pressing section. A substrate provided on the substrate, and at least one side of the substrate is in contact with the inner surface of the exterior member, and has one fixing means for fixing the substrate to the exterior member. Endoscope.