JPH10211169A - Simple endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple endoscope device executing the photographing of satisfactory recordability at need. SOLUTION: In this simple endoscope device, a photographing device 50 for photographing an endoscope observed image transmitted by an image guide is made freely attachable and detachable to/from an eyepiece section 4 and a light guide cable 40 for supplying illuminating light to an illuminating light guide from an external light source device 60 is arranged for a member to be connected 8 arranged for an operation part 2 in the state of being freely attachable and detachable. In this case, electric wires 19 and 48 for electrically connecting between the devices 60 and 50 by way of the cable 40 and the section 4 are provided and electrical contact points 29 and 47 for connecting the wires 19 and 48 in the middle are provided at the part of the member 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simple endoscope apparatus in which a small light source unit for supplying illumination light to an illumination light guide is detachably attached to an operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general endoscope apparatus, a subject is illuminated by connecting an illumination light guide drawn from an operation section to an external light source apparatus using a xenon lamp or the like. A photographing device is attached to the eyepiece as needed to take a photograph.

[0003] However, such an external light source device becomes considerably heavy, so that it is poor in mobility, and a heavy burden is imposed when the device is carried to a patient's room or outdoors for use. Therefore, a simplified endoscope apparatus in which a small light source unit is provided detachably with respect to an operation unit has been developed, and an endoscope inspection can be performed at any place.

[0004]

However, the light source unit used in such a simple endoscope device must be large enough to be easily held with one hand together with the operation unit, and therefore, compared with a xenon light source or the like. You can only get very dark lighting.

[0005] Although observation with the naked eye can be performed without much dissatisfaction, it is difficult to take a photograph and there is a problem in terms of recordability. Therefore, a normal endoscope, which is not a simple type, is required separately in order to take a photograph with good recordability, and there is a problem that economic efficiency is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple endoscope apparatus which can take a photograph with good recordability as required.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a simplified endoscope apparatus according to the present invention uses an image guide to connect an image of a subject irradiated with illumination light transmitted by an illumination light guide. An endoscope configured to transmit light to an eye, wherein a light source for arranging an incident end of the light guide for illumination on an operation unit and supplying illumination light from the incident end to the light guide for illumination. In a simple endoscope apparatus provided with a connected member for detachably connecting a unit in the operation unit, the eyepiece is provided with an imaging device for imaging an endoscope observation image transmitted by the image guide. A light guide cable for supplying illumination light from an external light source device to the illumination light guide is detachably provided on the connected member, An electric wire for electrically connecting the external light source device and the photographing device via the light guide cable and the eyepiece is provided, and an electric contact for connecting the electric wire on the way is provided. It is characterized in that it is provided on the connected member.

The electric wiring may transmit a release signal of the photographing device, or may transmit a signal for automatic exposure control. Further, the electric wiring may transmit driving power to a film winding motor of the photographing device.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the operation unit 2 of the simplified endoscope 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image guide fiber bundle for transmitting an endoscope observation image, the image incident end face of which is disposed at the tip of an insertion portion (not shown).
An image of the subject is formed by the objective lens.

An image output end face 3a of the image guide fiber bundle 3 is disposed on an eyepiece 4, and an endoscope observation image is enlarged by an eyepiece 4a protruding from an upper end of the operation unit 2. To be observed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a light guide fiber bundle for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject, the emission end of which is disposed at the tip of an insertion portion (not shown).
The illumination light is emitted toward the subject.

The incident end face 5a of the light guide fiber bundle 5 for illumination is arranged laterally near the upper end of the operation section 2. 6 is a suction operation button. 7 is a forceps stopper.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a light source unit having a built-in light source lamp 11, which is detachably attached to a connection tube 8 protruding from a side surface of the operation unit 2. In the light source unit 10, a battery 12 serving as a power source of the light source lamp 11 is housed.

The connection tube 8 is provided so that the central axis thereof coincides with the incident end face 5a of the light guide fiber bundle 5 for illumination. Illumination light radiated from the light source lamp 11 of the light source unit 10 receives the incident end face 5a. And supplied to the illumination light guide fiber bundle 5.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the eyepiece 4 and the connecting tube 8, and FIG. 4 shows the eyepiece 4 further enlarged. A mount 15 for mounting a photographing device described later is provided at a protruding end portion of the eyepiece 4, and an outer surface thereof is engaged with a guide groove (not shown) provided on the photographing device side. Pins 16 and 17 are protruded.

On the floor of the mount 15, a plurality of electrical contacts 18 connected to the electrical contacts on the photographing device side are arranged around the eyepiece 4a. One end of a lead wire 19 passed through the eyepiece 4 is connected to each electric contact 18.

Each lead wire 19 passes from inside the eyepiece 4 to inside the operation unit 2, and the other end reaches the bottom of the connection tube 8.
The connection tube 8 is provided with a mounting seat 2 fixed to a side surface of the operation unit 2.
2, it is screwed and fixed.

The mounting seat 22 is fixed to a support cylinder 24 fixed to a frame 23 in the operation section 2 by a fixing nut 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes a plastic protection ring attached so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the connection tube 8.

At the center of the bottom of the connection tube 8, an incident end face 5a of the light guide fiber bundle 5 for illumination is arranged, and an incident lens 28 for efficiently illuminating light therethrough is provided with an incident end face 5a. And is fixed to face.

A plurality of electrical contacts 29 connected to the electrical contacts 18 of the eyepiece 4 via lead wires 19 are arranged around the entrance lens 28. In this embodiment, six electric contacts 18 and 29 are provided respectively.

FIG. 3 shows that the light source unit 10 is
, The connection tube 8 includes:
A light guide cable 40 can be connected instead of the light source unit 10.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a state in which one end of the light guide cable 40 is attached to and detached from the connection tube 8. In the light guide cable 40, a light guide fiber bundle 41 is inserted and arranged over the entire length.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the vicinity of the exit end of the light guide fiber bundle 41.
An emission lens 42 is fixed at a position facing the emission end face 41a.

The connection base 44 attached to the end of the light guide cable 40 is adapted to be removably fitted to the connection tube 8 on the operation unit 2 side. A fastening ring 46 having a female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end is provided rotatably around the axis.

With such a structure, the connecting base 44 of the light guide cable 40 is connected to the connecting tube 8 by screwing the female screw of the tightening ring 46 into the male screw formed on the outer peripheral portion of the protruding end of the connecting tube 8. And fixed as shown in FIG.

Thus, the light guide cable 4
In a state in which the light guide fiber 0 is fixedly connected to the connection tube 8, as shown in FIG. 5, the emission end faces 41 a and the incidence end faces of the light guide fiber bundles 41, 5 on the light guide cable 40 side and the simple endoscope 1 side 5a face each other with the exit lens 42 and the entrance lens 28 interposed therebetween.

As a result, the illumination light transmitted by the light guide fiber bundle 41 of the light guide cable 40 enters the illumination light guide fiber bundle 5 of the simple endoscope 1 to illuminate the subject. Supplied as illumination light.

An electric contact 47 to which one end of a lead wire 48 inserted into the light guide cable 40 is connected is provided around the emission lens 42 and an electric contact 29 at the bottom of the connection tube 8.
It is arranged at the position corresponding to.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the light guide cable 40 is connected to the connection tube 8, the two electric contacts 47 and 29 come into contact with each other, and as a result, the inside of the light guide cable 40 The lead wire 48 is electrically connected to the electric contact 18 of the eyepiece 4.

The other end of the light guide cable 40 is detachably connected to an external light source device using a xenon lamp or a halogen lamp as a light source lamp.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the incident end side and the exit end side of the light guide cable 40 are connected to the external light source device 60 and the connection tube 8, and the photographing device 50 is connected to the eyepiece 4. I have.

In this state, the subject is illuminated by illumination light emitted from a powerful light source lamp provided in the external light source device 60, and the endoscope observation image is transmitted by the image guide fiber bundle 3, and The image is projected on the imaging surface of the imaging device 50. However, illustration of such an optical part is omitted in FIG. 9 is an insertion part of the simple endoscope 1.

When the connector 43 attached to the incident end side of the light guide cable 40 is connected to the external light source device 60, the electrical contact 49 connected to the lead wire 48 in the light guide cable 40 and the electrical contact on the external light source device 60 side The contact 63 is connected. In a state where the photographing device 50 is connected to the eyepiece 4, the electric contact 54 provided on the photographing device 50 and the electric contact 18 of the eyepiece 4 are connected.

As a result, the release switch 51 and the photometric element 52 disposed in the photographing device 50 are connected to the external light source device 6.
0 is connected to an automatic exposure circuit 61 disposed in
A motor drive circuit 53 provided in the photographing device 50 and a motor drive power supply 62 provided in the external light source device 60 are connected.

Accordingly, the release signal emitted from the release switch 51 and the photometric signal output from the photometric element 52 are transmitted to the external light source device 60 via the lead wires 19 and 48 in the eyepiece 4 and the light guide cable 40. Is sent to the automatic exposure circuit 61, and the automatic exposure circuit 61 controls the illumination light. As a result, the photographing with the proper exposure is performed in the photographing device 50.

The motor drive power output from the motor drive power supply 62 immediately after the photographing of one frame is completed is equivalent to the lead wires 48, 1 in the light guide cable 40 and the eyepiece 4.
The film is sent to the motor drive circuit 53 of the photographing device 50 via 9 and the film is automatically wound.

As described above, in the simplified endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment, the light source unit 10 is connected to the connecting cylinder 8.
And replace it with a light guide cable 40.
Is connected, and under the illumination light of sufficient brightness using the external light source device 60, the photographing device 50 can perform automatic exposure photographing. As a result, high-quality photographing can be performed as needed using the simplified endoscope apparatus.

[0039]

According to the present invention, a photographing device for photographing an endoscope observation image transmitted by an image guide can be detachably attached to an eyepiece.
A light guide cable for supplying illumination light from the external light source device to the illumination light guide is detachably provided on the connection base, and an electric connection is provided between the external light source device and the photographing device via the light guide cable and the eyepiece. Electrical connection for electrical connection, and electrical contacts for connecting the electrical wiring in the middle of the connection base, so that when recording of the subject is necessary, High quality photography using automatic exposure or the like can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation section of the simplified endoscope apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an eyepiece and a connection tube according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an eyepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a light guide cable is connected to the connection tube according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a light guide cable is detached from the eyepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation unit 3 Image guide fiber bundle 4 Eyepiece unit 5 Light guide fiber bundle for illumination 5a Incident end face 8 Connection tube 10 Light source unit 18, 29, 47, 49, 54, 63 Electrical contacts 19, 48 Lead wire 40 Light guide cable 50 photographing device 60 external light source device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kunitoshi Ikeda 2-36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kuniyoshi Kaneko 2-36-9, Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahitsu Inside Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takisuke Adachi 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope for transmitting an image of a subject illuminated with illumination light transmitted by an illumination light guide to an eyepiece by an image guide, wherein an entrance end of the illumination light guide is provided. A simple endoscope in which a unit is disposed on the operation unit, and a connected member for detachably connecting a light source unit for supplying illumination light to the illumination light guide from an incident end thereof is provided on the operation unit. In the mirror device, a photographing device for photographing an endoscope observation image transmitted by the image guide is detachably attached to the eyepiece, and an external light source device illuminates the illumination light guide. A light guide cable for supplying light is detachably provided to the connected member, and the external light source device and the photographing device are connected via the light guide cable and the eyepiece. An electric wire for electrically connecting the electric wire to the device, and an electric contact for connecting the electric wire on the way is provided on the connected member. . 2. The simple endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electric wiring transmits a release signal of said photographing apparatus. 3. A simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electric wiring transmits a signal for automatic exposure control. 4. A simple endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electric wiring transmits driving power to a film winding motor of said photographing apparatus.