JPH10286229A - Image-pickup device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-pickup device for an endoscope capable of enhancing the durability of an electric cable, without applying an excessive stress to the electric able under service. SOLUTION: An image-pickup device for endoscope is provided with a camera head body 21 in which an image-pickup element for converting an endoscope image for an endoscope ocular part into an electric signal is incorporated, and a camera cable 23 connected to the camera head body 21 and connected to a camera controller by which the electric signal obtained by the camera head body 21 is processed for outputting it to a monitor as an image signal. In this case, the connection base end part of the camera cable 23 is provided with a bending stooping part 25 having a bellows blade 24 in which the connection angle to the camera head body 21 is variable, and which is capable of being fixed to an arbitrary position thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for an endoscope having a camera head having a built-in imaging element for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical device capable of observing or diagnosing an affected part or the like in a body cavity without incision by inserting an elongated insertion part into the body cavity from an oral cavity or the like, and performing a therapeutic treatment using a treatment tool. Endoscopes are widely used. As an observation method of an endoscope image in this type of endoscope, in addition to directly observing with the naked eye from an endoscope eyepiece provided on the hand side,
There is a method of attaching an endoscope imaging device to the endoscope eyepiece and observing the image on a monitor.

[0003] This endoscope imaging apparatus is conventionally configured as shown in FIG. That is, the camera head main body 3 is detachably connected to the endoscope eyepiece 2 of the endoscope 1. An imaging optical system 4 and an imaging element 5 are built in the camera head body 3. The signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 5 is transmitted to the control device 7 via the camera cable 6 as an electric cable.

The signal processed by the control device 7 is output to a monitor 8 as a video output. Light source device 9 from endoscope 1
The emitted light is illuminated via the light guide cable 10. Therefore, the endoscope image obtained by the endoscope 1 can be observed on the monitor 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, the camera head main body 3 is provided with a buckling preventing portion 11 for preventing the camera cable 6 from being damaged by bending. The buckling stopper 11 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber or the like, and has flexibility. Here, the camera cable 6 projects substantially coaxially with the optical axis. Therefore, when the camera cable 6 is always bent in the direction of gravity (the lower side in the figure), there is a problem that the durability of the camera cable 6 in bending is reduced by half.

Conventionally, a break prevention portion made of an elastic member is provided so that even if a large stress acts on one point of an electric cable such as a camera cable, the internal signal line is not broken,
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
38397.

[0007]

As described above, in the related art, a buckling prevention tube of a rubber molded product is assembled with a camera cable at a rear end of a camera head main body and a rear end of a connector on a camera controller side. Depending on the state of use, the camera cable may be largely bent from the initial state against the elastic force of the rubber and maintained against the elastic force of the rubber (excluding the load for bending, the camera cable may be in the initial state). Back to the position),
There is a problem that the overall shield of the camera cable near the bend preventing portion is broken.

[0008] When used in the field of surgery, a camera head main body connected to an endoscope is generally used substantially horizontally with the ground. However, this does not apply to special procedures in the field of gastroenterology, urology or surgery other than surgery. When the camera cable hangs in the direction of gravity, the angle with the camera head main body varies.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-138397 discloses a camera head body in which a fold-preventing portion is configured such that a camera cable projects in substantially the same direction with respect to the optical axes of an endoscope and an imaging optical system. Have been.

However, since this imaging device is usually used in such a direction that the optical axis comes almost horizontally to the ground, the camera cable hangs down in the direction of gravity, and the flexible fold-stop portion is moved in the direction of gravity. It will be bent naturally.

That is, since the camera cable is always stressed in a certain direction, there is a problem that the breaking effect is reduced. Further, since the shape of the camera head body is cylindrical, it is difficult to determine the directionality of the image sensor. That is, in order to match the up direction of the endoscope image on the monitor, an index indicating the directionality of the image sensor is required in the camera head body. Generally, the camera head itself may be deformed or an index may be printed to indicate the direction. There is a problem of an increase in size and cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to change the shape to a suitable anti-bending shape even in such procedures and fields so that the state can be maintained. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus capable of improving the durability of an electric cable such as a camera cable.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a camera head body having a built-in image pickup device for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal.
An endoscope imaging device connected to the camera head main body, configured to process an electric signal obtained by the camera head main body, and to connect to a camera controller that outputs a video signal to a monitor as an image signal; A connection angle with respect to the camera head main body is variable at a connection base end portion, and an electric cable break prevention portion which can be fixed at an arbitrary position is provided. By bending the buckling portion including the electric cable, the buckling portion can be bent at an appropriate radius of curvature to reduce stress applied to the electric cable.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, in which the same components as those of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a camera head main body, and a distal end portion of the camera head main body 21 has a connection portion 22 detachably connected to the endoscope eyepiece 2 of the endoscope 1. At the rear end of the camera head body 21, a camera cable 23 as an electric cable connected to the rear end of the image sensor 5 is provided.

A bellows blade 24 is coated near the connection end of the camera cable 23. This bellows blade 2
Numeral 4 is made of a metal or a synthetic resin material, is freely bendable in any direction, and can be held at a bent position. Further, the outer periphery of the bellows blade 24 is covered with a buckling preventing portion 25 made of an elastic material such as silicon rubber.

Therefore, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, the camera cable 23 is coaxial with the camera head main body 21, and when used, the folding stopper 25 including the bellows blade 24 and the camera cable 23 is moved in the direction of the arrow. By bending, the bellows blade 24 bends at an appropriate radius of curvature and the stress applied to the camera cable 23 can be reduced. Further, the bellows blade 24 can be bent at a free angle and can be held at the bent position. Therefore, disconnection or breakage of the signal line of the camera cable 23 can be prevented, and durability can be improved.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, and only parts different from the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a plurality of ring-shaped bending pieces 26 made of a metal material such as stainless steel are connected near the connection end of the camera cable 23 to the pivot pin 2.
The curved member 28 rotatably connected by the cover 7 is covered. The bending member 28 can be bent freely in any direction about the pivot pin 27 and can be held at the bent position. Further, an outer peripheral portion of the bending member 28 is covered with a buckling preventing portion 25 made of an elastic material such as silicon rubber. Further, the pivot pin 27 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the up direction (arrow U) of the image sensor 5.

According to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the direction of the image pickup device 5 can be clearly determined, so that the top and bottom of the endoscope image can be easily confirmed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a third embodiment, and only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described. A turning shaft 29 is provided at the rear end of the camera head main body 21, and a fold-preventing portion 30 is rotatably connected to the turning shaft 29.
An image sensor-side connector 31 is provided inside the fold-preventing portion 30, and is electrically connected to the image sensor 5 via a flexible substrate 32 and also connected to a camera cable 23. Further, the rotating shaft 29 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the up direction (arrow U) of the image sensor 5.

According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the image pickup device side connector 31 is originally built in the camera head main body 21, but in the present embodiment,
Since the image sensor side connector 31 and the camera head main body 21 are configured separately, the overall length of the camera head main body 21 can be shortened.

FIG. 5 shows a disclosure example, and FIG. 5 (a) shows a case where the outer sheath of the camera cable 33 is formed integrally with the bellows blade or the curved member shown in the first and second embodiments, and the habit of preventing breakage is formed. The attached state is shown. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the coil 35 is formed on the outer skin of the camera cable 34. FIG.
(C) shows a case where a plurality of metal wires 3
7 shows a state where it is molded. FIG. 5D shows a state in which the camera cable 38 is formed from a bendable cylindrical metal 39.

As described above, since the camera cable itself can be bent and fixed in a certain direction,
Since the bending angle of the cable can be restricted with respect to the direction of the camera cable in use with respect to the camera head body, the bending resistance of the cable itself can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, the following configuration is obtained. (Supplementary Note 1) A camera head main body including an imaging element for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal, and an electric signal connected to the camera head main body and obtained by the camera head main body is processed. An endoscope imaging apparatus comprising: a camera controller that outputs a video signal to a monitor; and an electric cable connected to the camera controller, wherein a connection angle with respect to the camera head main body is variable at a connection base end of the electric cable. An endoscope imaging device, comprising an electric cable break prevention portion that can be fixed at a position.

(Supplementary Note 2) The endoscope imaging apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the fold-preventing portion is formed of an integrally molded product of a bellows blade and an elastic material. (Supplementary note 3) The supplementary note 1, wherein the fold-preventing portion is formed of a hard member having a rotation axis which is only substantially perpendicular to a vertical scanning direction and an optical axis direction of the imaging device. Endoscope imaging device.

(Supplementary Note 4) The bend preventing portion is formed integrally with a plurality of hard members and an elastic material that are connected only by a rotation shaft that is only substantially perpendicular to the vertical scanning direction and the optical axis direction of the image sensor. 2. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is made of a product.

(Supplementary note 5) The imaging device for an endoscope according to Supplementary note 2 or 4, wherein the elastic material is made of rubber. (Supplementary note 6) The imaging device for an endoscope according to Supplementary note 3 or 4, wherein the hard member is made of metal. (Supplementary note 7) The imaging device for an endoscope according to Supplementary note 3 or 4, wherein the hard member is made of plastic.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electric cable has a connection end with respect to the camera head main body which is variable and can be fixed at an arbitrary position. By providing, no unnecessary stress is applied to the electric cable during use,
There is an effect that the durability of the electric cable can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away side view of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away side view of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of the imaging device for an endoscope according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a disclosure example of an imaging device for an endoscope.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional endoscope imaging system.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal side view of a conventional endoscope imaging apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21: Camera head body 23: Camera cable 24: Bellows blade 25: Break prevention part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Tanizawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masami Shimizu 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A camera head body including an image pickup device for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal, and an electric signal connected to the camera head body and obtained by the camera head body. An endoscope imaging apparatus comprising: a camera controller that processes and outputs a video signal to a monitor; and an electric cable connected to the camera controller, wherein a connection angle with respect to the camera head main body is variable at a connection base end of the electric cable. An imaging device for an endoscope, comprising an electric cable break preventing portion that can be fixed at an arbitrary position.