JPH11206707A - Simple type endocscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an endoscope operation from being obstructed by heat radiated from a light source lamp and to prevent the generation of the heat even when the emitted light quantity of the light source lamp is increased. SOLUTION: In this device, the incident end part of a light guide 9 for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an object is arranged at an operation part 2, a light source unit 30 provided with the light source lamp 32 for supplying the illumination light to the light guide 9 is attached to the operation part 2 and a cover 16 composed of the material having a small heat conductivity is put on the outer surface of an exterior member 27 composed of the material having a large heat conductivity present at a position for surrounding the light source lamp 32. In this case, a heat radiation space 27b for releasing the heat stored in the exterior member 27 to an external space is formed between the exterior member 27 and the cover 16.

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 light source unit for supplying illumination light to a light guide is mounted on an operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called simple endoscope apparatus provided with an illuminant for illumination in an operation section, an entrance end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating a subject is generally provided with an end of the endoscope. A light source unit, which is arranged in an operation unit and includes a light source lamp for supplying illumination light to the light guide and a battery serving as a power source for the light source lamp, is attached to the operation unit.

[0003] In such a simple endoscope apparatus,
In many cases, the light source unit is detachably provided to the operation unit of the endoscope, and a metal tubular body (connection base) for connecting the light source unit is protruded from the operation unit side in many cases.

[0004] Then, the connection base is heated by heat radiated from the light source lamp disposed at the distal end portion of the light source unit. May interfere with

Therefore, conventionally, a cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity is coated on the outer surface of the connection mouthpiece so that a portion touched by an operator does not become hot (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-56).
672).

[0006]

As described above, when the cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity is coated on the outer surface of the metal connection base, heat accumulated in the connection base is radiated to the external space. Instead, the heat is released only by heat conduction to the metal member connected to the connection base.

[0007] Therefore, when the light emission amount of the light source lamp is increased, the temperature of the connection base rises remarkably, and the heat is trapped inside, so that the lamp is cut off in a short time or the temperature of the exposed metal member adjacent to the connection base becomes high. The operator who touches it may feel uncomfortable and hinder the operation of the endoscope.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a simplified endoscope apparatus in which the operation of the endoscope is not hindered by the heat radiated from the light source lamp and the heat problem does not occur even if the light emission amount of the light source lamp is increased. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a simplified endoscope apparatus according to the present invention has a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an object, and an incident end of the light guide is arranged on an operation unit. Then, a light source unit having a light source lamp for supplying illumination light to the light guide is attached to the operation unit, and heat is applied to an outer surface of an exterior member made of a material having high thermal conductivity at a position surrounding the light source lamp. In a simple endoscope device covered with a cover made of a material having a low conductivity, a heat radiation space for releasing heat accumulated in the exterior member to an external space is formed between the exterior member and the cover. It is characterized by the following.

[0010] The exterior member and the cover may both be members provided in the operation part. The heat radiation space may be formed by a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the exterior member.

[0011] The exterior member may be a cylindrical body, and the heat radiation space may be formed by a plurality of grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer member to extend to both ends. The surface of the bank-like portion between the two may be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover, and the cover may be fixed to the exterior member at that portion.

[0012] The light source unit may be detachable from the operation unit, and the exterior member is a tubular body protruding from the operation unit for connecting the light source unit. Is also good.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a side view of the operation section 2 of the endoscope, and FIG. 5 is a front view thereof. A lower end of the operation section 2 is connected to a base end of an insertion section 1 covered with a flexible tube. I have.

The lower part of the operation part 2 about three-quarters is a grip part 2a, and a forceps insertion opening part 4 is provided between the grip part 2a and the insertion part 1 so as to project diagonally forward. Have been. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure adjusting valve for adjusting the pressure inside the airtight endoscope.

A suction operation valve 6 for performing a suction operation through a forceps channel (not shown) inserted into the insertion section 1 is provided to the operation mechanism section 5 above the grip section 2a of the operation section 2.
And a bending operation lever 7 for remotely bending a bending portion (not shown) formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1 are disposed on the front and rear surfaces, and an eyepiece 8 protrudes from the upper surface. Have been.

An illumination light guide fiber bundle 9 for transmitting observation illumination light for illuminating a subject has an incident end located in the operation mechanism 5 and is inserted from the grip 2a of the operation unit 2. Through the inside of the part 1, the injection end is located at the tip of the insertion part 1.

The light guide fiber bundle 9
Light source unit 3 for supplying illumination light for observation to
Numeral 0 is detachably attached to a side surface portion of the operation mechanism section 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the light source unit 30
Includes a light source lamp 32 that emits illumination light to be supplied to the light guide fiber bundle 9, and a battery 100 that is a power supply for lighting the light source lamp 32. As the battery 100, any battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery may be used.

The battery 100 can be exchanged by removing a cap 50 detachably attached to the end of the light source unit 30. Instead of the battery 100, an AC / DC conversion adapter or the like may be connected. .

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the light source unit 30 has been detached from the operation unit 2. As will be described later, a unit connection base 27 made of stainless steel protrudes from the operation unit 2 side, and a male screw portion 27a is formed at the protruding end. Reference numeral 26 denotes a plastic cover cylinder attached so as to cover the unit connection base 27.

On the other hand, the light source unit 30 is provided with a tightening ring 37 having an internal thread formed on an inner surface portion thereof to be screwed with the male screw portion 27a on the operation section 2 side so as to be rotatable around an axis. Can be rotated freely.

The light source unit 30 is provided with a positioning pin 38 that fits into the regulating groove 28 formed at the protruding end of the unit connection base 27.
Is regulated in the direction of the operation unit 2 when is connected and fixed to the operation unit 2. 25 is an index for positioning.

FIG. 1 shows the vicinity of a connection portion between the operation section 2 and the light source unit 30. The main body case 11 which covers the operation mechanism section 5 of the operation section 2 is made of electrically insulating plastic.

A cover 15 made of electrically insulating plastic is fitted into a large side opening formed in the main body case 11, and an O-ring 16 for sealing is mounted on the fitting surface. Water is prevented from entering the operation unit 2.

The fitting portion between the lid 15 and the main body case 11 is provided with a rotation stopper (not shown) for regulating the relative rotation between them. Although the O-ring 16 is crushed by being mounted, the figure shows a cross section in a natural state before being crushed (the same applies hereinafter).

A support cylinder 17 whose base is fixed to a frame (not shown) in the operation section 2 is disposed at the center axis position of the through hole formed in the center of the lid 15. And, by the fastening ring 28 screwed to the head of the support cylinder 17,
The connection mouthpiece receiver 18 is pressed and fixed to the lid 15.

However, an insulating cylinder 29 made of electrically insulating plastic is interposed between the connection base receiver 18 and the fastening ring 28 so that they do not come into contact with each other. The support cylinder 17 and the fastening ring 28 are both made of metal and have good thermal conductivity.

The connection mouthpiece receiver 18 has a large opening on the outer surface of the lid 15, and has a cylindrical connection formed therein for receiving (connecting) the light source unit 30 and projecting outward. The base of the base 27 is screwed and fixed. The unit connection base 27 is formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as stainless steel.

Then, a cover cylinder 26 made of synthetic resin having a low thermal conductivity so as to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the unit connection base 27 and the connection base receiver 18.
Are fixed to the unit connection base 27 with screws.

FIG. 2 shows the shapes of the unit connecting base 27 and the cover cylinder 26 in the II-II section. The cover cylinder 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a constant cross section over the entire length.

The unit connection base 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape inscribed in the cover cylinder 26, and has four grooves 27b (for example, having a width of 12) having a sufficient width and depth in a direction parallel to the axis.
mm and a depth of about 3 mm) are formed at 90 ° intervals on the outer peripheral surface so as to pass through both ends of the cover cylinder 26.

Accordingly, the outer peripheral surface of the unit connection base 27 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 26 only at the surface of the narrow bank-like portion between the adjacent grooves 27b over the entire length in the axial direction. A small screw for fixing the cover cylinder 26 to the unit connection base 27 is attached to one of the locations.

FIG. 1 shows a composite of cross sections in different directions, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape in accordance with reality. Further, instead of screwing and fixing the cover cylinder 26 and the unit connection base 27 together, the cover cylinder 26 and the unit connection base 27 may be screwed and connected at a fitting portion, or may be bonded and fixed to each other.

Returning to FIG. 1, the incident end of the light guide fiber bundle 9 is screwed and fixed at the center axis position of the bottom of the unit connection base 27. The convex meniscus lens 20 is fixed to the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9 by a holding nut 21 screwed to the bottom surface of the unit connection base 27.

An O-ring for sealing is mounted on the fitting portion between the members arranged inside the hole of the lid 15, and the operating portion 2 is provided with water from the outside in all parts. It has a watertight structure that does not invade. Needless to say, the insertion portion 1 is similarly formed in a watertight structure.

The light source unit 30 is formed in a straight cylindrical shape as a whole, and includes a lamp chamber portion 30a close to a connection portion with the operation portion 2 and a battery chamber portion 30b remote from the connection portion with the operation portion 2. In FIG. 1, the lamp chamber 30 is shown.
a is shown in its entirety.

The outer wall of the battery compartment 30b is formed by a battery compartment case 31 made of, for example, stainless steel having corrosion resistance (chemical resistance) and high conductivity.
Also serves as a conductive member to the negative electrode of 0.

At the boundary between the lamp chamber 30a and the battery chamber 30b, a lamp socket 33 to which a light source lamp 32 is removably inserted and attached is fixed to the battery chamber case 31 via several parts. I have.

The cylindrical lamp chamber case 35 constituting the outer wall of the lamp chamber section 30a is formed of, for example, stainless steel having good heat conductivity, and is screwed to both the lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31. By connecting tube 36,
The lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31 are connected.

Then, from the connection tube 36, the lamp chamber case 3
If the light source lamp 32 is loosened and removed, the light source lamp 32 disposed inside is exposed, and the light source lamp 32 can be replaced. Reference numeral 39 denotes an O-ring for sealing a connection between the lamp chamber case 35 and the battery chamber case 31.

A reflector 34 for converging the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 toward the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9 surrounds the light source lamp 32 inside the front end portion of the lamp chamber case 35. So that it is fixed.

A transparent cover glass 49 is fixed to a front end face of the reflecting mirror 34 by a holding nut 40. A sealant is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the cover glass 49 and sealed so that water does not enter the lamp chamber case 35 from outside.

The fastening ring 37 has a tip portion formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the other portions, and a female screw portion 37 screwed to the male screw portion 27a of the unit connection base 27 at that portion.
a is screwed.

An annular member 45 rotatably fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the battery chamber case 31 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the tightening ring 37 by screws. The flange 36a is formed between the annular member 45 and the female screw 37a.
Is loosely sandwiched between.

Therefore, the tightening ring 37 hardly moves in the axial direction, but is rotatable around the axis. By rotating the tightening ring 37, the female screw portion 37a formed at the distal end thereof is united. It can be screwed with the male screw part 27a of the connection base 27, or the screwed state can be released.

Therefore, the insertion base 36 at the tip of the light source unit 30 is inserted into the unit connection base 27,
The fastening ring 37 is rotated in a state where the positioning pin 38 is positioned in the rotation direction so as to fit in the regulating groove 28, and the female screw portion 37 a of the fastening ring 37 is screwed into the male screw portion 27 a of the unit connection base 27. Then, the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2 as shown in FIG.

Then, after the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 34,
The light passes through the light guide fiber bundle 9 and the convex meniscus lens 20 and converges on the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9.

When the screw connection between the unit receiving base 27 and the fastening ring 37 is released, the light source unit 30 is removed from the operation unit 2. Reference numeral 41 denotes an O-ring for sealing a fitting portion between the lamp chamber case 35 and the unit receiving base 27 when the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2.

The two electrodes protruding rearward from the light source lamp 32 are inserted into the socket 33 and are electrically connected to connection pins at the rear thereof. The base end of each connection pin is connected to two electrode plates 43a,
43b.

The one electrode plate 43a has a battery 100
Positive electrode is always in contact. The other electrode plate 43b is screwed and connected to the battery chamber case 31 so as to be electrically connected thereto, whereby each member of this portion is fixed to the battery chamber case 31.

In the simple endoscope apparatus thus constructed, as shown in FIG. 1, when the light source unit 30 is connected to the unit connection base 27 and the light source lamp 32 is turned on, the light source lamp is turned on. The heat radiated from the unit 32 is connected to the unit connection base 27 via the lamp chamber case 35.
And the unit connection base 27 is heated.

However, since the outer peripheral surface of the unit connection base 27 is entirely covered with the cover cylinder 26 having a small thermal conductivity, the hand of the operator holding the operation section 2 is not required.
It only touches the surface and does not feel the heat.

The heat accumulated in the unit connection base 27 is not only conducted to the connection tube 36 or the connection base receiver 18 which is a metal member disposed adjacent to the unit connection base 27 but is dissipated. The radiation is radiated into the space in the groove 27b between the connection mouthpiece 27 and the cover cylinder 26, and escapes from both ends of the cover cylinder 26 to the external space by the flow of air as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG.

Therefore, even if a light bulb having a large amount of light is used as the light source lamp 32, heat does not remain stored in the unit connection base 27, so that the lamp does not run out early or the adjacent metal member is overheated.

[0055]

According to the present invention, a heat radiating space for radiating heat accumulated in the exterior member at a position surrounding the light source lamp to the external space is formed between the exterior member and the cover covering the exterior member. As a result, the heat radiated from the light source lamp is not accumulated in the exterior member but escapes to the external space, so the part touched by the operator is overheated and the operation of the endoscope is hindered or the lamp burns out early. It is possible to increase the amount of light emitted from the light source lamp and brighten the illumination for observation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between an endoscope operation unit and a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing a state where the light source unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is detached from the endoscope operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the simplified endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the simplified endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation unit 9 Light guide fiber bundle 26 Cover cylinder 27 Unit connection base (exterior member) 27b Groove (heat radiation space) 30 Light source unit 32 Light source lamp

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohisa Ueda 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Inside Asahiko Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Kuniyoshi Ikeda 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo No. Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kuniyoshi Kaneko 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] An input end of a light guide for transmitting illumination light for illuminating an object is disposed on an operation unit, and a light source unit having a light source lamp for supplying illumination light to the light guide is operated. A simple endoscope device in which the outer surface of an exterior member made of a material having a high thermal conductivity at a position surrounding the light source lamp is covered with a cover made of a material having a low thermal conductivity. A simplified endoscope apparatus, wherein a heat radiation space for releasing accumulated heat to an external space is formed between the exterior member and the cover. 2. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exterior member and said cover are both members provided on said operation section. 3. The simple endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat radiation space is formed by a groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of said exterior member. 4. The simple endoscope according to claim 3, wherein said exterior member is a cylindrical body, and said heat radiation space is formed by a plurality of grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof so as to pass through to both ends. apparatus. 5. A surface of a bank-shaped portion between the plurality of grooves is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cover, and the cover is fixed to the exterior member at that portion. Simple endoscope device. 6. A simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source unit is detachable from said operation unit. 7. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the exterior member is a cylindrical body protruding from the operation section for connecting the light source unit.