JPS60178422A - Endoscope containing solid-state image pickup element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To observe the whole periphery, and also to execute easily the operation without requiring an image rotator and also the correction of azimuth by structuring an image pickup means so that it can be driven to rotate without interposing a mirror or a prism. CONSTITUTION:As for an endoscope 1, a hard tip part 3 is formed on the tip of a flexible inserting part 2, the almost whole area of the tip side is covered with a transparent cover 4, the rear end part of the opening side is fixed to the outside periphery of a tip part body 3A, and a rotary tip part 3B which becomes freely rotatable is formed on the inside of the cover 4. To the front part (top part) of the inside of the cover 4, the stator side of a rotation driving motor is fixed with a screw, etc., its revolving shaft 6A is fitted and contained, etc. into the recessed part of the rotary tip part 3B, and the rotary tip part 3B is driven to rotate together with a rotation of the revolving shaft 6A. A recessed part is formed in the direction orthogonal to the revolving shaft 6A of the motor 6 and an objective lens system 8 fixed to a cylindrical lens frame 7 is contained, and a solid-state image pickup element 9 is provided on its image forming position and an image pickup means for executing the image pickup of image of an object in front of the optical axis (namely, the side opposed directly to the revolving shaft 6A) of the objective lens system 8 is contained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device that allows observation of the entire circumference of the inner wall of a body cavity or the inner wall of a lumen.

[Technical durability of the invention and its problems] In recent years, endoscopes, which have an elongated insertion section inserted into a body cavity, can diagnose affected areas such as internal organs in the body cavity, and can perform therapeutic treatments using treatment instruments, etc. have become popular in the medical field. It is now widely used in the world. Furthermore, in the industrial field, endoscopes are widely used to examine the internal conditions of various types of piping, such as heat exchanger tubes of heat exchangers.

In these fields, when observing the inner wall of a body cavity or lumen, it is difficult to observe the entire inner circumferential surface with a normal side-viewing type, so rotating the mirror or prism makes it possible to An image is formed on the distal end surface of an image guide formed of flexible optical II fibers, and the image is transmitted to the hand side by the image guide and observed from behind the eyepiece, making it possible to observe the entire lateral circumference. Since the image is reflected by a mirror or prism, an image rotator is required to return the inverted image to the normal image. Furthermore, when it is desired to observe a peripheral part of the field of view so that it becomes the center of the field of view, the influence of the rotation angle of the mirror or prism is superimposed and the direction is shifted. The rotation must be done taking into account the influence, which makes the operation cumbersome.

Therefore, as in the conventional example disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 51-50883, by rotating the image rotator at 1/2 of the rotation angle of the mirror or prism, the problems caused by the mirror or prism can be avoided. There is an endoscope that eliminates this effect.

However, since a driving means is required to move the image rotator in conjunction with the rotation angle of 17'2 of the mirror or prism, It increases.
It becomes difficult to hold and operate, and the cost increases.

[Purpose of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it provides a solid body that does not require an image rotator, does not require azimuth correction, can observe the entire circumference, and is easy to operate. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope with a built-in image sensor.

“It essential for invention” Is this invention internal? l! At the tip of the insertion section of the mirror, there is an objective optical system that is rotatable around the axis of the insertion section and whose optical axis is perpendicular to the axis, and a solid body disposed at the imaging position of the objective optical system. A Wi image means consisting of an image pickup device is provided, at least an illumination light output end side of the illumination means for illuminating the imaging range of the objective optical system is provided rotatably, and at least one of the image pickup means and the illumination means The above object is achieved by providing a rotational drive means for rotating both the emission end sides.

[Embodiments of the invention] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the distal end side of the endoscope of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along the line C-C in FIG. 1. show.

In the endoscope 1 of the first embodiment, a rigid distal end portion 3 is formed at the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 2.

The distal end portion 3 is covered with a transparent cover 4 over almost the entire region on the distal end side.
The rear end of the cover 4 on the opening side is fixed to the outer periphery of the tip main body 3A, and a rotatable tip 3B is formed inside the fixed cover 4 so as to be rotatable (rotatable).

The rotating tip 3B has a bottle 5.5 protruding radially inward from the rear end base, and the bottle 5.5 is accommodated in a circumferential groove formed on the outer periphery of the front end of the tip main body 3A. It is mounted so that it can rotate freely.

The stator side of a rotary drive motor is fixed to the inner most front part (top part) of the cover 4 with screws, etc., and its rotary shaft 6A (a part of which is made into a square shape, etc.) is fitted into the recess of the rotary tip 3B. By storing them together, the rotating tip 3B is rotated along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 6A.

An objective lens system 8 fixed to a cylindrical lens frame 7 with a recess formed in a direction perpendicular to the rotation @ 6A of the motor 6 is accommodated, and a solid-state image sensor 9 is mounted in the fixed position of the objective lens system 8. An imaging means for capturing an image of an object in front of the optical axis of the objective lens system 8 (that is, on the side perpendicular to the rotation @6Δ) is housed.

An illumination lens system 10 is disposed parallel to the concave portion formed adjacent to the imaging means formed by the objective lens system 8 and the solid Vts & element 9, and its center is aligned with the central axis of the tip body 3Δ. The light guide 1 is fixed such that the center of its front end coincides with the extension line of the rotation tll16△.
The illumination light emitted from the front Q (output) surface of the mirror 12
Furthermore, through the illumination lens system 10, it is possible to illuminate the range where the image can be carried by the imaging means.

On the rear surface of the rotating tip 3B, which is rotatable in contact with the front surface of the tip main body 3Δ, there are a number of radially insulated contacts 13 arranged at appropriate intervals. The contacts 13 are held in contact with ring-shaped contacts 14 formed on the front surface of the tip main body 3A (shown as η in FIG. 2), and are electrically connected to each other.

Each of the contacts 13 is connected to the solid-state image sensor 9 and the motor 6 via lead wires, and each ring-shaped contact 14
is inserted into the insertion portion 2 via each lead 15 wire and connected to a signal processing circuit, a drive circuit, etc. (not shown).

The tangential portion adjacent to the distal end 3 is covered with a flexible mantle tube 16 having a diameter smaller than that of the distal end 3, and the joint pieces 17, 17. . . 17 is formed, and a curved portion 18 is formed which can be bent in the left-right direction and the up-down direction by pulling and relaxing a wire (not shown).

In addition, a filter 19 in which transmitting filters of three primary colors are arranged in a mosaic pattern is disposed in front of the solid-state image sensor 9, and a filter 19 is arranged in front of the solid-state image sensor 9. By applying a reading clock signal to the five-image element 9, signals corresponding to color pixels are sequentially output from the shift register.

In the first embodiment configured in this way, the motor 6
It is characterized in that the objective lens system 8 and the solid-state image sensor 9 are both rotationally driven (without intervening a mirror, prism, etc.) along with the rotation of the rotation axis 6A. Therefore, the left and right images will not be reversed,
In addition, within the shooting range (within the field of view), for example, the image of a part observed in the peripheral area and the actual part will not be misaligned (due to mirrors or prisms), and the peripheral part will be placed closer to the center of the field of view. It also becomes easier to operate when changing the direction and rotating.

The operation of the first embodiment configured in this way will be described below.

When a switch (not shown) on the hand side is turned on, power is supplied to the motor 6, and the motor 6 rotates the rotating tip 3B. As the rotation shaft 6A of the motor 6 rotates, the objective lens system 8 and the output side ends of the imaging means and illumination means of the solid-state image sensor 9 are rotationally driven. Thus, the inner wall surface around the distal end portion 3 inserted into the body cavity is illuminated by the illumination means, and the illuminated inner wall surface is imaged on the light receiving surface of the solid-state image carrier 9, and photoelectrons are generated on the light receiving surface. The charges are converted and stored as charges, transferred and sequentially output from the shift register by application of a read clock signal. This output signal is amplified, AD converted, and input into a frame memory at high speed within a short time such as the vertical retrace period of the display device.

The stored data is read out by applying an address signal, converted to DA, and sequentially separated into R, G, and B color signals by a sample and hold circuit, and horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are added to the color signals. The state of the interior wall surface is displayed as a color image input from the RGB input end of the TV monitor.

If the rotational speed of the motor 6 is several seconds or more for one rotation, the time delay in display is, for example, about 17/30 seconds, so the display is almost equivalent to that displayed in real time.

Furthermore, since the first embodiment does not include a mirror or the like, it does not require image raw data.
The direction of the image observed within the field of view also affects the rotation of the mirror or prism (when observing through a mirror or prism) even when the tip portion 3 is rotated or the bending portion 18 is bent. Therefore, it is easy to closely observe the desired site in more detail. (Even if a solid-state image carrier is used, in conventional examples in which both image means are formed using mirrors or prisms, the desired location is affected by the influence of these mirrors or prisms. It becomes difficult to operate in close proximity.

Furthermore, since an image kite is not used, and an image rotator and image orientation correction means are not provided, the insertion section 2 can be made smaller in diameter and lighter, making it easier to operate.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

In this internal view f121, the structure on the output end side of the illumination means is slightly different from that of the first embodiment.

That is, the lies 1 to 22, which are inserted through the insertion portion 2 and are bent at 90 degrees, are inserted into the rotating tip portion 3B so that the front end of the light guide 11 is in contact with the front end of the light guide 11, which is fixed at the tip body 3A. This curved light guide 22
A concave light distribution lens 23 is disposed in front of the light emitting end.

The rest of the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same members are given the same reference numerals.

The effects of this second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

This endoscope 31 does not house the motor 6 on the front end (top) side of the tip section 3 as in the first or second embodiment, but instead houses a smaller motor 32 inside the tip body 3B. , the gear 33 is attached to the end of the rotating shaft 32A that protrudes in the perpendicular direction of the insertion portion 2. On the other hand, a toothing portion 34 is formed along the circumference of the annular rear end portion of the rotating tip portion 3B that fits into the outer periphery of the front end side of the tip body 3A, and this toothing portion 34 is formed along the circumference of the rotating tip portion 3B. ″733, motor 32
Along with the rotation of @32A, the distal end portion 3 is rotated around the central axis thereof.

The rest of the structure is almost the same as that of the second embodiment, and its operation and effect are also substantially the same as those of the first or second embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, when a line transfer type solid-state m-image element is used, the illumination light is turned off when the signal is read out and written into the frame memory, or the illumination light is continuously illuminated using a liquid crystal or the like. This is desirable. Of course, as long as it is done within a short period of time, it is not necessary to turn off the lights. or,
The circuit configuration for displaying what has been written into or written into the frame memory on the TV monitor is not limited to that described above. For example, when writing to frame memory,
It is also possible to separate each color signal component and write it into three frame memories. Also, when driving the motor 6゜32, the rotational speed must be very slow to be visually recognized, so a relatively low speed is sufficient. The field-sequential illumination method is used in which light of each wavelength of the primary colors is sequentially illuminated, and the light received under the illumination of each wavelength of light is written into three frame memories, and when displaying, they are read out at the same time and used as normal NTSC. It is also possible to use a display configuration as R, G, and B color signals.

Furthermore, when using a solid-state sensor using a frame transfer method instead of a line transfer method, the above-mentioned turning off, etc. is not necessary.

In addition, the motor taro 32 as a rotary drive φ1 hand circle is not limited to a normal @ current motor or an AC motor, but can also be used, for example, a step motor, etc., and can be rotated by variable operation of voltage and current on the hand side. It is also possible to make the speed variable or to change the number of peripheral fluids so that the C rotation speed can be freely varied.

In addition, if you operate the switch etc. off and do not drive the rotation, the rotation shafts 6A, 32A of the motors 6, 32, etc.
It is desirable to use a type that does not rotate even if the insertion portion 2 is moved.

Incidentally, the illumination means is not limited to the above-mentioned ones, and may be one using a single or several rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs), miniature lamps, or the like. It may be attached to the rotating distal end 3B side, or it may be attached to the distal end body 3A and a lie 1 guide etc. may be attached to the rotating distal end 3B side to guide the illumination light to the exit & J 2 side. Also good.

In addition, when an illumination means such as an LED is provided on the rotating tip 3B side, the light guide 11 is inserted along the rotation center glaze and the illumination light output end is curved by substantially touching the front end of the light guide 11. It is also possible to form a channel for a treatment instrument in the portion and drive the treatment instrument so that even when the treatment instrument is rotated to face any side, the treatment instrument inserted through the channel can be projected in that direction. In this way, treatment operations on any side can be performed appropriately.

In addition, even when the light guide 11 is inserted, the above function can be maintained by making the center part hollow and having a structure in which the light guide is inserted into the outer periphery of the hollow part. When these channels are provided, the periphery of the open front end of the channel may be brought into contact with the cover 4 to maintain airtightness and liquidtightness.

It is clear that only the side periphery of the cover 4 facing the objective lens system 8, the illumination lens system 10, or the light distribution lens 23 may be made transparent. Further, in order to effectively prevent the illumination light that has passed through the light distribution lens 23 from being reflected by the cover 4 and leaking to the objective lens system 8 side, a light shielding member may be provided at the boundary so as to be in contact with the inner periphery of the cover 4. . In addition, for a J-fitting in which the cover 4 causes a slight shadow tube to appear in the optical path, the objective lens system 8 may be combined with a lens that eliminates the influence.

Incidentally, the motor 6 and the like can also be configured to be able to rotate forward or reverse by operating a switch or the like. In addition, the optical axis of the imaging means, etc. is in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis.
It is preferable to have the optical axis on a conical surface that is offset from the plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation, so that the side circumference at the diagonal front side can be adjusted to 16 degrees. are also subject to the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the imaging means using a solid-state FFL element has a structure that can be rotated without intervening a mirror or prism, so that it is possible to drive the imaging means rotationally without intervening a mirror or prism. Even if the orientation of the object within the field of view moves, the side circumference can be efficiently observed without being affected by the adverse effects of shifting the orientation due to the movement of the mirror or prism. or,
It is possible to easily closely observe a target region captured within the field of view, or insert a treatment tool to perform a biopsy or other treatment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the tip side of the insertion part of the endoscope of the first embodiment, and FIG. A cross-sectional view showing a ring-shaped contact in the C-Azusa cross section, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the distal end side of the insertion section of the endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the 3rd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the distal end side of the insertion portion of the example. 1.21.31... Endoscope 2... Insertion section 3... Tip part 3A... Tip body 3B... Rotating tip part 4...
Cover 5... Bin 6. 32... Motor 6A, 32A... Rotating shaft 8.
...Objective lens system 9...Solid index lens 10...Illumination lens system 11.22...Light guide 13...Contact 14...Ring-shaped contact 15...Lead I 18...・Curved portion 19...filter 33・
...Gear 34...Gearing part agent Patent attorney Susumu Imaki Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Continued from page 1 0 Inventor Tsutomu Yamamoto @ Inventor Kaimei Nakamura @ Inventor Atsushi Kan - Ken Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd., 2-4 Hatagaya 2-4, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) At the distal end of the insertion section of the endoscope, the rotary distal end, which is rotatably held around the 1,000-part axis, is equipped with an objective optical system and A 1Iil imaging means consisting of a solid-state image sensor disposed at an imaging position is provided, and this 1Iil imaging means is provided.
1. A solid state characterized in that the illumination means for illuminating the imaging range of the imaging means is provided at least on the emission end side of the illumination light, and the rotational drive means for rotationally driving the rotary distal end portion is provided on the distal end side of the insertion section. An endoscope with a built-in image sensor. (2) The endoscope with a built-in solid state 1Iiii@ element according to claim 1, wherein the rotational drive means is formed using a motor provided on the top side of the front end of the rotating tip.