JPS60247615A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable observation, i.e., distance measurement or stereoscopic vision by constituting an endoscope in such a manner that the optical axes of two approximately parallel optical systems for observation are movable in the directions opposite from each other with respect to an object to be observed in the radial direction of the top end of the endoscope and are prevented from exceeding the outside diameter at the top end of the endoscope in the retracted state of the optical systems for observation. CONSTITUTION:Moving members 11, 11' and intermediate members 12, 12' are held retracted and the top end 10 of the endoscope can be smoothly inserted into the body in the case of such insertion. The observation of the object to be observed is executed by selecting the space between the optical axes O, O' of the optical systems for observation at a suitable length L0 according to the distance from the object and moving the optical axes O, O' until the space L attains L0. The observation of the object to be observed, i.e., distance measurement or stereoscopic observation can be thereby executed adequately. The adequate base length is realized according to the distance from the object particularly when the end of the endoscope moved in proximity to the object and therefore the observation of said object, i.e., distance measurement or stereoscopic vision is adequately executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to an endoscope having two parallel observation optical systems for distance measurement or stereoscopic viewing.

PRIOR ART Conventionally, this type of endoscope is known, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-95708 by the present applicant. If, 1
is the tip of the endoscope, 2 is the objective lens for observation, 3 is the image guide for observation, 4 is the objective lens for distance measurement, 5 is the image guide for distance measurement, 6 is the longitudinal direction of the endoscope, and 6 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the endoscope. The lens barrel is pivotally attached to the endoscope distal end 1 so as to be rotatable between the directions (positions shown in the figure), and 7 and 8 are neat mirrors disposed within the lens barrel 6, and are configured as described above. The distance to the object to be observed is measured by the f'L hole main observation optical system and the sub-observation optical system for distance measurement, but in this case, the distance between the optical axes of the two observation optical systems, that is, the baseline Since the length is constant, the distance to the object that can be observed is limited to a certain range, and especially when the object is close to the object, the two observation optical systems are separated by a certain distance. Therefore, it becomes impossible to observe the same part of the object to be observed, and therefore distance measurement becomes difficult.

Purpose In view of the above points, the present invention improves the distance to the object to be observed by appropriately changing the distance between the optical axes of two parallel observation optical systems, that is, the baseline length, according to the distance to the object to be observed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that allows observation using two observation optical systems, that is, distance measurement or stereoscopic viewing, even when the object to be observed is close to the object over a wide range.

Overview The purpose of this is to use an endoscope with two parallel observation optical systems, so that the optical axes of the two parallel observation optical systems are mutually aligned in the radial direction of the endoscope tip with respect to the object to be observed. The problem is solved by an endoscope that is movable in the opposite direction and configured so that the observation optical system does not exceed the outer diameter of the endoscope tip in the retracted state. .

EXAMPLES Below, the present invention will be explained based on examples shown in the drawings.
In Fig. 1, 10 is the tip of the endoscope, 11, 11'
are connected to the endoscope tip 1 via the intermediate members 12 and 12', respectively.
0 in the radial direction of FIG. 1(A) in opposite directions to the position shown in FIG. 1(B), and observation objective lenses 13 and 13' are provided. The incident end of the observation image guide 14.degree. 14' is disposed opposite to the observation objective lens 13, 13'. Note that o and o' are observation objective lenses 13 and 13'.
That is, it is the optical axis of the observation optical system, and the distance between them, ie, the base line length, is L+ in the retracted state and L2 in the extended state (B).

Since the embodiment of the present invention is structured as described above, when inserting the endoscope tip 10 into the body, it is necessary to first insert the endoscope tip 10 into the body as shown in FIG.
), the moving members 11, 11' and the intermediate member 12
, 12' are in the retracted state, so that the endoscope tip 1
0 is not particularly thick/), and the tip of the endoscope 1
00 can be inserted smoothly into the body. Next, in order to observe the object to be observed, the interval of the optical axis 0.0' of the observation optical system, that is, the base line length, is selected to be an appropriate length Lo according to the distance to the object to be observed, and the optical axis 0. , 0', the moving members 11, 11' and the intermediate member 12,
12' in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 (A), it is possible to properly observe the object to be observed, that is, distance measurement or stereoscopic vision, and especially when the object is close to the object. Since an appropriate base line length is realized depending on the distance to the object, observation of the object to be observed, that is, distance measurement or stereoscopic vision can be performed appropriately.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment according to the present invention, in which 20 is the tip of the endoscope, 21 and 21' are each configured in a human-shaped manner.
L middle member 22.22'? The distal end portion 20 of the endoscope can be moved in the radial direction of the endoscope to the position shown in FIG. 3 (B) in opposite directions as shown by the arrows in FIG. Moving parts installed, 24.2
4' is a pair of wires, one end of each wire is connected to each moving member 21, 21' via a wire guide 25, and the other end is connected to a drive device (not shown). According to such a configuration, when the endoscope tip 20 is first inserted into the body, the moving members 2, 21' and the intermediate members 22, 2 are moved as shown in FIG.
2' is in the retracted position, and in order to observe the object to be observed next, the interval of the optical axis 0.0' of the observation optical system, that is, the baseline length L? C5 moving members 21, 21' and Intermediate member 22.
22''k Move in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 3.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, with 30
31 and 31' are inserted in the radial direction of the endoscope tip 30 through the intermediate members 32 and 32', respectively, which are configured as f', as indicated by arrows in FIG. 4(A). As shown, the mirrors 33, 33 are movable in opposite directions to the position shown in FIG. 4(B) and constitute the incident part of the observation optical system.
34, 34' are objective lenses for observation, 35 and 35' are image guides for observation, 3
6.36' is a pair of wires, one end of each wire is connected to each moving member 3 via wire guides 37, 37'.
1 and '3'l', and the other end is connected to a drive device (not shown). Once this configuration is completed, first, the endoscope tip 30 is placed in the retracted state shown in FIG. 4(A).
is inserted into the body, and then, depending on the distance to the object to be observed, select an interval of 0.0' for the optical axis of the observation optical system, that is, a base line length L'& an appropriate length Lo, and set the optical axis to 0.0'. A driving device (not shown) is driven so that the distance between the wires 36 and 36 is Lo.
36''!? When it is extended, the intermediate moving member 31.31' and the intermediate member 32.3.2' are moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4(A) to observe the object to be observed.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, where 40 is the tip of the endoscope, and 41.41' is the radial direction of the endoscope tip 40, which is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5(A). The image sensor 42 can be moved in opposite directions to the position shown in FIG.
, 42' are arranged as moving members, 43, 43'.
The movable member 4 is pivotally mounted in the distal end portion 40 of the endoscope.
1, 41' is a gear meshing with a rack provided at n5, and is connected to a drive device (not shown) J:,! lll chain 44
, 44' and the like.

Note that FIG. 6 shows the end surface of the endoscope tip 40, and 4
5.45' is an illumination lens. When inserted into this configuration, first the endoscope tip 40 is in the retracted state shown in FIG. 5(A).
is inserted into the body, and then the distance between the optical axes o and O/ of the observation optical system, that is, the baseline length If, is set to an appropriate length depending on the distance to the object to be observed. The chain 44 is driven by a drive device (not shown) so that the distance between the optical axes 0 and 0' is Lo.
, 44', etc., the moving members 41, 41'Th are moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5(A) to observe the object to be observed.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. ．． 46' is the seventh movable member 41, 41'.
The spring C spring 46' that pulls it into the retracted state in Figure (A) is not shown), 47.47' is a pulley pivotally mounted inside the endoscope tip 40, and 48.4'8' is a wire. Alternatively, it is a rope, one end of which is connected to the movable members 41, 41' via boots IJ-47, 47'', and the other end is connected to a drive device (not shown).

According to this configuration, the endoscope tip 40 is first inserted into the body in the retracted state shown in Fig. 7 (~), and then the optical axis of the observation optical system is Select the distance 0', that is, the base line length, to an appropriate length LO, and drive a drive device (not shown) so that the distance between the optical axes 0 and 0' becomes Lo, and the wire or rope 48°48' is sprung. 46, 46
Moving member 41.41 when pulled against the tension of '
'? The object to be observed is observed by moving in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 7 (-).

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the optical axes of the two parallel observation optical systems can be moved in opposite directions in the radial direction of the tip of the endoscope with respect to the object to be observed. Moreover, since the observation optical system is configured so that it does not exceed the outer diameter of the tip of the endoscope in the retracted state, the two optical axes of the observation optical system are parallel to each other depending on the distance to the object to be observed. By appropriately changing the distance between the two observation optical systems, that is, the baseline length, it is possible to perform observation using two observation optical systems, that is, distance measurement or stereoscopic vision, over a wide range of distances to the observed object, especially when the object is close to the observed object. When inserting the tip of the endoscope into the body, the observation optical system is in a retracted state, so the tip of the endoscope does not become particularly thick. The insertion into the body is smooth and extremely effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention (A) in a retracted state and (B) in an extended state;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example, and FIGS. 3 to 7 are schematic diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. 10.20.30.40...endoscope tip, 11,
11'. 21.21', 31.31', 41.41'... Moving member, 12°12', 22, 22', 32
, 32'... intermediate member, 13, 13'. 34.34'...observation objective lens, 14.14',
35.35'...Image guide for observation, 23, 2
3', 42, 42'...imaging device, 24. ．． 2
4', 36.36'...Wire, 25°37, 3
7'...Wire guide, 33.33'...Mirror, 43.43'...Gear, 44.44'...Chain, 45', 45'...Lens for illumination, 46.4
6'...Noζne, 47.47'...Pulley, 48+
48'...Wire or rope. 11Figure 11 Figure 2Figure 3 13J0

Claims (1)

[Claims] Two types of endoscopes have parallel observation optical systems.
The optical axes of the two observation optical systems, which are parallel to each other, are movable in opposite directions in the radial direction of the endoscope tip with respect to the object to be observed, and the observation optical systems are retracted and viewed from the inside. An endoscope, characterized in that the endoscope is configured so as not to exceed the outer diameter of the end of the endoscope.