JPS6068823A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a side-viewing or oblique-viewing endoscope using a solid-state imaging device, and particularly to a distal end of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity, etc. In the device in which the solid-state image sensor is disposed within the tip component in which the illumination means and the imaging optical system are incorporated, the solid-state image sensor is arranged alone in a radial or diagonal direction in a space in the front row where no other members are placed. The present invention relates to an endoscope in which the diameter of the distal end component is reduced by effectively using the space within the distal end component.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, various endoscopes have been proposed that use solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (CODs) as imaging means. This solid-state image sensor is generally rectangular and has a relatively large diameter, although it depends on the number of pixels. Therefore, when this solid-state image sensor is placed inside the distal end component of the endoscope insertion section, an air/water supply channel and a forceps channel are formed in the axial direction within the distal end component, and the low illumination means and the forceps channel are formed in the axial direction. Since an imaging optical system and the like are provided, there is a problem that the diameter of the tip component inevitably becomes thicker, or the space for the channel etc. is restricted and cannot be secured sufficiently.

For this reason, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-46922, a conventional example in which the reflection is reflected by a mirror or the like and guided to the imaging surface of a solid-state imaging device arranged parallel to the axis of the insertion section or the distal end. There is.

However, even in this conventional example, since the light guide member such as a mirror forming the imaging means is disposed at the center of the distal end, the illumination means (illumination optical system) or the treatment instrument channel as described above, etc. The space for
There are problems in that the illumination intensity tends to be insufficient, the treatment tools that can be used are limited, and it becomes difficult to adequately perform treatment using the treatment tools.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and is a side-viewing type or oblique-viewing indoor endoscope that can be used for various channels by arranging a solid-state image sensor within the distal end component.

without restricting the arrangement of the imaging optical system and illumination means.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope in which the solid-state imaging device is not restricted in its role by members such as the channel, and the diameter of the distal end component can be reduced.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope according to the present invention is a side-viewing type endoscope or a side-viewing type endoscope in which an illumination means, an imaging optical system, and a solid-state image pickup device are disposed in a distal end component on the distal end side of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity or the like. In a perspective-viewing endoscope, the solid-state imaging device is arranged in a front-most space in a distal end component in which no other members are arranged in a radial direction, with its imaging surface positioned on the rear side in a radial or oblique direction. At the same time, an imaging optical system is arranged in the same axial direction with respect to the field of view direction of the endoscope at the rear part of the solid-state imaging device, and a reflective surface is arranged on the optical axis of the imaging optical system to capture the image of the solid-state imaging device. A mirror facing toward the surface is disposed, and the solid-state image sensor is disposed such that the imaging plane is located on the reflection optical axis of the mirror and at the focal plane of the imaging optical system.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a plan view showing the distal end side of the endoscope insertion section.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is B in Figure 1.
-A cross-sectional view taken along line B is shown.

In these figures, numeral 1 is the endoscope insertion section.

A flexible tube 2 that extends in the forward insertion direction from an operation section (not shown) that is a grip section on the proximal side and has flexibility, and this flexible tube 2
It consists of a bending part 3 connected to the front of the body and capable of bending, for example, in the vertical or horizontal direction, and a tip forming part 4 connected to the front of the bending part 3. For example, a forceps channel 5° and an air/water supply channel 6 are disposed inside the flexible tube 2 or the bending portion 3 and extend from the inside of the operating portion, and these channels 5 and 6 further extend into the tip component portion 4 at the front. Each channel 5 is provided around the observation window 7 formed on the outer periphery of the tip component 4 and bent in the outer circumferential direction within the tip component 4.
, 6 are open. And air/water channel 6
As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 8 is formed in the shape of a nozzle and faces toward the observation window 7 so that the liquid or gas supplied with air or water hits the observation window 7 and cleans or dries the observation window 7. .

On the other hand, inside the opening of the forceps channel 5, as shown in FIG. The opening 9 formed on the outer periphery of the tip forming portion 4 can protrude to the outside. In addition, the forceps raising stand 1o is rotatable as shown in the illustrated example, that is, has a pivot shaft, and fixes a wire extending from the direction of the operating section, so that the wire can be pulled or loosened by operating the operating section. By rotating the forceps raising stand 10, the direction in which the forceps 11 protrude can be freely varied over a predetermined range.

The endoscope of this embodiment is a side-viewing type endoscope in which the observation window 7 is formed and arranged on the outer periphery of the distal end component 4. An imaging optical system 12 is provided on the radially inner side of the observation window 7 made of, for example, a glass material, in the same axial direction as the viewing direction.
are arranged.

Further, an illumination window 13 made of, for example, glass material is formed on the outer periphery of the tip forming portion 4 adjacent to the observation window 7.

A solid light emitting element 14 such as a light emitting diode is disposed as illumination means in the tip component 4 on the radially inner side of the illumination window 13.

By the way, as mentioned above, the forceps channel 5° and its opening 9. Forceps elevator stand 10 inside opening 9. Air/water channel 6 and its opening 8. Imaging optical system 12 arranged in the same axial direction as the viewing direction. In the tip structure/section 4 in which the solid-state light emitting element 14 etc. as an illumination means are disposed, without overlapping with these members in the radial direction, and as a result, without imposing restrictions on the arrangement of these members, and A charge coupled device (COD) is installed in the front row space 15, which is not conversely restricted by these members, in the radial direction with its imaging surface facing rearward.
) etc. are disposed. On the other hand, on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 12 in the tip component 4, a mirror 17 whose reflective surface is directed toward the imaging surface of the solid-state image sensor 16 is disposed. The solid-state image sensor 16 is arranged so that its imaging surface is located on the focal plane of the imaging optical system 12.

In such a configuration, the solid-state image sensor 16, which has a relatively large diameter and takes up space within the endoscope tip component 4, is connected to the various channels 5, 6, . By disposing the imaging optical system 12 in the space 15 in the front row of the tip component 4, which does not overlap in the radial direction with members such as the illumination means 14, the tip component 4
In the solid-state image sensor 1, a large arrangement space can be secured for the members without being restricted by the solid-state image sensor 16.
6, the installation space can be expanded without being restricted by the above-mentioned members.
By effectively using the internal space, the diameter of the distal end component 4 can be reduced, reducing the pain caused to the patient during insertion, and furthermore making it possible to insert it into small cavities. Become.

FIG. 4 relates to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a distal end component of an endoscope insertion section in a sectional view. This embodiment uses a light guide 18 made of a glass fiber bundle as the illumination means. The light guide 18, like each channel, is inserted through the insertion section and connected to an external light source device via the operation section. The other configurations and other effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment (the same applies to each embodiment hereinafter).

FIG. 5 relates to a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows a sectional view of the distal end component of the endoscope insertion section. This example is
A solid-state image sensor 16 provided in a space 15 in the front row of the tip component 4 that does not overlap in the radial direction with other members is arranged in an oblique direction, and the reflective surface of a mirror 17 is made to correspond to this. It is.

By doing so, the radial space of the tip component 4 at the location where the solid-state image sensor 16 is disposed can be utilized more effectively. That is, when focusing only on the solid-state image sensor 16,
If the diameter of the solid-state image sensor 16 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the diameter of the tip component 4 can be made smaller, and if the diameter of the tip component 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the diameter of the tip component 4 can be made smaller. It is also possible to use a solid-state image sensor 16 with a large diameter.

6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the distal end side of the endoscope insertion section, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 6. show. In this embodiment, the tip component 4
It is separated into a front part 4aζ and a rear part 4b, and can be freely attached and detached by, for example, a coupling ring 19 that is rotatably provided on one side and has a female thread on the inner periphery, and a male thread 20 that is provided on the other side (the attachment and detachment means are not limited to this, but various An imaging optical system 12 and a solid-state image sensor 16 are provided in the front portion 4a, and various channels 5, 6 and their openings 8, 9 are provided in the rear portion 4b. In this embodiment, the illumination means may be provided at either the front portion 4a or the rear portion 4b. By doing this,・
By preparing a plurality of front sections 4a with various imaging optical systems, it is possible to selectively use a magnification of one angle of view. Further, as in the fourth embodiment described later, the imaging optical system in the front section 4a is arranged in an oblique direction, and the observation window is arranged in a corresponding manner.
A front part 4a of a perspective type is disposed in an inclined state at the distal end deflection part of a, and the viewing direction thereof is obliquely forward, and the front part 4a is configured to be selectively connected to the rear part 4b. In this case, it is better to provide the illumination means in the front part 4a.

FIGS. 8 and 9 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 of the sheath is a plan view showing the distal end side of the endoscope insertion section, and Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in Figure 8. The Snake embodiment is a perspective view in which a part of the tip edge of the tip component 4 is formed into an inclined box, and an observation window 7 is formed and arranged on the inclined surface 4d so that the viewing direction is diagonally forward. It constitutes a type endoscope. An imaging optical system 12 and a mirror 17 are arranged in the distal end component 4 behind the observation window 7 in the viewing direction, that is, in an oblique direction.

In the present invention, each of the above-mentioned embodiments is an example, and it is possible to implement various modifications in addition to the above.◇□ [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the side view portion or the oblique view type interior The arrangement space for each channel, imaging optical system, and other components in the distal end component of the endoscope can be widened without being restricted by the solid-state imaging device, and on the other hand, the solid-state imaging device is not restricted by the aforementioned components. Moreover, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the diameter of the tip component.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a plan view showing the distal end side of the endoscope insertion section, and Figure 2 is a plan view showing the distal end side of the endoscope insertion section.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the distal end component of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 6, FIGS. 8 and 9 relate to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line D--D in FIG. 8. 4...Tip component 5...Forceps channel 6...
Air/water supply channel...imaging optical system 14, 18...illumination means 15
...Front row space 16...Continued from page 1 of solid-state image sensor0 Inventor: Tsutomu Yamamoto, Hatagaya Co., Ltd., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo0 Inventor: Atsushi Miyazaki, Hatagaya Co., Ltd., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo0 Inventor: 1) Masato, Hatagaya Co., Ltd., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakamura Inventor: Hatagaya Co., Ltd., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inventor: Ken Sugawara 2-chome, Hatagaya Co., Ltd., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 4 pm 2nd issue Olympus Optical Industries 2nd year 4th 2nd year Olympus Optical Industries 2nd year 4th 2nd year Olympus Optical Industries 2nd year 4th 2nd year Olympus Optical Industries 2nd year 4th 2nd year Olympus Optical Industries

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a side-viewing or oblique-viewing endoscope in which an illumination means, an imaging optical system, and a solid-state imaging device are arranged in a distal end component on the distal end side of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity, the solid-state imaging device is While other members are arranged in the front row space in the tip component where no other members are arranged in the radial direction, the imaging surface is located in the radial direction or diagonally at the rear side, and the internal view is provided at the rear part of the solid-state image sensor. The imaging optical system is arranged in the same axial direction as the mirror field direction,
A mirror with a reflective surface facing the imaging surface side of the solid-state image sensor is arranged on the optical axis of this imaging optical system, and the imaging surface is on the reflective optical axis of this mirror and on the focal plane of the imaging optical system. An endoscope characterized in that the solid-state imaging device is arranged so that