JPS6124963Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light guide connector that can prevent burnout by interposing a heat transfer fluid.

In recent years, in the medical field, an elongated insertion section is inserted into a body cavity, illumination light is emitted from the end face of a light guide inserted through the insertion section to a target area such as an affected area within the body cavity, and an optical image of the illuminated target area is created. Endoscopes that allow observation of the human body are becoming widely used.

The insertion section is made as small in diameter as possible to reduce pain to the patient, and therefore the (cross-sectional) area of the light guide as an illumination light transmission means and the observation optical system that are inserted through the insertion section is small.

Therefore, since the amount of illuminating light transmitted by the light guide becomes small, the amount of light that illuminates the target site within the body cavity tends to be insufficient. Therefore, by irradiating high-intensity illumination light from the illumination lamp in the light source device onto the incident end surface inside the light guide connector of a light guide provided with a light guide connector connected to the light source device, the light guide The required amount of illumination light was maintained from the other end.

The above-mentioned light guide is generally formed by hardening an optical fiber bundle (light guide fiber bundle) with adhesive. Therefore, when the entrance side end of the light guide is irradiated with high-intensity illumination light, the adhesive etc. absorb light and become quite high temperature, and due to the small air layer that exists between the cap that is inserted through the incident end of the light guide and the connector main body on its outer periphery, heat transfer is poor and the heat is It tends to be trapped on the light guide side. As a result, the temperature around the end of the light guide increases, causing burnout of the adhesive, reduced durability, and deterioration of characteristics. Furthermore, if even a part of the adhesive discolors or burns out, that part absorbs more light and becomes more likely to become hot.

For this reason, in the past, heat dissipation fins were provided or the outer periphery of the light guide connector was forcedly cooled, but this did not significantly improve the negative effects caused by the air layer.

In addition, there is a conventional example in which a copper plate or the like is arranged between the light guide fiber bundles to guide heat toward the base, but as in the conventional example above, heat transfer is difficult due to the air layer interposed between the base and the connector body. Therefore, it was not effective enough to prevent a temperature rise despite the increase in cost for arranging the copper plates and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a light guide connector that allows the end of the light guide to be connected to the end of a light source device or another light guide. By filling a thermally conductive fluid with high thermal conductivity between the tubular outer peripheral member and the
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light guide connector that improves heat conduction between an inner light guide and an outer peripheral member, prevents temperature rise, and prevents burnout or decrease in durability.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows an endoscope equipped with the first embodiment.
The embodiment is shown together with the attached light source device, FIG. 2 shows an enlarged portion of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows a further enlarged main part on the end side of the first embodiment,
FIG. 4 shows a cross section taken along line A-A' in FIG.

In these figures, a flexible endoscope 1 includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 2, an operation section 3 connected to the insertion section 2 with the rear end of the insertion section 2 having a large diameter, and a rear end of the operation section 3. A flexible light guide cable 5 extends from the side of the operating section 3.

A light guide connector 7 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the end (hereinafter referred to as the front end) of the light guide cable 5 that is attached to the light source device 6.

The (light guide) connector 7 is designed to be able to be detachably attached to the connector receiver 8 of the light source device 6, and condenses the light from the illumination lamp 9 in the light source device 6 with a condensing lens 10. 7, the center of the front end surface, that is, the front end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 12 as a light transmission member, is irradiated, and the irradiated light is transmitted from the front end surface to the rear side, and the light guide cable 5, (endoscope) insertion part. 2 to the insertion section 2
The beam is configured to be emitted from the end face on the tip side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 7 is composed of a shaft portion 13 on the front end side (inserted into the connector receiver 8 side) and a rear grip portion 14 adjacent to the shaft portion 13. The outer periphery of the tube member 16 is covered with a tube member 16 provided with an insertion hole 15.

A tube 17 that covers the light guide fiber bundle 12 is inserted into the insertion hole 15, and the front end side of the tube 17 covers the light guide fiber bundle 12.
It is fixed with an adhesive or the like to the outer periphery of the rear end of the cap 18 through which the end impregnated with adhesive is inserted and bound and fixed.

On the other hand, the outer periphery of the gripping member 14 is covered with a gripping member 19 that is approximately ring-shaped and has a thinner outer peripheral side at the rear end, and the thinner portion on the rear end side of the gripping member 19 is covered with a tubular covering member 2.
The abutting portion is fixed with adhesive or the like so as to cover the front end of the gripping member 19, and the threaded portion 19A formed on the inner periphery of the front end of the gripping member 19 is screwed into a male thread formed on the outer periphery of the rear end of the tube member 16. Molded. During this screwing, the recess that accommodates the O-ring is inserted into the tube member 1.
By forming the O-ring on the 6 side or the gripping member 19 side and pressing the O-ring, liquid tightness can be maintained (not shown).

The front end of the insertion hole 15 of the tube member 16 is formed with a small-diameter portion 15A having a wall thickness slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cap 18, and the tube member 16 serves as an outer circumferential member for the fitting and accommodated cap 18. The tube member 16 is configured to be fixed by being pressed against the inner wall side of the tube member 16 facing the screw hole by means of a set screw 20 that is screwed into a screw hole formed at one location on the outer periphery of the tube member 16 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the small diameter portion 15 of the insertion hole 15
Since the inner diameter D of A is slightly larger than the outer diameter d of the cap 18, when the cap 18 is pressed by the tip of the set screw 20, the cap 18 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the small diameter portion 15A on the opposite side facing the screw hole. Contact. In this case, on the set screw 20 side, as shown in FIG. 4, a gap 21 having a size of D-d is generated, but the cross section between the inner wall surface of the small diameter portion 15A and the outer peripheral surface of the cap is approximately crescent-shaped. The gap 21 is filled with a heat (conductive) compound 22 as a viscous thermally conductive fluid with high thermal conductivity.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the cap 18 is individually fixed with the setscrew 20, the contact area between the cap 18 and the inner wall surface of the small diameter portion 15A is very small, and the outer peripheral member from the cap 18 passes through this contact portion. Although the heat transmitted to the tube member 16 side is very small, since the gap 21 is filled with the heat compound 22 as in the first embodiment, the heat compound 22
The heat is quickly transmitted to the tube member 16 side through the heat compound 22, and the tendency for heat to be trapped by the air layer with extremely low thermal conductivity when the heat compound 22 is not used is greatly improved.

Therefore, the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 12 is irradiated with a large amount of illumination light, and the light guide fiber bundle 1 is absorbed by light (energy).
2 generates heat, the heat is quickly transmitted to the tube member 16 on the outer circumferential side of the cap 18 by the heat compound 22, and is radiated from the connector receiver 18 on the outer circumferential side to which the tube member 16 is bonded. Since the light guide fiber bundle 12 is formed so as to be radiated from a heat radiator or the like via the connector receiver 18, the light guide fiber bundle 12 is prevented from becoming high temperature. Therefore, the light guide fiber bundle 12 or the adhesive that fixes the light guide fiber bundle 12 may be burnt out, or
Deterioration of durability can be prevented.

The heat compound 22 is a heat compound widely used to create a heat path by eliminating an air gap between the adhesive surface of a semiconductor and a heat sink, such as silicon-based grease or olefin-based grease. It is a conductive fluid.

FIG. 5 shows the main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, a light transmission member formed of a single member at the end of the light guide fiber bundle 12, that is, a transparent rod-shaped lens made of glass, quartz, etc. is used as the single light transmission member. 31 are arranged. In this rod-shaped lens 31, a cladding layer 31A having a low refractive index is formed to cover the outer peripheral surface of the side part so that light incident from the front end side does not leak to the outside from the outer peripheral surface of the side part.

Also in this second embodiment, the rod-shaped lens 3
A gap 21 between the outer peripheral surface of the tube member 1 and the inner wall surface of the small diameter portion 15A of the insertion hole 15 of the tube member 16 is filled with a heat compound 22, and the rod-shaped lens 31 is fixed by pressing with a set screw 20. .

Also in this second embodiment, the rod-shaped lens 3
Even if the rod-shaped lens 31 generates heat due to high-intensity light irradiation, the heat compound 22 forms a passage through which the heat quickly moves toward the tube member 16 as the outer circumferential member. It can be prevented from getting wet. Therefore, damage to the rod-shaped lens 31 due to thermal expansion can be prevented.

In the second embodiment, the periphery of the front end of the light guide fiber bundle 12 is inserted into and fixed to the base 18' which fits into the insertion hole 15 at the rear of the small diameter portion 15A. The rest of the structure is similar to that of the first embodiment, so the same members are designated by the same reference numerals (this also applies to other embodiments to be described later).

FIG. 6 shows a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention, which has a sealed structure capable of preventing the heat compound 22 from flowing out in the first embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the front end side of the tube member 16' has a stepped inner circumferential side with an enlarged diameter and a thin front end 16'A.
is formed, and a threaded portion 16'B is formed on the inner periphery thereof. A substantially ring-shaped cap 32 has a male thread formed on the outer periphery of the rear end to be screwed into this threaded portion 16'B.
is now ready to be installed.

The inner diameter of the cap 32 is formed to be (almost) equal to the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 15A of the insertion hole 15 of the tube member 16', and a groove 32A is formed on the inner circumference near the front end, and an elastic seal is formed in the groove 32A. O-ring 3 as a stopper
3 is stored.

On the other hand, the small diameter portion 15 of the insertion hole 15 of the tube member 16'
An enlarged diameter portion 15B is formed on the rear end side of A (on the endoscope side), and an O-ring 34 is housed in this enlarged diameter portion 15B as an elastic sealing member.

A cap 18 is formed near the rear end with a flange portion 18A having an enlarged diameter that fits into the insertion hole 15 which has an enlarged diameter adjacent to the enlarged diameter portion 15B, and is inserted into the inside of the small diameter portion 15A of the insertion hole 15. The flange portion 18A
A groove for housing the O-ring 34 is formed between the front end surface 18B and the enlarged diameter portion 15B.

The rear end of the outer periphery of the flange portion 18A is cut out to form a tapered portion 18C.
By pressing C with the distal end side of the setscrew 20 which is screwed into the threaded hole of the tube member 16', the cap 18 becomes O.
The ring 34 is fixed so as to be pressed forward.

The flange portion 18A of the cap 18 is inserted into the insertion hole 15.
By fitting into the inner diameter of the pipe, the cap 18 is held substantially coaxially with the small diameter portion 15A of the insertion hole 15, so that the small diameter portion 15A and the outer circumference of the cap 18 are approximately uniform in thickness. A shaped gap 21 is formed, and this gap 21 is sealed by O-rings 33 and 34 as elastic sealing members on both sides.
2 is filled.

In this way, since the heat compound 22 is filled in the gap 21 sealed by the O-rings 33 and 34, in addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments, the heat compound 22 does not flow out to the outside. Therefore, there is no risk of contaminating the front end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 12, and there is no need to replenish the heat compound 22.

It also has the advantage that air and the like are not mixed in during thermal expansion and contraction. Furthermore, the eccentricity between the central axis of the connector and the light guide fiber bundle 12 can be reduced, and light can be transmitted more stably along the central axis.

Note that the elastic sealing member is not limited to the O-rings 33 and 34, but may be a rubber ring or the like having a rectangular cross section.
In addition, in consideration of the difference in thermal expansion between the heat compound 22 and the base 18 or the outer peripheral side members, that is, the tube member 16' and the cap 32, O-rings 33, 34, etc. are used as elastic sealing members. It is also possible to increase the thickness in the front-rear direction to more effectively absorb (resolve) the difference in thermal expansion.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which has a sealed structure different from that shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the O-ring 34 as an inner elastic sealing member is attached to the flange portion 18A of the base 18.
It is stored in a storage groove 18D formed on the outer periphery of.

On the other hand, on the front end side of the tube member 16', a thin (front) end portion 16'C is formed by notching the outer circumferential side in a step-like manner. A fitting portion 16'D is formed on the front end side outer periphery of this end portion 16'C, and a threaded portion 16'E is formed on the rear outer periphery adjacent to the fitting portion 16'D.

Therefore, the substantially ring-shaped cap 32 is connected to the base 1.
An enlarged diameter portion 32C that fits into the fitting portion 16'E is formed on the inner peripheral portion adjacent to the small diameter front end portion 32B of the inner diameter that approximately fits into the tube member 16', and the enlarged diameter portion 32C fits into the fitting portion 16'E. 32C and the rear surface of the small-diameter front end portion 32B form a cavity serving as a storage groove, and the O-ring 33 is housed in this cavity.

The cap 18 between the O-rings 33 and 34 on both sides
A gap 21 between the outer periphery and the inner wall surface of the small diameter portion 15A of the tube member 16' is filled with a heat compound 22.

This fourth embodiment has substantially the same effect as the third embodiment, but compared to the third embodiment, the O-ring 3
3 and 34 are easy to install, and the sealing function is greater.

FIG. 8 shows the main part of a fifth embodiment of the present invention using a rod-shaped lens 31 as a single light transmitting member.

That is, the front end side of the light guide fiber bundle 12 is fixed by being inserted into the base 18' as in the second embodiment, and the rod-shaped lens 31 on which the cladding layer 31A is formed is disposed in front of it. There is.

A groove 15C is formed in the inner wall surface near the rear end of the small diameter portion 15A of the insertion hole 15 of the tube member 16' on the outer periphery of the rod-shaped lens 31, and the O-ring 3 is inserted into the groove 15C.
4 are stored.

On the other hand, the structure of the front end of the tube member 16' and the cap 32 is similar to that of the fourth embodiment.

The base 18' that binds the light guide fiber bundle 12 is a tube member 1 that becomes the outer peripheral member of the base 18'.
It is fixed with a set screw 20 screwed into a screw hole provided at 6'.

The rod-shaped lens 31 has its rear end surface in contact with the front end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 12, and is fixed by friction with each of the O-rings 33 and 34, which are in pressure contact with each other at the outer periphery of the front end side and the outer periphery of the rear end side. There is.

Between the O-rings 33 and 34, the small diameter portion 15 of the insertion hole 15 of the rod-shaped lens 31 and the tube member 16'
The gap 21 between A and A is filled with a sealed heat compound 22.

This fifth embodiment has substantially the same effect as the fourth embodiment, and for example, compared to the second embodiment, the rod-shaped lens 31 is not directly pressed with a screw, but is made of an elastic member on the outer periphery. Since the rod-shaped lens 31 can be held uniformly, the risk of damage to the rod-shaped lens 31 can be eliminated. Additionally, a rod-shaped lens 31 made of a glass member or the like, and a tube member 1 generally made of metal.
Even if one member expands or contracts relative to the other due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the O-rings 33 and 34 as elastic sealing members, the O-rings 33 and 34 as elastic sealing members can expand and contract to absorb the effect of the difference. Therefore, the rod-shaped lens 31 can be stably held even at high temperatures.

In the third to fifth embodiments described above, the cap 32 and the tube member 16' may be fixed by press fitting.

Furthermore, each of the embodiments described above has been described in such a way that it is attached to the end of the light guide cable 5 of the endoscope 1, and the illumination light of the light source device 6 is incident on the end face of each embodiment. is not limited to the above example, but can be used at one end of a light transmission means such as a general light guide (cable) when connecting the ends to transmit light. be.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to use in a light guide using a bundle of multiple light guide fibers, but can be similarly applied to a light guide formed from a single light guide fiber. Can be done.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light guide disposed inside the light guide connector,
A thermally conductive fluid with good heat conductivity is filled between the light guide and the outer circumferential member, so even if the light guide generates heat due to high-intensity light irradiation, the heat is quickly dissipated to the outer circumferential member. This has the advantage that it is possible to prevent the fibers forming the light guide, the rod-shaped lenses, the adhesive bonding between the light guides, etc. from burning out or deteriorating their durability or characteristics. Further, by interposing the elastic sealing member, the eccentricity of the light guide can be reduced and the light guide can be held so as to transmit light effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows an endoscope in which the first embodiment is attached to the end of a light guide cable, and the first embodiment is attached to the endoscope. The perspective view shown together with the light source device, FIG.
1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the end portion of FIG. 2 on a further enlarged scale, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the third embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 7 is the sectional view showing the main parts of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 1... Endoscope, 5... Light guide cable,
6...Light source device, 7...Light guide connector,
8... Connector receiver, 12... Light guide fiber bundle, 15A... Small diameter part, 16, 16'... Tube member, 18, 18'... Cap, 21... Gap,
22... Heat compound, 31... Rod-shaped lens, 32... Cap, 33, 34... O-ring.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A light transmitting member formed of a single member such as a rod-shaped lens disposed at the end of a light guide fiber bundle within a tubular outer peripheral member, or a light guide fiber bundle. In the light guide connector, a light guide connector is fitted with a cap that is inserted into the end portion and bound, and the end portion of the light guide fiber bundle bound by the light transmitting member or the cap can be connected to transmit light. A light guide connector characterized in that a thermally conductive fluid is filled between a transmission member or a cap and an outer peripheral member. (2) A request for registration of a utility model characterized in that the thermally conductive fluid filled between the light transmission member or cap and the outer peripheral member is sealed with an elastic sealing member such as an O-ring or a rubber ring. The light guide connector described in item 1.