JPS63143022A - Light guide for 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] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope that is used through a channel of an endoscope and is provided with a movement regulating means when the light emitting end surface is brought into contact with living tissue. Regarding light guides.

[Prior art] In recent years, endoscopic techniques have been developed that allow diagnosis of affected areas within body cavities by inserting a long and narrow insertion section without requiring an incision, and treatment can be performed using instruments as needed. Mirrors became widely used.

By the way, in general, observation using an endoscope uses epi-illumination that irradiates the tissue surface with visible light, and the observation is performed using an optical image formed by the reflected light of the epi-illumination reflected from the tissue surface.

By the way, since the illumination light emitted from the distal end surface of the light guide installed in the endoscope cannot provide illumination that makes it easy to distinguish the unevenness of the observation area, Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-12403 proposes a light guide installed in the endoscope. A device is disclosed in which an illumination probe formed by a light guide is inserted into a forceps channel so that the illumination can be illuminated from an oblique direction with respect to the observation direction, so that irregularities can be identified.

[Problem J to be solved by the invention The above endoscope or illumination probe was used. Endoscopes also use epi-illumination, and the light reflected from the tissue surface is stronger than the light reflected inside the tissue, making it difficult to observe the inside of the tissue.

Furthermore, when the light guide tip of the illumination probe is placed in close contact with the tissue surface, it is possible to observe the tissue using the light that passes through the tissue. The distal end of the light guide shifts or separates from the tissue surface, often causing problems in observation and diagnosis.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and is a light guide for an endoscope that can transmit illumination into tissue without the distal end surface of the light guide shifting or separating from the tissue surface. The purpose is to provide

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In the present invention, in an illumination light guide that can be inserted into a forceps channel of an endoscope, when the output end face of the light guide is brought into contact with a tissue surface, the output end face Provide movement restriction means to prevent movement from the contact area,
This prevents the device from shifting or separating from the observation site so that observation or diagnosis can be performed without any hindrance.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows the distal end portion of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment in use when it is inserted into the forceps channel of an endoscope, and FIG. 3 shows the entire first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope 2 into which the suction suction light guide 1 as a light guide (for an endoscope) of the first embodiment is inserted is elongated so as to be inserted into a body cavity. An insertion section 3, a large operation section 4 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 3, and an eyepiece section 5 formed at the rear end of the operation section 4.
and a universal cord 6 extending from the side of the operating section 4 to the outside.

At the rear end of this universal cord 6 on the proximal side is a connector 7.
is provided and can be attached to the connector receiver of the light source device 8.

A light guide (illustrated path) for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 2, and the illumination light can be emitted from the distal end surface to illuminate the front. An image guide 9 (see FIG. 1) serving as an image transmission means is inserted into the insertion portion 3, and an optical image of the object is formed on the distal end surface of the image guide 9 by an objective lens 10. It can be observed from the eyepiece 5. A forceps channel 12 is formed in the above mentioned forceps 112, which passes through the insertion section 3 from the forceps opening 11 on the side of the operation section 4 and opens at the distal end surface of the insertion section 2, through which general forceps can be inserted. .

By the way, the suction suction light guide 1 of the first embodiment includes an elongated light guide insertion part 13 so as to be inserted into the forceps channel 12, and is formed at the rear end of this light guide insertion part 13, and is formed at the rear end of the light guide insertion part 13, and is connected to the light source device 8. It consists of a connector part 14 that can be attached to a connector receiver, and this connector part 14
A light guide cap 15 and a suction connector 16 are provided.

The light guide insertion section 13 is covered with a flexible tube 17 as shown in FIG. A suction path 19 is formed inside this tube 18. Note that the duplex 17 has the following characteristics for visible and infrared light:
It is made of a light-shielding material or coated with light-shielding paint. A space around the outer periphery of the tube 18 is filled with a fiber bundle 21 (light guide). However,
The rear end of this fiber bundle 21 is fixed with a light guide cap 15, and the rear end of a tube 18 forming a suction path 19 is connected to a suction connector 16.

The light source device 8 to which the rear ends of the universal cord 6 of the internal vision 112 and the suction suction light guide 1 of the first example are attached includes a visible (for area illumination) light source 22 and an infrared (for area illumination) light source 22.
It has a light illumination 23, a suction pump 24, etc. The illumination light from the visible light source 22 is focused by a condensing lens 25 onto a light guide metal 26 in a connector 7 formed at the rear end of the universal cord 6. The air/water supply mouthpiece 27 of this connector 7 is connected to the air supply port side of the suction pump 24, and is configured to be able to remove dust and the like by supplying air and water.

Further, the illumination light from the infrared light source 23 is condensed by a condensing lens 28 and irradiated onto the end surface of the light guide base 15, transmitted by the light guide fiber bundle 21, and emitted from the tip surface toward the front of the tip surface. , so that it can be illuminated with infrared light.

In addition, the suction connector 16 is connected to the suction port of the suction pump 24 via the suction tube 29, and the light guide insertion portion 1
With the distal end surface of 3 in contact with the surface of the biological tissue 30,
By operating the suction pump 24, the air in the suction path 19 is suctioned, and the suction port 19A at the end of the suction path 19 can be tightly fixed to the surface of the living body assembly 1130, and the surrounding area of the suction port 19Δ is fiber bundle 21
A movement restricting means is formed by closely fixing the output end face of the body member 130 to the surface of the living body assembly 130 to prevent the output end face from shifting or separating.

Incidentally, the operation section 4 of the endoscope 2 includes a bending operation knob 31.
is provided so that the curved portion near the distal end of the insertion portion 3 can be curved.

In addition, the eyepiece 5 has a CC that is sensitive to visible light and infrared light.
By attaching a television camera 32 having an imaging means such as D, the optical image transmitted to the eyepiece 5 side by the image guide 9 is converted into a video signal of the NTSC system or the like, and is displayed on the monitor 34 via the cable 33. It is designed so that it can be displayed on the display screen.

Incidentally, the fiber bundle 21 of the suction/adsorption light guide 1 of the first embodiment is formed of a fiber bundle that transmits infrared light. Further, the image guide 9 is formed of a fiber bundle capable of transmitting infrared light as well as visible light.

Further, the visible light source 22 and the infrared light source 23 of the light source device 8 are configured so that they can be turned on and off independently of each other.

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

For example, connect the connector 7 of the universal cord 6 of the endoscope 2 to the light source device 8, and connect the distal end surface of the insertion section 3 to the biological assembly 1.
By setting it near the 300 surface, you can see the affected area in front of it under visible illumination. By observing the detected area with the naked eye or by attaching the television camera 32 to the eyepiece, color display can be performed on the display screen of the monitor 34.

On the other hand, if you want to observe the inside of the tissue at the observation site,
Internal view 1 of the tip side of the suction suction light guide 1 shown in FIG.
It is inserted into the forceps port 11 of No. 2, protrudes from the tip of the insertion portion 3, and is brought into contact with the surface of the living tissue 30. In this case, if the connector part 14 at the rear end of the light guide 1 is attached to the light source device 8 and the suction pump 24 is operated to perform a suction operation through the suction path 19 of the light guide 1, the tip of the light guide 1 will be The emitting end surface from which the surface light is emitted is fixed in close contact with the living tissue 30, and the emitting end surface is prevented from shifting or separating.

In this state, if the infrared light source 23 is turned on and the visible light source 22 is turned off, infrared light is irradiated from the output end face of the light guide fiber bundle 21 into the living body assembly 130 with which this output end face is in close contact. If there is a part with a different refractive index, such as a blood vessel part inside the living body assembly &130, it will be reflected, focused on the distal end surface of the image guide 9 by the objective lens 10, and transmitted to the eyepiece part 5 side. The image is displayed on the monitor 34 via the television camera 32 attached to the eyepiece 5.

According to the first embodiment that operates in this way, the living body 11 weave 3
Since it is held in close contact with the surface of the laser beam and has a flight regulating means to prevent it from moving, it can reliably prevent the emission end face from shifting or separating, and is suitable for infrared light illumination. Toteno 76! You can get an impression.

In addition, the light emitting end face of the light guide 1 can be brought close to the living body assembly 1130 with a simple operation.

- Also, this first embodiment has the advantage that it can be applied to a normal endoscope having a forceps channel.

Although the light source device 8 is provided with a visible light source 22 and an infrared light source 23 independently, a common light source including both wavelength ranges may be used and switched by a total reflection mirror.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

The suction suction light guide 41 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. A syringe 44 can be connected via 43. Therefore, a piston 46 that can slide with respect to the cylinder 45 of this syringe 44
By performing a suction operation in which the side is pulled toward the proximal side, the same effect as that of the suction pump 24 in the first embodiment can be achieved. In other words, by this suction operation, the light output r
This allows the J1 end face to be brought into close contact with the surface of the living tissue, and to maintain this close contact to prevent it from shifting.

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

FIG. 5 does not show the light guide 51 of the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the light guide 51 of the third embodiment, the tube 17 is filled with the light guide fiber bundle 21 without forming the suction path 19 of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 7). . Further, this fiber bundle 21G is connected to the light guide base 15 at the connector portion 14.

By the way, in this third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a fixing ring 52 for the light guide fiber bundle 21 is formed at the tip of the light guide insertion section 13.
Although the circular end face of the fiber bundle 21 and the output end face of the fiber bundle 21 are flush with each other, the circular end face of the fixing ring 52 acts as a movement restricting means. -153, 53, 53, 53 are protruding from the front.

However, these needles 53. By piercing the surface of the living tissue 30 as shown in FIG. 7, the emission end surface can be prevented from moving. This light guide 51t is inserted into the forceps channel from the forceps port 11 of an electronic endoscope 55, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, so that the light guide base 15 can be attached to the light source device 56.

The electronic endoscope 55 has a light guide (not shown) inserted into the insertion section 3 for transmitting illumination light, and is provided with a forceps channel. Also, on the distal end side of the insertion section 3, there is a seventh
As shown in the figure, the object is CO
[E
An optical image is formed on the t-plane, and the signal q that is photoelectrically converted by the 5ID 58 is transmitted to the hand-side operation unit 4 via the signal cable 59, and further transmitted to the light source device 5 via the universal cord 6.
6 is input to a video processor 61 in 6.

This video processor 61 converts the signal into an NTSC composite video signal, which is sent to the monitor 3 via a signal cable.
4 so that it can be displayed.

Furthermore, a mojik-like color filter 62 is attached to the 881st surface of the 5ID 58. This color filter 62 is
Color transmission filters are arranged in a mosaic or checkerboard pattern to pass the red, green, and red wavelength lights, that is, R10 and R8, respectively, and also to pass the infrared light.

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

In this third embodiment, the distal end side of the light guide 51 inserted through the forceps channel of the endoscope 55 is projected, and the distal end surface is pressed against the target observation site in the biological tissue 30.
By doing so, the eight needles 53 pierce the surface of the living body assembly 1130, and the valley-like ridges are held and prevented from shifting, making it possible to obtain II imaging using infrared light.

The effects of this third practical example are almost the same as those of the first example.

In the third embodiment, the buttons 53, 53°, etc. are provided to restrict movement by sticking into the distal end surface of the light guide insertion portion 13, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 10, the light in the fourth embodiment may be the ID 71.

In this fourth embodiment, a hard material such as metal is wrapped around the outer periphery near the tip of the light guide insertion part 13, a metal vibrator 72 is attached, and two opposing surfaces are diagonally arranged so that the center protrudes in a wedge shape. As shown in FIG. 10, the protruding center part is made to be easily inserted into the living body assembly 130, and at this time, the diagonal cut 73. It's something that I was impressed with.

In this way, light can be easily diffused and is suitable for illuminating a wide area.

In addition, the number of cut surfaces is not limited to two, but may be three or more.
It may be on the first page. Alternatively, it may have a conical shape.

11 and 12 show the front end side of a light guide 81 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a suction cup 82 having a shape that expands forward is attached to the distal end side of the light guide insertion section 13 covered with Di1-117 by adhesive or other means, and the distal end surface of the light guide insertion section 13 is attached to the biological assembly #130. By pressing the suction cup 82, the suction cup 82 is made to stick to the surface of the living tissue 30, and movement can be prevented.

Note that this suction cup 82 is sized so that it can be inserted into the forceps channel. Also, the base side of this suction a82 can be detachably attached to the outer periphery of the tip of the light guide 81 using a screw or the like, and if it cannot be inserted into the channel, it can be removed and inserted, and the suction cup 82 can be attached with the tip protruding. You can do it like this.

13 to 15 show the tip side of a light guide 91 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In this sixth embodiment, a ring 92 is attached to the outer periphery of the tip of the light guide insertion part 13, and shape memory alloy hooks 93 formed of a shape memory alloy are formed at two opposing locations on the outer periphery of the ring 92, such as the upper and lower parts. 93 is a protrusion.

When these hooks 93.93 are heated to near the body temperature, they transition to a high-temperature phase and protrude forward from the shape shown by the dashed line in FIG. 14 to the shape shown by the solid line, and the tips of both hooks approach each other. A shape memory process is applied to protrude in the direction, and when the high-temperature phase side is cooled to a low-temperature phase, it returns to its original state as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 14 or as shown in FIG. 13.

Both hooks 93 and 93 are designed so that when the distal end surface of the light guide insertion portion 13 is pressed against the living body assembly [30, the temperature of the living body is transmitted and a phase transition to a high temperature phase occurs. Thus, at the time of this phase transition, both hooks 93.93 are made to protrude, and the hooks 93.93 are bitten into the surface of the living tissue 30, so that the distal end surface of the light guide 91 can be fixed without moving.

On the other hand, when releasing the fixation in the low temperature phase, water is spouted through the water supply port 94 and the ring 9 is released as shown in FIG.
By cooling both the hooks 93.93, a phase transition can be quickly made to the low temperature phase side, and both the hooks 93.93 can be returned to their original state.

According to the sixth embodiment, the tip of the light guide 91 can be fixed so that it does not move by simply pressing it against the living tissue.

FIG. 16 shows an endoscope using a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, instead of the hooks 93° 93 of the sixth embodiment, in the low-temperature phase, for example, as shown in FIG. The light guide 102 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the ring 92.

When the high-temperature phase is reached, the ring 92 takes on a straight line shape as shown by the dashed line in FIG. This makes it possible to form a movement restricting means that prevents the guide tip surface from shifting from the tissue surface.

As in the sixth embodiment, each shape memory alloy piece 101 has i'! ! Although it is possible to make the transition to a phase, in this embodiment, the temperature is changed to a high temperature phase at a temperature that is several degrees higher than the biological temperature by irradiation with infrared light or the like. In other words, by infrared light? When performing IAa, infrared light is used (1), and the fact that the temperature of the observation site rises due to the irradiation is utilized. Therefore, in order to perform observation using infrared light, by pressing the tip of the light guide against the surface of the living tissue 30 and irradiating it with infrared light, the temperature of that area rises to some extent, and the temperature rise at that time causes a high temperature. phase, each shape memory alloy piece 1
01 protrudes and buries into the surface of the living tissue 30. When the infrared light irradiation is finished or the observation location is moved, the temperature drops and the protruding shape memory alloy pieces 101 return to their original positions. Note that the hooks 93 and 93 are connected to the alloy piece 1.
゜1, ioi is not limited to two, but may be three or more.

By the way, in the seventh embodiment, a light source device 103 having the configuration shown in FIG. 16 is used.

In this light source device 103, for example, a dichroic mirror 104 reflects the light from a white light source 104 in the long wavelength component in the infrared region, transmits the visible light component, and irradiates the light onto the light guide base 26 through the lens 25'. The reflected infrared light is reflected by the total reflection mirror 105, is focused by the lens 28 via the removable heat ray cut filter 106, and is irradiated onto the light guide base 15.

The heat ray cut filter 106 can be used, for example, to remove it from the optical path when it is desired to quickly set it to the high temperature phase side, and in this way, the temperature of the living body assembly $f130 can be quickly raised by the heat rays. be able to. After phase transition to the tXm phase, by removing the heat ray component and irradiating only infrared light, it is possible to observe the affected area without raising the temperature too much. The structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 8.

In each embodiment, the distal end portion may be made of a rigid tube of appropriate length or a tube having a certain degree of hardness to prevent the distal end of the endoscope from wobbling. (
At least the outer surface of the tube in the protruding portion is made light-shielding. Note that the present invention can be used not only for regulating the movement of the light emitting end face, but also for observing with the distal end side of the endoscope fixed. That is, it can also be used for observation with a normal endoscope without infrared illumination by fixing the light guide tip end surface as shown in FIG. 1, for example. In this case? The 1lit tip side does not wobble easily and is easy to observe.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the output end face is fixed to living tissue near the light output end face for emitting illumination light,
Since a movement restricting means is provided to prevent displacement, etc., diagnosis etc. can be facilitated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an enlarged side view showing the distal end side of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an endoscope and light source device for observation using the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the distal end side of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side view showing the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a side view showing the distal end side of the third embodiment, Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the endoscope according to the third embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the endoscope according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the tip side of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the tip side of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the tip side of the fourth embodiment. 13 is a sectional view showing the distal end side of the fifth embodiment, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the distal end side of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the distal end side of the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 15 16 is a perspective view showing the distal end side of the sixth embodiment, FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing the endoscope according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a side view showing the tip side of an example. 1... Suction suction light guide 2... Endoscope 3... Insertion section 8... Light source device 11... Forceps port 12... Forceps channel 13... Light guide insertion port 14...・Connector part 15...Light guide cap 16...Suction connector 17...Fiber bundle 19
...Suction device 22...Visible light source 23...
Infrared light source 24...Suction bomb Fig. 2 1→-Jf/7ffP Fig. 4 1→ Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 9 Fig. 11 Fig. 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a light guide that can protrude from the tip of the insertion section of an endoscope through a forceps channel, when the end surface of the light emitting section of the light guide is brought into contact with in-vivo tissue, the end surface contacts the in-vivo tissue. A light guide for an endoscope, characterized in that it is provided with a movement regulating means to prevent it from moving.