JPS641002B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrical connection device for an endoscope, which is attached to the eyepiece of an endoscope and electrically connects, for example, a photographing device to the endoscope side. .

[Conventional technology]

Generally, an endoscope that allows a photographing device to be attached to the eyepiece has an exposed electrical contact at the eyepiece. It is always in a conductive state for connection and transmission of synchro signals, etc. Therefore, it is dangerous to get an electric shock if you touch it.

Therefore, a recess is further formed in the eyepiece opening of the eyepiece, and the electrical contact is placed inside this recess so that it is difficult to touch.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when cleaning or disinfecting the endoscope with a chemical solution, the chemical solution gets into the recess and is very difficult to wipe off. In addition, if residual liquid such as a chemical liquid that has entered the recess is left as it is without being sufficiently removed, there is a drawback that it may cause a shot, resulting in an electric shock accident or damage to the equipment. Furthermore, oxidation and corrosion of the electrical contacts sometimes occurred, resulting in poor continuity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an electrical contact exposed on the outer circumferential surface of the eyepiece to make it easier to wipe, and to make it easier to wipe the eyepiece. To provide an electrical connection device for an endoscope that is highly safe and eliminates the risk of electric shock by preventing electrical contact from electrically conducting when the device is not attached.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an endoscope, 2 is a photographing device as a connected device, and 3 is an electric light source device. The above endoscope 1
is formed by connecting an insertion section 5 to an operating section 4, and a light guide cable 6 is connected to a side wall of the operating section 4. Further, the operation section 4 is provided with an eyepiece section 7. Furthermore, the endoscope 1 is equipped with an image guide 8 made of an optical fiber bundle that spans the operation section 4 and the insertion section 5, and this image guide 8 is in contact with an observation window 9 formed at the tip of the insertion section 5. The eyepiece lens system 10 of the eye part 7 is optically connected. Furthermore, the endoscope 1 is equipped with a light guide 11 made of an optical fiber bundle that extends over the insertion section 5, the operation section 4, and the light guide cable 6. The illumination window 12 and the illumination light source 13 of the electric light source device 3 are optically connected.

On the other hand, an electrical contact 15 is provided on the outer peripheral side surface 14 of the eyepiece 7 in an exposed manner. As will be described later, when the photographing device 2 is attached to the eyepiece 7, the electric contact 15 contacts and communicates with an electric contact on the photographing device 2 side, for example, an electric contact piece 16. In addition, the electrical contact 1 on the eyepiece 7 side
5 is connected to a photographing device wiring 17, and this photographing device wiring 17 is connected to a power source for the photographing device via a switch 19 of a switch circuit 18 in the electric light source device 3 through the operating section 4 and the light guide cable 6. 20. Then, by operating the switch circuit 18 and closing the switch 19, a voltage is applied to the electrical contact 15.

Further, the eyepiece section 7 is provided with a detector 21 as a detection means for detecting that the photographing device 2 is attached. This detector 21 is connected to the operating section 4.
and the switch circuit 1 of the electric light source device 3 via the detector wiring 22 arranged in the light guide cable 6.
8, and the switch circuit 1 is
8 to close the switch 19.

In addition, the light guide 11 and each wiring 1
7 and 22 are each divided into the endoscope 1 side and the electric light source device 3 side, and both parts are connected to each other when the connector 23 provided at the tip of the light guide cable 6 is attached to the electric light source device 3. It's becoming like that.

As shown in FIG.
A pressure sensor 25 is provided on the side of the eyepiece 7, and when the photographing device 2 is attached to the eyepiece 7, the protrusion 2
4 is pressed against the pressure sensor 25 to generate an electric signal to detect the mounting state of the photographing device 2.

Further, the photographing device 2 is provided with a shutter 27 and a film section 28 as shown in FIG. 30 are provided.

Next, how to use and operate the endoscope 1 will be explained.

First, when using the photographing device 2, as shown in FIG.
Attach. As a result, the protrusion 24 on the imaging device 2 side presses against the pressure sensor 25 on the endoscope 1 side, and the electrical resistance of the pressure sensor 25 changes. Thereby, the detector 21 detects it as a signal that the photographing device 2 is attached. Then, this detection signal enters the switch circuit 18 of the electric light source device 3 through the detector wiring 22, and in order to operate the switch circuit 18 and close the switch 19, the electrical contact 15 is transmitted through the imaging device wiring 17 to take an image. Conductive to the device power supply 20. Therefore, current can be supplied to the electric device 30 for the photographing device through the electric contact 15 and the electric contact piece 16 that are in contact with each other, and further through the internal wiring 29 of the photographing device. In other words, the photographing device 2 can be operated normally.

Also, when the imaging device 2 is removed from the endoscope 1,
The protrusion 24 separates from the pressure sensor 25 of the detector 21, and the detection signal disappears. Therefore, the switch circuit 18 does not operate, and the switch 1
9 remains open. For this reason, electrical contact 1
No voltage is applied to 5. However, the eyepiece section 7
Even if you touch the electrical contact 15 exposed on the outer peripheral surface of the device, you will not get an electric shock and it is safe. Furthermore, since the electrical contacts 15 are exposed on the outer periphery of the eyepiece 7, if chemical liquid adheres to the electrical contacts 15 during cleaning or disinfection, it can be easily wiped off.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the switch circuit 18 is not provided in the electric light source device 3 but is provided in the electric light source adapter 37. is arranged between the electric light source device 3 and the connector 23.

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a switch circuit 18 is installed in, for example, the operating section 4 on the endoscope 1 side.

Note that the switch 19 is connected to the switch circuit 1.
It is not necessary to provide the switch circuit 18 within the switch circuit 18, but the switch circuit 18 may be provided separately, for example, in the eyepiece section and the electric light source device, and wiring may be made between these sections.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, the electrical contacts are exposed on the outer periphery of the eyepiece, but no voltage is applied to the electrical contacts unless a photographing device is attached to the eyepiece. Therefore, even if you touch it, you will not get an electric shock and it is safe.

Furthermore, since the electrical contacts are exposed and provided on the outer peripheral surface of the eyepiece, even if residual liquid adheres to the electrical contacts after cleaning or chemical disinfection, it can be easily wiped off. Moreover, oxidation and corrosion of the electrical contacts due to residual liquid is prevented, and poor conductivity of the electrical contacts is less likely to occur. Further, even if the electrical contacts become oxidized or corroded, this can be easily cleaned, so that poor continuity can be easily dealt with.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a switch circuit for controlling the voltage supply to the electrical contacts, and the switch circuit is controlled by a detection means for detecting the attachment/detachment state of the connected device to and from the eyepiece of the endoscope. Therefore, the reliability of its operation can be increased.

Furthermore, the present invention detects the attachment/detachment state of the connected device to and from the eyepiece by a combination of the protrusion on the connected device side and the pressure sensor on the eyepiece side of the endoscope, so the configuration can be simplified. At the same time, its durability and stability of detection operation can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the detection means portion thereof, and FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Endoscope, 2... Imaging device, 7... Eyepiece, 14... Outer peripheral side, 15... Electrical contact, 16
...Electrical contact piece, 17... Wiring for photographing device, 18...
...Switch circuit, 19...Switch, 20...Power source for photographing device, 21...Detector, 22...Wiring for detector, 24...Protrusion, 25...Pressure sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electrical connection device for an endoscope that allows a connected device to be attached to the eyepiece of an endoscope and electrically connects the connected device to the endoscope side, an electrical contact that is exposed on the outer circumferential surface of the eyepiece of the mirror and that contacts the electrical contact of the connected device to conduct electricity when the connected device is attached; and an electrical contact that connects and detaches the connected device from the eyepiece. detection means for detecting the state by a combination of a protrusion on the connected device side and a pressure sensor on the eyepiece side;
A switch circuit connected to the detection means controls the voltage supply to the electrical contact, supplies the voltage when the connected device is attached to the eyepiece, and shuts off the voltage when the connected device is detached. Electrical connection device for the scope.