JPWO2017098825A1 - Optical scanning endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The optical scanning endoscope 1 has a distal end and a proximal end, optical fibers 21 and 22 for guiding light to illuminate the subject, a light receiving fiber bundle 31 for guiding return light from the subject, A fusion part 23 for fusion-splicing a plurality of optical fibers 21 and 22 into one, a bent part 24 formed on the tip side of the fusion part 23, and between the bent part 24 and the light receiving fiber bundle 31 And a light shielding member 25 interposed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning endoscope that scans an illumination fiber that emits illumination light, detects return light, and forms an image.

  As is well known, there is an electronic endoscope in which a subject image is photoelectrically converted by an imaging device having a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, and an acquired image is displayed on a monitor. In recent years, without using such a solid-state imaging device technology, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-50667, as an apparatus for displaying a subject image, illumination that guides light from a light source Optical scanning endoscope that two-dimensionally scans the tip of the optical fiber for use, receives the return light from the subject with the fiber bundle for light reception, and makes a two-dimensional image using the light intensity signal detected over time It has been known. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-50667 discloses a technique of an optical scanning endoscope that reduces light loss with a light source unit.

  By the way, in the conventional optical scanning endoscope, one optical fiber for illumination is disposed up to the insertion portion, the operation portion, and the endoscope connector connected to the operation portion via a cable. When assembling these members, it is necessary to assemble the optical fiber for illumination so that it does not break, and there is a problem that the assemblability is very poor.

  Furthermore, since there is only one optical fiber for illumination, if it breaks inside the optical scanning endoscope, it becomes necessary to disassemble and replace almost the entire optical scanning endoscope at the time of repair. There is a problem that the nature is very bad.

  In addition, if the optical fiber for illumination is configured to be connected inside the optical scanning endoscope, leakage of the part of the illumination light that has entered the clad due to the misalignment of the core of the fiber connection portion will occur. Light is generated.

  On the other hand, a part of a plurality of optical fibers may be bent in the light receiving fiber bundle, and when the leaked light of illumination light enters the broken optical fiber, the detected image deteriorates. There was a problem of ending up.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improved assemblability and maintainability, and leakage of light from an optical fiber for illumination is prevented from being deteriorated due to light entering the fiber bundle for receiving light. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning endoscope.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical scanning endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention includes an optical fiber that has a distal end and a proximal end and guides light to illuminate a subject, and return light from the subject. A light-receiving fiber bundle that guides light, a fusion part that fusion-connects the plurality of optical fibers into one, a bent part that is formed closer to the distal end than the fusion part, the bent part, and the light-receiving part And a light shielding member interposed between the fiber bundles.

The figure which shows the structure of the optical scanning endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the internal structure of the 1st and 2nd endoscope connector similarly. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fusion | fusion part which fused-connected the 1st and 2nd illumination fiber same as the above Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the melt | fusion part which fused and connected the 1st and 2nd illumination fiber of the modification similarly The figure which shows the structure of the optical scanning endoscope of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the internal structure of a fiber accommodating part similarly The figure which shows the structure of the optical scanning endoscope of a modification same as the above The figure which shows the internal structure of the fiber accommodating part of a modification same as the above The figure which shows the internal structure of the endoscope connector of 3rd Embodiment.

The optical scanning endoscope according to the present invention will be described below. In the following description, the drawings based on each embodiment are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the thickness ratio of each part, and the like are different from the actual ones. It should be noted that the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the optical scanning endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical scanning endoscope, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of first and second endoscope connectors, and FIG. 3 is a fusion of first and second illumination fibers. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fused part connected.

  An optical scanning endoscope 1 that is a scanning endoscope is mainly composed of a tube body having a predetermined flexibility, and has an elongated insertion portion 2 that is inserted into a living body. The insertion portion 2 has a distal end portion 3 provided on the distal end side, and has a flexible tube portion 4 continuously provided at the proximal end of the distal end portion 3.

  In addition, although the insertion part 2 which has flexibility is illustrated here, it is not limited to this, The insertion part 2 is good also as what is called a rigid mirror. Furthermore, the insertion part 2 is good also as a structure provided with the bending part.

  The proximal end of the flexible tube portion 4 of the insertion portion 2 is connected to a grip portion 5 as an operation portion. A composite cable 6 as a long cable, which is a universal cable, extends from the grip portion 5, and a first endoscope connector 7, which is a light-receiving side connector, is disposed at the base end of the composite cable 6. Yes.

  An illumination cable 8 as a short cable extends from the side of the first endoscope connector 7, and a second endoscope connector 9, which is an illumination side connector, is disposed at the proximal end of the illumination cable 8. Has been.

  The first connector 7 and the second connector 9 are configured to be detachable from a main body device, which is an external device (not shown) that incorporates an illumination light source unit and a video processor unit that forms a subject image from received light. .

  The distal end portion 3 is provided with an illumination optical system and a detection optical system (not shown) configured by an illumination lens or the like.

  From the distal end portion 3 to the insertion portion 2, the grip portion 5, the composite cable 6, the first endoscope connector 7, the illumination cable 8, and the second connector 9, light from the main body device is guided to the living body. Illumination fibers 21 and 22 (see FIG. 2), which are optical fibers as optical elements that irradiate illumination light, are provided. Note that the illumination light from the main unit guided by the illumination fibers 21 and 22 is applied to the subject.

  The distal end portion 3 is provided with an actuator (not shown) that spirally scans the distal end of the illumination fiber 21 in a desired direction, and electrical wiring such as a lead wire (not shown) that supplies a drive current to the actuator is provided at the distal end portion. 3 to the insertion portion 2, the grip portion 5, the composite cable 6, and the first connector 7.

  Light reception for receiving the return light from the subject irradiated with the illumination light guided to the illumination fibers 21 and 22 from the distal end portion 3 to the insertion portion 2, the grip portion 5, the composite cable 6 and the first connector 7. A detection fiber bundle 31 (see FIG. 2), which is a light-receiving fiber bundle composed of a plurality of optical fibers as a portion, is provided.

  The first connector 7 is inserted into and connected to a first receptacle portion (not shown) provided in the main body device, and an electrode portion 11 provided with a plurality of electrodes for electrical connection, and the electrode portion 11 And a light receiving fiber fixing portion 12 which is a male optical connector extending from the base end of the optical fiber.

  The second connector 9 is inserted into and connected to a second receptacle (not shown) provided in the main unit, and an illumination fiber fixing portion 13 which is a male optical connector extending from the proximal end is disposed. .

  Since the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment is well known except for the constituent elements of the main part of the present invention, detailed description of those constituent elements is omitted.

  Next, the configuration of the illumination fibers 21 and 22 and the fusion part 23 disposed inside the optical scanning endoscope 1 will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of illumination fibers 21 and 22, here two optical fibers, are connected by a fusion part 23 and configured as one illumination light guide. The fusion part 23 here is arrange | positioned in the illumination cable 8 in which the detection fiber bundle 31 is not provided.

  The position of the fused portion 23 is not limited to the inside of the illumination cable 8 and may be any position inside the optical scanning endoscope 1. However, the position is not juxtaposed with the detection fiber bundle 31. It is preferable to provide the internal space.

  Of these illumination fibers 21 and 22, the first illumination fiber 21 is a subject side that transmits illumination light to the insertion portion 2 side that is the distal end side with the fusion portion 23 as a boundary, and emits it to the subject. The first illumination fiber 21 is accommodated in the first endoscope connector 7 in a state in which a loop-shaped bent portion 24 for a connection extra length or the like is formed in the vicinity of the fused portion 23. In addition, the bending part should just have a certain amount of bending, and is not limited to a loop shape.

  On the other hand, of the illumination fibers 21 and 22, if the second illumination fiber 22 of the illumination light that is closer to the base end side than the fused portion 23 is used, the second illumination fiber 22 is second from the middle of the illumination cable 8. To the illumination fiber fixing portion 13 of the connector 9.

  The first endoscope connector 7 is interposed between the bent portion 24 and the light receiving fiber bundle 31 so as to cover the loop-shaped bent portion 24 formed in the first illumination fiber 21. A light shielding tube 25 of a tubular member which is a light shielding member is provided. As the light shielding tube 25, an elastomer tube such as black, a Teflon (registered trademark) tube, a heat shrinkable tube, or the like is used.

  The light shielding member is not limited to the light shielding tube 25 that covers the bent portion 24, and may be provided between the bent portion 24 of the first illumination fiber 21 and the light receiving fiber bundle 31. It may be a wall.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 here have a core diameter d1 in which the cores 26a and 26b are 1.5 μm to 3.5 μm and the claddings 27a and 27b are 80 μm. Optical fibers of the same type and outer diameter are used, each having a cladding diameter d2 of ˜170 μm and jackets 28a and 28b which are outer coatings having a jacket diameter d3 of 150 μm to 350 μm.

  In addition, after the jackets 28a and 28b of the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are peeled off at a predetermined length and the cores 26a and 26b are aligned, After the cores 26a and 26b and the clads 27a and 27b are fused to each other, the recoating part is a heat shrink sleeve made of resin, a reinforcing member 29 such as resin molding, including the end portions of the jackets 28a and 28b. Thus, the fused portion is covered.

  In the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, two of the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are connected by the fusion part 23 to be one. A unit including the insertion portion 2, the holding portion 5, the composite cable 6, and the first endoscope connector 7 in which the first illumination fiber 21 and the detection fiber bundle 31 are disposed; The unit including the illumination cable 8 provided with the illumination fiber 22 and the second endoscope connector 9 can be assembled into two units with the fusion part 23 as a boundary.

  Thus, after the optical scanning endoscope 1 has assembled the unit from the insertion portion 2 to the first endoscope connector 7 and the unit of the illumination cable 8 and the second endoscope connector 9 individually, By assembling the two units after the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are fusion-connected to form the fused portion 23, there is an advantage that the assemblability is improved as compared with the conventional case. is there.

  Further, even if the first illumination fiber 21 or the second illumination fiber 22 is broken, the entire optical scanning endoscope 1 is disassembled, and the broken first illumination fiber 21 or the second illumination fiber 22 is changed. It is not necessary to replace the unit, and after disassembling only the defective unit on one side and replacing the defective illumination fiber, the fusion unit 23 may be formed again. There is no need for disassembly, and maintenance is improved as compared with the prior art, and repair costs can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment, the bent portion 24 is formed on the distal end side that is closer to the insertion portion 2 than the fusion portion 23, that is, on the subject side. The leakage light of the illumination light that has entered the cladding 27a of the first illumination fiber 21 on the distal end side due to the misalignment of the cores 26a and 26b of the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 that are slightly generated is bent. 24, so that leakage light is not transmitted to the distal end side of the insertion portion 2 side than the bent portion 24.

  Then, by providing the light shielding tube 25 so as to cover the bent portion 24, leakage light emitted from the bent portion 24 is prevented from entering the detection fiber bundle 31.

  Therefore, even if the detection fiber bundle 31 for receiving light is partially broken in the vicinity of the bent portion 24, the leakage light of the illumination light does not enter the broken fiber. Image degradation can be prevented without affecting the return light.

  In addition, the optical scanning endoscope 1 in this case is provided in the illumination cable 8 that is a different space in which the fused portion 23 connecting the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 is not juxtaposed with the detection fiber bundle 31. Accordingly, the illumination cable 8 itself becomes a light shielding member, and the leakage light of the illumination light emitted from the fused portion 23 is prevented from entering the detection fiber bundle 31.

  From the above description, the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment is improved in assemblability and maintainability, and leaked light from the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 is received. Image quality deterioration due to light entering the detection fiber bundle 31 can be prevented.

(Modification)
By the way, the first fiber 21 for illumination driven by an actuator provided at the distal end portion 3 of the insertion portion 2 should have a thin outer diameter so that desired spiral scanning control can be easily performed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the first illumination fiber 21 is preferably smaller in diameter than the second illumination fiber 22. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the fusion part in which the first and second illumination fibers according to the modification of the first embodiment are fusion-connected.

  Specifically, the core 26a of the first illumination fiber 21 of the present modification has a core diameter d4 (d1 = d1 = 1.5 μm to 3.5 μm) that is the same as the core diameter d1 of the core 26b of the second illumination fiber 22. d4). The cladding 27a of the first illumination fiber 21 also has a cladding diameter d5 (d2 = d5) of 80 μm to 170 μm, which is the same as the cladding diameter d2 of the cladding 27b of the second illumination fiber 22.

  However, only the jacket 28a that is the outer coating of the first illumination fiber 21 has a jacket diameter d6 (d3> d6) of 40 μm to 120 μm that is smaller (thin) than the jacket diameter d3 of the jacket 28b of the second illumination fiber 22. Have.

  As described above, the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 having different outer diameters are formed by fusion-connecting the cores 26a and 26b and the clads 27a and 27b, and then, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the reinforcing member 29. Thus, the fused portion including the end portions of the respective jackets 28a and 28b is covered.

  With such a configuration, desired spiral scanning control can be easily performed on the distal end portion of the first illumination fiber 21 driven by an actuator provided at the distal end portion 3 of the insertion portion 2, and the second illumination fiber can be easily controlled. Since the amount of use of the first illumination fiber 21 having a small diameter more expensive than 22 can be reduced, the initial cost and the maintenance cost can be reduced even if a failure occurs in the first illumination fiber 21.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an optical scanning endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the optical scanning endoscope, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the fiber accommodating portion. The configuration of the optical scanning endoscope 1 here is a modification of the first embodiment, and the components described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical scanning endoscope 1 of the present embodiment has a single configuration of an endoscope connector 14 that is detachably connected to a main body device (not shown).

  The endoscope connector 14 is inserted into and connected to a receptacle (not shown) provided in the main unit, and is connected to an electrode 11, a light receiving fiber fixing portion 12 and an illumination fiber fixing portion extending from the base end of the electrode portion 11. 13 are disposed.

  Further, in the optical scanning endoscope 1, a fiber housing portion 15 is interposed in a composite cable 6 that connects the grip portion 5 and the endoscope connector 14.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fiber housing portion 15 is a box body that connects the composite cables 6 so as to be substantially orthogonal.

  In the fiber accommodating portion 15, a first illumination fiber 21 and a detection fiber bundle 31 disposed in the composite cable 6 are disposed, and a light shielding tube 25 is provided so as to cover the first illumination fiber 21. Yes.

  The fusion part 23 in which the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are fusion-connected is in the composite cable 6 that connects the fiber accommodation part 15 and the endoscope connector 14 in the vicinity of the fiber accommodation part 15. Is arranged.

  Note that the first illumination fiber 21 is disposed so as to have a bent portion 24 bent in a substantially L shape in the fiber accommodating portion 15 provided with the fusion portion 23 in the vicinity thereof. A light shielding tube 25 is provided so as to cover the bent portion 24.

  The light shielding tube 25 extends in the composite cable 6 that connects the fiber housing portion 15 and the endoscope connector 14 so as to cover the fused portion 23.

  By adopting such a configuration, the optical scanning endoscope 1 of the present embodiment can be operated by a single operation of attaching / detaching one endoscope connector 14 to / from a receptacle portion of a main body device (not shown). The connection to establish the transmission path of one optical fiber composed of the first and second illumination fibers 21 and 22 and the transmission path of the detection fiber bundle 31 to the main body apparatus can be performed.

  Further, also in the optical scanning endoscope 1 here, as in the first embodiment, the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are connected by the fused portion 23. Since it is configured as one, it can be assembled into two units with the fiber accommodating portion 15 as a boundary, and the assembly property is improved as compared with the conventional case, and the maintenance property is also improved. The repair cost can be reduced.

  Also in the optical scanning endoscope 1 here, the first illumination fiber is formed by forming the bent portion 24 in the subject-side fiber accommodating portion 15 that is closer to the insertion portion 2 than the fusion portion 23. The leakage light of the illumination light that has entered the clad 27 a of 21 is emitted from the bent portion 24 so that the leaked light is not transmitted to the distal end side on the insertion portion 2 side than the bent portion 24, and is shielded so as to cover the bent portion 24. By providing the tube 25, leakage light emitted from the bent portion 24 is prevented from entering the detection fiber bundle 31.

  Furthermore, since the optical scanning endoscope 1 here is provided with the light shielding tube 25 so as to cover the fusion part 23 to which the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are connected. The leakage light of the illumination light emitted from the unit 23 is prevented from entering the detection fiber bundle 31.

  From the above description, also in the optical scanning endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the assembling property and the maintainability are improved, and the first illumination fiber 21 and the first illumination fiber 21 are used. It is possible to prevent image quality deterioration due to leakage light from the second illumination fiber 22 entering the detection fiber bundle 31 for receiving light.

(Modification)
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical scanning endoscope 1 includes a fiber accommodating portion 16 that connects the composite cable 6 that connects the grip portion 5 and the endoscope connector 14 substantially linearly. You may interpose. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical scanning endoscope according to a modification of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the fiber accommodating portion.

  Here, the first illumination fiber 21 is disposed in the fiber accommodating portion 16 so as to have a bent portion 24 formed in a loop shape, and the light shielding tube covers the loop-shaped bent portion 24. 25 is provided.

  Such a configuration of the optical scanning endoscope 1 also has the same effect as described above, and the composite cable 6 has a substantially straight shape. Therefore, the fiber accommodating portion that connects the composite cable 6 so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other. It can be set as the structure which is easy to carry out at the time of use rather than 15.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an optical scanning endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the endoscope connector. Note that the configuration of the optical scanning endoscope 1 here is a modification of the first and second embodiments, and the components described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. .

  As shown in FIG. 9, the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment has a single configuration of an endoscope connector 17 that is detachably connected to a main unit (not shown). The endoscope connector 17 here is also inserted and connected to a receptacle (not shown) provided in the main unit.

  In this embodiment, a fusion part 23 in which the first illumination fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 are fusion-connected is arranged in the endoscope connector 17. Further, the first illumination fiber 21 is disposed in the endoscope connector 17 so as to have a bent portion 24 that is bent in the vicinity of the fused portion 23.

  In the present embodiment, the light shielding tube 25 is not configured to cover the bent portion 24 of the first illumination fiber 21, and the detection fiber bundle 31 is prevented so that leakage light from the bent portion 24 does not enter the detection fiber bundle 31. A light shielding tube 25 is disposed so as to cover.

  That is, the light shielding tube 25 covers the detection fiber bundle 31 beyond the range where the light is leaked from the bent portion 24 of the first illumination fiber 21 and does not enter the detection fiber bundle 31. It is arranged to do.

  Even with such a configuration, the optical scanning endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment is configured so that one endoscope connector 17 is attached to and detached from a receptacle portion of a main body device (not shown) by one operation. The optical fiber transmission line composed of the first and second illumination fibers 21 and 22 and the transmission line of the detection fiber bundle 31 can be established with the apparatus, and the first illumination for illumination It is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality due to leakage light from the fiber 21 and the second illumination fiber 22 entering the detection fiber bundle 31 for receiving light.

  In the configuration of the first and second embodiments described above, the bent portion is not a configuration in which the bent portion 24 of the first illumination fiber 21 is covered with the light shielding tube 25 as in the configuration of the present embodiment. The light shielding tube 25 may be disposed so as to cover the detection fiber bundle 31 so that the leaked light from 24 does not enter the detection fiber bundle 31.

  It should be noted that the invention described in the above-described embodiment is not limited to the embodiment and modification examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the described requirements can be deleted if the stated problem can be solved and the stated effect can be obtained. The configuration can be extracted as an invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical scanning endoscope in which assemblability and maintainability are improved and leakage of light from an optical fiber for illumination is prevented from being deteriorated due to light entering a fiber bundle for light reception. Can do.

  This application is filed on the basis of the priority claim of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-240465 filed in Japan on December 9, 2015, and the above disclosure is included in the present specification and claims. Shall be quoted.

Claims (9)

An optical fiber having a distal end and a proximal end and guiding light to illuminate the subject;
A light receiving fiber bundle for guiding the return light from the subject;
A fusion part that fusion-connects the plurality of optical fibers into one;
A bent portion formed on the tip side of the fused portion;
A light shielding member interposed between the bent portion and the light receiving fiber bundle;
An optical scanning endoscope characterized by comprising:   The optical scanning endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the fused portion and the light receiving fiber bundle are disposed in different internal spaces. An endoscope connector that is detachably connected to an external device,
The optical scanning endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is provided in the endoscope connector. A cable extending from the endoscope connector;
The optical scanning endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the fusion part is provided in the cable.   The optical scanning endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber is the bent portion in which the optical fiber is formed in a loop shape.   The optical scanning endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light shielding member is a tubular member that covers the bent portion.   The optical scanning endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the tubular member is disposed so as to cover the fusion part.   6. The optical scanning type according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding member is a tubular member that covers the bundle of the light receiving fibers beyond a range in parallel with the bent portion. Endoscope.   9. The outer diameter of the optical fiber on the distal end side with respect to the fused portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber on the proximal end side with respect to the fused portion. The optical scanning endoscope according to any one of the above.

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