JPWO2019003587A1 - Endoscope, endoscope manufacturing unit and method of assembling endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The endoscope is an endoscope having a frame member disposed in an insertion portion, and a pair of imaging devices including an objective lens and an imaging device fixed to the frame member, wherein the pair of imaging devices Each of these is a columnar shape elongated along the optical axis of the objective lens, and has an abutment surface on the outer periphery that is a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and facing in the proximal direction, the abutment surface And a holder for holding the image pickup device when the image pickup device is fixed to the frame member, thereby positioning the holder in the direction along the optical axis with respect to the image pickup device. And a biasing member, a cavity into which the imaging device can be inserted inside, and a biasing force generated by the biasing member to clamp the imaging device inserted into the cavity between the inner wall surface of the cavity And an arm portion.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a pair of imaging devices that perform stereo imaging.

  For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-199863, an endoscope capable of stereo imaging is known. Among endoscopes capable of stereo imaging, for example, there is an endoscope having a pair of imaging devices including a combination of an objective lens and an imaging element. The pair of imaging devices is fixed at a position where the optical axis of the objective lens intersects at a predetermined convergence point, and the inclination around the optical axis of the image captured by both coincide with each other.

  In an endoscope capable of stereo imaging, it is necessary to arrange a pair of imaging devices in parallel in the insertion section, so each imaging device has an elongated outer shape in the optical axis direction of the objective lens and has low strength .

  On the other hand, in order to fix the pair of imaging devices at a predetermined position in the insertion section at the time of manufacturing the endoscope, it is necessary to adjust the position of the imaging devices while holding the imaging device by the holder. At this time, if the load by the holder acts on the imaging device, the imaging device may be damaged.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, suppresses the force applied to the imaging device at the time of the operation of fixing the imaging device to the insertion portion of the endoscope, and does not have complicated operations, and the left and right optical axes are predetermined. The purpose is to be able to adjust to the position.

  An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is an endoscope having a frame member disposed in an insertion portion, and a pair of imaging devices provided with an objective lens and an imaging element fixed to the frame member, Each of the pair of imaging devices has a columnar shape elongated along the optical axis of the objective lens, and has an abutting surface formed on a periphery, which is a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and facing the proximal direction And the abutting surface abuts the holder for holding the imaging device when the imaging device is fixed to the frame member, thereby positioning the holder in the direction along the optical axis with respect to the imaging device The holder includes a biasing member, a cavity into which the imaging device can be inserted inside, and an inner wall surface of the cavity by the biasing force that generates the imaging device inserted into the cavity. And an arm that holds between the two.

It is a figure which shows the front end surface of the insertion part of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. It is II-II sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. It is IV-IV sectional drawing of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an imaging device assembly process. It is a figure which shows the state in which the holder of 1st Embodiment hold | maintained the imaging device. It is VII-VII sectional drawing of FIG. It is a VIII-VIII sectional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the endoscope of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the insertion apparatus of 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, the scale of each component is different in order to make each component have a size that can be recognized in the drawings, and the present invention is not limited to these drawings. The present invention is not limited only to the number of components described in the above, the shape of the components, the ratio of the size of the components, and the relative positional relationship between the components.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a view showing a distal end surface 11 a of a distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10 of the endoscope according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.

  The endoscope of the present embodiment includes an insertion portion 10 which is an elongated shape to be inserted into a subject. The subject into which the insertion unit 10 is inserted may be a living thing such as a human, or may be a non-living thing such as a machine or a building.

  The insertion portion 10 may be a rigid form in which the insertion portion 10 is not bent, or may be a flexible form in which the insertion portion 10 bends so as to conform to the shape of the gap of the subject into which the insertion portion 10 is inserted. An endoscope having a rigid insertion section is generally referred to as a rigid endoscope, and an endoscope having a flexible insertion section is generally referred to as a flexible endoscope. Rigid endoscopes and flexible endoscopes are defined, for example, in the medical field in ISO 8600-1: 2015.

  The endoscope of the present embodiment has a form called a so-called electronic endoscope in which a distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10 is provided with a stereo imaging unit 20 described later. The stereo imaging unit 20 captures a stereo image composed of a pair of images having parallax. When the endoscope is used, the stereo imaging unit 20 is electrically connected to the video processor, and a stereo image captured by the stereo imaging unit 20 is displayed on the image display device through the video processor. Note that the video processor and the image display device may be in the form of an external device of the endoscope connected to the endoscope via the connector, or they may be built in the endoscope. Good. Since the overall configuration of an endoscope for capturing a stereo image is known, the detailed description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the outer shape of the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10 is substantially cylindrical with the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10 as a central axis. In FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10 is orthogonal to the paper surface. Moreover, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the left direction in a figure is the front end side of the insertion part 10, and the right direction is a base end side.

  The distal end portion 11 is provided with a stereo imaging unit 20 and a frame member 12 for holding the stereo imaging unit 20.

  The stereo imaging unit 20 includes a pair of imaging devices 21. The pair of imaging devices 21 each include an objective lens 21 a and an imaging element (not shown). The stereo imaging unit 20 captures a stereo image composed of a pair of images having parallax by the pair of imaging devices 21.

  Hereinafter, in the case of describing a configuration common to both of the pair of imaging devices 21, the imaging device 21 is simply referred to. Further, in the following description, when the pair of imaging devices 21 are separately described, one is referred to as a first imaging device 21R, and the other is referred to as a second imaging device 21L.

  The imaging device 21 has an elongated columnar outer shape along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10. The objective lens 21 a is exposed to the outside at the tip 21 b of the imaging device 21. The optical axis O of the objective lens 21 a is along the longitudinal direction of the imaging device 21 which is columnar. An electrical cable 21 d electrically connected to the video processor extends from the proximal end 21 c of the imaging device 21.

  The frame member 12 is a member exposed to the outside of the insertion portion 10 at the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10. That is, the frame member 12 constitutes a part of the exterior of the distal end portion 11. Although the place in which the frame member 12 is arrange | positioned in the front-end | tip part 11 is not specifically limited, The frame member 12 is exposed to the outer side of the insertion part 10 in the front end surface 11a of the front-end part 11 as an example in this embodiment. The distal end surface 11 a of the distal end portion 11 is a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10.

  The frame member 12 is formed with a pair of through holes 12 a for exposing the pair of imaging devices 21 disposed inside the insertion portion 10 to the outside of the insertion portion 10. The place where the pair of through holes 12 a is provided is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the pair of through holes 12 a is opened to the outside of the insertion portion 10 in the tip surface 11 a of the frame member 12 as an example. The pair of through holes 12a are separated at the tip end face 11a.

  The pair of imaging devices 21 is inserted into the pair of through holes 12 a from the proximal end side of the frame member 12. The pair of through holes 12 a has a shape in which a gap having a predetermined width is generated between the pair of through holes 12 a and the portion to be inserted into the pair of imaging devices 21.

  The fixing resin 13 is filled in the gap between the pair of imaging devices 21 and the pair of through holes 12a. The fixing resin 13 fixes the position of the pair of imaging devices 21 with respect to the frame member 12 in the pair of through holes 12 a.

  The fixing resin 13 is a thermosetting resin as an example in the present embodiment. Although described later in detail, when fixing the pair of imaging devices 21 to the frame member 12, after applying the fixing resin 13 before curing on the outer periphery of the pair of imaging devices 21, inserting into the pair of through holes 12a Thereafter, the fixing resin 13 is heated and cured. The fixing resin 13 may be an ultraviolet curable resin or the like.

  Note that the imaging device 21 may be fixed to the frame member 12 by a mechanical fixing method such as a tightening mechanism using a screw, but when the fixing resin 13 is used as in the present embodiment, the insertion portion 10 is used. The diameter can be further reduced.

  In the following description, the linear axis passing through the center of the pair of through holes 12a arranged apart from each other in the tip end surface 11a will be referred to as a horizontal axis H. Further, a linear axis orthogonal to the horizontal axis H in the tip end face 11a is referred to as a vertical axis V. The horizontal axis H and the vertical axis V are substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 10. That is, the base line of the stereo imaging unit 20 is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis H. Therefore, the horizontal direction in the stereo image captured by the stereo imaging unit 20 is the direction along the horizontal axis H. Further, the vertical direction in the stereo image is a direction along the vertical axis V.

  Further, in the following description, the first imaging device 21R captures the right viewpoint image included in the stereo image of the pair of imaging devices 21 disposed apart along the horizontal axis H, and the left viewpoint image is 2 Assume that the imaging device 21L captures an image. The direction from the second imaging device 21L to the first imaging device 21R along the horizontal axis H is right (R in the figure), and the opposite direction is left (L in the figure). Also, among the directions along the vertical axis V, the direction corresponding to the upper direction in the stereo image is the upper (U in the figure), and the opposite direction is the lower (D in the figure). The designation of these axes and directions is used for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the posture of the insertion portion 10 at the time of actual use of the endoscope.

  Next, details of the outer shape of the imaging device 21 will be described.

  An abutment surface 21 e facing the direction of the base end 21 c is formed on the outer periphery of the imaging device 21. The abutment surface 21 e is a portion for positioning the imaging device 21 in the longitudinal axis direction with respect to the holder 30 by abutting a part of the holder 30 described later.

  More specifically, the abutment surface 21e is a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis O of the objective lens 21a and facing the proximal end 21c, and the imaging device 21 is arranged along the optical axis O as shown in FIG. It is arrange | positioned in the position which can be seen when it sees from the proximal end 21c side. In the present embodiment, as an example, the abutting surface 21 e is disposed above the imaging device 21.

  Further, on the outer periphery of the imaging device 21, a rotation restricting portion 21f formed of a plane substantially parallel to the optical axis O of the objective lens 21a is formed. The rotation restricting portion 21 f is a portion that positions the rotational direction (circumferential direction) about the longitudinal axis of the imaging device 21 with respect to the holder 30 by contacting the holder 30 described later.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the rotation restricting portion 21 f is substantially parallel to the horizontal direction in the stereo image, and faces upward in the stereo image. That is, in the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10, both of the rotation restricting portions 21f of the pair of imaging devices 21 face in the same direction. Further, in the present embodiment, as an example, the rotation restricting portion 21 f is disposed closer to the tip 21 b than the abutment surface 21 e.

  The rotation restricting portion 21 f formed on the outer periphery of the imaging device 21 can be used to allow the operator to visually recognize the posture of the imaging device 21 in the rotational direction around the optical axis O at the time of manufacturing the endoscope.

  A pair of optical fiber cables 14 and a heat radiation member 15 are disposed above the pair of imaging devices 21 at the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as an example, the frame member 12 is formed with a single bottomed recessed portion 12 d which is recessed from the base end of the frame member 12 toward the distal end side. And a pair of through holes 12a is opened in the bottom of crevice 12d. That is, the imaging device 21 is fixed to the frame member 12 in a state of being inserted into the recess 12 d.

  The internal space of the recess 12 d has a substantially quadrangular prism shape in which a rectangle formed of two planes parallel to the horizontal axis H and two planes parallel to the vertical axis V has a cross-sectional shape. In the present embodiment, as an example, the cross-sectional shape of a plane orthogonal to the optical axis O of the imaging device 21 is a rectangular shape. The four sides forming the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the imaging device 21 are each composed of two sides parallel to the horizontal axis H and two sides parallel to the vertical axis V.

  And in this embodiment, the maximum length of the diagonal in the section by the plane which intersects perpendicularly with optical axis O of image pick-up device 21 is longer than the separation distance of the direction parallel to perpendicular axis V of crevice 12d. Therefore, in the state where the imaging device 21 is inserted into the recess 12 d, the range of rotation of the imaging device 21 around the optical axis O is limited. As described above, in the process of fixing the imaging device 21 to the frame member 12 by limiting the rotatable range in the recess 12 d of the imaging device 21, the circumference of the optical axis O of the imaging device 21 with respect to the frame member 12 The attitude in the rotational direction can be roughly determined.

  The tip of the optical fiber cable 14 is inserted into the illumination opening 12 b in which the frame member 12 is formed. The illumination opening 12b is open at the tip end face 11a. A lens 14 a is disposed at an opening in the tip end surface 11 a of the illumination opening 12 b. The optical fiber cable 14 emits the light generated by the light source device from the tip. The light source device may be in the form of an external device of the endoscope connected to the endoscope via a connector, or may be in the form of being incorporated in the endoscope.

  The heat dissipating member 15 is a linear member made of metal and the tip is inserted in the heat dissipating hole 12 c in which the frame member 12 is formed. The heat radiating member 15 transmits the heat generated at the tip of the optical fiber cable 14 and the heat generated by the imaging device 21 to a member disposed on the proximal end side of the insertion portion 10. By cooling the imaging device 21 by the heat dissipation member 15, it is possible to suppress the amount of noise in the image of the imaging device 21 and to suppress the occurrence of an image abnormality.

  The pair of optical fiber cables 14 are spaced apart along the horizontal axis H above the pair of imaging devices 21. Further, the heat radiation member 15 is disposed above the pair of optical fiber cables 14 at a position spaced apart from the pair of optical fiber cables 14 by an equal distance. By arranging all of the pair of optical fiber cables 14 and the heat dissipation member 15 on the upper side of the imaging device 21, a space for other use can be secured below the imaging device 21.

  Next, the configuration of the holder 30 will be described.

  The holder 30 is a device used in an imaging device assembling step of positioning and fixing the imaging device 21 with respect to the frame member 12 at the time of manufacture of the endoscope. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an imaging device assembling process. In the imaging device assembling step, in addition to the holder 30, a base 40 and an optical axis adjusting device 60 described later are used.

  The holder 30 is a device for temporarily holding the imaging device 21 in the imaging device assembling step. In the imaging device assembling step, the imaging device 21 is fixed to the optical axis adjustment device 60 via the holder 30.

  The optical axis adjustment device 60 is fixed on a base 40 to which the frame member 12 is fixed. The base 40 holds the frame member 12 so that the tip end surface 11 a is directed downward. Note that the vertical direction in the imaging device assembling step is different from the direction in the distal end portion 11 of the insertion portion 10 described above.

  The optical axis adjustment device 60 can change the posture of the pair of imaging devices 21 in a state in which the tip 21 b is inserted into the pair of through holes 12 a of the frame member 12, and the positions of the pair of imaging devices 21 Can be held.

  At a position where the optical axis adjustment device 60 intersects both optical axes O of the pair of imaging devices 21 at a predetermined convergence point, and the horizontal directions of the right viewpoint image and the left viewpoint image captured by both become parallel. The pair of imaging devices 21 is held.

  In this state, by curing the fixing resin 13 filled in the gap between the pair of imaging devices 21 and the pair of through holes 12a, the pair of imaging devices 21 with respect to the frame member 12 make a stereo image. It is fixed in a positional relationship suitable for imaging. Thereafter, the holder 30 is removed from the imaging device 21 and the frame member 12 is removed from the base 40, thereby completing the imaging device assembling process.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the holder 30 holds the imaging device 21. As shown in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. The holder 30 includes a tubular portion 31 and a pressing portion 32.

  The cylindrical portion 31 is formed with a cavity 31 b into which a portion provided with the rotation restricting portion 21 f of the imaging device 21 can be inserted from the tip end 31 a. An opening communicating with the cavity 31 b is formed at the tip 31 a of the cylindrical portion 31. The hollow 31 b extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular portion 31 in the tubular portion 31.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cavity 31 b of the present embodiment is opened in part or all of the side surface of the cylindrical portion 31. That is, the cavity 31 b of the present embodiment has the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 31 as the depth direction, and can be rephrased as being inside the groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 31. The groove is open at the tip 31 a of the cylindrical portion 31, and the imaging device 21 can be inserted into the groove from the opening of the tip 31 a.

  Further, the cavity 31 b of the present embodiment is a groove having a U-shaped cross section. The inner wall surface of the cavity 31b is composed of a flat portion 31c, which is the bottom of the groove, and a pair of side portions 31d substantially orthogonal to the flat portion 31c and facing each other.

  The flat portion 31c, which is the bottom surface of the cavity 31b, abuts on the rotation restricting portion 21f of the imaging device 21 inserted inside the cavity 31b. As described above, the rotation restricting portion 21 f is a flat surface substantially parallel to the optical axis O, provided on the side surface of the imaging device 21. When the flat portion 31 c abuts on the rotation restricting portion 21 f of the imaging device 21, positioning in the rotation direction around the optical axis O of the imaging device 21 is performed in the cavity 31 b.

  Further, the pair of side surface portions 31 d sandwich the imaging device 21 inserted inside the cavity 31 b from a direction parallel to the flat surface portion 31 c and orthogonal to the optical axis O. When the pair of side surface portions 31 d abut on the side surface of the imaging device 21, the imaging device 21 is positioned in the cavity 31 b in a direction parallel to the plane portion 31 c and orthogonal to the optical axis O.

  When the imaging device 21 is inserted into the cavity 31 b, the tip 31 a of the cylindrical portion 31 abuts on the abutment surface 21 e formed on the outer periphery of the imaging device 21. The tip 31 a of the cylindrical portion 31 abuts on the abutting surface 21 e of the imaging device 21, whereby the imaging device 21 is positioned in the cavity 31 b in the direction parallel to the optical axis O. As shown in FIG. 7, at the base end 31 f of the cylindrical portion 31, a connecting portion 31 g that connects the cylindrical portion 31 to the optical axis adjustment device 60 is provided.

  The pressing unit 32 biases the imaging device 21 inserted into the hollow 31 b of the cylindrical portion 31 toward the flat portion 31 c. In other words, the pressing unit 32 clamps the imaging device 21 inserted inside the cavity 31 b between the pressing unit 32 and the flat portion 31 c. The pressing unit 32 includes an arm 32a, a hinge 32b, and a biasing member 32c.

  The arm portion 32a is pivotally supported by the hinge portion 32b with respect to the cylindrical portion 31. The rotation axis of the hinge portion 32b is orthogonal to the extending direction of the cavity 31b (longitudinal direction of the tubular portion 31) and is parallel to the flat portion 31c.

  The arm 32a is a rod-like member, and one end 32aa of one end extends from the hinge 32b to the tip 31a of the cylindrical portion 31 and the other end 32ab is the tip 32aa. Extend in the opposite direction.

  As the arm 32a pivots around the hinge 32b, the distance between the tip 32aa of the arm 32a and the plane 31c of the cavity 31b changes. When the imaging device 21 is inserted inside the cavity 31b, the tip 32aa of the arm 32a is the rotation restricting portion 21f of the imaging device 21 as the arm 32a rotates around the hinge 32b. Abut or separate from the oppositely facing side.

  The biasing member 32c biases the arm 32a such that the tip 32aa of the arm 32a rotates in a direction approaching the flat surface 31c. In the present embodiment, as one example, the biasing member 32c is a compression coil spring, and biases the proximal end 32ab of the arm 32a in a direction away from the flat surface 31c. The biasing member 32c may be a leaf spring or the like.

  By the biasing force of the biasing member 32c, the imaging device 21 inserted inside the cavity 31b is sandwiched between the flat portion 31c and the tip portion 32aa of the arm 32a.

  According to the configuration described above, the holder 30 holds the imaging device 21 with a force generated by the biasing member 32c, which is a spring, without play. Therefore, in the imaging device assembling step at the time of manufacturing the endoscope of the present embodiment, the upper limit of the force applied to the imaging device 21 is determined by the force generated by the biasing member 32c. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the force applied to the imaging device 21 can be suppressed to a predetermined value or less during the operation of fixing the imaging device 21 to the insertion portion 10 of the endoscope. For example, in the present embodiment, an excessive force can be prevented from being applied to the imaging device 21 at the time of tightening or removal using a screw such as a clamp. Further, in the present embodiment, after the imaging device 21 is fixed to the frame member 12, the holding force of the imaging device 21 generated by the holder 30 can be eliminated without applying an excessive force to the imaging device 21. The positional deviation of the imaging device 21 can be prevented.

  Further, in the present embodiment, positioning is performed in the direction parallel to the optical axis O of the imaging device 21 with respect to the holder 30 and in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis O. The movement of the imaging device 21 can be prevented.

  At the end 32 aa of the arm 32 a, a rubber member may be disposed at a position in contact with the imaging device 21 for the purpose of anti-slip.

  Further, in the present embodiment, both of the rotation restricting portions 21 f of the pair of imaging devices 21 face upward. That is, when holding the pair of imaging devices 21 by the pair of holders 30 in the imaging device assembling step, the arm portions 32a of the respective holders 30 project downward.

  As described above, the optical fiber cable 14 is fixed above the pair of imaging devices 21. When the fitting length between the illumination opening 12b of the frame member 12 and the optical fiber cable 14 is increased, it is necessary to project the portion of the frame member 12 where the illumination opening 12b is formed to the proximal side. In this case, the illumination opening 12b of the frame member 12 approaches the side surface of the imaging device 21. However, in the present embodiment, in the imaging device assembling step, the arm 32a protruding from the holder 30 interferes with the location It can be avoided.

  In the embodiment described above, the rotation restricting portion 21f is disposed closer to the base end 21c than the abutment surface 21e, but the rotation restricting portion 21f is, as in the first modified example shown in FIG. You may arrange | position at the front-end | tip 21b side rather than the abutting surface 21e.

  In the present modification, a convex portion 31h protruding from the flat portion 31c is formed at a position separated from the tip end 31a of the flat portion 31c of the cylindrical portion 31 of the holder 30 toward the base end 31f by a predetermined distance. The convex portion 31 h abuts on the abutting surface 21 e of the imaging device 21 inserted into the hollow 31 b of the cylindrical portion 31. In the present modification, the convex portion 31h abuts on the abutting surface 21e, whereby the imaging device 21 is positioned in the cavity 31b in the direction parallel to the optical axis O.

  Further, in the endoscope of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 as a second modified example, after fixing the pair of imaging devices 21 to the frame member 12 with the fixing resin 13, A filler 16 which is a resin may be filled in the recess 12 d. In the present modification, when the filler 16 is injected into the recess 12 d, the filler 16 is injected until the butting surfaces 21 e provided on the pair of imaging devices 21 are buried in the filler 16. You can do it. That is, in the present modification, the abutment surface 21e can be used as a standard of the amount of the filler 16 injected into the recess 12d.

  Further, in the endoscope of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 as a third modified example, a covering member 21h may be provided which covers the proximal end 21c side of the imaging device 21 and the electric cable 21d. . The covering member 21 h is a tube-shaped member made of resin, such as a heat-shrinkable tube, for example. By providing the covering member 21 h, it is possible to prevent the entry of water vapor into the imaging device 21 and to improve the strength of the connection portion between the imaging device 21 and the electric cable 21 d. In this modification, the covering member 21 h can be positioned by abutting the covering member 21 h against the abutting surface 21 e of the imaging device 21.

  Further, as shown as a fourth modification in FIG. 12, the rotation restricting portion 21f formed in the first imaging device 21R and the rotation restricting portion 21f formed in the second imaging device 21L have different shapes. It may be done. In the present modification shown in FIG. 12, notches 21 g having different directions are provided in the rotation restricting portion 21 f formed in the first imaging device 21 R and the rotation restricting portion 21 f formed in the second imaging device 21 L. It is done. In the imaging device assembling step, the operator can easily recognize the first imaging device 21R and the second imaging device 21L by visually recognizing the positions of the rotation restricting portion 21f and the notch 21g.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

  The endoscope of the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the imaging device 21. As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the outer shape is different between the first imaging device 21R that captures a right viewpoint image and the second imaging device 21L that captures a left viewpoint image.

  Specifically, the abutment surface 21e and the rotation restricting portion 21f of the first imaging device 21R are disposed on the left side, and the abutment surface 21e and the rotation restriction portion 21f of the second imaging device 21L are on the right side. It is arranged. That is, in a state in which the first imaging device 21R and the second imaging device 21L are fixed to the frame member 12, both abutment surfaces 21e and the rotation restricting portion 21f face each other.

  As in the present embodiment, by making the pair of imaging devices 21 constituting the stereo imaging unit 20 have different outer shapes, the worker assembles the first imaging device 21R and the second imaging device 21L in the imaging device assembling step. It can be easily recognized. For this reason, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the arrangement position of the pair of imaging devices 21 from being mistaken in the imaging device assembling step.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the shapes of the first imaging device 21R and the second imaging device 21L are different, the shapes of the cavities 31b of the pair of holders 30 that hold them are also different. Therefore, for example, the second imaging device 21L can not be inserted into the cavity 31b of the first holder 30 in which the first imaging device 21R can be inserted. For this reason, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the arrangement position of the pair of imaging devices 21 from being mistaken in the imaging device assembling step.

Third Embodiment
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Hereinafter, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a view showing the insertion device 50 used in the imaging device assembling step. In the present embodiment, the insertion device 50 is used in the imaging device assembling step. The insertion device 50 includes a support 51 erected vertically upward from the base 40, and a guide portion 52 which is attachable to and detachable from the support 51 and movable in the vertical direction along the support 51.

  The guide part 52 is provided with the clamp part 52a which can fix a pair of holding tool 30. As shown in FIG. The pair of holders 30 in the state of being fixed to the clamp portion 52 a can move in the vertical direction above the frame member 12 held by the base 40.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, by holding the pair of imaging devices 21 by the pair of holders 30 fixed to the clamp portion 52a, the pair of imaging devices 21 are moved in the vertical direction above the frame member 12. It can be done. That is, by using the insertion device 50, the pair of imaging devices 21 can be simultaneously inserted into the pair of through holes 12a of the frame member 12 without changing the relative position of each other.

  Therefore, when the insertion device 50 is used in the imaging device assembling step, the fixing resin 13 before curing applied to the outer periphery of the pair of imaging devices 21 adheres to a place other than inside the pair of through holes 12 a of the frame member 12. It is possible to prevent it from

  The insertion device 50 can connect the holder 30 to the optical axis adjustment device 60 in a state where the holder 30 is fixed to the clamp portion 52a. In addition, after connecting the holder 30 to the optical axis adjustment device 60, the insertion device 50 can release the fixing of the holder 30 by the clamp portion 52a and can remove it from the base 40. Thus, the insertion device 50 does not prevent the movement of the holder 30 by the optical axis adjustment device 60.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and it is an endoscope with such modifications. Mirrors are also within the scope of the present invention.

  This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-129047 filed on Jun. 30, 2017 as a basis for claiming priority, and the above disclosure is made of the present specification and claims. It shall be quoted in the drawings.

The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with a pair of imaging devices that perform stereo imaging, an endoscope manufacturing unit, and a method of assembling an endoscope .

An endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is an endoscope having a frame member disposed in an insertion portion, and a pair of imaging devices provided with an objective lens and an imaging element fixed to the frame member, , wherein each of the pair of image pickup device along said optical axis of the objective lens has an elongated columnar shape, the outer peripheral plane facing the base end side orthogonal to the optical axis, the imaging to the frame member contact with the retainer that holds the imaging apparatus when fixing the device, that having a abutment surface.
Further, an endoscope manufacturing unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame member disposed in an insertion portion, an objective lens and an imaging device fixed to the frame member, and is elongated along the optical axis of the objective lens An endoscope manufacturing unit for assembling an endoscope, comprising: a pair of imaging devices having a columnar shape and having a butting surface on an outer peripheral surface facing the proximal end side orthogonal to the optical axis Between the biasing member, a cavity into which the imaging device can be inserted inside, and the imaging device inserted into the cavity by the biasing force generated by the biasing member between the inner wall surface of the cavity It has a pair of holding fixtures provided with an arm and a tip for positioning in a direction along the optical axis with respect to the imaging device by coming into contact with the abutment surface.
In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope assembling method comprising: a frame member disposed in an insertion portion; and an objective lens and an imaging element fixed to the frame member, along the optical axis of the objective lens What is claimed is: 1. A method of assembling an endoscope comprising assembling an endoscope comprising: a pair of imaging devices having an elongated columnar shape, comprising the steps of: fixing the imaging device to the frame member; The abutting surface, which is an outer peripheral flat surface facing the base end side orthogonal to the optical axis, is brought into contact with the holder, and the image pickup apparatus is held by the urging force of the arm provided with the urging member of the holder. And positioning the optical axis direction of the imaging device with respect to the frame member in a state where the imaging device is held by the holder.
Further, an endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention is an endoscope having first and second imaging devices provided with an objective lens and an imaging element, wherein the first and second imaging devices are each And a butt surface which is a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of each of the first and second imaging devices for determining the position of the objective lens in the direction along the optical axis of the objective lens, The optical axes of the two imaging devices intersect at a predetermined convergence point.

Claims (1)

A frame member disposed in the insertion portion;
An endoscope comprising: an objective lens fixed to the frame member; and a pair of imaging devices including an imaging device,
Each of the pair of imaging devices has a columnar shape elongated along the optical axis of the objective lens, and has, on the outer periphery, a butting surface consisting of a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and facing in the proximal direction ,
The abutting surface abuts a holder for holding the imaging device when fixing the imaging device to the frame member, thereby positioning the holder in a direction along the optical axis with respect to the imaging device. ,
The holder is provided between a biasing member, a cavity into which the imaging device can be inserted inside, and an inner wall surface of the cavity by the biasing force generated by the biasing member of the imaging device inserted into the cavity. And an arm portion for holding at an end portion of the endoscope.

Images