JP2011217969A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently radiate heat to be generated by the light emission of a light emitting element.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus 1 includes a substantially cylindrical shape insertion part 10 and is constituted by arranging an LED illumination part 37 at the distal end of the part 10 and also arranging an observation part 5 having a CCD 53 in the rear part of the LED illumination part 37. Optical lenses 51 constituting the observation part 5 partially have thermal conductivity and are partially mounted on an optical system receiver 35 which is disposed close to the rear part of an LED 372-1 and has thermal conductivity. The rear surface of the optical system receiver 35 tightly adheres onto the front surface of a mirror frame 21 having thermal conductivity. Sheet shape radiation members 28 are arranged on the rear surface side of the mirror frame 21, so as to allow the longitudinal direction of the members 28 to meet the axial direction of the insertion part 10 in a state where the front surfaces have contact with the rear surface side of the mirror frame 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus using a light emitting element in an illumination unit.

  Conventionally, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used in the medical field, the industrial field, and the like. This endoscope apparatus has a built-in imaging unit such as a CCD or an illuminating unit for illuminating a test site on the distal end side of a flexible elongated insertion unit. By inserting the insertion portion into the inspection object, it is possible to observe the region to be examined.

  In addition, a light emitting element such as an LED is used for the illumination unit, and a technique for dissipating heat generated when the light emitting element emits light is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, heat is radiated by arranging a bundle member in which strands having high thermal conductivity are bundled in a hollow portion (space) inside the apparatus along the axial direction of the insertion portion. Specifically, the substrate on which the light emitting element is disposed and the receiving member disposed in close contact with the substrate are formed of a material having high thermal conductivity, and bundled wires are formed on the base end surface of the substrate or the receiving member. By bringing the tip of the member into contact, the generated heat is conducted to the base end side (rear side) of the insertion portion.

Japanese Patent No. 4388288

  However, in the bundle member of Patent Document 1, since the cross-sectional area of each individual wire is small, the contact area with the base end surface of the substrate or the receiving member is small, and the heat dissipation efficiency may be insufficient. If the illumination is brightened, the amount of heat generation increases accordingly. If the heat dissipation efficiency is low, the temperature rises, causing a problem in the image sensor or a decrease in the performance of the light emitting element itself.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above, Comprising: It aims at providing the endoscope apparatus which can thermally radiate the heat | fever which generate | occur | produces when a light emitting element emits light efficiently.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a cylindrical insertion portion, and an illumination portion using a light emitting element is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion. An endoscope apparatus in which an observation unit including an imaging element is disposed behind the illumination unit, and has thermal conductivity, and is disposed in the vicinity of the rear of the light-emitting element and in front of the observation unit. A holding member that holds the portion, and a sheet-like heat dissipation member that has thermal conductivity and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is along the axial direction of the insertion portion in a state where one end surface is in contact with the rear surface of the holding member And.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the heat radiating member is folded in the width direction.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, in the above invention, the heat radiating member has a hollow portion in which a midway portion is formed wide and exists in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion portion behind the holding member. The wide portion is packed and disposed.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the heat radiating member is a thin plate or a net-like body using a metal material having thermal conductivity.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the heat dissipating member is a carbon fiber composite material.

  Moreover, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the surface of the heat radiating member has irregularities.

  Moreover, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a sealing member having thermal conductivity is disposed around the heat radiating member.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the sealing member is made of a resin material mixed with an additive having thermal conductivity.

  In the present invention, one end surface of the sheet-like heat dissipation member is brought into contact with the rear surface of the holding member disposed behind the light emitting element, and the longitudinal direction is disposed along the axial direction of the insertion portion. According to this, since the contact area between the holding member and the heat radiating member can be increased, the heat generated by the light emitting element emitting light can be efficiently radiated.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining heat radiation by the heat radiation member of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat dissipation member in a modification. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the heat dissipation member in the modification. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the heat dissipation member in the modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Moreover, in description of drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and shown to the same part.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and in detail, shows an axial cross section of a distal end portion of an elongated insertion portion 10 constituting the endoscope apparatus 1. ing. As shown in FIG. 1, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the insertion portion 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the distal end portion thereof is curved, for example, bent in the vertical and horizontal directions by connecting the bending pieces. A hard tip portion 30 is connected to the tip side of the portion 20 by a connecting pipe 40. The curved portion 20 and the connecting tube 40 are fixed with screws or the like. Although not shown, a flexible tube portion formed of a flexible annular member is connected to the proximal end side of the bending portion 20. In the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10 configured in this way, an observation portion 5 configured by arranging a plurality of optical lenses 51, a CCD 53, and the like at appropriate positions on the optical axis OA is incorporated.

  The distal end portion 30 is formed by attaching a transparent cover glass 33 to a substantially cylindrical cover member 31 to form an exterior. Inside the tip portion 30, an optical system receiver 35, an LED illumination portion 37 as an illumination portion, and the like are disposed. ing.

  The optical system receiver 35 has a substantially cylindrical shape, is attached with a part of the optical lens 51, and is fixedly disposed at an appropriate position on the optical axis OA. Further, a stepped portion 351 is formed along the outer periphery of the tip side surface (hereinafter referred to as “front surface”) of the optical system receiver 35.

  The LED illumination unit 37 includes an LED substrate 371 and an LED 372-1 that is an example of a light emitting element. The LED substrate 371 has an annular shape, and the inner periphery thereof is loosely fitted to the step portion 351 on the outer periphery of the optical system receiver 35, and the outer periphery thereof is disposed along the inner wall of the cover member 31. One or a plurality of LEDs 372-1 are disposed at appropriate positions on the LED substrate 371. In FIG. 1, the LED 372-1 is shown as one of a plurality of LEDs (not shown) arranged on the LED substrate 371. The contact 373 of the power supply receiving portion of the LED board 371 passes through the LED board 371 and is in contact with the contact pin 374 on the power supply side on the back surface. The number of LEDs arranged on the LED substrate 371 may be an appropriate number as necessary. In addition to this, the LED illumination unit 37 appropriately includes a necessary configuration such as a diffusion plate that diffuses illumination light.

  At the tip 30 where the optical system receiver 35 and the LED illumination unit 37 are disposed, the optical lens 51 mounted on the optical system receiver 35 and the LED 372-1 constituting the LED illumination unit 37 are disposed opposite to the cover glass 33. The cover glass 33 functions as an optical window that transmits the illumination light from the LED illumination unit 37 to the outside and introduces the reflected light to the inside to enter the optical lens 51.

  The bending portion 20 is a CCD substrate in which lens frames 241, 242, 243, a CCD 53, and a CCD 53 are mounted on the inner side of a cylindrical body formed by connecting lens frames 21, 22, and 23 having a substantially cylindrical shape so as to be freely bent. 25, a signal cable 26 in which a plurality of signal lines 261 are bundled, a power cable 27 for supplying power to the LED illumination unit 37, and the like are disposed. Further, a sealing member 291 is disposed in a gap existing between the lens frames 241, 242 and 243 inside the lens frame 21. As this sealing member 291, a non-thermally conductive and heat-resistant resin material having an appropriate flexibility and blocking heat is used so that it can be bent according to the bending operation of the bending portion 20. The space between the lens frames 241, 242 and 243 is filled inside the lens frame 21.

  The lens frames 241, 242, and 243 each have a substantially cylindrical shape. These lens frames 241, 242, and 243 are mounted with an optical lens 51 other than the optical lens 51 mounted on the optical system receiver 35 and a CCD 53 mounted on the CCD substrate 25, and fixed at appropriate positions on the optical axis OA. Deploy.

  The CCD 53 includes a plurality of terminals 531 extending to the base end side, and is mounted on the CCD substrate 25 by connecting these terminals 531 to the CCD substrate 25. Signal lines 261 constituting the signal cable 26 are connected to the CCD substrate 25 at predetermined positions.

  In the bending portion 20 configured as described above, the lens frame 21 is disposed in a state in which the front end surface (front surface) is in close contact with the rear surface of the optical system receiver 35, and constitutes a holding member together with the optical system receiver 35. . A sheet-like heat radiation member 28 whose outer shape is formed in a rectangular shape is disposed on the rear surface side of the lens frame 21. A sealing member 293 is disposed around the heat dissipation member 28.

  The heat dissipating member 28 is disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10 in a state where the front end surface (front surface) which is one end surface is in contact with the rear surface side of the lens frame 21. It has moderate flexibility so that it can be bent according to the bending operation. Although details will be described later, the heat radiating member 28 is disposed in a hollow portion (space) existing inside the insertion portion 10 and has a sheet surface expanded in accordance with the width and height of the hollow portion. Or, it is arranged in a state of being packed in the hollow part by being folded in the width direction as appropriate. In FIG. 1, the heat radiating member 28 is shown that is folded three times.

  More specifically, the rear surface side of the lens frame 21 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and forms a step portion 211 extending along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10. The heat dissipating member 28 has the front surface in contact with the side surface of the stepped portion 211, and the longitudinal direction is the axial direction of the insertion portion 10 in a state where the lower sheet surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the stepped portion 211. It is arranged along. As described above, the step portion 211 increases the contact area between the lens frame 21 and the heat dissipation member 28.

  Here, the optical system receiver 35 and the lens frame 21 are formed using a material having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. Moreover, as the sheet-like heat radiating member 28, it is preferable to use a metal material having a thermal conductivity of 200 (W / mk) or more. For example, a metal plate with a high thermal conductivity such as copper, aluminum or silver formed into a thin plate shape, or a wire with a high thermal conductivity such as a copper wire, an aluminum wire or a silver wire formed into a network ( Network). Or what formed the composite material combined with carbon fiber in the shape of a thin plate may be used. Moreover, when using what was formed in the thin plate shape as the heat radiating member 28, it is good also as a structure which expanded the surface area by giving the surface treatment which forms an unevenness | corrugation on the surface. Further, the heat radiating member 28 and the side surface and bottom surface of the step portion 211 on the rear surface side of the lens frame 21 are joined by a filler having high thermal conductivity to which, for example, a filler is added.

  On the other hand, the lens frames 22 and 23 and the lens frames 241, 242, and 243 forming the exterior of the curved portion 20 are made of a material having excellent corrosion resistance such as stainless steel and low thermal conductivity.

  As the sealing member 293, a resin material having appropriate flexibility and heat conductivity so that it can be bent according to the bending operation of the bending portion 20 is used. Alternatively, a resin material having increased thermal conductivity by mixing particles made of a material having high thermal conductivity or a filler such as carbon fiber as an additive to a flexible resin material is used. The sealing member 293 is disposed around the heat radiating member 28 by filling the heat radiating member 28 with a resin material having heat conductivity as described above or a resin material mixed with an additive having high heat conductivity. Established.

  In the endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described above, the LED illumination unit 37 is caused to emit light by supplying power to the LED 372-1 via the contact point 373 on the LED substrate 371 via the power cable 27. Illuminate the test site. Then, the observation image of the examination site illuminated in this way is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 53 through the plurality of optical lenses 51, and an endoscopic image is obtained.

  Here, heat radiation by the heat radiation member 28 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the shapes of the optical system receiver 35, the lens frame 21, and the heat radiating member 28 are simplified. 2 also shows one LED 372-1 on the LED board 371 as in FIG. 1, but one or more LEDs are arranged at appropriate positions on the LED board 371. FIG.

  As described above, the heat radiation member 28 is disposed in the hollow portion inside the insertion portion 10, and the front surface thereof is brought into contact with the rear surface side of the lens frame 21 (specifically, the side surface of the step portion 211). In this state, the longitudinal direction is arranged along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10. Here, at the rear of the outer peripheral portion of the lens frame 21, the hollow portion does not necessarily exist uniformly over the entire periphery, and necessary members are appropriately disposed. For this reason, the heat dissipation member 28 is intermittently disposed at a position where there is a continuous hollow portion along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the heat radiating member 28 is disposed at three locations in the step portion 211 on the rear surface side of the lens frame 21. Actually, the heat dissipating member 28 is in a state in which the seat surface is expanded as described above according to the width and height of the hollow portion continuously existing along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10 at the rear of the arrangement position. It is disposed in a state of being folded and packed in the hollow portion. Therefore, the width of the heat radiating member 28 is individually designed on the assumption that the heat radiating member 28 is appropriately folded or the like according to the width and height of the hollow portion behind the arrangement position. That is, if the height of the hollow part behind the arrangement position is about the thickness of the heat radiation member 28, the width is formed to the width of the corresponding hollow part and arranged in the expanded state without being folded. On the other hand, when the height of the hollow portion at the rear of the arrangement position is equal to or greater than the thickness of the heat radiating member 28, it is formed in a width that takes into account the amount of stuffing by folding it twice or more depending on the height. Arrange. In addition, the aspect packed in a hollow part is not specifically limited, It is good also as an aspect folded in a bellows shape.

  Further, as described above, the LED substrate 371 on which the LED 372-1 is disposed is loosely fitted on the outer periphery of the step portion 351 (not shown in FIG. 2) on the front outer periphery of the optical system receiver 35 shown in FIG. The front surface of the lens frame 21 is in close contact with the rear surface of the optical system receiver 35. Then, in the step portion 211 on the rear surface side of the lens frame 21, the front surface is brought into contact with the side surface of the step portion 211, the lower sheet surface is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the step portion 211, and the longitudinal direction is the axial direction of the insertion portion 10. The heat radiating member 28 is disposed along the line. As described above, the optical system receiver 35, the lens frame 21, and the heat dissipation member 28 are each formed of a material having high thermal conductivity.

  Therefore, when heat is generated by continuously supplying power to the LED 372-1 via the power cable 27 (not shown in FIG. 2) shown in FIG. 1 and causing the LED 372-1 to emit light, the generated heat is generated. Is conducted to the LED substrate 371 in the LED illumination unit 37. The heat conducted to the LED board 371 is conducted to the optical system receiver 35 behind the LED board 371 and further to the lens frame 21 whose front surface is in close contact with the rear surface of the optical system receiver 35. Thereafter, the heat conducted to the lens frame 21 is conducted to the heat radiating member 28 on the rear surface side and conducted to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 10 (arrow A1). At this time, the front surface of the heat dissipation member 28 is in contact with the side surface of the step portion 211 on the rear surface side of the lens frame 21, and the lower sheet surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the step portion 211 on the front surface side. The heat conducted to the frame 21 is efficiently conducted to the heat radiating member 28 with a wide contact area.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet-like heat radiating member 28 formed in a thin plate shape or a net shape using a material having a high thermal conductivity is appropriately set according to the hollow portion existing in the insertion portion 10. It was decided to be packed in the hollow portion by folding or the like. According to this, compared with the case where the rod-shaped bundle member is used as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, the contact area on the front surface can be increased. In addition, the heat radiating member 28 can be flexibly arranged in the hollow portion inside the apparatus, and the volume density can be increased. According to this, the hollow part can be efficiently used, the heat radiation efficiency of the heat generated by the LED 372-1 emitting light can be sufficiently increased, and the temperature rise of the LED 372-1 can be suppressed. On the other hand, since the lens frames 241, 242, and 243 for mounting the optical lens 51 and the CCD 53 on the rear stage of the optical lens 51 are formed of a material having low thermal conductivity, heat transfer to the CCD 53 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress a situation in which a malfunction occurs in the image sensor due to a rise in temperature or the performance of the light emitting element itself is degraded.

  Further, the sealing member 293 is disposed around the heat radiating member 28 by filling a resin material having thermal conductivity or a resin material mixed with an additive having high thermal conductivity. According to this, a hollow part where arrangement of the heat dissipation member 28 is difficult due to the presence of other members in the middle part of the outer periphery of the lens frame 21 can be efficiently utilized and heat can be radiated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the heat radiating member 28 is disposed at a position where the hollow portion continuous along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10 exists behind the outer peripheral portion of the lens frame 21. The width of the hollow portion is not always constant, and there are cases where the width of the hollow portion is narrow at another position at the rear of the arrangement position and wide at another position. Similarly, the height of the hollow portion is not necessarily constant, and the height of the hollow portion may be low and may be high at another position because another member exists at a certain position behind the arrangement position. For this reason, if the shape of the heat radiating member is determined in accordance with the minimum width and height of the hollow portion at the rear of the arrangement position, the volume density may not be increased by fully utilizing the hollow portion. Therefore, the shape of the heat dissipation member may be designed according to the width and height of the hollow portion along the axial direction of the insertion portion 10. According to this, the volume density can be increased using the hollow portion more efficiently, and the heat dissipation efficiency can be further enhanced.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the heat radiating member 28a in the present modified example, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the heat radiating member 28b in the present modified example. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a concave portion 281 may be provided by recessing a position corresponding to a portion where the width of the hollow portion is narrow. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a convex portion 283 having a part protruding so that the heat dissipation member 28 b becomes wide may be provided at a position corresponding to a portion where the width of the hollow portion is wide. In addition, the shape of the concave part and convex part provided in the middle part of a heat radiating member is not limited to the illustrated rectangular shape, For example, the shape which follows the shape of the member which exists in applicable positions, such as forming in circular arc shape. As good as Actually, the heat radiation member may be formed by providing a concave portion or a convex portion of an appropriate shape at an appropriate position in the middle based on a position where the width of the hollow portion behind the arrangement position is narrow or wide. .

  FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of the heat radiating member 28c in this modification. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, at a position corresponding to a portion where the height of the hollow portion is high, a part of the heat radiating member 28c is projected so as to be wide as in the case of FIG. A convex portion 283c may be provided. And as shown in FIG.5 (b), it is good also as arrange | positioning the thermal radiation member 28c in the state which folded this convex-shaped part 283c. If it does in this way, the convex part 283c which comprises a part of heat radiating member 28c can be packed and arrange | positioned in the position where the height of the hollow part behind arrangement | positioning position is high compared with the circumference | surroundings. In this case as well, the mode of filling the hollow portion is not limited to the illustrated mode, and may be a mode of folding in a bellows shape, for example. Also, depending on the width and height of the hollow portion at the rear of the arrangement position, the concave portion and the convex portion described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and the hollow portion described above with reference to FIG. 5 are packed. It is good also as providing in the appropriate place of a middle part combining the convex-shaped part of, and forming a heat radiating member.

  In addition, when there is a hollow portion around the entire periphery behind the outer periphery of the lens frame 21, the front surface is brought into contact with the entire periphery of the side surface of the stepped portion 211, and a heat radiation member is wound around the outer periphery of the lens frame 21. It may be attached. Or if possible according to a hollow part, you may make it wind a rectangular-shaped heat radiating member spirally in the outer peripheral part back of the lens-frame 21 in the state which the front surface contacted the side surface of the step part 211. .

  Moreover, in above-mentioned embodiment, although LED was illustrated as a light emitting element, it is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the illumination unit of the endoscope apparatus is configured using another light emitting element that generates heat by emitting light.

  As described above, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is suitable for efficiently dissipating heat generated by the light emitting element emitting light.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope apparatus 10 Insertion part 20 Bending part 21, 22, 23 Mirror frame 211 Step part 241, 242, 243 Lens frame 25 CCD board 26 Signal cable 261 Signal line 27 Power supply cable 28, 28a, 28b, 28c Heat dissipation member 281 Concave part 283, 283c Convex part 30 Tip part 31 Cover member 33 Cover glass 35 Optical system receiver 351 Step part 37 LED illumination part 371 LED substrate 372-1 LED
373 Contact 374 Contact pin 40 Connecting tube 5 Observation unit 51 Optical lens 53 CCD
OA optical axis

Claims (8)

Endoscope apparatus comprising a cylindrical insertion portion, an illumination portion using a light emitting element disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an observation portion including an imaging element disposed behind the illumination portion Because
A holding member that has thermal conductivity and is disposed in the vicinity of the rear of the light emitting element to hold the front portion of the observation unit;
A sheet-like heat dissipating member that has thermal conductivity and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the axial direction of the insertion portion in a state in which one end surface is in contact with the rear surface of the holding member;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating member is folded in the width direction.   The heat radiating member is characterized in that a midway part is formed wide and the wide part is packed in a hollow part that exists in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the insertion part behind the holding member. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiating member is a thin plate or a net-like body using a metal material having thermal conductivity.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heat radiating member is a carbon fiber composite material.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the heat radiating member has irregularities.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sealing member having thermal conductivity is disposed around the heat radiating member.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sealing member is formed of a resin material mixed with an additive having thermal conductivity.

Images