JP2589948B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope provided with an operation button operated by a finger of an operator's hand holding a grip of an endoscope operation section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an operation section of an endoscope is provided with various operation buttons for air / water supply, suction or gas supply. In addition, in an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is incorporated as an observation means and an image on a monitor installed outside is observed, a freeze button for stopping the image and a control device for controlling a recording device are provided. Release button,
In addition, VTR recording ON / OFF for VTR recording
Various switch buttons such as an OFF button are provided at a hand end of the operation unit.

[0003]

As described above, each of the operation buttons is installed on the outer surface of the hand end of the operation unit. Therefore, it is difficult to operate the operation button with the finger of the hand holding the operation unit. Therefore, for example, in the application of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-161570, there has been proposed a concept in which respective buttons are provided at positions that can be operated by fingers of a grasped hand. In general, an endoscope is usually provided with an air supply / water supply operation button, a suction operation button, and the like on an operation unit thereof, and these operation buttons are also operated by fingers of a hand holding the operation unit. It has become.

However, the size of the hand that grips the operation unit of the endoscope varies depending on the operator, and, for example, as shown in FIG. When a large operator operates, the finger for operating the operation button 30 warps in the opposite direction to the grip 6 side. As a result, the operation of the operation button becomes cramped, and it is difficult to operate the button. When an operator with a small hand operates the tall button 30, the finger for operating the operation button 30 is completely extended, and similarly, the button operation becomes cramped and the button operation becomes impossible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to easily operate an operation button with a finger of a hand holding an operation section of an endoscope, and to improve operability of the operation button. It is to provide a good endoscope.

[0006]

To solve SUMMARY and act INVENTION The above problems, the present invention is the operator's fingers can reach operating gripping the grip portion of the angle knob and its <br/> the endoscope operation portion An endoscope provided with an operation button protruding at a position where the angle
The operation button is at the center line of the
When installed closer to the angle knob than on the center line
Naturally grips the gripper to operate the operation button.
To the position of the second joint of the finger that operates the operation button when
The operation button with a low protrusion height, and the operation button is on the center line.
Is located closer to the opposite side than the angle knob side
To operate the operation button, naturally grasp the gripper.
To the position of the second joint of the finger that operates the operation button when
The operation button with a high protrusion height is attached to and detached from the endoscope operation unit.
I installed it now. Optimum operation button height
To set, press the operation button with the finger of the hand
Easy to operate.

[0007]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an electronic endoscope 1. The endoscope 1 includes an operation section 2, an insertion section 3 connected to the operation section 2, and a connection cord 4. The operation section 2 has a grip section 6 formed in the middle of the operation section main body 5, and the operator grips the grip section 6 with, for example, the left hand.

The operation section 2 is provided with an air / water supply operation button 8 and a suction operation button 9 on a portion 7 on the side surface of the operation section main body 5 at the hand side.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air / water supply operation button 8 and the suction operation button 9 are operated by the index finger and the middle finger of the operator's hand holding the grip portion 6, respectively. Further, switches at the foremost end of the portion 7 on the hand side of the operation unit 2 have functions such as freeze, release for controlling the recording device, and VTR recording ON / OFF for recording the VTR. Are provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a concave portion 11 is provided on the outer surface portion of the operation portion main body 5 where the abdomen of the thumb of the hand holding the grip portion 6 contacts the hand side portion 7 of the operation portion 2 as shown in FIG. Have been. As shown in FIG. 2, the recessed portion 11 has such a degree that the tip of the thumb of the hand gripping the gripper 6 of the operation unit 2 can just enter the position where the finger of the operator's hand gripping the gripper 6 can reach and operate. It is formed in the size of. One operation button 12 is provided in the recess 11. The operation button 12 is formed of an elastic member as shown in FIG.
On the inner surface side portion of the finger pressing portion 13, a convex portion 14 is protruded. A conductive rubber 15 for a switch is attached to a tip end surface of the convex portion 14. The inner peripheral edge of the elastic member constituting the operation button 12 is fitted and attached to the peripheral edge of an opening formed on the bottom surface of the recess 11. Further, the conductive rubber 1 is provided on the inner end face of the elastic member constituting the operation button 12.
A substrate 16 opposed to 5 is attached, and conductive patterns 17 for switches are formed on the substrate 16.

The conductive patterns 17, 17 and the conductive rubber 15 constitute a switch 18 which normally separates as shown in FIG. 2, and when the finger pressing portion 13 of the operation button 12 is pressed, the convex portion is formed. Conductive rubber 1 at the tip of 14
5 is brought into contact with the conductive patterns 17 and 17 of the substrate 16. This switch 18 is, for example, a trigger switch. 19 and 19 are switches 18
Are lead wires derived from the contact points.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface of the finger pressing portion 13 of the operation button 12 is set lower than the outer surface of the operation portion around the concave portion 11. In this embodiment, the entire outer surface of the operation unit around the recess 11 is higher than the surface of the finger pressing unit 13 of the operation button 12 (the outer surface does not have to be the entire circumference).

FIGS. 3 to 5 show various mounting positions of operation buttons 30 representing the air / water supply operation button 8, suction operation button 9, gas supply operation button and the like. In the case shown in FIG.
The operation button 30 is provided at the position of the center line L of the grip 6 in the operation unit 2. In the case shown in FIG. 4, the operation button 30 is provided closer to the angle operation knob 32 than the position of the center line L of the grip 6 in the operation unit 2. In the case shown in FIG. 5, the operation button 30 is provided on the opposite side of the angle operation knob 32 from the position of the center line L of the grip 6 in the operation section 2. Further, the operation buttons 30 are detachable and can be selectively used with different heights. Then, operators with different hand sizes select and use those shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 according to the size of the hand.

When the endoscope 1 is used, the surgeon grasps and holds the grasping section 6 of the operation section 2 as shown in FIG. Then, the air / water supply operation button 8 and the suction operation button 9
Can be operated with the index finger and the middle finger of the hand holding the grip 6 of the operation unit 2. Further, the operation button 12 provided at a position where the belly of the thumb of the hand holding the holding portion 6 can reach can be easily operated in the holding state. Further, since the operation button 12 is provided in the recessed portion 11, the peripheral edge of the recessed portion 11 serves as a protective wall, and the operation button 12 is inadvertently pressed when it is unnecessary when the user is gripping. There is no pushing. Further, when operating the operation button 12, the operation can be performed simply by further pushing the finger naturally without performing an operation such as forcibly extending the finger. In this way, the above operations can be performed while securely holding the operation unit 2, and other operations, such as an angle operation and insertion / removal of the insertion unit 3, are not hindered. That is, the entire endoscope inspection operation can be smoothly performed, and the inspection time can be reduced.

When the air / water supply operation button 8 and the suction operation button 9 are operated by the index finger and the middle finger of the hand holding the grip 6 of the operation unit 2, the operation buttons 30 are detachable. Since different heights can be selected and used, even in the case where the size of the operator's hand is different, in addition to selecting those shown in FIGS. It is possible to select and use one that is suitable for the purpose.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 9, a lower operation button 30 is provided on the opposite side of the angle operation knob 32 from the center position of the gripper 6 as shown in FIG.
The finger for operating the operation button 30 does not warp to the opposite side to the grip part 6, and the button operation can be performed without difficulty.

FIG. 6 shows an operation button 1 installed in the recess 11.
14 shows a modification of the second embodiment. This is the operation button 12
The outer surface at the peripheral edge of the recessed portion 11 provided with the surface is a matte surface 21. If the outer surface at the peripheral edge of the recessed portion 11 where the operation button 12 is provided is the matte surface 21, the finger that operates the operation button 12 slips and the operation button 12 is erroneously operated. Can be prevented.

FIG. 7 shows an operation button 1 installed in the recess 11.
13 shows another modification of the second embodiment. This is the operation button 12
The bottom portion of the concave portion 11 provided with is formed obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the operation portion main body 5, and the operation button 12 is also installed obliquely. The tip of the finger for operating the operation button 12 was formed lower in the oblique direction.

If the finger that operates the operation button 12 is a thumb, the finger pressing portion 13 can be provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the thumb is broken, and the operation button 12 can be placed in a natural posture. Can be operated.

FIG. 8 shows another modification. In this configuration, a glove-like holder 25 without fingertips is provided for the operation unit 2 of the endoscope 1 and the grip unit 6 of the operation unit 2 is supported by a hand holding the glove. Therefore, even if the finger of the hand holding the grip portion 6 is loosened or released, the operation portion 2 does not drop, and the operation portion 2 can be squeezed lightly to reduce the operator's fatigue. It is to be noted that, for the same purpose as that of the holder 25, instead of the holder 25, a piece of magic tape or the like, which may be detachable, may be used.

The recesses 11 correspond to fingers other than the thumb.
And the operation button 12 may be provided. Further, it may be provided not only at one place but also at a plurality of places. When provided at a plurality of locations, the function may be disabled unless the respective operation buttons are simultaneously pressed to prevent erroneous operation. The operation buttons are, for example, a freeze, a release for controlling a recording device, and a VTR recording ON / OFF for recording a VTR.
A switch having a function such as the above may be operated. Further, the operation buttons are not limited to those for operating the electric switch, and may be, for example, those for air / water supply operation, suction operation, gas supply operation, and the like. Further, the type of switch does not matter, such as a tact switch.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention provides the above- described antenna.
The operation button with respect to the center line of the gripper parallel to the glue knob
Is provided closer to the angle knob side than on the center line.
In order to operate the operation button,
Position of the second joint of the finger that operates the operation button when the user grasps it
Operation button with a low protruding height, and the operation button
Provided on the opposite side of the angle knob from the center line
The gripping part for operating the operation button
Joint of the finger that operates the operation button when the user naturally grips
Operate the endoscope with the operation button with a high protrusion height for the position of
On the gripping part
The height of the operation button is optimal for the position of the operation button
It becomes something. Therefore, to operate the operation button,
The movement of the operator's finger is the most
It can be operated in the state most suitable for the work. Therefore,
The operation buttons can be easily and reliably operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch operation unit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which an operation button is operated in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which another operation button is operated in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which still another operation button is operated in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a modification of the endoscope.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which it is inconvenient to operate an operation button.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... endoscope, 2 ... operation unit, 5 ... operation unit main body, 6 ... gripping unit, 8 ... air / water supply operation button, 9 ... suction operation button, 30 ... operation button.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope operation unitAngle knob andIts grip
Operation that protrudes at the position where the finger of the operator's hand
In an endoscope provided with a work button,With respect to the center line of the gripper parallel to the angle knob Previous
The operation button is located closer to the angle knob than the center line.
If the user is able to operate the operation button,
Of the finger for operating the operation button when the part is naturally held
An operation button with a low protrusion height for the position of the node, The operation button is opposite to the angle knob side than on the center line.
When the operation button is operated,
To operate the operation button when the grip is naturally held
Operation button with a high protrusion height for the position of the second joint of the finger
Removably attached to the endoscope operation unit It is characterized by
Endoscope.