JP2848571B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image transmitted from the distal end side of an insertion section to the proximal end side of an endoscope without an eyepiece or a solid-state imaging device on the endoscope side. Is transmitted to the camera control unit via a cable.

[Problems to be Solved by the Prior Art and the Invention] As shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-13942 or Japanese Patent Application No. 1-1191756, an endoscope is used. An image is formed by an objective optical system in the distal end of the insertion section without an eyepiece for viewing the image or a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting the observation image and transmitting an imaging signal to an external camera control unit. The transmitted image is transmitted to the proximal end of the endoscope by the image guide in the insertion section, and this image guide is inserted into the universal cord extending from the proximal end of the endoscope to the outside, so that external camera control can be performed. It can be connected to a unit, transmitted to the solid-state imaging device built in this camera control unit, photoelectrically converted to an imaging signal by the solid-state imaging device, further processes this signal into a video signal and displays it on a monitor It has been proposed as the type. This endoscope is applied to a very thin one such as a blood vessel.

By the way, in performing endoscopic observation and treatment in the medical field, the endoscope apparatus has a clean area that requires disinfection and sterilization, and a unclean area that does not require disinfection and sterilization. It is necessary to secure a clean area from the insertion portion side to the universal cord touched by a surgeon's hand by an insertion operation or the like.
Therefore, in the case of the endoscope apparatus described above, it is necessary to clean the area up to the universal cord through which the image guide for transmitting the observation image is inserted to the camera control unit side together with the insertion portion.

On the other hand, a fiber bundle dedicated to the image guide is used as the image guide, and the image guide fiber bundle is higher in cost than the light guide fiber bundle for transmitting and supplying the illumination light, so that the cost is high. . The image guide that is inserted into the universal cord extending from the base end of the endoscope to the outside and is connected to the camera control unit as described above is a minimum required image guide from the base end of the endoscope to the camera control unit. About 2m is required as the distance. Therefore, an image guide from the distal end to the proximal end of the endoscope insertion portion is indispensable, and an extra cost for an image guide of about 2 m from the proximal end of the endoscope to the camera control unit has to be added.

By the way, in order to eliminate an image guide from the base end of the endoscope to the camera control unit, a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an image is provided in a connector of a universal cord detachably connected to the base end of the endoscope. It is conceivable that a signal line for transmitting an image signal to the camera control unit is inserted into the code. According to this technique, an image guide having a distance of about 2 m from the base end of the endoscope to the camera control unit can be omitted, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. The connector portion of the cord is inconvenient for disinfecting and sterilizing as a clean area as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and is an endoscope that does not have an eyepiece or a solid-state imaging device on the endoscope side, and is conventionally required from the endoscope base end to the camera control unit. An endoscope device that eliminates the need for an image guide, reduces costs, and allows the part directly touched by the surgeon on the cable connected to the base end of the endoscope to be in a clean area that can be disinfected and sterilized. It is intended to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems and Action Thereof] To achieve the above object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
An image guide is provided from the distal end side of the insertion portion to the proximal end side of the endoscope, and a connector of a cable connected to the camera control unit can be detachably connected to the image guide at the proximal end of the endoscope. A solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an image transmitted from the distal end of the endoscope by the image guide is provided inside the connector, and a cover member for covering at least a base end side of the endoscope with the cable is provided on the endoscope. It is provided on the base end side.

With this configuration, the observation image transmitted from the distal end side of the endoscope to the proximal end side of the endoscope by the image guide is photoelectrically converted by the solid-state imaging device in the connector of the cable to be connected, and A signal cable for transmitting this imaging signal to the camera control unit is inserted through the cable, so that an image guide in the cable can be omitted, and a cable connected to the base end side of the endoscope via the connector is at least an operator. The base end side of the endoscope touched by the endoscope is covered with a cover member which is disinfected and sterilized together with the endoscope to make a clean area.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view showing a connection portion between a base end side of an endoscope and a connector of a cable, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a connection state between the end portion and a connector of the camera control unit. FIG. Is an explanatory view showing a state in which the connected cable is covered with a cover member, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a clean area and an unclean area, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the entire endoscope apparatus.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a blood vessel endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 6, the (vessel) endoscope device 1 includes an endoscope 2 and a roller pump device 4 installed on a cart 3,
The camera includes a camera control unit 5, a monitor 6, a video device 7 for recording an image on the monitor 6, and a light source device 8 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 2.

The roller pump device 4 sucks a tube 32 extending from a liquid tank 31 containing a transparent liquid, for example, a physiological saline solution, provided above the cart 3 with a roller (not shown) to pump the transparent liquid.

The distal end of the tube 32 is connected to the channel base 13 a, and the transparent liquid is ejected from the distal end of the insertion section 9 through the channel tube in the angioscopy 2. This transparent liquid is used for removing blood in the blood vessel and keeping the visual field of the endoscope 2 transparent. FIG. 6 shows a case in which the tube 32 is directly connected to the channel base 13a. However, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-48701, a treatment tool (not shown) is used while supplying water using a forceps stopper. May be inserted into the channel tube.

Further, a foot switch 33 is connected to the roller pump device 4 so that the operator can control the water supply by stepping on the foot switch 33.

An insulated transformer 34 is provided below the cart 3. The insulated transformer 34 is connected to electric sockets (not shown) of various electric devices installed on the cart 3. The patient is prevented from being shocked by the leakage current of the equipment.

Further, a tray 35 is provided on the cart 3 so that various small articles necessary for observing blood vessels, for example, a syringe or the like can be placed therein.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 36 denotes an introducer, which is used when the insertion portion 9 is inserted into a body cavity percutaneously.

The (blood vessel) endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 9 having flexibility, and a grip portion 10 is formed at the base end of the insertion portion 9. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 has the light guide fiber bundle 11 and the image guide fiber bundle 12 inserted therethrough from the distal end side of the insertion section 9 to the end of the grip section 10, and has a distal end. In the section, an illumination lens is arranged on the exit end side of the light guide fiber bundle 11, and an objective lens system is arranged in front of the entrance end of the image guide fiber bundle 12, and an object illuminated by the illumination lens is illuminated by the illumination lens. The reflected image is formed as an observation image on the entrance end of the image guide 12 by the objective lens system, and this image is transmitted to the rear end of the image guide at the end of the gripper 10. The endoscope 2 is provided with a grip
A channel opening 13 is provided on the side of 10, a base 13 a is attached, and a channel tube 14 is inserted from the channel base 13 a to the tip of the insertion section 9.

Then, the channel tube 14 fixed to the channel base 13a with an adhesive or the like is provided with a reinforcing tube 14a from the fixing position to the “position where the pressure resistance value of the channel tube 14 exceeds the pressure of the fluid to be injected into the tube 14”. Or reinforced with an adhesive or the like to reinforce areas that are easily ruptured.

A connection unit is provided at the end of the gripper 10 at the base end of the endoscope 2.
15 is fitted and fixed with a pair of screws 16,16.
The grip 10 is made of resin, and the pair of screws 16, 16 is screwed in from the outer periphery of the grip 10 to connect the connection unit 1.
V-grooves 15b, 15b formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion 15a
The V-grooves 15b, 15b are engaged by pressing in the direction of expanding the V-grooves 15b, 15b. Thus, a pair of screws 16 and 16 and a V-groove 15
“b” and “15b” are provided at a plurality of locations all around the grip 10 and the connection unit 15. As described above, the connection unit 15 is fixed to the grip portion 10 with a pair of screws. If one screw is used, a force may be applied to the open end of the connection unit 15 to cause a crack. Because there is. When a pair of screws is used as described above, one of the screws can be used for contact and the other can be used for fixing, and a compressive force is applied to the connection unit 15 between the pair of screws, and a force is applied to the open end. It is strong against cracks without cracking.

The light guide fiber bundle 11 and the image guide fiber bundle 12 are engaged with the connection unit 15 fixed to the rear end of the endoscope gripper 10 in this manner, and each end surface is exposed to the rear end. , The cable in this part
The 16 connectors 17 are detachably connected. Note that the connector 17 and the connection unit 15 are each engaged by an uneven engagement portion 18.

The connector 17 has a solid-state imaging device including an imaging optical system provided therein at a position corresponding to the end surface of the image guide fiber bundle 12 of the connection unit 15, and transmits an image of the subject transmitted by the image guide fiber bundle 12. It is designed to perform photoelectric conversion. A signal line is connected to the solid-state imaging device, and the signal line is inserted through a cable 16, reaches a camera control unit connector 19 at the rear end of the cable 16, and reaches the camera control unit via the connector 19. 5. On the other hand, the output end of the light guide fiber bundle inserted into the cable 16 faces the connector 17 at a position corresponding to the end face of the light guide fiber bundle 12 of the connection unit 15.

In this manner, a light guide fiber bundle is provided inside the cable 16 in addition to the signal line, and the light guide fiber bundle is branched into a branch cable 20 branched from the side of the camera control unit connector 19 at the rear end of the cable. It is extended and connected to the light source device 8 via a light guide connector 21 provided at the end of the branch cable 20.

The endoscope 2 can be disinfected and sterilized as it is to make it a clean area, while the connector 17 and the cable 16 connected to the grip 10 which is the base end with the endoscope are in the connector 17. Since a solid-state imaging device is provided inside the device, it is difficult to perform sterilization and sterilization as it is, and it is not possible to obtain a clean area. Therefore, the connector 17 and the cable 16
The endoscope gripping part 10 is provided with a cover member 22 for covering. The cover member 22 is formed in a bellows shape which can be extended and contracted. When the connector 17 is connected to the connection unit 15, it contracts as shown in FIG. 3, while after being connected, it expands as shown in FIG. And the entire cable 16. When the cover member 22 is extended as shown in FIG. 2, its rear end is fitted and locked to the camera control unit connector 19. This locking is performed, for example, at the locking portion 23 having an uneven shape.

Since the cover member 22 can be disinfected and sterilized together with the endoscope 2, if the connector 17 and the cable 16 are covered as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5, this portion can be formed in a clean area. Although the cover member 22 covers the entire area of the cable 16 in the illustrated example, the cover member 22 may cover not the entire area of the cable 16 but a part of the cable 16.

 FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the light guide fiber bundle is relayed between the base end portion of the endoscope and the cable connector portion, and the light guide is provided inside the cable together with the signal line. The light guide fiber bundle extends outward from the grip 10 at the end, and is provided inside a dedicated light guide cord 26. Therefore, the light guide cord 26 can be disinfected and sterilized together with the endoscope 2 and the cover member 22, and the cover member 22 covers the connector 16 and the cable 16 in which the signal line is provided.

8 and 9 are explanatory views showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment uses the light guide code shown in the second embodiment.
26 is detachable from the endoscope gripper 10. If the light guide cord 26 can be sterilized, only the signal cable 16 needs to be covered with the cover member 22 as in the second embodiment. If sterilization is not possible, separate the two cover members
What is necessary is just to coat with 2,22.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an endoscope having no eyepiece or solid-state imaging device on the endoscope side, which is conventionally required from the base end of the endoscope to the camera control unit In addition to eliminating the need for an image guide, the cost can be reduced, and a portion of the cable connected to the base end of the endoscope that is directly touched by the operator can be disinfected and a clean area where sterilization can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a base end side of the endoscope and a connector of a cable. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a connection state between a base end portion of a cover member and a connector of a camera control unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the cable connector with the cover member contracted is going to be connected to the base end side of the endoscope. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the connected cable is covered with the cover member. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a clean area and an unclean area, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the entire endoscope apparatus, FIG. 7 is a second embodiment, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are third embodiments. FIG. 2 endoscope, 9 insertion section 10 grip section 12 image guide fiber bundle 15 connection unit 16 cable 17 connector 22 cover member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An endoscope provided with an image guide from a distal end side of an insertion section to a proximal end side of an endoscope, wherein an image guide section at the proximal end of the endoscope has a connector for a cable connected to a camera control unit. A solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an image transmitted from the endoscope end side by the image guide is provided in the connector, and the imaging converted by the solid-state imaging device is provided in the cable. An endoscope, wherein a signal line for transmitting a signal to the camera control unit side is inserted, and a cover member for covering at least a base end side of the endoscope is provided on the base end side of the endoscope. apparatus.