JP4201413B2 - Light source device for simplified endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light source device for a simple endoscope in which an incident end portion of a light guide is disposed in an operation unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a so-called simple endoscope in which a light emitter for illumination is attached to an operation unit, a light source unit incorporating a miniature light bulb and a dry battery is generally detachably attached to the operation unit.
[0003]
Both the simple endoscope and the light source unit need to be constructed in a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside so that they can be immersed in the disinfectant after use. It is desirable that ethylene oxide gas sterilization can be performed as a more complete infection prevention measure.
[0004]
In such a gas sterilizer, since the air is first exhausted and the environment is temporarily close to a vacuum, if the endoscope has a simple water-tight structure, the rubber tube covering the curved portion swells and bursts. There is a risk.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, measures have been taken such as providing a relief valve to release the internal pressure to the outside when the internal pressure becomes higher than the outside.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The light source device for a simple endoscope needs to open the lid to replace the built-in battery when it is necessary to replace the battery or when the lamp has run out. If the apparatus itself is configured to be watertight, the inside becomes negative pressure when attempting to open the lid, so there are many cases where the lid cannot be easily opened.
[0007]
In the case where the relief valve as described above is provided, the internal pressure can be released to the outside when the internal pressure becomes higher than the outside, but the phenomenon that the internal pressure becomes lower than the outside cannot be relieved.
[0008]
Therefore, although the present invention has a watertight structure, no matter how the relationship between the internal pressure and the external pressure changes, the internal pressure changes following the external pressure, resulting in inconvenience due to the internal / external pressure difference. An object of the present invention is to provide a light source device for a simplified endoscope that does not.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a light source device for a simplified endoscope according to the present invention supplies illumination light to a simplified endoscope in which an incident end of a light guide that transmits illumination light is disposed in an operation unit. Therefore, in the light source device of a simple endoscope that is detachably provided with respect to the operation unit and is watertight, an air passage that communicates the inside and the outside of the light source device is formed, and the air passage A porous member that is air permeable but not water permeable is provided so as to block the water.
[0010]
The air passage includes a first air passage that communicates the interior with the atmosphere, and a second air passage that communicates the interior and the inside of the operation portion when attached to the operation portion. The porous member may be provided in each air passage.
[0011]
In addition, a light source lamp and a battery serving as a light emission energy source may be disposed inside, and a lid body that is opened and closed to replace the light source lamp or the battery may be attached by screwing. .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 3 shows a state in which the light source unit 30 is attached to the operation unit 2 of the simple endoscope. The operation unit 2 is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit 1 covered with a flexible tube. Yes. A forceps insertion portion 4 is provided so as to protrude between the grip portion 3 of the operation portion 2 and the insertion portion 1.
[0013]
The operation mechanism unit 5 above the grip unit 3 of the operation unit 2 includes a suction operation valve 6 for performing a suction operation through a forceps channel (not shown) inserted into the insertion unit 1, and the insertion unit 1. A bending operation lever 7 for remotely bending a bending portion (not shown) formed at the distal end portion is disposed on the front surface and the rear surface, and an eyepiece portion 8 projects from the upper surface.
[0014]
The light guide fiber bundle 9 for illuminating the subject has an incident end disposed in the operation mechanism unit 5, passes through the insertion unit 1 and the grip unit 3 of the operation unit 2, and the exit end is the insertion unit 1. It is arranged at the tip of.
[0015]
And the elongate light source unit 30 for supplying illumination light with respect to the light guide fiber bundle 9 is attached to the side part of the operation mechanism part 5 so that attachment or detachment is possible.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a state where the light source unit 30 is removed from the operation unit 2, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state where the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2.
[0017]
The main body case 11 that covers the operation mechanism section 5 of the operation section 2 is made of plastic. The bearing cylinder 12 and the suction operation valve 6 that support the bending operation lever 7 are fitted into a through hole formed in the main body case 11 and are sealed watertight there. The bases of the bearing cylinder 12 and the suction operation valve 6 are respectively fixed to a frame 13 in the operation unit 2.
[0018]
A lid 15 is fitted into a side opening formed largely in the main body case 11, and a sealing O-ring 16 is attached to the fitting surface, so that water does not enter the inside from the gap. . Although the O-ring 16 is crushed by being attached, a cross section in a natural state before being crushed is shown in the drawing (hereinafter the same).
[0019]
A support cylinder 17 whose base is fixed to the frame 13 in the operation unit 2 is disposed at the central axis position of the hole formed in the central portion of the lid 15. A light guide mounting tube 18 screwed to the support tube 17 protrudes outward, and an incident end of the light guide fiber bundle 9 is screwed and fixed to the center axis position of the light guide mounting tube 18. ing.
[0020]
On the projecting end side of the light guide mounting cylinder 18, a cylindrical lens mounting cylinder 19 in which a concave and convex lens 20 is joined in a watertight manner to the tip portion is covered with a cap shape and screwed and fixed. The lens 20 is positioned at a position facing and close to the incident end face of the light guide fiber bundle 9.
[0021]
The O-ring receiving frame 22 arranged so as to surround the connection portion between the support tube 17 and the light guide mounting tube 18 is fitted to the central hole of the lid 15 on the outer surface, and the fitting portion An O-ring 24 for sealing is attached, so that water does not enter inside through the gap.
[0022]
In addition, the connection tube 23 disposed so as to surround the portion extending from the lens mounting tube 19 to the O-ring receiving frame 22 is screwed and fixed to the inner surface of the hole of the lid body 15, and is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion. A male screw 23a is screwed, and the outer peripheral surface on the front side is formed into a tapered surface that gradually becomes thinner, and a sealing O-ring 26 is mounted in the middle of the tapered surface.
[0023]
An annular gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 23 and the outer peripheral face of the lens mounting cylinder 19, and the gap serves as an air passage 28 that communicates the inside and the outside of the operation unit 2. .
[0024]
In this way, the operation unit 2 is configured to have a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside, except for the air passage 28 portion. Of course, the insertion portion 1 is similarly formed in a watertight structure.
[0025]
Therefore, in the state of only the endoscope to which the light source unit 30 is not attached, the inside and the outside of the endoscope are communicated with each other through the air passage 28, so that the endoscope is placed in a vacuum environment by being placed in an ethylene oxide gas sterilizer. Even if this is done, there will be no rupture accidents of the flexible parts constituting the endoscope.
[0026]
The light source unit 30 is formed in an L-shaped cylinder as a whole, and its main body case 31 is made of plastic. The light source lamp 32 is attached to the lamp socket 33 at the bent portion.
[0027]
The light source lamp 32 is arranged on the axis of the short cylinder of the L-shaped cylinder, and a reflecting mirror 34 for converging the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 on the axis of the short cylinder It is attached to the lamp socket 33 so as to surround it.
[0028]
An opening is formed in the main body case 31 behind the lamp socket 33, and a lamp chamber lid 35 is detachably screwed to the opening. An O-ring 36 for sealing is attached to the fitting surface between the lamp chamber lid 35 and the main body case 31 so that water does not enter the inside through the gap.
[0029]
A compression coil spring 37 is interposed between the lamp chamber lid 35 and the lamp socket 33, and the lamp socket 33 and the reflecting mirror 34 are elastically fixed.
[0030]
A battery 38 is accommodated inside the long cylinder side of the L-shaped main body case 31. As the battery 38, either a dry battery or a rechargeable CADNICA battery may be used.
[0031]
A plastic battery chamber lid 39 is detachably screwed into the end opening of the battery housing portion of the main body case 31. An O-ring 40 for sealing is attached to the boundary surface between the two so that water does not enter the inside through the gap. If the battery chamber lid 39 is removed from the main body case 31, the battery 38 can be replaced. Can do.
[0032]
Reference numerals 41 and 42 denote negative electrode electrodes disposed in the battery chamber lid 39 and the main body case 31, and reference numeral 43 denotes a positive electrode electrode disposed in the main body case 31, which is connected to the light source lamp 32 via the lead wires 43. Has been.
[0033]
A switch for turning on / off the power supply to the light source lamp 32 is provided in the middle of the wiring, but the illustration thereof is omitted. The switch portion is also sealed watertight so that water does not enter the inside from the outside.
[0034]
At the end opening on the short tube side of the main body case 31, a connecting tube receiving tube 46 having a tapered opening shaped to engage with the tapered surface of the connecting tube 23 provided in the operation unit 2 is a nut from the inside. Fastened at 47.
[0035]
An O-ring 48 for sealing is attached to the fitting surface between the connection tube receiving tube 46 and the main body case 31 so that water does not enter the inside through the gap. A parallel flat transparent plate 49 is joined to the inner end of the connection tube receiving tube 46 in a watertight manner.
[0036]
In this way, the light source unit 30 is configured in a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside in all parts. Therefore, even if only the light source unit 30 that is not attached to the operation unit 2 is immersed in a disinfectant or the like alone, there is no fear of a flood accident. Moreover, since the light source unit 30 does not have a flexible part on the outer wall, even if it is placed in an ethylene oxide gas sterilizer, a rupture accident or the like does not occur.
[0037]
On the outer peripheral side of the connecting tube receiving tube 46, a fastening ring 50 formed with a female screw 50 a that is screwed with the male screw 23 a of the connecting tube 23 is attached so as not to come out in the axial direction.
[0038]
Accordingly, the light source unit 30 is moved closer to the operation unit 2 side from the state shown in FIG. 1, the tapered surfaces of the connection tube 23 and the connection tube receiving tube 46 are brought into close contact with each other, and the female screw 50a of the tightening ring 50 is connected to the connection tube 23. 2, the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0039]
At that time, since the O-ring 26 mounted on the tapered surface of the connection tube 23 is crushed by the connection tube receiving tube 46, water does not enter the connection portion from the outside. Since the air passage 28 opens inside the connection portion sealed by the O-ring 26, even if the entire apparatus is immersed in the disinfectant solution with the light source unit 30 attached to the operation portion 2. The disinfectant does not enter the device at all.
[0040]
When the light source unit 30 is thus attached to the operation unit 2, the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 34, and then passes through the transparent plate 49 and the concavo-convex lens 20 to form a light guide fiber. The light is condensed on the incident end face of the bundle 9 and enters the light guide fiber bundle 9.
[0041]
A holding lid 62 is screwed onto the battery chamber lid 39 of the light source device of the simple endoscope configured as described above so that a porous sheet 61 that is permeable but not permeable is sandwiched therebetween. It has been. The porous sheet 61 is made of, for example, a tetrafluoroethylene resin having a large number of minute open cells.
[0042]
The battery chamber lid 39 and the presser lid 62 are provided with vent holes 63 and 64 (first vent passages) for communicating between the inside in which the battery 38 is accommodated and the outside atmosphere, and are porous. The sheet 61 is disposed so as to block the vent holes 63 and 64 halfway.
[0043]
As a result, although the light source unit 30 is kept airtight, ventilation between the inside and the atmosphere is performed. Therefore, the internal pressure of the light source unit 30 changes following the change in the surrounding environmental pressure, and the battery chamber lid 39 can be easily removed when the battery 38 is replaced. Does not occur.
[0044]
The connection tube receiving tube 46 of the light source unit 30 into which the connection tube 23 of the endoscope operation unit 2 is inserted has an inner portion (O in the connection tube 23 side when the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2). A vent hole 65 (second vent passage) for communicating the inside and the outside of the light source unit 30 is also formed in the inner portion located behind the ring 26, and is breathable but not permeable. A porous sheet 66 is attached so as to close the vent hole 65.
[0045]
As a result, in a state where the operation unit 2 and the light source unit 30 are not connected, the function of the vent hole 65 is exactly the same as that of the vent holes 63 and 64 formed in the battery chamber lid 39. The vent hole 65 and the vent holes 63 and 64 formed in the battery chamber lid 39 communicate with each other through the internal space of the light source unit 30.
[0046]
However, in a state where the light source unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2, the inside of the operation unit 2 and the light source unit 30 are ventilated through the vent hole 65, the porous sheet 66 and the ventilation path 28 on the operation unit 2 side. Therefore, the operation unit 2 also has air permeability through the air holes 63 and 64 formed in the battery chamber lid 39, and the pressure inside the light source unit 30 and the inside of the endoscope. The pressure also changes following the change in the surrounding environmental pressure, and there is no inconvenience due to the difference between the internal and external pressure.
[0047]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the vent hole between the light source unit 30 and the atmosphere is not limited to the battery chamber lid 39 and may be formed in any part of the light source unit 30. Good.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a water-tight structure is formed by forming a ventilation path that allows communication between the inside and the outside of the light source device, and providing a porous member that is air-permeable but not water-permeable so as to close the ventilation path. However, no matter how the relationship between the internal pressure and the external pressure changes, the internal pressure changes following the external pressure, and there is no inconvenience due to the internal / external pressure difference.
[0049]
Then, by providing a first air passage that communicates the interior with the atmosphere and a second air passage that communicates the interior and the inside of the operation portion, and providing a porous member in each air passage, the light source device is provided. Since the endoscope is in a state of being permeable to the atmosphere side, the pressure in the endoscope also changes following the change in the surrounding environmental pressure, and there is no inconvenience caused by the difference between the internal and external pressures.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan sectional view showing a state where an operation unit and a light source unit of a simplified endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention are separated.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan cross-sectional view of a state where a light source unit is attached to an operation unit of a simplified endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a state where a light source unit is attached to an operation unit of the simplified endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Operation unit 9 Light guide fiber bundle 30 Light source unit 38 Battery 39 Battery chamber cover 63, 64, 65 Vent hole 61, 66 Porous sheet

Claims (4)

In order to supply illumination light to a simple endoscope in which an incident end of a light guide that transmits illumination light is disposed in the operation unit, the light guide is provided in a detachable manner with respect to the operation unit and is configured to be watertight. In the light source device of the mold endoscope,
A simple endoscope characterized in that an air passage that communicates the inside and the outside of a light source device is formed, and a porous member that is air permeable but not water permeable is provided to block the air passage. Light source device. The ventilation path includes a first ventilation path that communicates the interior with the atmosphere, and a second ventilation path that communicates the interior and the interior of the operation section when attached to the operation section. The light source device for a simple endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the porous member is provided in the air passage. 3. The light source device for a simplified endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a light source lamp and a battery serving as a light emission energy source are disposed inside. The light source device for a simple endoscope according to claim 3, wherein a lid that is opened and closed to replace the light source lamp or the battery is attached by screwing.

Images