JP5566344B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope including a fluid ejection nozzle that ejects fluid toward an observation window and an illumination window.

  The endoscope includes an observation window for capturing image light of a subject at a distal end portion of an insertion portion inserted into the subject, a pair of illumination windows for irradiating the subject with illumination light, and an observation window And a fluid ejecting nozzle that ejects fluid (cleaning water or air) toward the head. Conventionally, the observation window is provided at a position where the surface that becomes the light incident surface is exposed from the distal end surface of the insertion portion, the pair of illumination windows are arranged with the observation window interposed therebetween, and the fluid ejection nozzle is the observation window. Generally, it is arranged in the vicinity. Since body fluid and dirt in the subject adhere to the surface of the observation window, the fluid is ejected from the ejection port of the fluid ejection nozzle to remove the dirt on the observation window.

  In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, two observation windows are provided at the distal end, and two fluid ejection nozzles are provided so that fluid can be ejected to these two observation windows. Further, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a fluid ejection nozzle and two observation windows are arranged at the tip so as to be aligned on a straight line. Furthermore, in the endoscope described in Patent Document 2, two ejection ports are formed in one fluid ejection nozzle, and when fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection nozzle, fluid is ejected from each of the two ejection ports. Then, each of the observation window and the illumination window is cleaned.

JP-A-6-154155 JP-A-6-269388

  However, in the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, it is considered that the observation window is efficiently cleaned, and the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection nozzle can be removed by blowing away dirt adhering to the observation window. However, the predetermined part of the illumination window is located at a position outside the fluid ejection range, and dirt may remain on the illumination window. Alternatively, in order to perform cleaning efficiently as in the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to arrange the fluid ejection nozzle, the pair of illumination windows, and the observation window on a straight line. When arranged above, the diameter of the tip is prevented from being reduced.

  Further, in the endoscope described in Patent Document 2, the illumination window is arranged on a straight line along the ejection direction of the fluid ejection nozzle, but it is not considered to surely clean the entire surface of the illumination window. The predetermined part of the illumination window is at a position outside the fluid ejection range, and all the dirt on the illumination window cannot be removed. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, since the fluid is ejected through two ejection holes formed in one fluid ejection nozzle, there are restrictions on the position and opening area where the ejection holes are formed, and the fluid ejection range is widened. Difficult to set.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can reduce the diameter of the distal end portion and can reliably clean the observation window and the illumination window.

The endoscope of the present invention is provided at an observation window provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject, and provided at the distal end portion, and is disposed at a position sandwiching the observation window therebetween. A pair of illumination windows for irradiating illumination light into the subject; a first fluid ejection nozzle provided at the distal end portion for ejecting fluid toward one of the pair of illumination windows; and the pair of pairs A second fluid ejecting nozzle that ejects fluid toward the other of the illumination windows , and a first fluid ejecting range in which fluid is ejected from the first fluid ejecting nozzle, and the second fluid ejecting nozzle. The entire surface of the illumination window and the observation window is located within a range including a second fluid ejection range through which fluid is ejected, and one of the ejection port of the first fluid ejection nozzle and the pair of illumination windows The observation windows are arranged in order on a straight line, and the second fluid ejection nodes Le jets, the pair of illumination windows of the other, wherein the observation window is arranged in order side by side in a straight line.

First and second fluid injection nozzle before SL is preferably disposed at the position of the line symmetrical about the observation window.

  The first and second fluid ejection ranges preferably include the entire surface of the observation window. Alternatively, it is preferable that the first fluid ejection range does not include a predetermined portion on the surface of the observation window, and the second fluid ejection range complements the predetermined portion.

  The other of the pair of illumination windows is formed to have a larger outer diameter than the other, and the second fluid ejection nozzle is formed to have a larger ejection opening width than the first fluid ejection nozzle. preferable.

  Of the first and second fluid ejection nozzles, a first fluid ejection state in which fluid is ejected only from the first fluid ejection nozzle, and a second fluid ejection in which fluid is ejected only from the second fluid ejection nozzle It is preferable to provide switching means that can selectively switch between states.

  It is preferable that the first and second fluid ejection nozzles are detachable with respect to a tip portion main body constituting the tip portion. Alternatively, a rotation mechanism that rotates the first and second fluid ejection nozzles in a plane parallel to the observation window and the illumination window is provided, and the rotation mechanism includes the first and second fluid ejection nozzles. It is preferable to rotate the first and second fluid ejection nozzles within an angular range in which fluid is ejected from the nozzles to the surfaces of the illumination window and the observation window.

According to the endoscope of the present invention, the first fluid ejection range in which fluid is ejected from the first fluid ejection nozzle and the second fluid ejection range in which fluid is ejected from the second fluid ejection nozzle are combined. The entire surface of the illumination window and the observation window is located within the range, the ejection port of the first fluid ejection nozzle, one of the pair of illumination windows, the observation window is arranged in a straight line in order, and the second fluid Since the spray nozzle and the other of the pair of illumination windows are arranged in order on the straight line , the observation window and the illumination window can be reliably cleaned while reducing the diameter of the tip. .

It is an external appearance perspective view of an electronic endoscope system. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part of an endoscope. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. It is a top view of a front-end | tip part. It is a pipe line lineblock diagram showing roughly a pipe line of an endoscope. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of an air supply / water supply valve | bulb. It is a top view which shows the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment provided with three illumination windows and an air supply / water supply nozzle. It is a top view which shows the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment provided with two observation windows. It is a top view which shows 2nd Embodiment which has arrange | positioned the air supply / water supply nozzle line-symmetrically with respect to the observation window. It is a top view which shows the modification of 2nd Embodiment provided with three illumination windows and an air supply / water supply nozzle. It is a top view which shows 3rd Embodiment which the 2nd fluid ejection range complements the predetermined part which remove | deviates from the 1st fluid ejection range. It is a top view which shows the modification of 3rd Embodiment which formed the width dimension of the injection port of an air supply / water supply nozzle according to the outer diameter of an illumination window. It is a perspective view which shows the modification which made the air_supply / water supply nozzle detachable. It is sectional drawing along CC line of FIG. It is a top view which shows the modification provided with the rotation mechanism which rotates an air supply / water supply nozzle. It is sectional drawing along the DD line | wire of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 2 includes an electronic endoscope 10, a processor device 11, a light source device 12, an air / water supply device 13, and the like. The air / water supply device 13 is built in the light source device 12 and is a well-known air supply device (pump or the like) 13a for supplying air, and a washing water tank that is provided outside the light source device 12 and stores washing water. 13b. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a flexible insertion portion 14 that is inserted into a subject, an operation portion 15 that is connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 14, a processor device 11, and a light source device 12. Universal cord 16.

  The insertion portion 14 is provided at the distal end thereof, and includes a distal end portion 14a in which a CCD image sensor (see FIG. 4; hereinafter referred to as CCD) 32 as an imaging element for imaging within the subject is incorporated, and the distal end portion 14a. It comprises a bendable bending portion 14b provided continuously at the base end and a flexible flexible tube portion 14c provided continuously at the base end of the bending portion 14b. Hereinafter, the distal end side of the insertion portion 14 is simply referred to as “distal end side”, and the proximal end side of the insertion portion 14 is simply referred to as “proximal end side”.

  A connector 17 is attached to the tip of the universal cord 16. The connector 17 is a composite type connector to which the processor device 11, the light source device 12, and the air / water supply device 13 are connected.

  The processor device 11 performs various image processing on the image pickup signal input from the CCD 32 via the universal cord 16 and the connector 17 to convert the image signal into a video signal, and transmits a drive control signal for controlling the drive of the CCD 32. The video signal converted by the processor device 11 is displayed as an endoscopic image on a monitor 18 connected to the processor device 11 by a cable. In addition, the processor device 11 is electrically connected to the light source device 12 and comprehensively controls the operation of the entire electronic endoscope system 2.

  The operation unit 15 is provided with a forceps port 19 through which various treatment tools having an injection needle, a high-frequency knife and the like are inserted, an air / water supply button 20, a bending operation knob 21, and the like. When the bending operation knob 21 is operated, the wire inserted in the insertion portion 14 is pushed and pulled, whereby the bending portion 14b is bent in the vertical and horizontal directions. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 14a is orient | assigned to the desired direction in a body cavity.

  2, 3, and 4, the distal end portion 14 a includes a distal end portion main body 22, a distal end protective cap 23 that is attached to the distal end side of the distal end portion main body 22, an observation window 24, a pair of illumination windows 25 a, 25b, first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b, and a forceps outlet 27. The rear end of the distal end main body 22 is connected to a bending piece 28 on the distal end side that constitutes the bending portion 14b.

  The tip protection cap 23 includes a tip plate portion 23 a that covers the tip side of the tip portion main body 22 and a cylindrical portion 23 b that covers the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion main body 22. An outer skin layer 29 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion 14b extends to the distal end portion main body 22, the distal end of the outer skin layer 29 and the rear end of the cylindrical portion 23b are brought into contact with each other, and the end portions are fixed with an adhesive or the like. .

  When viewed from the distal end side, the distal end plate portion 23a is formed with a through hole 23c that exposes the observation window 24 at a position near the center of the distal end portion 14a. Through holes 23d and 23e for exposing the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b, through holes 23f and 23g for exposing the illumination windows 25a and 25b, and a forceps outlet 27 are formed.

  The observation window 24 is a state-of-the-art objective lens constituting the objective lens unit 30 and also serves as a cover glass. The observation window 24 is formed in a substantially disk-shaped outer shape. The optical system of the objective lens unit 30 including the observation window 24 is held by a lens barrel 31.

  The lens barrel 31 holds the proximal end side of the outer peripheral surface of the observation window 24. The observation window 24 is fitted in the through hole 23 c of the tip protection cap 23 at the tip end side of the outer peripheral surface. The lens barrel 31 is fitted in the through hole 22 a of the distal end body 22 and attached so that the distal end surface abuts against the distal end plate portion 23 a of the distal end protection cap 23.

  The observation window 24 may be a cover glass that is positioned on the most distal side of the objective lens unit 30 and has no lens effect. Further, the observation window 24 does not have to constitute the objective lens unit 30. For example, as the cover glass, the observation window 24 may be directly fitted and fixed to the through hole 23c of the tip protection cap 23.

  A CCD 32 is attached to the back of the objective lens unit 30. The CCD 32 is, for example, an interline transfer type CCD. The imaging device is not limited to the CCD 32, and may be a CMOS.

  The pair of illumination windows 25a and 25b is arranged at a position sandwiching the observation window 24, and the emission end of the light guide 33 faces the back side. The light guide 33 is formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers (for example, made of quartz). The light guide 33 passes through the insertion portion 14, the operation portion 15, the universal cord 16, and the connector 17, and illuminates light from the light source device 12 to the observation site in the subject to the illumination windows 25a and 25b. Lead. The illumination windows 25a and 25b also serve as irradiation lenses, and irradiate illumination light from the light source device 12 to an observation site in the subject.

  The first air / water supply nozzle 26a is integrally formed with an injection cylinder portion 34a on the distal end side and a connection cylinder portion 34b on the proximal end side. The connecting cylinder 34 b is connected to the air / water supply channel 41 by being fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the air supply / water supply channel 41. Further, the connecting cylinder part 34 b and the air / water supply channel 41 are fitted in the through hole 22 b of the tip end body 22. The injection cylinder portion 34a is smoothly bent from the connection cylinder portion 34b to the injection port 38 at the tip, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the injection direction, and is exposed to the outside through the through hole 23d of the tip protection cap 23. Yes.

  Similarly to the first air / water supply nozzle 26a, the second air / water supply nozzle 26b is formed integrally with a distal end side injection cylinder portion 37a and a proximal end side connection cylinder portion 37b. The connection cylinder part 34 b is connected to the air / water supply channel 42, and the connection cylinder part 37 b and the air / water supply channel 42 are fitted in the through hole 22 c of the tip end body 22. The injection cylinder portion 34a is smoothly bent from the connection cylinder portion 34b to the injection port 38 at the tip, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the injection direction, and is exposed to the outside through the through hole 23e of the tip protection cap 23. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b (fluid injection nozzles) are provided at positions close to each other and inject cleaning water or air in different injection directions. The first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b have the same widths D1 and D2 of the injection ports 35 and 38, and the flow rates when the cleaning water or air is injected are substantially the same. . Here, the “width dimension” refers to a dimension in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b and perpendicular to the ejection direction.

  The injection port 35 and the illumination window 25a are arranged in this order along the injection direction of the first air / water supply nozzle 26a, while the injection port 38, along the injection direction of the second air / water supply nozzle 26b. An observation window 24 and an illumination window 25b are arranged in this order. Further, the centers of the ejection port 35 and the illumination window 25b are positioned on a straight line, while the centers of the ejection port 38, the observation window 24, and the illumination window 25b are positioned on a straight line.

  The first air / water supply nozzle 26a is set with a first fluid ejection range (range between dotted lines) that includes the entire surface of the illumination window 25a, and ejects fluid to the first fluid ejection range. To do. In the second air / water supply nozzle 26b, a second fluid ejection range (a range sandwiched between two-dot chain lines) including the entire surfaces of the observation window 24 and the illumination window 25b is set, and this second fluid ejection range. The fluid is ejected against the.

  The forceps outlet 27 is connected to a forceps channel (not shown) disposed in the insertion portion 14 and communicates with the forceps port 19 of the operation portion 15. The tips of various treatment tools inserted through the forceps port 19 are exposed from the forceps outlet 27.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the insertion portion 14 and the operation portion 15 have a first air / water supply channel 41 with one end communicating with the first air / water supply nozzle 26 a and one end with the second air supply. A second air / water supply channel 42 communicating with the water supply nozzle 26b is provided.

  The other end of the first air / water supply channel 41 branches into a first air supply line 41a and a first water supply line 41b. The other end of the second air / water supply channel 42 is branched into a second air supply line 42a and a second water supply line 42b. The first and second water supply pipes 41 b and 42 b are connected to an air / water supply valve 43 provided in the operation unit 15, respectively. The first and second air supply pipes 41 a and 42 a are joined together in the operation unit 15 and connected to the air / water supply valve 43.

  The air / water supply valve 43 (fluid supply valve) includes the first and second air supply lines 41a and 42a, the first and second water supply lines 41b and 42b, and the air supply device 13a. One end of the air source conduit 44 and one end of the first and second water supply source conduits 45a and 45b communicating with the cleaning water tank 13b are connected. The first and second water supply source pipes 45 a and 45 b merge at the other end to form one water supply source pipe 45. The air supply source line 44 and the water supply source line 45 are inserted through the universal cord 16 and extend to the cap 17 a of the connector 17. A connecting tube 46 is detachably connected to the base 17a, and the tip of the connecting tube 46 is connected to the washing water tank 13b. By connecting the connecting tube 46 to the cleaning water tank 13b, the water supply source line 45 is communicated below the liquid level of the cleaning water tank 13b, and the air supply source line 44 is communicated above the liquid level.

  An air tube 47 is connected to the connector 17, and the air tube 47 communicates with an air supply source line 44. Further, the air tube 47 is connected to the conduit in the light source device 12 by connecting the connector 17 to the light source device 12, and is communicated to the air supply device 13a via this conduit. When the air supply device 13 a is driven to supply air, the air is supplied to the air supply source line 44 through the air tube 47. When the tip of the air supply source line 44 is blocked by the air / water supply valve 43, the air supplied to the air tube 47 is supplied onto the liquid level of the cleaning water tank 13b. As a result, the internal pressure of the cleaning water tank 13b is increased and cleaning water is supplied to the water supply source line 45. Further, the cleaning water is supplied from the water supply source line 45 to the first and second water supply source lines 45a and 45b. To be liquidated.

  The air / water supply valve 43 connects or blocks between the first water supply line 41b and the first water supply source line 45a, and the second water supply line 41b and the second water supply source line 45a. 45b is provided for connecting or blocking between the first and second air supply pipelines 41a, 42a and the air supply source pipeline 44, and the operation section 15 is provided. An operation can be performed with a finger that holds the handle.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the air / water supply valve 43 includes a cylinder 48 and a piston 49, and the cylinder 48 is fixed to the case 50 of the operation unit 15. The cylinder 48 includes the first and second air supply pipes 41a and 42a, the first and second water supply pipes 41b and 42b, the air supply source pipe 44, and the first and second water supply pipes. 45a and 45b are connected. A button receiver 51 is fixed to the head of the cylinder 48. Inside the button receiver 51, there is provided a spring 52 that comes into contact when the air / water supply button 20 is pressed.

  On the other hand, the piston 49 is supported with respect to the cylinder 48 so as to be able to appear and retract. On the outer peripheral surface of the piston 49, two grooves 53 and 54 are formed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The piston 49 is formed with a vent hole 55 along the central axis. An air / water feed button 20 is attached to the head of the piston 49, and a leak hole 56 communicating with the vent hole 55 is formed in the air / water feed button 20. The piston 49 is urged in the protruding direction by a spring 57 interposed between the air / water supply button 20 and the button receiver 51. Therefore, when the air / water supply button 20 is pressed, the spring 57 is first compressed as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, this pressing operation is referred to as a first stage pressing operation. When the air / water feed button 20 is further pressed, the lower end of the air / water feed button 20 compresses the spring 52 as shown in FIG. 7C, and the piston 49 is immersed in the cylinder 48. Hereinafter, this pressing operation is referred to as a second stage pressing operation. In the first-step pressing operation and the second-step pressing operation, the resistance increases by the amount of the spring 52, so that the operational feeling changes. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between the first step pressing operation and the second step pressing operation.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 58 denotes an O-ring that closes the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 48 and the outer peripheral surface of the piston 49.

  The state shown in FIG. 7A is a state where the air / water supply button 20 is not pressed (that is, no operation state), and the first and second air supply lines 41a and 42a and the air supply source line 44 are connected. The first and second air supply pipes 41 a and 42 a and the air supply source pipe 44 are communicated with the outside air through the vent hole 55 and the leak hole 56. Therefore, in the non-operation state, the air supplied to the air supply source line 44 flows to the outside through the vent hole 55 and the leak hole 56 and is not supplied to the first and second air supply lines 41a and 42a. . Further, in this state, the first and second water supply pipes 41b and 42b and the first and second water supply source pipes 45a and 45b are blocked. Therefore, in the non-operation state, air supply to the first and second air supply pipes 41a and 42a and water supply to the first and second water supply pipes 41b and 42b are not performed.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7A, when the leak hole 56 is closed with the finger Y without pressing the air / water supply button 20 (hereinafter referred to as a closing operation state), the leak hole 56 is closed. Therefore, the air supply source line 44 is communicated with the first and second air supply lines 41a and 42a. Therefore, the air supplied to the air supply source line 44 flows into the first and second air supply lines 41a and 42a, and the air is injected from the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b.

  In the first stage pressing operation state shown in FIG. 7B, the first water supply conduit 41 b and the first water supply source conduit 45 a are communicated with each other via the groove 53 of the piston 49. Further, in this state, the first and second air supply pipelines 41a and 42a, the air supply source pipeline 44, the second water supply pipeline 42b, and the second water supply source pipeline 45b are blocked. Accordingly, since the air supply source line 44 is blocked from the other lines, the air supplied from the air supply device 13a is supplied onto the liquid level of the cleaning water tank 13b. As a result, the internal pressure of the cleaning water tank 13b increases, and the water in the cleaning water tank 13b is fed to the first and second water supply source pipes 45a and 45b. Therefore, the water flowing through the first water supply source line 45a flows into the first water supply line 41b via the groove 53 of the piston 49 and is injected from the first air / water supply nozzle 26a.

  In the second-stage pressing operation state shown in FIG. 7C, the second water supply conduit 42 b and the second water supply source conduit 45 b are communicated with each other via the groove 54 of the piston 49. In this state, the first and second air supply pipelines 41a and 42a, the air supply source pipeline 44, the first water supply pipeline 41b, and the first water supply source pipeline 45a are blocked. Therefore, the water flowing through the second water supply source line 45b flows to the second water supply line 42b via the groove 54 and is jetted from the second air / water supply nozzle 26b.

  As described above, the air / water supply valve 43 of the present embodiment has a two-stage push-down operation structure, and air is injected from the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b by performing the closing operation of the leak hole 56. -Water is injected from the air / water supply nozzle 26a by pressing the water supply button 20 in the first stage, and water is injected from the air / water supply nozzle 26b by operating the air supply / water supply button 20 in the second stage. Is done. Therefore, the first air supply state (first fluid injection state) in which the cleaning water is injected only from the first air supply / water supply nozzle 26a only by the operation of the air supply / water supply button 20, the second air supply / It is possible to selectively switch between a second water supply state (second fluid injection state) in which cleaning water is injected only from the water supply nozzle 26b and an air supply state in which air is injected from the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b. .

  During the endoscopic examination using the electronic endoscope 10, the process when the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b are cleaned by jetting air or cleaning water from the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b will be described. To do. The surgeon observes the observation image captured from the observation window 24 with the monitor 18 and recognizes that the dirt is attached to the distal end portion 14a. In particular, when treatment is performed with the treatment tool protruding from the forceps outlet 27, dirt easily adheres, so the operator operates the air / water feed button 20 to clean the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a, 25b. I do.

  When performing the cleaning, first, the air supply / water supply button 20 is closed from the non-operating state to the closed operation state, and the air supply / water supply button 20 is further pressed to enter the first stage pressing operation state. It becomes the 1st water supply state in which wash water is injected only from one air supply / water supply nozzle 26a. The washing water jetted from the first air / water feed nozzle 26a to the first fluid jetting range hits the entire surface of the illumination window 25b and can remove dirt.

  Next, when the air supply / water supply button 20 is further pressed down to the second-stage pressing operation state, the second water supply state in which the cleaning liquid is jetted only from the second air supply / water supply nozzle 26b is set. The washing water sprayed from the second air / water feeding nozzle 26b to the second fluid ejection region hits the entire surface of the observation window 24 and the illumination window 29b, and can remove dirt.

  Then, the first-stage pressing operation state and the second-stage pressing operation state are alternately repeated until dirt is removed from the entire surface of the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b. After the dirt is sufficiently removed from the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b, the air / water supply button 20 is returned from the first-stage pressing operation state or the second pressing-down operation state to the closing operation state. Thereby, air is injected from the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b, and water droplets attached to the observation window 24, the air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b, and the illumination windows 25a and 25b can be blown off.

  As described above, the observation window 24 and the pair are within a range that combines the first and second fluid ejection ranges in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from the first and second air / water feeding nozzles 26a and 26b. Since the entire surfaces of the illumination windows 25a and 25b are positioned, the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b can be reliably cleaned. In addition, the provision of the two air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b eliminates the need for arranging the air supply / water supply nozzle injection port, the pair of illumination windows, and the observation window on a straight line, thereby improving the degree of freedom of component arrangement. Therefore, the diameter of the tip end portion 14a can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to easily switch between the first water supply state and the second water supply state simply by pressing the air / water supply button 20.

  In the first embodiment, one observation window 24, a pair of illumination windows 25a and 25b, and first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a and 26b are provided at the distal end portion 14a. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to provide a larger number of illumination windows and air / water supply nozzles (fluid ejection nozzles) than the observation window. Like the tip 60 of the modification shown in FIG. For one observation window 24, three illumination windows 61a to 61c and three air / water supply nozzles 62a to 62c may be provided. Further, in this modification, the outer diameter of the illumination window may be made smaller than that of the first embodiment by an amount corresponding to the increase in the number of illumination windows.

  In the case of the modification shown in FIG. 8, the air / water supply nozzles 62a to 62c are exposed from the through holes 23d, 23e, and 23h formed in the tip protection cap 23, and the illumination windows 61a to 61c are the through holes 23f and 23g. , 23i. The illumination windows 61a to 61c are located at the vertices of a substantially equilateral triangle surrounding the observation window 24. The entire surface of the illumination window 61a is included in a first fluid ejection range (range between dotted lines) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the first air / water feed nozzle 62a, and the second air / water feed The entire surface of the observation window 24 and the illumination window 61b is included in a second fluid ejection range (range between two-dot chain lines) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the nozzle 62b, and a third air / water feeding nozzle The entire surface of the illumination window 61c is included in a third fluid ejection range (a range sandwiched between alternate long and short dash lines) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from 62c. In addition, the air supply / water supply state of the first to third air supply / water supply nozzles 62a to 62c is switched by, for example, an air supply / water supply valve, and the first air supply / water supply is operated by operating the air supply / water supply button. A first water supply state in which cleaning water is injected only from the nozzle 62a, a second water supply state in which cleaning water is injected only from the second air / water supply nozzle 62b, and only from the third air / water supply nozzle 62c The third water supply state in which the cleaning water is injected and the air supply state in which air is injected from the air / water supply nozzles 62a to 62c are selectively switched.

  With the above configuration, the observation window 24 and the illumination are within a range that combines the first to third fluid ejection ranges in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from the first to third air / water feeding nozzles 62a to 62c. Since the entire surface of the windows 61a to 61c is positioned, the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 61a to 61c can be reliably cleaned, and the diameter of the distal end portion 60 can be reduced.

  In addition, the number of observation windows provided in the distal end portion 14a is not limited to one, and a plurality of observation windows are provided, and the number of illumination windows and air / water supply nozzles (fluid ejection nozzles) is more than the observation window. A large number may be provided, and like the tip portion 65 of another modified example shown in FIG. 9, two observation windows 66a and 66b, three illumination windows 67a to 67c, and three air / water supply nozzles 68a to 68c. And may be provided.

  In the case of the modification shown in FIG. 9, the observation windows 66 a and 66 b are exposed from the through holes 23 c and 23 j formed in the tip protection cap 23. The illumination windows 67a and 67b are arranged at positions sandwiching the observation window 66a, and the illumination windows 67b and 67c are arranged at positions sandwiching the observation window 66b. The entire surface of the illumination window 67a is included in a first fluid ejection range (range between dotted lines) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the first air / water feed nozzle 68a, and the second air / water feed The entire surface of the observation window 66a and the illumination window 67b is included in a second fluid ejection range (range between two-dot chain lines) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the nozzle 68b, and a third air / water feeding nozzle The entire surface of the observation window 66b and the illumination window 67c is included in a third fluid ejection range (a range sandwiched by a one-dot chain line) in which cleaning water or air is ejected from 68c.

  In the said 1st Embodiment, the whole surface of the illumination window 25a is included in the 1st fluid injection range in which washing water or air is injected from the 1st air supply / water supply nozzle 26a, and the 2nd air supply / water supply nozzle The entire surface of the observation window 24 and the illumination window 25b is included in the second fluid ejection range in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from 26b, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first and second fluid ejection ranges As long as the entire surface of the observation window and the illumination window is disposed within the combined range, in the second embodiment of the present invention described below, like the tip 70 shown in FIG. The entire surface of the observation window 24 is included in the first and second fluid ejection ranges in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the second air / water feeding nozzles 71a and 71b. In FIG. 10, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The configuration other than the distal end portion 70 is the same as that of the electronic endoscope 10 of the first embodiment.

  In the tip portion 70 of the second embodiment, the injection port 72 of the first air / water supply nozzle 71a, the illumination window 25a, and the observation window 24 are arranged in order on a straight line, and the second air / water supply nozzle 71b. The injection port 73, the illumination window 25b, and the observation window 24 are arranged in order on a straight line. The first and second air / water supply nozzles 71a, 71b are formed in the same shape as the first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a, 26b of the first embodiment, and the air supply -It is connected to the water supply channels 41 and 42. Further, the first and second air / water supply nozzles 71 a and 71 b are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the observation window 24.

  The first fluid ejection range in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the first air / water feed nozzle 71a includes the entire surface of the illumination window 25a and the observation window 24, and the second air / water feed nozzle 71b. The second fluid ejection range in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from the entire surface includes the illumination window 25 b and the entire surface of the observation window 24. Accordingly, the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b can be reliably cleaned as in the first embodiment, and the diameter of the distal end portion 70 can be reduced.

  In addition, like the front-end | tip part 75 of the modification shown in FIG. 11, the three illumination windows 76a-76c and the three air supply / water supply nozzles 77a-77c are provided with respect to one observation window 24, and 1st-1st. The entire surface of the observation window 24 may be included in the first to third fluid ejection ranges in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the third air / water feeding nozzles 77a to 77c.

  In the case of the modification shown in FIG. 11, the illumination windows 76 a to 76 c are located at substantially vertexes of an equilateral triangle surrounding the observation window 24. The first fluid ejection range in which cleaning water or air is ejected from the first air / water feeding nozzle 77a includes the entire surface of the illumination window 76a and the observation window 24, and the second air / water feeding nozzle 77b. The second fluid ejection range in which the wash water or air is ejected from the entire surface includes the illumination window 76b and the observation window 24, and the wash water or air is ejected from the third air / water feed nozzle 77c. The entire surface of the illumination window 76c and the observation window 24 is included in the third fluid ejection range. Thereby, while being able to wash | clean the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 76a-76c reliably, the diameter reduction of the front-end | tip part 75 can be achieved.

  In the first and second embodiments, the entire surface of the observation window is included in one or both of the first and second fluid ejection ranges, but the present invention is not limited to this. Like the tip 80 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the surface of the observation window is included in the first fluid ejection range in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from the first air / water feeding nozzle 81 a. You may make it the 2nd fluid injection range in which wash water or air is injected from the 2nd air supply / water supply nozzle 81b supplement the predetermined part which does not exist. The configuration other than the distal end portion 80 is the same as that of the electronic endoscope 10 of the first embodiment.

  In the tip 80 of the third embodiment, the injection port 82 of the first air / water supply nozzle 81a, the illumination window 25a, and the observation window 24 are arranged in a straight line in order, and the second air / water supply nozzle 81b. The nozzle 83, the illumination window 25b, and the observation window 24 are arranged in order on a straight line. The first air / water supply nozzle 81a ejects cleaning water or air toward the illumination window 25a, and the entire surface of the illumination window 25a is included in the first fluid ejection range. The second air / water supply nozzle 81b ejects cleaning water or air toward the illumination window 25b, and the entire surface of the illumination window 25b is included in the second fluid ejection range. The first and second air / water supply nozzles 81a, 81b are formed in the same shape as the first and second air / water supply nozzles 26a, 26b of the first embodiment, and the air supply -It is connected to the water supply channels 41 and 42.

  In the present embodiment, with respect to the center of the observation window 24, the injection port 82 of the first air / water supply nozzle 81 a and the center of the illumination window 25 a are shifted from the center of the tip 80. As a result, a predetermined portion 24 a that is not included in the first fluid ejection range is present at a position near the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 80 in the entire surface of the observation window 24. On the other hand, the second air / water supply nozzle 81b is positioned so that the centers of the injection port 83, the observation window 24, and the illumination window 25a are arranged in a straight line, and the predetermined portion 24a of the observation window 24 is in the second fluid injection range. Is included. Accordingly, the predetermined portion 24a not included in the first fluid ejection range can be complemented by the second fluid ejection range, and cleaning water or air can be ejected over the entire surface of the observation window 24. Therefore, the illumination windows 25a, 25b In addition, the observation window 24 can be reliably cleaned.

  In the third embodiment, the air / water supply nozzles 81a and 81b are formed to have the same width of the injection port. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tip of the modification shown in FIG. Like the portion 85, the widths of the injection ports 88 and 89 of the first and second air / water supply nozzles 87a and 87b may be different from each other in accordance with the outer diameters of the illumination windows 86a and 86b. At the distal end portion 85, the outer diameter R2 of the illumination window 86b is formed larger than the outer diameter R1 of the illumination window 86a, and the first diameter 852 is proportional to the outer diameters R1 and R2 of the illumination windows 86a and 86b. The width dimension D2 of the injection port 89 of the second air / water supply nozzle 87b is formed larger than the width dimension D1 of the injection port 88 of the first air / water supply nozzle 87a.

  In the distal end portion 85, the first air / water supply nozzle 87a ejects cleaning water or air toward the illumination window 86a, and the entire surface of the illumination window 86a is included in the first fluid ejection range. On the other hand, the second air / water supply nozzle 87b ejects cleaning water or air toward the illumination window 86b, and the entire surface of the illumination window 86b is included in the second fluid ejection range. As in the third embodiment, the second fluid ejection range complements the predetermined portion 24a not included in the first fluid ejection range, and the cleaning water or air is ejected over the entire surface of the observation window 24. The observation window 24 can be reliably cleaned together with the windows 86a and 86b. Furthermore, since the width dimensions D1 and D2 of the injection ports 73 and 74 of the air / water supply nozzles 87a and 87b are formed in accordance with the outer diameters R1 and R2 of the illumination windows 86a and 86b, the diameter of the distal end portion 85 is reduced. There is no hindrance.

  In the first to third embodiments, the air / water supply nozzle is fixed to the tip body 22, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the tip 90 of the modification shown in FIGS. As described above, the air / water supply nozzles 92 a and 92 b may be detachable from the tip end body 91. In this case, the air supply / water supply nozzles 92a and 92b are integrally provided with fitting portions 93a and 93b. The fitting portions 93a and 93b are formed of resin or the like, and are detachably fitted to the opening concave portions 91a and 91b formed in the distal end portion main body 91. The opening recesses 91 a and 91 b are formed in alignment with the through holes 23 d and 23 e of the tip protection cap 23. Further, key projections 93c and 93d are integrally formed on the fitting portions 93a and 93b. The key protrusions 93c and 93d are fitted in key grooves 91c and 91d formed in the opening recesses 91a and 91b. The fitting portions 93a and 93b are fitted in the opening recesses 91a and 91b, and the key projections 93c and 93d are fitted in the key grooves 91c and 91d, so that the air supply / water supply nozzles 92a and 92b with respect to the tip portion main body 91 are formed. Positioning is done.

  Further, seal members 94a and 94b are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting portions 93a and 93b. When the fitting portions 93a and 93b are fitted into the opening recesses 91a and 91b, the seal members 94a and 94b are brought into close contact with the opening recesses 91a and 91b so that the gaps between the fitting portions 93a and 93b and the opening recesses 91a and 91b are airtight. And close tightly. As the seal members 94a and 94b, for example, commercially available O-rings are used.

  In the distal end portion 90, the air / water supply channels 41 and 42 are disposed so as to protrude inward from the bottom surfaces of the opening recesses 91a and 91b. When the fitting portions 93a and 93b are fitted into the opening recesses 91a and 91b, the air / water supply channels 41 and 42 are connected to the air / water supply nozzles 92a and 92b. As described above, by making the air / water supply nozzles 92a and 92b detachable from the tip body 91, when dirt is firmly attached to the air / water supply nozzles 92a and 92b, etc. The water supply nozzles 92a and 92b may be removed from the opening recesses 91a and 91b and replaced.

  Further, like the tip portion 95 of the modification shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a rotation mechanism 98 that rotates the air / water supply nozzles 97a and 97b with respect to the tip portion main body 96 may be provided. The distal end portion 95 includes a distal end portion main body 96 and a distal end protective cap 99 attached to the distal end side of the distal end portion main body 96. The tip protection cap 99 has a through hole 99a that exposes the observation window 24 at a position near the center of the tip portion 95 when viewed from the tip side. The first and second holes 99a are disposed around the through hole 99a. Through holes 99b and 99c for exposing the air / water supply nozzles 97a and 97b, through holes 99d and 99e for exposing the illumination windows 25a and 25b, and a forceps outlet 27 are formed. The air / water supply nozzles 97 a and 97 b are connected to the air / water supply channels 41 and 42.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the rotation mechanism 98 includes a gear 100 integrally provided with the first air / water supply nozzle 97 a, a drive motor 101, a gear 102 connected to the drive motor 101 and meshing with the gear 100. Prepare. The first air / water supply nozzle 97a, together with the air supply channel 41, is rotatably supported by the distal end body 96 in a plane parallel to the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b. For example, a pulse motor is used as the drive motor 101, and its rotation is controlled by a control signal from a motor driver (not shown). The motor driver controls the drive motor 101 in conjunction with the pressing operation of the air / water supply button 20. The gear 102 transmits the rotation of the drive motor 101 to the gear 100 to rotate the first air / water supply nozzle 97a. A similar rotation mechanism 98 is also provided in the second air / water supply nozzle 97b.

  When the air / water supply button 20 is pressed, the rotation mechanism 98 rotates the drive motor 101, and the illumination windows 25 a and 25 b and the observation window 24 are moved from the first and second air / water supply nozzles 97 a and 97 b. The first and second air / water supply nozzles 97a and 97b are rotated within an angle range in which the cleaning water or air is jetted onto the surface. The observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a, 25b are within a range that combines the first and second fluid ejection ranges in which the cleaning water or air is ejected from the first and second air / water supply nozzles 97a, 97b. Since the entire surface is located, the observation window 24 and the illumination windows 25a and 25b can be reliably cleaned. In addition, since the first and second air / water supply nozzles 97a and 97b can be formed smaller than each of the above embodiments while maintaining the same fluid ejection range as that of each of the above embodiments, the small diameter of the distal end portion 95 can be reduced. Can be achieved.

  In the first to third embodiments, the air / water supply valve 43 can be selectively switched between the first water supply state, the second water supply state, and the air supply state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be selectively switched between a water supply state in which cleaning water is injected from all of the air / water supply nozzles provided at the tip portion and an air supply state in which air is injected. .

  Moreover, in the said 1st-3rd embodiment, although washing water and air are raised as a fluid ejected from a fluid ejecting nozzle, it has been described. For example, a cleaning liquid in which a detergent is mixed in water may be used. Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments, the electronic endoscope for observing an image obtained by imaging the state of the subject using the image sensor has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention can also be applied to an endoscope that employs an optical image guide to observe the state of the subject.

2 Electronic endoscope 13a Air supply device 13b Washing water tank 14 Insertion part 14a Tip part 24, 66a, 66b Observation window 25a, 25b, 61a-61c, 67a-67c, 76a-76c, 86a, 86b Illumination window 26a, 62a , 68a, 71a, 77a, 81a, 87a, 92a, 97a First air / water nozzle 26b, 62b, 68b, 71b, 77b, 81b, 87b, 92b, 97b Second air / water nozzle 41 First Air supply / water supply channel 42 Second air supply / water supply channel 43 Air supply / water supply valve

Claims (8)

An observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion portion to be inserted into the subject;
A pair of illumination windows provided at the tip, disposed at a position sandwiching the observation window, and irradiating illumination light into the subject;
A first fluid ejecting nozzle that is provided at the distal end and ejects fluid toward one of the pair of illumination windows; and a second fluid ejecting nozzle that ejects fluid toward the other of the pair of illumination windows; With
The illumination window is within a range of a first fluid ejection range in which fluid is ejected from the first fluid ejection nozzle and a second fluid ejection range in which fluid is ejected from the second fluid ejection nozzle. The entire surface of the observation window is located ,
The injection port of the first fluid injection nozzle, one of the pair of illumination windows, and the observation window are arranged in order on a straight line,
An endoscope in which the ejection port of the second fluid ejection nozzle, the other of the pair of illumination windows, and the observation window are arranged side by side in a straight line .   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid ejecting nozzles are arranged in line-symmetric positions with respect to the observation window.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second fluid ejection ranges includes the entire surface of the observation window.   The first fluid ejection range does not include a predetermined portion on the surface of the observation window,
  The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid ejection range complements the predetermined portion.   The other of the pair of illumination windows is formed with an outer diameter larger than the one,
  The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the second fluid ejecting nozzle is formed so that a width dimension of the ejecting port is larger than that of the first fluid ejecting nozzle.   Of the first and second fluid ejection nozzles, a first fluid ejection state in which fluid is ejected only from the first fluid ejection nozzle, and a second fluid ejection in which fluid is ejected only from the second fluid ejection nozzle. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising switching means for selectively switching between states.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second fluid ejection nozzles are detachable from a distal end portion main body constituting the distal end portion.   A rotation mechanism for rotating the first and second fluid ejection nozzles in a plane parallel to the observation window and the illumination window;
  The rotation mechanism rotates the first and second fluid ejecting nozzles within an angular range in which fluid is ejected from the first and second fluid ejecting nozzles to the surfaces of the illumination window and the observation window. The endoscope according to any one of Items 1 to 7.

Images