JP7523882B2 - ENDOSCOPE, ITS IMPACT DETECTION METHOD, AND IMPACT DETECTION PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope, an endoscope device, an impact detection method, and an impact detection program.

When an endoscope is used, cleaned, or stored, it may be subjected to impacts that can cause internal components to break down. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that mitigates the effects of impacts on the rigid tip portion by attaching a protective cap to the rigid tip portion of the endoscope's insertion section.

Patent document 2 discloses a technology that suppresses the effects of shocks by holding the optical components and image sensor package with a cylindrical anti-vibration rubber at the rigid tip of the insertion section of the endoscope.

JP 2007-151989 A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-23300

In endoscopes that have a rigid section at the tip of the insertion section, an imaging element is provided within this rigid section. If this rigid section is subjected to repeated impacts, the accumulation of such impacts can cause accumulated damage to the imaging element, potentially resulting in failure of the imaging element. In addition, if the rigid section is subjected to a large impact, the imaging element may also fail.

If such a failure occurs while the endoscope is inserted inside a body cavity, the examination must be stopped midway and the endoscope must be replaced, which is time-consuming and burdensome for both the subject and medical staff. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to detect the occurrence of an impact that may cause failure of the imaging element as early as possible, such as before the imaging element fails.

Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose technology to suppress the effects of impacts, but do not anticipate detecting the occurrence of an impact.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an endoscope, an endoscope device, an impact detection method, and an impact detection program that are capable of detecting when an impact that may cause damage to the imaging element is applied to a rigid portion at the tip of the insertion section.

The endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into an observation object, the insertion section having a flexible soft section, a freely bendable bending section provided at the tip of the soft section, and a hard section provided at the tip of the bending section and made of a material harder than the soft section and the bending section, and further comprising an image sensor disposed within the hard section, an optical fiber bundle that transmits illumination light emitted from a light source section to an illumination lens provided in the hard section, an optical transmission member disposed within the insertion section including the hard section, a light reflecting member provided at a first end within the hard section of the optical transmission member, and a second end of the optical transmission member. The optical transmission member includes a light detection unit that detects light incident from a second end opposite to the one end and reflected by the light reflecting member, and an impact detection unit that detects an impact applied to the rigid portion based on the difference between the amount of light detected by the light detection unit and the amount of light detected by the light detection unit in a state where the optical transmission member is not damaged, wherein at least a portion of a portion within the rigid portion has a portion that is less impact resistant than other portions of the optical transmission member, and the less impact resistant portion of the optical transmission member is located in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element.

The impact detection method of the present invention is an impact detection method for detecting an impact on a hard portion of an endoscope, the hard portion of which is inserted into an object to be observed, the endoscope having an insertion portion which has a flexible soft portion, a freely bendable bending portion provided at a tip of the soft portion, and a hard portion provided at the tip of the bending portion and made of a material harder than the soft portion and the bending portion, an imaging element is disposed within the hard portion, and illumination light emitted from a light source portion is transmitted by an optical fiber bundle to an illumination lens provided in the hard portion, the method comprising the steps of: disposing an optical transmission member within the insertion portion including the hard portion; and attaching an optical transmission member to a first end portion of the optical transmission member within the hard portion. A light reflecting member is provided, and at least a portion of the optical transmission member within the rigid portion has a portion that is less impact resistant than other portions of the optical transmission member, and the portion of the optical transmission member that is less impact resistant is arranged to be located in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element. Light that is incident from a second end of the optical transmission member opposite the first end and is reflected by the light reflecting member is detected, and an impact applied to the rigid portion is detected based on the difference between the amount of the detected light and the amount of light detected by the light detection unit when the optical transmission member is not damaged .

The impact detection program of the present invention is an impact detection program for detecting an impact on a hard portion of an endoscope, the hard portion of which is inserted into an observation object and has a flexible soft portion, a freely bendable bending portion provided at a tip of the soft portion, and a hard portion provided at the tip of the bending portion and made of a material harder than the soft portion and the bending portion, an imaging element is disposed in the hard portion, and illumination light emitted from a light source portion is transmitted to an illumination lens provided in the hard portion by an optical fiber bundle, the impact detection program including the impact on the hard portion includes disposing an optical transmission member in the insertion portion including the hard portion, and detecting a first impact of the optical transmission member on the hard portion. The optical transmission member is provided with a light reflecting member at the end, and at least a portion of the optical transmission member within the rigid portion is provided with a portion that is less impact resistant than other portions of the optical transmission member, and the portion of the optical transmission member that is less impact resistant is positioned in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element, and the optical transmission member is caused to execute a step of detecting an impact applied to the rigid portion based on the difference between the amount of light incident from a second end of the optical transmission member opposite the first end and reflected by the light reflecting member, and the amount of light detected when no damage has occurred to the optical transmission member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope that can detect when an impact that may cause damage to the imaging element has been applied to a rigid part at the tip of the insertion portion , as well as an impact detection method and impact detection program.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope device 100 which is an embodiment of an endoscope system according to the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of the endoscope device 100 shown in FIG. 1 . 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the light receiving and emitting unit 30 shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a schematic diagram of a distal end surface of a distal end portion 10C of the endoscope device 100 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a scope control unit 26 in the endoscope 1 shown in Figure 2. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 and showing a modified example of the configuration of the second light guide 31b in the endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 2. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100A which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100B which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope device 100C which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. FIG.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an endoscope device 100, which is one embodiment of the endoscope device of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the endoscope device 100 includes an endoscope 1 and a main body unit 2 consisting of a processor device 4 and a light source device 5 to which the endoscope 1 is connected.

The processor device 4 is connected to a display unit 7 that displays captured images, etc., and an input unit 6 that is an interface for inputting various information to the processor device 4. The processor device 4 controls the endoscope 1, the light source device 5, and the display unit 7.

The endoscope 1 comprises an insertion section 10, which is a tubular member extending in one direction and is inserted into a body cavity as an object to be observed, an operation section 11 provided at the base end of the insertion section 10 and provided with operation members for performing an observation mode switching operation, an image recording operation, a forceps operation, an air/water supply operation, a suction operation, an electric scalpel operation, etc., an angle knob 12 provided adjacent to the operation section 11, and a universal cord 13 including connectors 13A and 13B that detachably connect the endoscope 1 to the light source device 5 and the processor device 4, respectively.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 11 and the insertion unit 10 are provided with various channels inside, such as a forceps hole for inserting a biopsy forceps, which is a collection tool for collecting biological tissue such as cells or polyps, a storage hole for storing an electric scalpel, channels for supplying air and water, and a suction channel.

The insertion section 10 is composed of a flexible soft section 10A, a bending section 10B provided at the tip of the soft section 10A, and a hard tip section 10C provided at the tip of the bending section 10B. The tip section 10C is a section that is harder than the soft section 10A and the bending section 10B. The tip section 10C constitutes the hard section.

The bending section 10B is configured to be freely bent by rotating the angle knob 12. This bending section 10B can be bent in any direction and at any angle depending on the part of the subject on which the endoscope 1 is used, and the tip 10C can be directed in the desired direction.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the endoscope device 100 shown in Figure 1.

The light source device 5 includes a light source control unit 51 and a light source unit 52.

The light source unit 52 generates illumination light for illuminating the observation area. The illumination light emitted from the light source unit 52 enters two light guides 20 (schematically shown as one in FIG. 2) built into the universal cord 13, passes through an illumination lens 20a (schematically shown as one in FIG. 2) provided at the tip 10C of the insertion unit 10, and is irradiated onto the observation area.

The light source unit 52 may be a white light source that emits white light, or a plurality of light sources including a white light source and a light source that emits light of another color (e.g., a blue light source that emits blue light). The light-emitting element used as the light source in this specification may be, for example, a laser diode (LD) or a light-emitting diode (LED).

The light source control unit 51 is composed of various processors that execute programs and perform processing, and is connected to the system control unit 44 of the processor device 4. The light source control unit 51 controls the light source unit 52 based on commands from the system control unit 44.

The tip 10C of the endoscope 1 is provided with an imaging optical system including an objective lens 21 and a lens group 22, an imaging element 23 that images a subject through the imaging optical system, and two light guides 20 for guiding the illumination light emitted from the light source unit 52 to the two illumination lenses 20a.

The two light guides 20 extend from the tip 10C to the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13. When the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13 is connected to the light source device 5, the illumination light emitted from the light source portion 52 of the light source device 5 can be supplied to the two light guides 20. Specifically, each of the two light guides 20 is an optical fiber bundle in which multiple flexible optical fibers (e.g., plastic optical fibers) are bundled together and covered with a covering member, and transmits the illumination light emitted from the light source portion 52 to the tip 10C.

The imaging element 23 may be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor.

The image sensor 23 has a light receiving surface on which a number of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally, and converts the optical image formed on this light receiving surface by the imaging optical system into an electrical signal (image signal) at each pixel and outputs it. The image sensor 23 is equipped with color filters of primary colors or complementary colors, for example.

When the light source unit 52 uses a device that generates illumination light by splitting the white light emitted from a white light source in a time-division manner using multiple color filters, the image sensor 23 may not be equipped with a color filter.

The processor device 4 includes a signal processing unit 42, a display control unit 43, and a system control unit 44.

The signal processing unit 42 generates captured image data by receiving and processing the signal transmitted from the image sensor 23. The captured image data generated by the signal processing unit 42 is recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or flash memory (not shown).

The display control unit 43 causes the display unit 7 to display an image based on the captured image data generated by the signal processing unit 42.

The system control unit 44 controls each part of the processor device 4, and also sends commands to the scope control unit 26 of the endoscope 1 and the light source control unit 51 of the light source device 5, thereby controlling the entire endoscope device 100. The system control unit 44 controls the image sensor 23 and the light receiving and emitting unit 30 (described below) via the scope control unit 26, and controls the light source unit 52 via the light source control unit 51.

The system control unit 44 includes various processors that execute programs and perform processing, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

The various processors referred to in this specification include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is a general-purpose processor that executes programs to perform various processes, a programmable logic device (PLD), which is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a dedicated electrical circuit, such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which is a processor with a circuit configuration designed specifically to perform specific processes. More specifically, the structure of these various processors is an electrical circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

The system control unit 44 may be configured with one of various processors, or may be configured with a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (e.g., a combination of multiple FPGAs or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA).

A scope control unit 26 is provided inside the connector portion 13B of the universal cord 13. The scope control unit 26 is composed of the various processors described above that execute programs and perform processing.

The scope control unit 26 is connected to the system control unit 44 of the processor device 4 by wiring inside the connector unit 13B. The scope control unit 26 controls the image sensor 23 and the light receiving and emitting unit 30 based on commands from the system control unit 44.

A light receiving and emitting unit 30 is provided inside the connector portion 13A of the universal cord 13. A light guide 31 is provided inside the endoscope 1, and extends from the vicinity of the light receiving and emitting unit 30 in the connector portion 13A to the inside of the tip portion 10C.

The light guide 31 is, for example, an optical fiber bundle in which multiple optical fibers are bundled and covered with a covering member, and transmits test light emitted from a detection light source 33 (described below) to the light reflecting member 32 at the tip 10C. The light guide 31 constitutes a light transmission member.

The light guide 31 is composed of a first light guide 31a and a second light guide 31b that is less impact resistant than the first light guide 31a. The second light guide 31b constitutes the part of the light guide 31 that is less impact resistant, and the first light guide 31a constitutes the other parts of the light guide 31 other than the part that is less impact resistant.

The impact resistance of an object is expressed, for example, by the impact value when a specified impact test is performed on the object. Specifically, the second light guide 31b is configured so that the minimum impact force required to cause the optical fiber to break is smaller than that of the first light guide 31a.

The difference in impact resistance between the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b can be achieved by a first method of making the optical fiber material different between the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b, or a second method of making the outer diameter of the optical fiber different between the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b, etc.

For example, in the first method, the material of the optical fiber constituting the first light guide 31a may be a resin such as plastic, and the material of the optical fiber constituting the second light guide 31b may be a glass such as quartz glass. In the second method, the material of the optical fibers constituting the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b may be a resin, and the outer diameter of the optical fiber of the second light guide 31b may be smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber of the first light guide 31a.

In addition, the material of the optical fibers constituting the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b may be resin, and the coating material that coats the optical fibers may be made thinner in the second light guide 31b than in the first light guide 31a.

The impact resistance (impact value) of the second light guide 31b is selected to be a value that will not be damaged by small impacts that the tip portion 10C may receive under the expected normal use conditions of the endoscope 1.

The second light guide 31b is disposed inside the tip portion 10C. A light reflecting member 32 is provided at a first end portion (hereinafter referred to as the tip portion) of the second light guide 31b opposite the base end side of the endoscope 1. The light reflecting member 32 is formed by depositing a metal such as aluminum on the end face of the tip portion of the second light guide 31b by vapor deposition or the like. The light reflecting member 32 reflects the light emitted from this end face into the second light guide 31b.

The tip of the first light guide 31a is connected to a second end (hereinafter referred to as the base end) opposite the tip of the second light guide 31b. The first light guide 31a extends to the connector portion 13A, and the light receiving and emitting portion 30 is provided at its base end.

In the example of FIG. 2, the tip of the first light guide 31a extends into the tip portion 10C, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the base end of the second light guide 31b may be formed up to the boundary between the tip portion 10C and the curved portion 10B, and the tip of the first light guide 31a may be formed from this boundary. In other words, only the second light guide 31b of the light guide 31 may be disposed within the tip portion 10C.

The light receiving and emitting unit 30, the light guide 31, and the light reflecting member 32 are provided to detect an impact on the tip 10C of the insertion section 10.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the light receiving and emitting unit 30 shown in Figure 2. The light receiving and emitting unit 30 includes a detection light source 33 constituting a first light source, a half mirror 34, and a light detection unit 35.

The detection light source 33 is a light source that generates the test light EL required to detect an impact on the tip 10C. The test light EL is, for example, light of the same color as the light emitted from the light source unit 52, but is not limited to this. The detection light source 33 is controlled by the scope control unit 26. The light reflecting member 32 is made of a material that can reflect this test light EL.

The half mirror 34 is disposed between the detection light source 33 and the first light guide 31a of the light guide 31, and transmits the test light EL emitted from the detection light source 33 and causes this test light EL to be incident on the end of the light guide 31 opposite the light reflecting member 32 side (in other words, the base end of the first light guide 31a). The half mirror 34 also reflects the reflected light RL of the test light EL, which is reflected by the light reflecting member 32 and emitted from the base end of the light guide 31, in the direction of the light detection unit 35.

The light detection unit 35 detects the reflected light RL incident from the half mirror 34. The light detection unit 35 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode, and outputs a signal (detection signal) according to the amount of reflected light RL. The detection signal of reflected light RL output from the light detection unit 35 is input to the scope control unit 26.

The test light EL emitted from the detection light source 33 passes through the half mirror 34 and enters the light guide 31. This test light EL then travels through the light guide 31 toward the tip 10C and is reflected by the light reflecting member 32 arranged inside the tip 10C. The reflected light RL from this light reflecting member 32 is reflected by the half mirror 34 and enters the light detection unit 35, where it is detected.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the distal end surface of the distal end portion 10C of the endoscope device 100 shown in Figure 2, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 10. Known arrangements of the image sensor 23 in the endoscope 1 include an arrangement in which the optical axis of the objective lens 21 and the light receiving surface of the image sensor 23 are parallel, and an arrangement in which the optical axis of the objective lens 21 and the light receiving surface of the image sensor 23 are perpendicular. In the endoscope 1 of this embodiment, an arrangement in which the optical axis of the objective lens 21 and the light receiving surface of the image sensor 23 are parallel is adopted, but the latter arrangement may also be used.

The imaging element 23 is disposed near the center of the outer circumferential circle 10E that indicates the outer circumferential surface of the tip 10C. In FIG. 4, below the imaging element 23 (the side opposite the light receiving surface) is formed a hole 60 in which the above-mentioned forceps hole, various channels, etc. are disposed. In FIG. 4, the objective lens 21 is disposed above the imaging element 23 (the light receiving surface side).

As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging element 23 is positioned eccentrically upward with respect to the center of the outer circumferential circle 10E. In other words, when the tip 10C is divided into two by a virtual straight line VL that passes through the center of the outer circumferential circle 10E, the imaging element 23 is provided in one of the two divided regions (the upper one in the example of FIG. 4).

In FIG. 4, the second light guide 31b is disposed above the objective lens 21 (the side opposite the image sensor 23). The location of the second light guide 31b inside the tip 10C is arbitrary, but it is preferable that it be disposed in the divided region on the side where the image sensor 23 is disposed, and it is even more preferable that it be disposed in a region on the outer periphery side of the image sensor 23.

The region on the outer periphery side of the image sensor 23 refers to the region on the eccentricity side (upward in FIG. 4) of the image sensor 23 relative to the center of the outer periphery circle 10E. In other words, the region above the image sensor 23 in the upper divided region in FIG. 4 is the region on the outer periphery side of the image sensor 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a configuration in which the light receiving surface of the imaging element 23 is parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens 21, a prism (not shown) is disposed above the light receiving surface of the imaging element 23. Therefore, when an impact is applied to the tip 10C from above the prism, there is a possibility that the impact will be transmitted significantly to the imaging element 23. For this reason, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the imaging element 23, the objective lens 21, and the second light guide 31b are aligned in a straight line, and the second light guide 31b is provided between the objective lens 21 (or prism) and the outer surface 10E, making it possible to detect impacts that may be particularly damaging to the imaging element 23.

In an endoscope 1 configured in this manner, if a strong impact that could cause the image sensor 23 to fail is applied to the tip portion 10C, or if repeated impacts that could cause the image sensor 23 to fail are applied to the tip portion 10C, the second light guide 31b, which has low impact resistance, will be damaged (specifically, the optical fiber will break).

If damage occurs to the second light guide 31b, the amount of light (brightness) of the reflected light RL described above will be lower than a reference value, which is the value when the second light guide 31b is not damaged. In this embodiment of the endoscope 1, the scope control unit 26 detects an impact on the tip portion 10C by monitoring whether the amount of reflected light RL drops from the reference value by a threshold value or more.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the functional blocks of the scope control unit 26 in the endoscope 1 shown in Figure 2.

The processor of the scope control unit 26 functions as an impact detection unit 26A and an alarm control unit 26B by executing programs (programs including an impact detection program) stored in the ROM built into the scope control unit 26.

The impact detection unit 26A detects an impact on the tip 10C based on the amount of reflected light RL detected by the light detection unit 35 of the light receiving/emitting unit 30. Specifically, if the difference between the amount of reflected light RL detected by the light receiving/emitting unit 30 and the above-mentioned reference value is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH, the impact detection unit 26A determines that the tip 10C has received an impact sufficient to damage the second light guide 31b. In addition, if the difference between the amount of reflected light RL detected by the light receiving/emitting unit 30 and the above-mentioned reference value is less than the threshold value TH, the impact detection unit 26A determines that the tip 10C has not received an impact sufficient to damage the second light guide 31b.

The notification control unit 26B performs notification processing when the impact detection unit 26A determines that an impact has been applied to the tip portion 10C. The notification control unit 26B performs notification processing, for example, to display a predetermined message (such as a warning message indicating that an inspection of the tip portion 10C including the image sensor 23 is necessary) on the display unit 7 via the system control unit 44. Instead of displaying a message on the display unit 7, the notification control unit 26B may output the message from a speaker (not shown) provided in the endoscope device 100. Alternatively, the notification control unit 26B may notify the administrator of the endoscope device 100 of the need for an inspection by transmitting the message to an external electronic device connected to the processor device 4.

The impact detection operation for the tip portion 10C in the endoscope device 100 configured as described above will now be described.

When the connectors 13A and 13B of the endoscope 1 are connected to the main body 2 and electricity is applied to the endoscope 1, the scope control unit 26 emits test light EL from the detection light source 33 of the light receiving and emitting unit 30. The impact detection unit 26A acquires a detection signal of the reflected light RL of this test light EL, finds the difference between the amount of reflected light RL and a reference value, and compares this difference with a threshold value TH to determine whether or not an impact has been applied to the tip 10C. If it is determined that an impact has been applied to the tip 10C, an alert process is performed by the notification control unit 26B. On the other hand, if it is determined that no impact has been applied to the tip 10C, no alert process is performed.

In addition, if the notification process is not performed and then an examination using the endoscope 1 is started, the scope control unit 26 periodically performs the processes of emitting the test light EL from the detection light source 33, acquiring a detection signal of the reflected light RL, and detecting an impact based on the acquired detection signal, and performs the notification process if it is determined that an impact has occurred.

As described above, with the endoscope device 100, if it is believed that the imaging element 23 has failed due to an impact on the tip 10C, or if there is a high possibility that the imaging element 23 will fail in the future, the user is notified of this fact before connecting the endoscope 1 to the main body 2 and inserting the endoscope 1 into the body cavity. This makes it possible to prevent situations from occurring where the examination is interrupted and the endoscope 1 is replaced with another one after the endoscope 1 has been inserted into the body cavity. This reduces the burden on both the subject and the examiner, enabling efficient examinations.

Even if no impact to the tip 10C is detected before the start of the examination, a strong impact may be applied to the tip 10C during the examination, causing the image sensor 23 to malfunction. With the endoscope device 100, impact detection is performed periodically even after the start of the examination, making it possible to notify the user of the possibility of malfunction even during the examination and preventing a decrease in the accuracy of the examination.

In addition, an impact on the tip 10C of the endoscope 1 can occur even when the endoscope 1 is not energized. Although it is conceivable to provide a sensor for detecting an impact on the tip 10C of the endoscope 1, this configuration cannot detect an impact that occurs when the endoscope 1 is not energized. The endoscope device 100 has a high advantage because it can detect impacts that have occurred on the tip 10C in the past.

Failures in the imaging element 23 can occur due to a variety of factors and are not necessarily caused by impact to the tip portion 10C. With the endoscope 1, when inspecting the endoscope 1, the cause of the abnormality in the imaging element 23 can be identified by comparing the abnormality in the imaging element 23 with the impact detection results of the tip portion 10C. This makes it possible to increase the amount of information available during maintenance of the endoscope 1, enabling flexible responses.

In addition, in the endoscope 1, the first light guide 31a, which is the portion of the light guide 31 that is located outside the tip portion 10C, is configured to be highly impact resistant. Therefore, even if a mechanical load is applied to the bending portion 10B and the flexible portion 10A, damage to the first light guide 31a can be prevented. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of detecting an impact on the tip portion 10C.

In addition, in the endoscope 1, the second light guide 31b is disposed on the outer periphery side of the imaging element 23. With this configuration, most of the impact that could damage the imaging element 23 can be absorbed by the second light guide 31b. Therefore, impacts on the distal end 10C that could cause failure of the imaging element 23 can be detected with high accuracy.

In addition, according to the endoscope device 100, an impact on the tip portion 10C can be detected using only the endoscope 1. This eliminates the need to improve the processor device 4 and the light source device 5, reducing the manufacturing costs of the endoscope device 100. In addition, functions can be added to existing endoscope devices simply by replacing the endoscope 1, improving versatility.

The endoscope device 100 also uses a dedicated detection light source 33 for detecting an impact on the tip 10C. This makes it easy to keep the brightness of the test light EL supplied from the detection light source 33 constant, and can suppress an increase in the amount of heat generated in the light reflecting member 32. In addition, since there can be only one reference value, the amount of threshold information required to detect an impact can be reduced.

In the endoscope device 100, the light guide 31 is an optical fiber bundle, but this is not limited thereto. The light guide 31, i.e., the first light guide 31a and the second light guide 31b, may each be a single optical fiber. This configuration allows the insertion section 10 to be made thinner. The configuration in which the light guide 31 is an optical fiber bundle makes it easy to prevent the impact resistance of the second light guide 31b from becoming too low. As a result, it is possible to prevent the second light guide 31b from being damaged by a light impact, and to improve the detection accuracy of a large impact that may cause the image sensor 23 to fail.

The endoscope 1 may also be provided with multiple sets of light reflecting members 32, light guides 31, and light receiving/emitting units 30. In this case, it is preferable that, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, two second light guides 31b are arranged in the tip portion 10C at positions at the same distance from the imaging element 23. With this configuration, it is possible to detect with the same accuracy an impact applied to the imaging element 23 from the diagonally upper right direction in FIG. 6 and an impact applied to the imaging element 23 from the diagonally upper left direction in FIG. 6. By providing multiple light guides 31 in this way, it is possible to detect impacts from multiple directions with high accuracy.

When multiple sets of light reflecting member 32, light guide 31, and light receiving/emitting unit 30 are provided, the light receiving/emitting unit 30 of each set may be common. This allows the endoscope 1 to be made smaller and less expensive.

Below, we will explain modified examples of the endoscope device 100.

(First Modification)
7 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of an endoscope device 100A, which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. The endoscope device 100A has the same configuration as the endoscope device 100, except that the light receiving and emitting unit 30 is disposed inside the operation unit 11, and the light guide 31 is disposed from the tip portion 10C to the inside of the operation unit 11. Even with the configuration of the endoscope device 100A, it is possible to detect an impact on the tip portion 10C. Furthermore, with this configuration, the cost of the light guide 31 can be reduced.

(Second Modification)
The shock detection unit 26A and the notification control unit 26B of the scope control unit 26 of the endoscope device 100 may be realized by the system control unit 44 as a result of the processor of the system control unit 44 executing a program. Alternatively, the light receiving and emitting unit 30 may be built into the light source device 5, and the base end of the first light guide 31a may extend to the vicinity of the light receiving and emitting unit 30. In this configuration, the light receiving and emitting unit 30 is controlled by the system control unit 44. With these configurations, the manufacturing costs of the endoscope 1 can be reduced.

(Third Modification)
8 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of an endoscope device 100B which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. The endoscope device 100B has the same configuration as the endoscope device 100, except that the half mirror 34 and the light detection unit 35 of the light receiving and emitting unit 30 are built into the light source device 5, the detection light source 33 of the light receiving and emitting unit 30 is also used as the light source unit 52 of the light source device 5, and the first light guide 31a is extended to the light source device 5.

In the endoscope device 100B, the illumination light L emitted from the light source unit 52 enters the light guide 20 and passes through the half mirror 34 before entering the light guide 31. The light that travels through the light guide 31 and is reflected by the light reflecting member 32 is reflected by the half mirror 34 and detected by the light detection unit 35. The detection signal of the light detection unit 35 is input to the system control unit 44 via the light source control unit 51. The light detection unit 35 is controlled by the system control unit 44. In this modified example, the system control unit 44 functions as the shock detection unit 26A and the notification control unit 26B described above.

The endoscope device 100B does not require a detection light source 33. This reduces the manufacturing cost of the endoscope device 100B. In addition, the endoscope 1 does not have a light receiving and emitting unit 30, so the manufacturing cost of the endoscope 1 can be reduced.

(Fourth Modification)
Fig. 9 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope device 100C which is a modified example of the endoscope device 100. The endoscope device 100C has a configuration in which the connectors 13A and 13B of the universal cord 13 which connects the main body 2 and the endoscope 1 in the endoscope device 100 shown in Fig. 1 are changed to a single connector 13C. The present invention can also be applied to an endoscope device having a configuration in which the main body 2 and the endoscope 1 are connected by a single connector 13C as shown in Fig. 9.

As explained above, this specification discloses the following:

(1)
An endoscope having a rigid portion at a tip of an insertion portion,
An imaging element disposed within the rigid portion;
an optical transmission member disposed in the insertion portion including the rigid portion;
a light reflecting member provided at a first end portion within the rigid portion of the light transmission member,
An endoscope, wherein at least a portion of the optical transmission member within the rigid portion has lower impact resistance than other portions of the optical transmission member.

(2)
The endoscope according to (1),
When viewed in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, the imaging element is disposed eccentrically with respect to the center of the rigid portion,
An endoscope in which the portion of the optical transmission member having low impact resistance is disposed in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element.

(3)
The endoscope according to (1) or (2),
An endoscope comprising a plurality of the optical transmission members.

(4)
(3) The endoscope according to (3),
The optical transmission members are disposed at positions within the rigid portion at the same distance from the imaging element.

(5)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (4),
the optical transmission component is at least one optical fiber;
the low impact resistance portion of the optical transmission component is made of glass,
The other portion of the optical transmission member is made of resin.

(6)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (4),
the optical transmission component is at least one optical fiber made of the same material;
An endoscope in which the outer diameter of the portion of the optical transmission member having low impact resistance is smaller than the outer diameter of the other portion of the optical transmission member.

(7)
The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (6),
a light detection unit that detects light incident from a second end portion of the optical transmission member opposite to the first end portion and reflected by the light reflection member;
and an impact detection unit that detects an impact on the rigid portion based on the amount of light detected by the light detection unit.

(8)
(7) The endoscope according to (7),
An endoscope comprising a first light source for providing light incident on the second end of the light transmission member.

(9)
(7) The endoscope according to (7),
an endoscope in which the second end of the optical transmission member is supplied with light identical to the illumination light from a light source device for supplying illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the tip of the insertion portion;

(10)
The endoscope according to any one of (7) to (9),
The endoscope further includes a notification control unit that performs notification processing when the impact detection unit determines that an impact has been applied to the rigid portion.

(11)
An endoscope according to any one of (1) to (6),
a light detection unit that detects light incident from a second end portion of the optical transmission member opposite to the first end portion and reflected by the light reflection member;
an impact detection unit that detects an impact on the rigid portion based on the amount of light detected by the light detection unit.

(12)
The endoscope apparatus according to (11),
a light source device for supplying illumination light for illuminating an observation site to the tip of the insertion portion,
An endoscope apparatus in which the light incident on the second end portion of the optical transmission member is also used as the illumination light supplied from the light source device.

(13)
The endoscope apparatus according to (11) or (12),
The endoscope apparatus further includes a notification control unit that performs notification processing when the impact detection unit determines that an impact has been applied to the rigid portion.

(14)
1. An impact detection method for detecting an impact on a rigid portion of an endoscope having a rigid portion at a tip of an insertion portion, comprising:
the endoscope includes an imaging element disposed within the rigid portion, an optical transmission member disposed within the insertion portion including the rigid portion, and an optical reflecting member provided at a first end portion within the rigid portion of the optical transmission member,
At least a part of the optical transmission component within the rigid portion has a lower impact resistance than other parts of the optical transmission component,
An impact detection method for detecting light incident from a second end portion opposite the first end portion of the optical transmission member and reflected by the optical reflecting member, and detecting an impact to the rigid portion based on the amount of the detected light.

(15)
1. An impact detection program for detecting an impact on a rigid portion of an endoscope having a rigid portion at a tip of an insertion portion, the program comprising:
the endoscope includes an imaging element disposed within the rigid portion, an optical transmission member disposed within the insertion portion including the rigid portion, and an optical reflecting member provided at a first end portion within the rigid portion of the optical transmission member,
At least a part of the optical transmission component within the rigid portion has a lower impact resistance than other parts of the optical transmission component,
An impact detection program for causing a computer to execute a step of detecting an impact on the rigid portion based on the amount of light incident from a second end portion opposite the first end portion of the optical transmission member and reflected by the light reflecting member.

100, 100A, 100B, 100C Endoscope device 1 Endoscope 2 Main body 20, 31 Light guide 20a Illumination lens 21 Objective lens 22 Lens group 23 Image pickup element 26 Scope control unit 26A Impact detection unit 26B Notification control unit 30 Light receiving and emitting unit 31a First light guide 31b Second light guide 32 Light reflecting member 33 Detection light source 34 Half mirror 35 Light detection unit EL Test light RL Reflected light L Illumination light 4 Processor device 42 Signal processing unit 43 Display control unit 44 System control unit 5 Light source device 51 Light source control unit 52 Light source unit 6 Input unit 7 Display unit 10 Insertion unit 10A Flexible unit 10B Bending unit 10C Tip unit 11 Operation unit 12 Angle knob 13 Universal cord 13A, 13B, 13C Connector unit VL Virtual straight line

Claims (10)

An endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into an observation object, the endoscope having a flexible soft section, a freely bendable bending section provided at a tip of the soft section, and a hard section provided at the tip of the bending section and made of a material harder than the soft section and the bending section,
An imaging element disposed within the rigid portion;
an optical fiber bundle that transmits illumination light emitted from a light source unit to an illumination lens provided in the rigid portion;
At least one optical transmission member disposed in the insertion portion including the rigid portion;
a light reflecting member provided by evaporating a metal on an end surface of a first end portion in the rigid portion of the light transmitting member;
a light detection unit that detects light that is incident on a second end of the optical transmission member opposite to the first end and is reflected by the light reflection member;
an impact detection unit that detects an impact applied to the rigid portion based on a difference between an amount of light detected by the light detection unit and an amount of light detected by the light detection unit in a state where the optical transmission member is not damaged;
the optical transmission component has, at least in a part of the rigid portion, a portion having a lower impact resistance than other portions of the optical transmission component,
An endoscope in which the portion of the optical transmission component with low impact resistance is disposed in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1,
An endoscope comprising a plurality of the optical transmission members. The endoscope according to claim 2,
An endoscope, wherein the plurality of optical transmission members are disposed at positions within the rigid portion at the same distance from the imaging element. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
the low impact resistance portion of the optical transmission component is made of glass,
The other portion of the optical transmission member is made of resin. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
the optical transmission member is at least one optical fiber made of the same material;
An endoscope in which the outer diameter of the portion of the optical transmission member having low impact resistance is smaller than the outer diameter of the other portion of the optical transmission member. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1,
An endoscope comprising a first light source for providing light incident on the second end of the light transmission member. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1,
An endoscope in which the second end of the optical transmission member is supplied with light identical to the illumination light from the light source unit that emits illumination light to the optical fiber bundle. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The endoscope further includes a notification control unit that performs notification processing when the impact detection unit determines that an impact has been applied to the rigid portion. An impact detection method for detecting an impact on a hard portion of an endoscope, the hard portion having an insertion portion to be inserted into an observation object, the insertion portion having a flexible soft portion, a freely bendable bending portion provided at a tip of the soft portion, and a hard portion provided at the tip of the bending portion and made of a material harder than the soft portion and the bending portion, an image sensor being disposed within the hard portion, and illumination light emitted from a light source unit being transmitted to an illumination lens provided in the hard portion by an optical fiber bundle, comprising:
at least one optical transmission member is disposed within the insertion portion including the rigid portion, a light reflecting member is provided by evaporating metal onto an end face of a first end portion within the rigid portion of the optical transmission member, a portion of the optical transmission member that is lower in impact resistance than other portions of the optical transmission member is provided in at least a portion of a portion within the rigid portion, and the portion of the optical transmission member that is lower in impact resistance is disposed so as to be located in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element;
An impact detection method for detecting an impact applied to a rigid portion, comprising: detecting light incident from a second end portion opposite the first end portion of the optical transmission member and reflected by the optical reflecting member; and detecting an impact applied to the rigid portion based on a difference between the amount of the detected light and the amount of light detected when the optical transmission member is not damaged. An impact detection program for detecting an impact on a hard portion of an endoscope, the hard portion having an insertion portion to be inserted into an observation object, the insertion portion having a flexible soft portion, a freely bendable bending portion provided at a tip of the soft portion, and a hard portion provided at the tip of the bending portion and made of a material harder than the soft portion and the bending portion, an image sensor being disposed in the hard portion, and illumination light emitted from a light source portion is transmitted to an illumination lens provided in the hard portion by an optical fiber bundle, the program comprising:
at least one optical transmission member is disposed within the insertion portion including the rigid portion, a light reflecting member is provided by evaporating metal onto an end face of a first end portion within the rigid portion of the optical transmission member, a portion of the optical transmission member that is lower in impact resistance than other portions of the optical transmission member is provided in at least a portion of a portion within the rigid portion, and the portion of the optical transmission member that is lower in impact resistance is disposed so as to be located in an area closer to the outer periphery of the rigid portion than the imaging element;
An impact detection program for causing a computer to execute a step of detecting an impact applied to the rigid portion based on the difference between the amount of light incident from a second end portion opposite the first end portion of the optical transmission member and reflected by the light reflecting member, and the amount of light detected in a state in which no damage has occurred to the optical transmission member.

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