JPH05150170A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the endoscope which can accurately rotate an electronic image pickup means or ultrasonic element to a desired position while an insert part and a grip part are fixed. CONSTITUTION:This invented endoscope 1 is so constituted as to display an image of the inside of a body cavity by processing the electric signal sent from the electronic image pickup means 2. Further, the endoscope 1 is arranged having the electronic image pickup means 2 almost at right angles to the axis direction of a tip part 3 and the electronic image pickup means 5 can be rotated on the insert part 5. Further, th endoscope 1 is provided with a stepping motor 21 adjacently to the insert part 5, this stepping motor 21 and image pickup means 2 are coupled by a rotation transmission member 22, and the angle of rotation of the electronic image pickup means 2 is freely adjustable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope capable of displaying the inside of a body cavity as an image, and more particularly to an endoscope having improved operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes capable of displaying the inside of a body cavity as an image include a so-called electronic endoscope and an ultrasonic endoscope.

An electronic endoscope is provided with a solid-state image pickup device or the like at its tip, and an electric signal sent from the solid-state image pickup device is processed so that the inside of a body cavity can be imaged.

Further, an ultrasonic endoscope is provided with an ultrasonic element at its tip, and an ultrasonic wave is electronically or mechanically scanned from this ultrasonic element to obtain a tomographic image in the body cavity. It is like this.

The ultrasonic endoscope further includes a mechanical scan type that obtains a tomographic image of a plane orthogonal to the axial line by rotating a single ultrasonic element around the axial direction of the distal end portion, and an arrayed array. There is an electronic scan type in which a tomographic image in a plane including an axis and a scanning direction is obtained by electronically scanning an ultrasonic wave from an installed ultrasonic element.

In order to display the diseased part in the body cavity as an image using these endoscopes, the tip and the insertion part to which the tip is attached are advanced along the body cavity until the marker organ is found.

Since the marker organ can be easily identified as a specific organ when displayed as an image, the position of this organ is used as a reference point of the spatial coordinates of the subject, and an arbitrary point can be set with respect to this reference point. An organ whose distance or angle is measured.

That is, if the relative distance and relative angle between the diseased part and the marker organ are investigated in advance, first the marker organ is found, then the tip is advanced by the relative distance, and the ultrasonic element or solid body at the tip is further detected. By rotating the imaging element by a relative angle, the ultrasonic element or the solid-state imaging element can be easily directed to the diseased part and an image can be formed.

To insert the tip and the insertion part,
This is done by having a grip part integrally connected to this and pushing this grip part into the body cavity of the subject.

The insertion part is advanced along the inside of the body cavity, and when the marker organ is displayed on the monitor, the grip part is moved by the above-mentioned relative distance and the insertion part is advanced at the same time. Rotate by an angle.

In this way, the ultrasonic element or the solid-state image pickup element at the tip end can be directed to the diseased part to form an image.

[0012]

However, it takes a considerable amount of labor and skill to rotate the grip part together with the insertion part while paying attention to the display screen of the monitor, so that the diagnosis time becomes long and stable diagnosis can be performed. I couldn't.

Further, since the distal end portion and the insertion portion are integrally rotated together with the grip portion, there is a possibility that the patient may suffer great pain.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and the electronic image pickup means or the ultrasonic element can be accurately rotated to a desired position without rotating the insertion portion and the grip portion. The purpose is to provide an endoscope.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope of the present invention, as described in claim 1, processes an electric signal sent from an electronic image pickup means to image the inside of a body cavity. In the endoscope configured to be displayed as, the electronic image pickup means is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the distal end portion, and the electronic image pickup means is rotatable with respect to the insertion portion. is there.

Further, as described in claim 2, the endoscope of the present invention is configured so that the inside of the body cavity can be displayed as an image by electronically scanning ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic elements arranged in an array. In the endoscope described above, the ultrasonic element is arranged along the axial direction of the distal end portion, and the ultrasonic element is rotatable with respect to the insertion portion. Furthermore, as described in claim 3, the endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope configured to display an image of the inside of a body cavity by oscillating ultrasonic waves from ultrasonic elements arranged in an array, The ultrasonic element is arranged along the axial direction of the distal end portion, the ultrasonic element is configured to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion, and the ultrasonic element is further rotated at a desired position with respect to the insertion portion. It is possible to select between a mode in which the ultrasonic waves are electronically scanned in the array direction in the above state and a mode in which the ultrasonic elements are circumferentially scanned by rotating the ultrasonic element at a predetermined angular velocity with respect to the insertion portion. It was done.

[0017]

Since the electronic image pickup means or the ultrasonic element is rotatably arranged with respect to the insertion portion, the electronic image pickup means or the ultrasonic element can be directed to a desired rotation position without rotating the insertion portion and the grip portion. You can

Therefore, the operability of the endoscope when diagnosing a diseased part is improved, stable diagnosis is possible, and the part of the endoscope that rotates in the body cavity is limited, so that the pain to the patient is reduced. Can be reduced.

In addition, a mode in which the ultrasonic element is electronically scanned in the array direction while the ultrasonic element is rotated to a desired position with respect to the insertion portion, and the ultrasonic element has a predetermined angular velocity with respect to the insertion portion. Since the mode in which the ultrasonic waves are scanned in the circumferential direction can be selected by rotating the ultrasonic wave at, the tomographic images along the two types of planes including the plane including the array direction and the plane orthogonal to the array direction are selectively obtained. be able to.

[0020]

Embodiments of the endoscope of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment in which the endoscope of the present invention is applied to a so-called electronic endoscope.

This endoscope 1 is, as shown in FIG. 1 (a),
The inside of the body cavity can be displayed as an image by processing the electric signal sent from the electronic image pickup means 2.

The tip portion 3 is connected to the insertion portion 5 via the angle portion 4, and the insertion portion 5 is connected to the grip portion 6.

Further, the grip portion 6 is provided with an operating portion 7 such as an operating knob for operating the tip portion 3 at an angle.

The electronic image pickup means 2 described above is further provided in FIG.
As shown in (b), the irradiation unit 9 that irradiates the light transmitted from the light guide 8 onto the subject, the objective lens 10 that focuses the light from the subject, and the image focused by the objective lens 10 is converted into an electrical signal. It is composed of a solid-state image pickup device 11 for converting, and this electric signal is transmitted through a cable (not shown) arranged along the insertion part 5 and processed by an image processing device provided outside the endoscope 1. After that, it will be displayed on the monitor as an image.

Further, in this embodiment, the electronic image pickup means 2 is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the distal end portion 3, and the electronic image pickup means 2 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 5. is there.

In this embodiment, the tip portion 3 is composed of a rotating portion 3a rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 5 and a fixed portion 3b not rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 5, and the electronic image pickup means 2 is provided with the rotating portion 3a.
The electronic image pickup means 2 is protected by being attached to the electronic image pickup means 2 and being partially covered with the fixing portion 3b made of a transparent material.

Here, the rotating portion 3a may be configured to be rotatable over a predetermined range, preferably about 360 °, and need not be rotatable over several turns.

Therefore, in the light guide 8 of the electronic image pickup means 2 or the cable (not shown), the rotating portion 3a is 1
It is sufficient if it is flexible so that it does not hinder the function even if it goes around.

As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the electronic endoscope 1 of this embodiment has a step motor 21 provided adjacent to the insertion portion 5.

The step motor 21 is connected to the rotating portion 3a by the rotation transmitting member 22 to drive the rotating portion 3a to rotate so that the rotation angle of the electronic image pickup means 2 attached to the rotating portion 3a can be adjusted. is there.

Further, the operation unit 7 has a step motor 2
A drive switch 23 for driving 1 is provided.

Even if the rotation transmitting member 22 is bent at the insertion portion 5, the rotation transmitting member 22 prevents the rotation of the step motor 21 from rotating.
A flexible shaft, for example, is preferable.

In the endoscope 1, by driving an angle driving means (not shown) incorporated in the angle portion 4 with an angle operation knob provided in the operation portion 7, the distal end portion 3 is moved vertically or horizontally in a predetermined direction. Although it can be bent within an angle range, in the present embodiment, the rotating portion 3a to which the electronic image pickup means 2 is attached can be rotated while the tip portion 3 is operated in such an angle.

Further, the endoscope 1 of this embodiment is provided with a rotation angle detecting means 24 capable of detecting the rotation angle of the rotating portion 3a with respect to a predetermined reference rotation position.

The predetermined reference rotation position is preferably a rotation position at which the arrangement direction of the electronic image pickup means 2 and the direction of the marker organ coincide with each other.

The rotation angle detecting means 24 is preferably an encoder, for example.

Further, it is preferable to provide a rotation angle display section (not shown) for displaying the relative rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detection means 24.

In order to diagnose a diseased part using the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment, first, the insertion part 5 to which the tip part 3 is attached via the tip part 3 and the angle part 4 is inserted until a marker organ is found. Proceed along the body cavity.

The tip portion 3, the insertion portion 5 and the like are inserted by holding the grip portion 6 integrally connected thereto.

Further, the relative distance and relative angle between the diseased part and the marker organ are investigated in advance.

When the marker organ is displayed on the monitor, the rotation angle detection means 24 is reset in order to store the rotation position of the electronic image pickup means 2 at that time as the reference rotation position.

Next, the tip portion 3 is advanced by the above-mentioned relative distance, and the drive switch 23 is operated to drive the step motor 21 to rotate the rotating portion 3a to which the electronic image pickup means 2 is attached.

When the rotary unit 3a is rotated while checking the relative rotation amount of the rotary unit 3a on the rotation angle display unit and rotated by the relative angle between the diseased part and the marker organ, the drive switch 2
3 is operated, the step motor 21 is stopped, and the rotating unit 3
Stop the rotation of a.

If necessary, the tip portion 3 is further moved or the rotating portion 3a is rotated while looking at the monitor for fine adjustment.

Then, the electronic image pickup means 2 is operated to display the diseased part as an image on the monitor for diagnosis.

If necessary, by operating the drive switch 23 to rotate the electronic image pickup means 2, not only the diseased part but also the body cavity wall in a desired direction can be displayed on the monitor.

When rotating the rotating portion 3a, the operator of the endoscope 1 does not need to rotate the entire grip portion 6 and only needs to operate the drive switch 23. The direction of the imaging means 2 can be easily matched with the direction of the diseased part.

Therefore, the operator need only pay attention to the image displayed on the monitor and the drive switch 23, and thus stable diagnosis can be performed.

Further, since the endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment does not rotate the portion in contact with the body cavity wall, the patient does not have to suffer from the rotation of the distal end portion 3 or the insertion portion 5.

Further, since the rotating portion 3a can be rotated while the tip portion 3 is being angled, the tip portion 3 can be rotated.
For example, the diseased part can be easily diagnosed even in a state where it is placed along the wall of the body cavity curved in an S shape.

Further, since the step motor 21 and the rotation angle detection means 24 can accurately position the rotation angle of the electronic image pickup means 2 in a desired direction, more accurate diagnosis can be performed.

In the endoscope 1 of this embodiment, the rotating portion 3a is driven by the step motor 21.
As shown in, the rotation operation part 25 is adjacent to the insertion part 5,
For example, the rotation operating unit 25 provided on the operation unit 7 and the rotating unit 3a to which the electronic image pickup unit 2 is attached are connected by the rotation transmission member 22 formed of, for example, a flexible joint, and the rotation angle of the electronic image pickup unit 2 can be adjusted. You may comprise.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the rotary operation unit 25
The rotation direction of is converted by, for example, combining a bevel gear, and is made to coincide with the axial direction of the rotating portion 3a.

An endoscope having a structure as shown in FIG. 2 can also be used in the same manner as described with reference to FIG.

In the endoscope 1 of this embodiment, the electronic image pickup means 2 is covered with the fixing portion 3b and the fixing portion 3b is not rotated. However, the fixing portion 3b may be omitted depending on circumstances.

Next, a second embodiment in which the endoscope of the present invention is applied to a so-called ultrasonic endoscope will be described with reference to FIG.

The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, this endoscope 31 is constructed so that the inside of the body cavity can be displayed as an image by electronically scanning ultrasonic waves from ultrasonic elements 32 arranged in an array. , So-called electronic linear scanning for obtaining a tomographic image along a plane along the array direction.

The ultrasonic element 32 receives a pulse from the outside of the endoscope 31 via a cable (not shown), generates an ultrasonic wave in response to the pulse, and receives a reflected wave to convert it into an electric signal. This electrical signal is processed by an ultrasonic image processing apparatus provided outside the endoscope 1 and then displayed on a monitor as a tomographic image.

In addition, the endoscope 31 of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic element 32 is arranged along the axial direction of the tip portion 33, and the ultrasonic element 32 is arranged in the rotating portion 3.
By being attached to 3a, it is configured to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 5.

As in the first embodiment, the endoscope 31 of the present embodiment is also provided with a step motor 21 adjacent to the insertion portion 5 as shown in FIG. 3 (a).
Is configured so that the rotation angle of the ultrasonic element 32 attached to the rotating portion 33a can be adjusted by connecting the rotating portion 33a to the rotation transmitting member 22 and driving the rotating portion 33a to rotate.

In the case of diagnosing a diseased part using the endoscope 31 of this embodiment, the tip portion 33 is observed while observing the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor until the marker organ is found, as in the first embodiment. When the marker organ is found by proceeding along the inside of the body cavity, the drive switch 23 is operated to drive the step motor 21, thereby rotating the rotating portion 33a to which the ultrasonic element 32 is attached.

While confirming the relative rotation amount of the rotating portion 33a on the rotating angle display portion, the rotating portion 33a is rotated, and when the relative angle between the diseased part and the marker organ is rotated, the drive switch 23 is operated to operate the step motor 21. To stop the rotation of the rotating unit 33a.

Then, the ultrasonic element 32 is activated to display a tomographic image of the vicinity of the diseased part on a monitor for diagnosis.

The obtained tomographic image is along a plane including the array direction, but if necessary, the drive switch 2
By operating 3 to further rotate the ultrasonic element 32, a tomographic image in a desired direction can be displayed on the monitor.

Also in this embodiment, when the rotating portion 33a is rotated, the operator of the endoscope 31 does not have to rotate the entire grip portion 6 and only needs to operate the drive switch 23. Without taking the ultrasonic element 32
The direction of can be easily matched with the direction of the diseased part.

Therefore, the operator need only pay attention to the image displayed on the monitor and the drive switch 23, and thus stable diagnosis can be performed.

Further, since the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment does not rotate the portion that comes into contact with the body cavity wall, the patient does not suffer the pain associated with the rotation of the distal end portion 33 or the insertion portion 5.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, by using the flexible joint as the rotation transmitting member 22, the rotating portion 33a can be rotated while the tip portion 33 is angle-operated, and the encoder 24 together with the step motor 21 can be rotated. By providing, the rotation angle of the ultrasonic element 32 can be accurately positioned.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the rotary portion 33a may be manually rotated without using the step motor 21.

The ultrasonic element 32 of the endoscope 31 of this embodiment
Has a structure of directly contacting the inside of the body cavity, but as shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic transmission liquid 34 is filled around the rotating portion 33a to which the ultrasonic element 32 is attached, and the ultrasonic transmission liquid 34 is It may be sealed with a sealed container 35 made of a sound wave transmitting material.

With this structure, since the rotating portion in contact with the wall of the body cavity disappears from the endoscope 31, the ultrasonic element 3
2 can be protected from damage due to friction, and the patient's pain associated with rotation can be reduced.

Further, the ultrasonic element 32 used in the endoscope 31 of the present embodiment is an electronic linear system which obtains a tomographic image by scanning ultrasonic waves in the array direction and along the scanning direction, that is, the axial direction of the tip portion 33. However, the ultrasonic element 32 is inserted into the insertion portion 5
With respect to a mode in which ultrasonic waves are electronically scanned in the array direction while being rotated to a desired position, and ultrasonic waves are circumferentially rotated by rotating the ultrasonic element 32 at a predetermined angular velocity with respect to the insertion portion 5. The scanning mode may be selectable.

With such a configuration, it is possible to selectively obtain ultrasonic tomographic images along two kinds of planes, ie, an arbitrary plane including the array direction, that is, the axial direction of the rotating portion 33a and a plane orthogonal to the axial direction. it can.

Further, although not described in the first and second embodiments described above, if tool holes are provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating portion 3a or 33a, these rotating portions can be moved to desired rotational positions. By rotating and inserting the instrument, the cavity wall at a position corresponding to this rotated position can be examined.

[0077]

As described above, the endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope in which the inside of a body cavity can be displayed as an image by processing the electric signal sent from the electronic image pickup means. By arranging the image pickup means in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the distal end portion, and by arranging the electronic image pickup means to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion,
The electronic imaging means can be aimed at the diseased part without rotating the insertion part and the grip part.

Therefore, the operability of the endoscope when diagnosing a diseased part is improved, stable diagnosis is possible, and the part of the endoscope that rotates in the body cavity is limited, so that the pain to the patient is reduced. Can be reduced.

Further, the endoscope of the present invention is an endoscope in which the inside of a body cavity can be displayed as an image by electronically scanning ultrasonic waves from ultrasonic elements arranged in an array. The ultrasonic element is arranged along the axial direction of the distal end portion, and the ultrasonic element is configured to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion, so that the ultrasonic element can be rotated without rotating the insertion portion and the grip portion. Can be turned to.

Therefore, similar to the above, it is possible to make a stable diagnosis and reduce the pain to the patient.

Further, the ultrasonic element is arranged along the axial direction of the distal end portion, the ultrasonic element is configured to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion, and the ultrasonic element is further arranged at a desired position with respect to the insertion portion. It is possible to select between a mode in which the ultrasonic waves are electronically scanned in the array direction while rotating in a vertical direction, and a mode in which ultrasonic waves are scanned in the circumferential direction by rotating the ultrasonic element at a predetermined angular velocity with respect to the insertion part. With this configuration, it is possible to selectively obtain tomographic images along two types of planes including a plane including the array direction and a plane orthogonal to the array direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an endoscope of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged perspective view of a distal end portion.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a modified example of the endoscope shown in FIG.

3A is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the endoscope of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged perspective view of a distal end portion.

4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a modified example of the endoscope shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Electronic imaging means 3 Tip part 4 Angle part 5 Insertion part 6 Grip part 7 Operating part 11 Solid-state imaging device 21 Step motor 22 Rotation transmission member 23 Drive switch 25 Rotation operating part 32 Ultrasonic element

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope in which a body cavity can be displayed as an image by processing an electric signal sent from an electronic image pickup means, wherein the electronic image pickup means is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to an axial direction of a distal end portion. An endoscope characterized in that the electronic image pickup means is arranged so as to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion. 2. An endoscope configured to display an image of the inside of a body cavity by electronically scanning ultrasonic waves from ultrasonic elements arranged in an array, wherein the ultrasonic elements are in the axial direction of the distal end portion. An endoscope characterized in that the ultrasonic element is arranged along with and is rotatable with respect to the insertion portion. 3. An endoscope in which ultrasonic waves are oscillated from ultrasonic elements arranged in an array so that the inside of a body cavity can be displayed as an image, the ultrasonic elements being arranged along an axial direction of a distal end portion. The ultrasonic element is arranged so as to be rotatable with respect to the insertion portion, and the ultrasonic element is electronically scanned in the array direction while the ultrasonic element is rotated at a desired position with respect to the insertion portion. The endoscope is characterized in that it can be selected from a mode for scanning and a mode for scanning the ultrasonic wave in the circumferential direction by rotating the ultrasonic element with respect to the insertion portion at a predetermined angular velocity. 4. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitting liquid is filled around the ultrasonic wave element, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting liquid is sealed with a hermetic container made of an ultrasonic wave transmitting substance. 5. A step motor is provided adjacent to the insertion part, and the step motor and the electronic image pickup means or the rotating part to which the ultrasonic element is attached are connected by a rotation transmitting member. The endoscope according to 1. 6. A rotation operating section is provided adjacent to the insertion section, and the rotation operating section and the electronic imaging means or the rotation section to which the ultrasonic element is attached are connected by a rotation transmitting member. The endoscope according to any one of 1. 7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the electronic image pickup means or the ultrasonic element is configured to be rotatable in a state in which the tip portion is operated to be angled. 8. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation angle detection unit capable of detecting a rotation angle of the electronic image pickup unit or the ultrasonic element with respect to a predetermined reference rotation position.