JPH0819516A - Simple type endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a simple structured endoscope device which can be subjected to a dipping disinfection with a disinfectant solution and can work well with a vacuum environment to be generated when a bacteria reducing process is applied to ethylene oxide gas. CONSTITUTION:The incident end of a light guide 9 is arranged in the operation part 2, and an illumination light supplying unit 30 for supplying illumination light to the light guide 9 is furnished removably relative to the operation guide 2. In this simple type endoscope device, the connecting mechanisms 23, 50 for connecting the operation part 2 with the light supplying unit 30 are embodied in a watertight structure which ensures that water does not intrude from the outside in the connected condition. A vent path 28 for putting the inside and outside of the operation part 2 in mutual communication is formed inside the connecting mechanisms 23, 50, and thereby the vent path 28 is shut from the outside by these mechanisms 23, 50 in the condition that the unit 30 is in connection with the operation part 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simplified endoscope apparatus in which an illumination light supply unit for supplying illumination light to a light guide is detachably attached to an operating portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called simple endoscope device in which a light emitting body for illumination is provided in an operating portion, conventionally, an illuminating light supply unit having a miniature bulb and a dry battery is generally provided in the operating portion of the endoscope. It had an attached structure.

[0003]

In order to eliminate the possibility of patient-to-patient infection through the endoscope, it is necessary that the endoscope be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after use.

However, since the simple endoscope apparatus has a structure in which the illumination light supply unit is simply attached to the operating portion as described above, when immersed in the disinfectant solution, the solution penetrates into the interior and the electric power is consumed. Cause mechanical and mechanical failure. Therefore, it was not possible to perform sufficient cleaning and disinfection after use.

Therefore, it is desirable that both the endoscope and the illumination light supply unit have a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside so that they can be immersed in the disinfecting solution.
However, ethylene oxide gas sterilization may be performed as a more complete infection control measure.

In such a gas sterilizer, air is first evacuated to temporarily create an environment close to a vacuum. Therefore, when the endoscope has a completely watertight structure, the rubber tube covering the bending portion swells. There is a risk of bursting.

Therefore, in a general endoscope, a communication mouthpiece which is normally completely closed and which opens so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the endoscope when an adapter is attached is attached to a light guide connector or the like.

However, in the simple endoscope apparatus, since such a communication mouthpiece must be attached to the plastic operating portion, it is necessary to specially reinforce the attaching portion, resulting in a significant cost increase. I will end up.

Therefore, the present invention provides a simple endoscope apparatus which can not only be immersed and disinfected in a disinfecting solution but also can be adapted to a vacuum environment at the time of ethylene oxide gas sterilization with a simple structure. The purpose is to

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the simplified endoscope apparatus of the present invention arranges an incident end portion of a light guide for illuminating a subject in an operating portion and also has the above-mentioned light. In a simple endoscope device in which an illumination light supply unit for supplying illumination light to a guide is detachably provided to the operation section, a connection mechanism for connecting the operation section and the illumination light supply unit is provided. In the connected state, while forming a watertight structure that does not allow water to enter from the outside to the inside, a ventilation path for communicating the inside and the outside of the operation portion is formed inside the connection mechanism, and the illumination light supply unit is When connected to the operation portion, the connection mechanism closes the gap between the ventilation passage and the outside.

It should be noted that the operation section is preferably formed in a watertight structure in which water does not enter the outside from the outside except for the ventilation passage, and the illumination light supply unit itself does not receive water from the outside to the inside. It is better to form a watertight structure that does not enter.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, an operating portion 2 is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 1 which is covered by a flexible tube.

The lower three-quarters portion of the operation portion 2 is a grip portion 3, and a forceps insertion portion 4 is provided between the grip portion 3 and the insertion portion 1 so as to project obliquely forward. ing. A suction operation valve 6 for performing a suction operation through a forceps channel (not shown) inserted in the insertion section 1 is provided in the operation mechanism section 5 above the grip section 3 of the operation section 2, and the insertion section 1 of the insertion section 1. A bending operation lever 7 for remotely performing a bending operation on a bending portion (not shown) formed at the tip portion is arranged on the front surface and the rear surface,
The eyepiece 8 is provided on the upper surface.

The light guide fiber bundle 9 for illuminating an object has an incident end portion arranged in the operation mechanism portion 5, passes through the insertion portion 1 and the grip portion 3 of the operation portion 2, and the emission end portion. It is arranged at the tip of the insertion portion 1.

Then, the light guide fiber bundle 9
Illumination light supply unit 3 for supplying illumination light to
0 is detachably attached to the side surface portion of the operation mechanism unit 5.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the illumination light supply unit 30 is removed from the operation section 2.
Main body case 11 for covering the operation mechanism section 5 of the operation section 2
Is made of plastic. The bearing cylinder 12 that supports the bending operation lever 7 and the suction operation valve 6 are fitted into through holes formed in the main body case 11 and are watertightly sealed therein. The bearing tube 12 and the base of the suction operation valve 6 are fixed to the frame 13 in the operation section 2.

A lid 15 is fitted into a large side opening formed in the main body case 11, and an O-ring 16 for sealing is attached to the fitting surface to prevent water from entering the inside through a gap. Has become. Although the O-ring 16 is crushed by being attached, a cross section in a natural state before being crushed is shown in the drawing (hereinafter the same).

A support cylinder 17 whose base is fixed to the frame 13 in the operation portion 2 is arranged at the central axis position of the hole formed in the central portion of the lid 15. And the support cylinder 17
A light guide mounting tube 18 screwed to and protrudes outwardly, and an incident end portion of the light guide fiber bundle 9 is screwed and fixed to a central axis position of the light guide mounting tube 18.

On the protruding end side of the light guide mounting cylinder 18,
A cylindrical lens mounting tube 19 in which a concave-convex lens 20 is watertightly joined to the tip portion is capped and screwed and fixed, whereby the concave-convex lens 20 is attached to the incident end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 9. They are positioned in close proximity to each other.

An O-ring receiving frame 22 which is arranged around the connecting portion between the supporting cylinder 17 and the light guide mounting cylinder 18 is fitted around a hole in the center of the lid body 15 on the outer surface, and the fitting is performed. An O-ring 24 for sealing is attached to the portion to prevent water from entering the inside through the gap.

Further, a connecting cylinder 23 is arranged so as to surround a portion extending from the lens mounting cylinder 19 to the O-ring receiving frame 22.
Has a base portion screwed and fixed to the inner surface of the hole of the lid body 15, a male screw 23a is screwed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion, and the outer peripheral surface on the front side thereof is formed into a taper surface which becomes gradually thinner. O-ring 2 for sealing is provided in the middle of the taper surface.
6 is mounted.

A gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the lens mounting cylinder 19, and the gap is
An air passage 28 connects the inside and the outside of the operation unit 2.

In this way, the operating portion 2 is provided with the ventilation passage 28.
Except for the part, all other parts have a watertight structure that prevents water from entering from the outside. Of course, the insertion portion 1 is also formed in a watertight structure.

Therefore, in the state where only the endoscope without the illumination light supply unit 30 is attached, the ventilation passage 28
Since the inside and the outside of the endoscope are communicated with each other, even if the endoscope is placed in an ethylene oxide gas sterilizer and placed in a vacuum environment, a rupture accident of a flexible portion forming the endoscope does not occur.

The illumination light supply unit 30 as a whole is L
It is formed in a V-shaped cylinder, and its body case 31 is made of plastic. The light source lamp 32 is attached to the lamp socket 33 and arranged at the curved portion.

The light source lamp 32 is arranged on the axis of the short tube of the L-shaped tube, and a reflecting mirror 34 for converging the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 on the axis of the short tube is provided.
It is attached to the lamp socket 33 so as to surround the light source lamp 32.

At the rear of the lamp socket 33, a main body case 31 is formed with an opening, and a bottom lid 35 is provided at the opening mouth of the main body case 31.
Is detachably screwed. Bottom cover 35 and body case 31
An O-ring 36 for sealing is attached to the fitting surface of and so that water does not enter the inside through the gap. A compression coil spring 37 is interposed between the bottom cover 35 and the lamp socket 33 to elastically fix the lamp socket 33 and the reflecting mirror 34.

A battery 38 is housed inside the long cylinder side of the L-shaped main body case 31. As the battery 38, either a dry battery or a rechargeable CADNICA battery may be used.

A plastic battery case lid 39 is detachably screwed into the end opening of the battery housing of the main body case 31, and a sealing O-ring 40 is attached to the boundary surface between the two. However, water does not enter inside through the gap. The battery case lid 39 is attached to the main body case 31.
The battery 38 can be replaced by removing the battery 38.

Reference numerals 41 and 42 denote negative electrode side electrodes arranged in the battery case lid 39 and the main body case 31, and 43 denotes positive electrode side electrodes arranged in the main body case 31.
It is connected to the light source lamp 32 via 3.

A light source lamp 32 is provided in the middle of the wiring.
Although a switch for turning on and off the power supply to the switch is provided, its illustration is omitted. The switch portion is also watertightly sealed so that water does not enter inside from the outside.

A connecting tube receiving tube 46 having a tapered opening at the end opening on the short tube side of the main body case 31 that engages with the tapered surface of the connecting tube 23 provided in the operating section 2.
However, it is fixed by tightening the nut 47 from the inside.

Then, the connecting tube receiving tube 46 and the main body case 3
An O-ring 48 for sealing is attached to the mating surface with 1 to prevent water from entering the interior through the gap, and the inner end of the connecting tube receiving tube 46 has a parallel plane shape. Transparent plate 49 is watertightly joined.

In this way, the illumination light supply unit 30
Has a watertight structure that prevents water from entering from all parts. Therefore, even if only the illumination light supply unit 30 that is not attached to the operation unit 2 is immersed in the disinfecting solution or the like alone, there is no risk of a water immersion accident. Further, since the illumination light supply unit 30 has no flexible portion on the outer wall,
No accident such as a rupture occurs even when placed in an ethylene oxide gas sterilizer.

The connecting cylinder 2 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the connecting cylinder receiving cylinder 46.
The tightening ring 50 having the female screw 50a screwed to the male screw 23a of No. 3 is attached so as not to slip out in the axial direction.

Therefore, from the state shown in FIG. 1, the illumination light supply unit 30 is brought closer to the operation portion 2 side, and the tapered surfaces of the connection tube 23 and the connection tube receiving tube 46 are brought into close contact with each other,
The female screw 50a of the tightening ring 50 is replaced with the male screw 2 of the connecting cylinder 23.
When tightened in 3a, the illumination light supply unit 30 is connected to the operation unit 2 as shown in FIG.

At this time, since the O-ring 26 mounted on the tapered surface of the connecting tube 23 is crushed by the connecting tube receiving tube 46, water does not enter from the outside into the connecting portion. And
Since the ventilation passage 28 opens inside the connection portion sealed by the O-ring 26, even if the entire apparatus is immersed in a disinfecting solution or the like with the illumination light supply unit 30 attached to the operation portion 2. , No disinfectant solution enters the device.

When the illumination light supply unit 30 is attached to the operation portion 2 in this way, the illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 32 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 34 and then passes through the transparent plate 49 and the concave-convex lens 20. Then, the light is converged on the incident end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 9 and is incident on the light guide fiber bundle 9.

Since the connecting tube 23 and the connecting tube receiving tube 46 are in close contact with each other with a tapered surface, the illumination light supply unit 3 is provided by tightening the tightening ring 50 tightly on the connecting tube 23.
0 is fixed so as not to move with respect to the operation unit 2.

However, if the tightening of the tightening wheel 50 is slightly loosened, the illumination light supply unit 30 can freely rotate about the optical axis of the illumination light. Therefore,
The illumination light supply unit 30 is set to the most convenient state by adjusting the mounting angle of the illumination light supply unit 30 with respect to the operation portion 2 indicated by θ in FIG. 2 and tightening the tightening ring 50 tightly in that state. can do.

[0041]

According to the present invention, since the air passage for communicating the inside and the outside of the operating portion is formed in the operating portion, if the illumination light supply unit is detached from the endoscope, the inside of the endoscope is Externally in communication, ethylene oxide gas sterilization can be performed without fear of rupture and does not require any special structure to do so.

Since the ventilation passage is formed inside the watertight connection mechanism for connecting the illumination light supply unit to the operation section, when the illumination light supply unit is connected to the operation section, The connection mechanism blocks the air passage and the outside, so that even if the air passage is immersed in the disinfectant solution, the water leakage from the air passage into the device does not occur.

Further, the operation portion is formed in a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside to the inside except the ventilation passage, and the illumination light supply unit is made in a watertight structure, so that such complete disinfection and sterilization can be achieved. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan sectional view of a state in which an operation unit and an illumination light supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention are separated.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which an illumination light supply unit is attached to the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan cross-sectional view of a state where an illumination light supply unit is attached to the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation part 9 Light guide fiber bundle 23 Connection tube 26 O-ring 28 Ventilation path 30 Illumination light supply unit 50 Fastening ring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An incident end portion of a light guide for illuminating a subject is arranged on an operation portion, and an illumination light supply unit for supplying illumination light to the light guide is detachably attached to the operation portion. In the provided simple endoscope device, the connection mechanism for connecting the operation unit and the illumination light supply unit is formed in a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside in the connected state, and A ventilation passage for communicating the inside and the outside is formed inside the connection mechanism, and when the illumination light supply unit is connected to the operation portion, the connection mechanism is provided between the ventilation passage and the outside. A simple endoscope device characterized in that the endoscope device is closed by the. 2. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion is formed in a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside to the inside except the air passage. 3. The simplified endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light supply unit is formed by itself as a watertight structure in which water does not enter from the outside to the inside.