EP2488092A1

EP2488092A1 - Endoscope

Info

Publication number: EP2488092A1
Application number: EP10784669A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eugen Weimer; Hubert Czujack
Original assignee: Sopro Comeg GmbH
Current assignee: Sopro Comeg GmbH
Priority date: 2009-10-12
Filing date: 2010-10-11
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Also published as: CA2777252A1; US8485968B2; DE102009049143B3; WO2011044878A1; KR101618920B1; RU2563430C2; CN102573598A; JP5655078B2; KR20120095385A; JP2013507150A; AU2010306240B2; BR112012008426A2; AU2010306240A1; RU2012117962A; US20120136213A1; CN102573598B

Abstract

The invention relates to a rigid, rod-shaped endoscope having an outer casing tube (1, 2, 3), an inner fixed optical tube (15), and at least one movable sliding tube (12) arranged therebetween, for medical applications, comprising a distal end having a transparent, distal window (4) and a light outlet lying adjacent thereto, an optical deflecting prism (6) facing the distal window (4), a proximal end having an optical observation device (22) or a camera adapter, an endoscope shank constructed from hollow tubes lying one inside the other, wherein the two outer hollow tubes (1, 3) form the casing tube having a window (4) at the distal end, the optical tube (15) has the movable deflecting prism (6) at the distal window and an optical system (14) inside the optical tube for transmitting light beams, at least one sliding tube (12) that can be slid in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the endoscope is arranged between the casing tube (1, 2, 3) and the optical tube (15), a device (13) is provided at the distal window (4), by means of which device the scattered light incidence on the sides of the deflecting prism (6) facing the distal window (4) can be prevented, the deflection prism (6) facing the distal window (4) is rotatably supported on a shaft (8) that lies at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope, the sliding tube (12) is connected at the distal end to the deflecting prism (6) such that sliding said tube against the optical tube (15) causes the prism to rotate about the shaft (8) thereof, the casing tube (1, 2, 3) forms a leak-tight and hermetically sealed interior, which also completely encloses the inner hollow tubes located therein and the leak-tightness of which allows the space surrounding the interior to be sterilized by means of vapor, the sliding of the sliding tube against the optical tube occurs as a result of magnetic forces, which are generated by slidable permanent magnets (20, 21), wherein at least one permanent magnet is arranged inside (20) and at least one permanent magnet is arranged outside (21) the hermetically sealed interior (17).

Description

endoscope

The invention is directed to a rigid endoscope for medical

Applications which are suitable for autoclave sterilization and in which different viewing directions can be adjusted.

Medical endoscopes are usually used to view internal organs in a cavity. Here, either a natural body opening is used or it is made an incision on the body, through which the endoscope for

Observation point is pushed through. At the distal end of the endoscope there is a light source for illumination and a window through which the light reflected from the object can enter the endoscope, after which it is relayed by optical means to the proximal end of the endoscope to the viewer or imager.

After using the endoscope, this must be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized to avoid infection between patients. Sterilization is quite problematic. Either you have to use toxic substances that are in the

Connection to it again consuming to be removed, or you use steam, but this can lead to leakage problems.

To save the patient, you want to bring as thin as possible endoscopes used. This implies that the optical devices are high

Requirements must be made. Also, you want to perform as many examinations with the same endoscope, since every change of the endoscope is associated with physical stress on the patient.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a rigid endoscope for medical applications available, which is easily sterilized with steam, allows many examinations without Endoskopwechsel and has the highest optical quality in a thin design.

The invention solves this problem with a rigid, rod-shaped endoscope with an outer cladding tube, an inner fixed optical tube and at least one interposed, movable sliding tube, for medical applications, comprising

CONFIRMATION COPY A distal end having a translucent, distal window and an adjacent light exit,

Facing the distal window an optical deflection prism,

• a proximal end with an optical observer or a

Camera adapter,

• An endoscope shaft constructed of nested hollow tubes, wherein

The two outer hollow tubes forming the cladding tube with a window at the distal end,

· The optic tube at the distal window the movable baffle prism and in his

Interior has an optical system for transmitting light rays,

At least one sliding tube, which is displaceable in the direction of the endoscope longitudinal axis, is arranged between the jacket tube and the optics tube,

A device is provided at the distal window with which the scattered light incidence on the sides of the deflecting prism facing the distal window can be prevented,

The deflection prism facing the distal window is rotatably mounted on a shaft that is perpendicular to the endoscope longitudinal axis,

The sliding tube at the distal end is connected to the deflection prism in such a way that a displacement of this tube against the optical tube results in a rotation of the prism about its shaft,

The cladding tube forms a dense and hermetically sealed interior, which also completely encloses the internal hollow tubes located therein, and whose tightness makes the space around it vaporizable with steam,

· The displacement of the sliding tube against the optical tube is effected by magnetic forces generated by displaceable permanent magnets, wherein at least one permanent magnet is arranged inside and outside the hermetically sealed interior. The movements that are required within the hermetic interior are transmitted solely by magnetic forces. As a result, a hermetic interior can be formed, which no longer requires seals for displaceable or rotatable parts and there is the possibility of sterilization with steam, which is no longer due to the otherwise inevitable and caused by the steam-related temperature changes and expansions clearance in the interior of the endoscope, in which the optics is arranged, can penetrate. An endoscope with magnetic adjusting device is also described in DE 199 27 816 A1. In this case, an endoscope is disclosed with a sealed housing wall and arranged inside the component, which is adjustable with a fixed to the component, movable by a magnetic drive body through the wall by a magnet arranged outside the wall. However, the movement is effected by a constructively separated from the endoscope, outer magnet.

The optical system can be designed so that useful light incident only through the lower part of the window facing side of the Ablenkprismas. This makes it possible to cover the remaining prism by devices so that stray light is almost completely blocked. In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the device with which the incidence of light on the side facing the window

Deflection prism is limited, is an approximately semi-surface blackening of this surface of the prism. In an alternative or additive manner, it is provided that the device is an axially displaceable shutter. Such a shutter also protects the rear

Exit surface of the prism from stray light at small deflection angles.

By such a device stray light is kept away from the optics of the endoscope. In this case, it must be taken into account that an endoscope according to the invention, because of the large observation space which such an endoscope allows, also has a correspondingly powerful illumination device made of optical fibers or diodes and illuminates this observation space well.

Because of this peculiarity of a large-area and high-speed illumination, the scattered light problem is also relevant. Another reason is that in medical applications the ones to be observed

Unlike technical applications, surfaces are usually very close to the endoscope and produce a high level of scattered light. This is different

Endoscope according to the invention also from the prior art, as described for example in US 3,856,000. In the arrangement shown there, a light incidence is not limited by the front entrance surface of the prism and the tilting of the prism is carried out over a much space-consuming pull wire.

To prevent this stray light influences serve both the blackening and the shutter, which must shadow all the window facing parts of the prism, which are out of sight. Once the prism is tilted and the viewing angle is sideways, the shutter must be retracted. The rotation of the prism and the shutter are therefore connected. These coupled movements can be effected either by a common displaceable tube or by different hollow tubes or by a coupling of the movements with a hinge connection between prism axle and shutter. The use of a puller wire would take up too much space, especially with the small diameters of medical endoscopes.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the

Deflection prism is provided on the distal side facing away from the distal window with a gear segment which engages in a rack which is fixedly connected to the sliding tube. The rotatable shaft to which the deflection prism is attached is attached to the optics tube containing the optical devices for relaying the light rays. Hereby, a high precision in the adjustment of the prism can be ensured, while a very narrow construction is achieved.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the

Transmission of the magnetic forces by at least one pair of permanent magnets, wherein the one permanent magnet fixed externally on the first inner hollow tube and the other

Permanent magnet is mounted displaceably outside the second outer hollow tube. In an advantageous further embodiment it is provided that the permanent magnets are designed as annular magnets and are poled so that they are in the same

Cross-sectional level are drawn. As a result, a particularly favorable adhesion is achieved. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a 90-degree rectangular prism is used as the deflection prism and that as a viewing angle relative to the longitudinal axis, a range of 10 degrees to 110 degrees can be adjusted continuously and the viewing angle comprises about 60 degrees. Whereas endoscopes according to the conventional state of the art only allow a single adjustment of the line of sight and must be changed during the examination correspondingly often, the design according to the invention allows the examination without instrument change, which on the one hand has the advantage of less stress on the patient and on the other hand has the advantage that less devices must be sterilized after the examination, whereby the sterilization with steam can be done very quickly. Overall, this reduces the number of endoscopes to be kept clear, which is a great economic advantage of the invention. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b, Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b, Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b. Fig. 1a / b and Fig. 2a / b show simplified schematic diagrams of a longitudinal section through the distal end of the endoscope with the two end positions of an exemplary 90 degree prism. FIGS. 3a / b show schematic diagrams of the entire endoscope.

In each case, the outermost tube 1 protects the illumination system, which consists in this case of an optical fiber bundle 2. Arranged therein is the second outer hollow tube 3 with the window 4 and the front part 5, which are sealed together. These elements form the cladding tube.

In the hermetically sealed interior space within the cladding tube is located near the window, the rectangular prism 6 with the blackened area 7. It is rotatably mounted on the shaft 8, the rotation by means of the gear segment 9, which is actuated by the rack 10. While the shaft 8 on the optical tube 15, which the optical systems for transmission of the object to be emitted from the object to be observed

Light rays is fixed, the rack 10 is moved by the sliding tube 12. Instead of a gear segment with a rack and a different type of joint, which performs a turn-tilt movement, possible.

1a, 2a and 3a differ from those of FIGS. 1b, 2b and 3b by the movement of the shutter 13. FIGS. 1a, 2a and 3a show how the shutter 13 is independent from the tilting of the deflection prism 6. For this purpose, in addition to the sliding tube 12, another sliding tube, the shutter sliding tube 11a, is used, which is arranged outside the sliding tube 12, but inside the enveloping tube.

In Fig. 1b, 2b and 3b is shown how the shutter 13 can be moved depending on the tilt of the Ablenkprismas 6 in a coupled manner. The shutter 13 is in this case attached to the suspension device of the deflection prism 6 with a hinge connection 11 b. When turning the shaft 8, the shutter 13 is pulled forward or pushed back accordingly. Such a constructed endoscope can be constructed simpler and thinner. In Fig. 1 a and Fig. 1 b, the viewing angle α is 60 degrees and the center line 16 of the viewing angle ß is 100 degrees rotated relative to the horizontal. Compared to the horizontal so the range can be seen between 130 degrees and 70 degrees and to be examined. In Fig. 2a / b, the angle is also 60 degrees and the center of the viewing angle is 10 degrees rotated from the horizontal. Compared to the horizontal one can see and examine between 40 degrees and -20 degrees. This wide range places high demands on the lighting system 2. Common designs of the invention achieve tilting of the prism such that the viewing angle is up to 110 degrees with a field of view of 60 degrees plus / minus 10 degrees.

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show schematic diagrams of the endoscope with a representation of the hermetically sealed interior 17, which is shown dotted. The two representations differ by the movement of the shutter 13 and the

appropriate arrangement and number of magnets.

In Fig. 3a is within the interior 17, an annular magnet 18th

arranged, which is connected to the shutter slide tube 11a, and the one of, located outside of the inner space 17, annular magnet 19 which axially

is displaceable, can be moved axially. Furthermore, within this interior space 17, a further annular magnet 20 is arranged, which is connected to the sliding tube 12, and which can be moved axially by a, above the interior 17, located annular magnet 21, which is also axially displaceable. The two outer annular magnets 19 and 21 are connected to each other so that they can move and set in a definable relationship to each other, whereby the correct shutter position is set at different angles.

In Fig. 3b can be dispensed with the magnets 18 and 19, since the coupling of the movement of the shutter 13 takes place distally through the hinge connection 11b.

Figures 3a and 3b also show the arrangement of the hermetically sealed window 22 at the proximal end of the endoscope.

26] list of reference extreme tube

Fiber optic bundle second outer hollow tube

window

front part

rectangular prism

Blackened area

wave

gear segment

rack

a Shutter slide tube linkage

sliding tube

shutter

Optical system

optic tube

center line

inner space

Ring-shaped magnet

window

Claims

claims

A rigid, rod-shaped endoscope having an outer cladding tube (1, 2, 3), an inner fixed optical tube (15) and at least one interposed, movable sliding tube (12), for medical applications, comprising

• a distal end with a translucent, distal window (4) and a

adjacent light emission,

Facing the distal window (4) is an optical deflection prism (6),

A proximal end with an optical observation device (22) or a camera adapter,

• An endoscope shaft constructed of nested hollow tubes, wherein

The two outer hollow tubes (1, 3) form the cladding tube with a window (4) at the distal end,

· The optical tube (15) at the distal window the movable deflection prism (6) and in

its interior has an optical system (14) for transmitting light rays,

Between the cladding tube (1, 2, 3) and the optical tube (15) at least one sliding tube (2) is arranged, which is displaceable in the direction of the endoscope longitudinal axis, · at the distal window (4) has a device (7, 13) is provided with the

Stray light incident on the distal window (4) facing sides of the

Deflecting prisms (6) can be prevented

The deflecting prism (6) facing the distal window (4) is rotatably mounted on a shaft (8) which lies at right angles to the endoscope longitudinal axis,

characterized in that

The slide tube (12) is connected at the distal end to the deflection prism (6) such that displacement of this tube against the optical tube (15) results in rotation of the prism about its shaft (8),

• the cladding tube (1, 2, 3) forms a sealed and hermetically sealed interior, which also completely encloses the inner hollow tubes located therein, and whose tightness makes it possible to sterilize the surrounding space with steam,

• The displacement of the sliding tube against the optical tube by magnetic forces generated by displaceable permanent magnets (20, 21), wherein at least one permanent magnet within (20) and outside (21) of the hermetically sealed interior (17) is arranged.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the device, with the scattered light incidence on the side facing the window of the Ablenkprismas (6) can be prevented, an approximately half-surface blackening (7) of this surface of the Ablenkprismas (6).

3. An endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device, with the scattered light incident on a window (4) facing side of

Ablenkprismas (6) can be prevented, an axially displaceable shutter (13) whose movement is directly coupled to the rotation of the deflection prism (6) in the distal region.

Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axially displaceable shutter (13) via a slidable in the axial direction shutter slide tube (11a) is movable and the displacement of the shutter slide tube (11a) takes place against the optical tube by magnetic forces produced by displaceable permanent magnets (18, 19), at least one each

Permanent magnet inside (18) and outside (19) of the hermetic

enclosed interior (17) is arranged.

Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axially displaceable shutter (13) via a hinge connection (11b) through the

Turning device of the deflection prism (6) is moved in a coupled manner in the axial direction.

Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the

Deflection prism (4) on the side facing away from the distal window (4) is provided with a gear segment (9) which engages in a rack (10) which is fixedly connected to the sliding tube (12), while the rotatable shaft (8) to which the deflection prism (6) is attached, is attached to the optical tube (15).

Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the

Transmission of the magnetic forces by at least one pair of permanent magnets (18, 19, 20, 21) takes place, in each case one permanent magnet (18, 20) fixed externally on a sliding tube (1 a, 12) and the other permanent magnet (19, 21) outside the cladding tube (1, 2, 3) is displaceably mounted.

8. An endoscope according to claim 7, characterized in that the permanent magnets are designed as annular magnets and are poled so that they are drawn in the same cross-sectional plane. 9. An endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that as

View angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 10 degrees to 110 degrees can be adjusted continuously and the viewing angle 60 degrees plus / minus 0 degrees.