JP4153726B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that has a wide range of uses for an endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical field or industrial field. This endoscope is provided with an elongated insertion portion. By inserting the insertion portion into a body cavity, an engine, or the like, for example, the endoscope can be displayed on a monitor screen for observation, inspection, or the like. In other words, the use of the endoscope has been limited to a specific field.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, when an engine is inspected using an industrial endoscope and a problem or the like is found in the engine, the engine is once disassembled, and parts that appear to be abnormal are in the inspection room. Etc., so that fine inspection was performed with a microscope. For this reason, when the examination room is not nearby, the examination by the endoscope cannot be performed skillfully, and a problem that the work efficiency is extremely deteriorated occurs.
[0004]
In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to work by bringing a microscope, microscope, etc. for magnifying observation to the inspection site, but for the user, in addition to the endoscope, these microscope or microscope are newly added. Purchasing raises the problem of high costs.
[0005]
On the other hand, although an endoscope is an indispensable device, it was purchased. However, companies or hospitals that are relatively rarely used have been desired to provide a more efficient method of using the endoscope.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an endoscope apparatus that can also perform non-endoscopic observation such as microscopic observation using an endoscope with an inexpensive configuration. Is aimed at.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an endoscope provided with an observation window for capturing an optical image and an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward an observation site on the distal end surface of an elongated endoscope insertion portion, and at least an observation An optical adapter provided with an optical system and used for non-endoscopic observation, and an observation image transmission optical system in which the optical adapter is detachably connected and transmits at least an optical image captured by the observation optical system to the observation window And a connecting tool that also serves as a gripping portion that is detachably covered and disposed on the distal end side portion of the endoscope insertion portion.
[0008]
The coupling tool includes an adapter coupling portion that is detachably coupled to a base end portion of the optical adapter, a coupling portion main body portion on which the observation image transmission optical system is disposed, and an endoscope insertion portion. An endoscope connecting portion having a hole portion in which the distal end side portion is detachably inserted and disposed, and a cover member rotatable with respect to the connecting portion main body portion.
In addition, the cover member is provided with a grip portion combined cover that also covers the endoscope connecting portion and also serves as a grip portion.
[0009]
According to these configurations, by connecting the optical adapter to the endoscope via the connector, observation according to the optical characteristics of the observation optical system provided in the optical adapter is performed through the endoscope. Yes.
[0010]
In addition, the coupling tool also serves as a gripping part, and the cover member that constitutes the coupling tool is configured to be rotatable with respect to the coupling part main body, so that a larger optical adapter than the endoscope can be obtained. When attaching to and detaching from the endoscope or during use of the connected state, it is possible to prevent an uneasy force from being applied to the endoscope.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 11 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a high magnification through a connector on the distal end side portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow H, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow J.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes an industrial endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope) 2 having an elongated insertion portion 2a having flexibility, and the endoscope. A cylindrical drum portion 3 that winds the insertion portion 2a around the outer peripheral surface portion 3a, a frame portion 4 that rotatably holds the drum portion 3, and an upper end of the frame portion 4, and various switches, A front panel 5 in which connectors, a housing part or a supply / exhaust duct are arranged; and a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control) 6 which is a remote control device detachably connected to the front panel 5 via a cable; A monitor 7 which is an observation device rotatably supported by an extendable pole, and a storage case 8 comprising a box 8a and a lid 8b provided with a shock-absorbing material for suppressing the impact force applied to the equipment to be stored; The front Is connected to the panel 5, it is mainly composed of a deliverable AC cable 5a commercial power.
[0013]
The insertion portion 2a extends through a rubber member 5b for buckling prevention disposed on the front panel 5. The insertion portion 2a includes an objective optical system (see reference numeral 10a in FIG. 3), an imaging optical system (see reference numeral 10b in FIG. 3) provided with a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD, and a light guide (in FIG. 3). A distal end main body 11 including a reference numeral 10c), and a bendable bending portion which is provided on the proximal end side of the distal end main body 11 and is configured by connecting bending pieces which direct the distal end main body 11 in a desired direction. 12 and an elongated and flexible flexible tube portion 13 are connected to each other.
[0014]
An observation window 11a constituting an observation optical system is disposed on the distal end surface of the substantially D-shaped convex portion of the distal end main body portion 11, and the stepped portion distal end surface recessed from the distal end surface on which the observation window 11a is disposed is illuminated. An illumination window 11b that emits light is disposed. Therefore, an optical image of the observation site illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 11b is formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor through the observation window 11a, and an endoscopic image of the observation site on the screen of the monitor 7. Is displayed.
[0015]
The endoscope apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is directly attached to the distal end main body 11 in a detachable manner, and converts various optical characteristics such as a viewing direction and a viewing angle of the observation optical system. To the observation adapter 14 and the insertion portion having a magnification observation optical system set to a desired magnification, such as 500 times, 1000 times, and 50 times to 200 times, which enables magnification observation that is microscopic observation, etc. Compared with 2a, a high-magnification optical adapter (hereinafter abbreviated as a high-magnification adapter) 20 that is larger in size and a connector 30 that couples the high-magnification adapter 20 to the distal end side of the insertion portion 2a are provided.
[0016]
Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the high-magnification adapter 20 is arranged at the distal end side portion of the insertion portion 2 a of the endoscope 2 via the connector 30, that is, the high-magnification adapter 20 is connected to the endoscope 2. The inspection member captured by the magnifying observation optical system of the high-magnification adapter 20 by disposing the inspection member 15 in, for example, the transparent cover member 21 disposed at the distal end portion of the high-magnification adapter 20. Fifteen surface optical images are transmitted to the observation window 11a, and an enlarged image of the surface of the inspection member is displayed on the screen of the monitor 7, so that a microscope-like observation can be performed by the endoscope apparatus 1.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the high-magnification adapter 20 is provided with a magnifying observation optical system unit 22 that arranges a plurality of optical lenses (not shown) and enlarges the optical image of the observation region to a predetermined magnification. A light guide fiber group 23 that constitutes an illumination optical system that transmits illumination light that illuminates the observation site is arranged around the magnification observation optical system unit 22 concentrically with the magnification observation optical system unit 22.
[0018]
Here, the configuration of the connector 30 will be specifically described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 11, the coupling tool 30 is an adapter coupling portion 31 having an external thread portion 31 a formed on the outer peripheral surface, an observation image transmission optical unit 32 serving as an observation image transmission optical system, and a transmission optical system. A connecting portion main body portion 34 provided with a transmission optical portion 33; an endoscope connecting portion 35 provided with a through hole 35a in which a distal end side portion of the insertion portion 2a is detachably inserted and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the central axis; It is mainly comprised by the substantially tubular cover member 36 arrange | positioned so that rotation with respect to the connection part main-body part 34 is possible.
[0019]
A pipe member 40 made of a resin member such as polyacetal or Teflon (registered trademark) is disposed between the cover member 36 and the connecting portion main body 34 to improve the slipping property between the two members. For this reason, the cover member 36 rotates smoothly with respect to the connection part main-body part 34. FIG.
[0020]
The adapter connecting portion 31 and the cover member 36 are fixed so as to rotate integrally by screwing. This screwed state is held in a predetermined state by the first fixing screw 51.
[0021]
The observation image transmission optical unit 32 is arranged on a substantially T-shaped frame member 32a, a proximal-side frame member 32c disposed on the endoscope 2 side of the frame member 32a, and the frame members 32a and 32c. And a plurality of optical members 32b.
[0022]
On the other hand, the transmission optical unit 33 includes an endoscope-side fiber 33a that is a first transmission optical system that transmits illumination light emitted from the illumination window 11b, and each light guide fiber constituting the light guide fiber group 23. The adapter side fiber 33b, which is a second transmission optical system that transmits illumination light facing the bundle, and the illumination light guided through the endoscope side fiber 33a are efficiently transmitted to the adapter side fiber 33b. It is comprised with the fiber connection part 33c comprised by providing the optical member which does not.
[0023]
The connecting portion main body portion 34 is disposed on the endoscope 2 side, and a distal end portion arranging member 37 on which the distal end main body portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is disposed, and the distal end portion arranging member 37 is a second fixing screw 52. (See FIGS. 3, 8, and 9), the connecting portion main body 38 that is integrally fixed to the endoscope 2 side, and a third fixing screw 53 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) on the base end side of the connecting portion main body 38. And a guide member 39 that is fixed integrally with each other. The endoscope connecting portion 35 is integrally fixed to the distal end portion arranging member 37 via a fourth fixing screw 54 (see FIGS. 3 and 9).
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 11, the distal end portion arranging member 37 has an observation window 11 a provided on the D-shaped convex portion of the distal end main body portion 11 and an illumination window provided on the distal end surface of the step portion. An endoscope recess 37a in which 11b is disposed, an optical recess 37b in which the proximal frame member 32c of the observation image transmission optical unit 32 is disposed, and a distal end portion of the endoscope side fiber 33a are disposed. And an illumination recess 37c.
[0025]
A lens cover 37d facing the observation window 11a is provided in the through hole that communicates the concave portion 37b for the optical portion and the concave portion 37a for the endoscope, and the concave portion for illumination 37c and the concave portion for the endoscope are provided. A distal end surface of the endoscope side fiber 33a is disposed opposite to the illumination window 11b in a through hole having a predetermined diameter that communicates with 37a.
[0026]
The endoscope recess 37a is formed with an inclined surface 37e for guiding the distal end main body 11.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 to 8, and 11, the connecting portion main body 38 has a large diameter portion 38 a and a small diameter portion 38 b. And the said front-end | tip part arrangement | positioning member 37 is integrally arrange | positioned at the front-end | tip part of the said small diameter part 38b.
[0028]
In the longitudinal direction of the central axis of the connecting portion main body 38, a through-hole 38c having a step portion in which the observation image transmitting optical portion 32 and a small-diameter portion 39b described later of the guide member 39 are disposed, and the endoscope side fiber An elongated first fiber guide portion 38d and an insertion hole 38e partially communicating with the distal end portion of the through hole 38c through which the 33a is inserted and arranged, a hole portion 38f in which the fiber connecting portion 33c is arranged, and the adapter side fiber 33b A second fiber guide portion 38g having a substantially fan-shaped cross section is formed.
The frame member 32a constituting the observation image transmission optical unit 32 inserted and disposed in the through hole 38c is integrally fixed to the connecting portion main body 38 by the fifth fixing screw 55 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). It is like that.
[0029]
The guide member 39 has a through-hole through which the frame member 32a is inserted and is provided with a large-diameter portion 39a and a small-diameter portion 39b. The small diameter portion 39b is integrally fixed to the connecting portion main body 38 by the third fixing screw 53. Then, the adapter-side fiber 33b is loosened substantially uniformly in the space formed by the small-diameter portion 39b and the adapter connecting portion 31 and passes around the small-diameter portion 39b, as shown in FIG. The large diameter portion 39a is aligned with the outer peripheral surface.
[0030]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the end face of the adapter side fiber 33b and the end face of the light guide fiber group 23 face each other, and the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 11b is transmitted through the transmission optical section 33. It is transmitted to the guide fiber group 23.
In addition, by arranging the adapter side fiber 33b around the small diameter portion 39b, it is possible to prevent the illumination light transmitted through the adapter side fiber 33b from entering the observation image transmission optical unit 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the magnification observation optical system portion 22 of the high-magnification adapter 20 is not in direct contact with the positioning member 32d.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, a small diameter hole 35b into which a plurality of O-rings 42 are inserted and a large diameter hole 35c in which a plurality of O-rings 42 are provided are provided at the proximal end portion of the endoscope connecting portion 35 provided with the through hole 35a. A stepped recess 35d is formed. A fixing block 41 having a small diameter portion 41a and a large diameter portion 41b is arranged in the stepped recess 35d. The diameter of the small-diameter portion 41a of the fixing block 41 is smaller than that of the small-diameter hole 35b, and the large-diameter portion 41b is screwed with a female screw portion provided in the large-diameter hole 35c. A male screw part is provided. A through-hole 41c having an inclined surface through which the insertion portion 2a of the endoscope 2 is smoothly inserted is formed in the longitudinal direction of the central axis of the fixing block 41.
[0032]
Therefore, in a state where, for example, three O-rings 42 are disposed in the small-diameter hole 35b, the insertion portion is inserted through the through-hole 41c of the fixing block 41 disposed in the stepped recess 35d and the holes of these O-rings 42. 2a is disposed at a predetermined position of the through hole 35a, and then the knob portion 41d is operated to advance the male screw portion formed in the large diameter portion 41b into the female screw portion of the large diameter hole 35c. I will let you. Then, the distal end surface of the small-diameter portion 41b moves forward to gradually crush the O-ring 42, and the hole portion of the O-ring 42 gradually comes into close contact with the flexible tube portion 13 constituting the insertion portion 2a. 2a is pressed and fixed.
[0033]
A female screw portion 24 that is screwed into the male screw portion 31 a of the adapter connecting portion 31 is formed at the base end portion of the high-magnification adapter 20. Therefore, by rotating the cover member 36, the adapter connecting portion 31 rotates integrally, and the external force is not applied to the endoscope 2 disposed in the endoscope connecting portion 35. The screwed state between the male screw portion 31a and the female screw portion 24 can be adjusted.
[0034]
Reference numeral 44 denotes an O-ring having an elastic force for adjusting the amount of rotational force of the cover member 36, and the O-ring 44 is crushed by adjusting the screwed state of the cover member 36 to the adapter connecting portion 31. The amount of rotation is changed and the amount of rotation can be adjusted.
[0035]
The operation of the endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
First, the insertion portion 2a of the endoscope 2 is inserted into, for example, an engine for inspection. When a defective part is found in the engine during this inspection, this engine is disassembled once and parts that seem to have an abnormal part are removed. On the other hand, the insertion portion 2 a is attached to the connector 30 through the through hole 41 c of the fixing block 41, and the high-magnification adapter 20 is attached to the connector 30.
[0036]
Next, the inspection of the parts is performed with the endoscope 2 to which the high-magnification adapter 20 is attached via the connector 30 as shown in FIG. As a result, a microscope image can be observed by displaying an enlarged image on the screen of the monitor 7 without bringing it into an examination room or the like.
[0037]
As described above, the endoscope apparatus is configured by providing the connecting tool that connects the large-magnification adapter larger than the insertion portion of the endoscope used for non-endoscopic observation to the insertion portion of the endoscope. Thus, a high-magnification adapter used for non-endoscopic observation can be used for observation in addition to one of the optical adapters for endoscopic observation.
Also, by operating the endoscope with the high-magnification adapter attached while holding the endoscope coupling part of the coupler, the weight of the high-magnification adapter and uneasy force are applied to the insertion part of the endoscope. It is possible to reliably prevent the malfunction of the endoscope.
[0038]
Furthermore, a rotatable cover member is provided on the coupling tool, and the cover member and the adapter coupling portion are integrated with each other so that an uncomfortable force is applied to the endoscope during the coupling operation between the endoscope and the optical adapter. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the endoscope from malfunctioning.
[0039]
The optical adapter used for non-endoscopic observation is not limited to a high-magnification adapter, and may be an optical adapter of a type that irradiates special light. You may make it the structure provided integrally.
[0040]
Also, as shown in FIG. 12, by providing the cover member 36 with a grip portion combined cover 50 that covers up to the endoscope connecting portion 35, not only during the connecting operation of the endoscope 2 and the optical adapter, During the operation of connecting the endoscope 2 and the optical adapter, it is possible to reliably prevent a problem that occurs due to an uneasy force applied to the endoscope 2.
[0041]
Furthermore, the transmission optical unit serving as the transmission optical system has a configuration corresponding to an optical adapter connected to the endoscope. For this reason, in the type in which the illumination optical system is not provided in the optical adapter, the transmission optical system is not provided in the coupler, and the illumination optical system of the optical adapter is arranged in parallel to the observation image transmission optical system. Forms the adapter-side fiber as such. In that case, you may make it comprise an endoscope side fiber and an adapter side fiber with the same member.
[0042]
When the high-magnification adapter is adapted to various magnifications, the lens unit related to the magnification is configured to be exchangeable with other lens units.
[0043]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0044]
[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above in detail, the following configuration can be obtained.
[0045]
(1) An endoscope having an observation window for capturing an optical image and an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the observation site on the distal end surface of the elongated endoscope insertion portion;
An optical adapter including at least an observation optical system and used for non-endoscopic observation;
The optical adapter is detachably connected, and has an observation image transmission optical system that transmits at least an optical image captured by the observation optical system to the observation window. A connector that also serves as a gripping portion to be arranged;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:
[0046]
(2) The connector is
An adapter connecting portion detachably connected to a base end portion of the optical adapter;
A connecting portion main body in which the observation image transmission optical system is disposed;
An endoscope connecting portion having a hole portion in which a distal end side portion of the endoscope insertion portion is detachably inserted and arranged;
A cover member that is rotatable with respect to the connecting portion main body,
The endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, comprising:
[0047]
(3) The endoscope according to appendix 2, wherein when the optical adapter has an illumination optical system, a transmission optical system that transmits illumination light emitted from the illumination window to the illumination optical system is provided in the coupling unit main body. apparatus.
[0048]
(4) The endoscope apparatus according to appendix 3, wherein the transmission optical system includes a first transmission optical system corresponding to the illumination window and a second transmission optical system corresponding to the illumination optical system.
[0049]
(5) The endoscope apparatus according to appendix 2, in which the cover member is provided with a grip portion combined cover that covers the endoscope connecting portion and also serves as a grip portion.
[0050]
(6) A distal end body constituting an endoscope insertion portion that is provided with a fixing block that integrally fixes the distal end side portion of the insertion portion to the endoscope connecting portion, and is inserted and arranged in the hole portion by the fixing block. The endoscope apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein a flexible tube portion positioned on the proximal end side with respect to the bending portion and the bending portion is fixed.
[0051]
(7) The endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the connector is provided integrally with the optical adapter.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope apparatus that can perform non-endoscopic observation such as microscopic observation using an endoscope with an inexpensive configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an endoscope apparatus. FIG. 2 shows a connector on the distal end side of an insertion portion of an endoscope. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 3. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by arrow H. FIG. Enlarged view [Fig. 12] Diagram for explaining another structure of the connecting tool [Explanation of symbols]
2 ... endoscope 2a ... insertion part 20 ... high-magnification optical adapter 30 ... connector 31 ... adapter connection part 32 ... observation image transmission optical part 34 ... connection part body part 35 ... endoscope connection part 36 ... cover member

Claims (3)

An endoscope provided with an observation window for capturing an optical image and an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the observation site on the distal end surface of the elongated endoscope insertion portion;
An optical adapter including at least an observation optical system and used for non-endoscopic observation;
The optical adapter is detachably connected, and has an observation image transmission optical system that transmits at least the optical image captured by the observation optical system to the observation window, and is detachably covered on the distal end side portion of the endoscope insertion portion. A connector that also serves as a gripping portion to be arranged;
An endoscope apparatus comprising: The connector is
An adapter connecting portion detachably connected to a base end portion of the optical adapter;
A connecting portion main body in which the observation image transmission optical system is disposed;
An endoscope connecting portion having a hole portion in which a distal end side portion of the endoscope inserting portion is detachably inserted; and
A cover member rotatable with respect to the connecting portion main body,
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover member is provided with a grip part-cum-cover that covers up to the endoscope connecting part and also serves as a grip part.

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