JP5796002B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope system having an optical fiber connection structure for connecting an optical fiber incorporated in an endoscope and a light source device.

  Diagnosis using an endoscope is performed in the medical field. The endoscope has an illumination window at the distal end of the insertion portion inserted into the specimen, and the illumination light is guided from the light source device connected to the endoscope to the illumination window by the light guide, and the specimen is irradiated with the illumination light. can do. As a light guide for illumination, an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are bundled is used. The light guide incorporated in each of the endoscope and the light source device is optically connected by closely contacting the end surfaces of the light guide when the connector provided in the endoscope and the connector of the light source device are connected. .

  An endoscope connector may be damaged at the tip of an optical fiber due to an impact at the time of attachment / detachment. When the tip of the optical fiber is damaged, the connection loss increases. In addition, when the optical power density at the tip of the optical fiber is high, the scratched portion or the like may burn and the tip of the optical fiber or ferrule may burn out, or the optical fiber may spread due to a fiber fuse phenomenon. In order to prevent the optical fiber from burning out due to scratches and the like, an optical fiber transmission line has been invented in which the optical power density at the connection portion of the optical fiber is lowered. For example, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a graded index collimator that functions as a collimator lens is fused and connected to the tip of a single mode fiber to widen the mode field diameter.

  In recent years, it has been studied to use a laser illumination device for endoscope illumination. This laser illuminator guides a short wavelength / high output laser beam to a phosphor by a light guide, and excites the phosphor by the laser beam to obtain illumination light. The light guide is not an optical fiber bundle, but a single multimode fiber having a large core diameter of, for example, 100 μm or more.

  The endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 3 includes a connection structure between optical fibers that guide laser light for exciting a phosphor. This endoscope apparatus uses a multi-mode fiber as an optical fiber, and a ferrule to which the optical fiber on the light source side is fixed and a graded index collimator are connected to the end face of the multi-mode fiber and the end face of the graded index collimator. The sleeve is held in contact with the sleeve. Further, the optical fiber on the endoscope side is also fixed to the ferrule, and is held on the sleeve together with the graded index collimator.

  In the connection structure described in Patent Document 3, the sleeve on the light source side has an inner peripheral surface that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve on the endoscope side, the connector on the endoscope side, and the light source device side When the socket is connected, the light source side sleeve and the endoscope side sleeve are engaged with each other so as to be aligned. Thereby, the optical fibers are optically connected to each other.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-077549 JP 2002-350666 A JP 2011-152371 A

  In the endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 3, in order to align the optical fibers, the engagement interval between the light source side sleeve and the endoscope side sleeve is set to be very narrow. However, because the connector of the endoscope and the socket of the light source device are frequently attached and detached, dust easily collects.In particular, when dust accumulates inside the sleeve on the light source side, the endoscope is engaged with the sleeve on the endoscope side. Will interfere. When the sleeve on the light source side and the sleeve on the endoscope side are not engaged, or when the engagement with the sleeve on the endoscope side is insufficient and the connection is made eccentrically, the optical fibers are aligned. Transmission accuracy is reduced and transmission loss is increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of reducing transmission loss and smoothly connecting optical fibers without interfering with each other.

The present invention relates to a laser light source, a first optical fiber that guides laser light from the laser light source, a light source device having a socket that holds the first optical fiber therein, an insertion portion that is inserted into a specimen, and a distal end portion of the insertion portion , A phosphor for irradiating illumination light by being excited by laser light, a second optical fiber for guiding the laser light to the phosphor, a connector for holding the second optical fiber inside, and a connector detachably connected to the socket An endoscope system including an endoscope having a first graded index collimator disposed in a socket and attached to an end of the first optical fiber, and exposing the tip of the first optical fiber from one end face A first holding portion having a first ferrule connected to the first graded index collimator, and a second graded index collimator disposed on the connector. A second holding portion having a second ferrule attached to the end of the second optical fiber and exposing the tip of the second optical fiber from one end face to connect to the second graded index collimator; It is arranged on one side of the connector, fits to the outer peripheral surface of one of the first holding part and the second holding part, and is disposed with the tip protruding so as to engage with the other of the first holding part and the second holding part. And a slit which penetrates from the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve to the outer peripheral surface and is formed in the axial direction of the sleeve and opens from the tip. The slit is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the connected state of the socket and the connector. And an outer sleeve having an inner circumferential surface covering the sleeve, the outer sleeve having an outer slit that is continuous with the slit and penetrates from the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve to the outer circumferential surface. The slit and the outer sleeve are formed in the vertically lower side in the connected state of the socket and the connector, a fixed cylinder which holds the outer sleeve slidably, is inserted into the outer sleeve, between the step portion of the outer sleeve and the fixed barrel And a coil spring that is disposed between and biases the outer sleeve in a direction in which the outer sleeve protrudes from the fixed cylinder.

  According to the present invention, the first optical fiber that guides the laser light emitted from the light source is held by the first holding unit, and the second optical fiber that leads to the phosphor is held by the second holding unit. Cut from the inner peripheral surface into a sleeve that is fitted to one outer peripheral surface of the holding portion and the second holding portion and that has a tip protruding and is engaged with the other of the first holding portion and the second holding portion. Since the notched opening is provided, the dust easily falls through the opening of the sleeve, and the dust can be prevented from accumulating in the sleeve. As a result, the transmission loss can be reduced and the optical fibers can be smoothly connected without interfering with each other.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the endoscope system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric constitution of an endoscope system. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector of an endoscope. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the socket of a light source device. It is principal part sectional drawing of the connector and socket in which the connection structure of the optical fiber of this invention was integrated. It is sectional drawing which shows an optical fiber holding part. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of an optical fiber holding part. It is the perspective view which looked at the holding cylinder, the screw member, the coil spring, and the pressing member from the base end side. It is a perspective view which shows an optical fiber holding part and a holder part. It is the front view which looked at the optical fiber holding | maintenance part and the holder part from the front end side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 11 includes an electronic endoscope 12, a processor device 13, and a light source device 14. The electronic endoscope 12 includes a flexible insertion portion 15 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 16 connected to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 15, and a connector connected to the processor device 13 and the light source device 14. 17 and 18 and a universal cord 19 connecting the operation unit 16 and the connector 18. A distal end (hereinafter referred to as a distal end portion) 20 of the insertion portion 15 includes a CCD image sensor (see FIG. 2; hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 21 for imaging a biological tissue (hereinafter referred to as a specimen) in a body cavity, Light projecting units 22 and 23 (see FIG. 2) are provided for irradiating with illumination light.

  The light source connector 18 is provided at the tip of the universal cord 19 and is detachably connected to a socket 56 (see FIG. 4) of the light source device 14. A processor connector 17 connected to a socket (not shown) of the processor device 13 is provided so as to branch from the light source connector 18.

  The operation unit 16 includes an angle knob for bending the tip 20 up and down, left and right, an air / water feed button for ejecting air and water from the tip of the insertion unit 15, and a release for recording a still image. Operation members such as buttons and switching buttons for switching between normal light observation and special light observation are provided.

  The processor device 13 is electrically connected to the light source device 14 and comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic endoscope system 11. The processor device 13 supplies power to the electronic endoscope 12 via the universal cord 19 and a transmission cable inserted into the insertion portion 15 and controls the driving of the CCD 21. In addition, the processor device 13 acquires an imaging signal output from the CCD 21 via a transmission cable, and performs various image processing to generate image data. Image data generated by the processor device 13 is displayed as an observation image on a monitor 24 connected to the processor device 13 by a cable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion 20 is provided with an imaging optical system 31, a CCD 21, light projecting units 22 and 23, and the like. A timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 32, an analog signal processing circuit (hereinafter referred to as AFE) 33, and a CPU 34 are provided in the operation unit 16, the connector 18, and the like.

  The imaging optical system 31 includes a lens group, a prism, and the like, and causes the CCD 21 to form an image of light that enters through the observation window 39 and enters the subject. The CCD 21 photoelectrically converts the image in the specimen imaged on the imaging surface by the imaging optical system 31 for each pixel, and accumulates signal charges corresponding to the amount of incident light. The CCD 21 outputs the signal charge accumulated in each pixel as an imaging signal.

  The TG 32 inputs a clock signal to the CCD 21. Based on the clock signal input from the TG 32, the CCD 21 performs an accumulation operation for accumulating signal charges and a read operation for reading signal charges at a predetermined timing. The clock signal output from the TG 32 is controlled by the CPU 34.

  The AFE 33 includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit, an automatic gain adjustment (AGC) circuit, and an A / D conversion circuit. After obtaining an analog imaging signal from the CCD 21 while removing noise, and after performing gain correction processing, It converts into a digital signal and inputs into DSP42 mentioned later. The CDS circuit acquires an imaging signal while removing noise generated by driving the CCD 21 by correlated double sampling processing. The AGC circuit amplifies the imaging signal input from the CDS circuit. The A / D conversion circuit converts the imaging signal input from the AGC circuit into a digital imaging signal having a predetermined number of bits, and inputs the digital imaging signal to the DSP 42. The driving of the AFE 33 is controlled by the CPU 34. For example, the CPU 34 adjusts the gain (gain) of the imaging signal by the AGC circuit based on the signal input from the CPU 40 of the processor device 13.

  In the light projecting units 22 and 23, the distal ends of the second optical fibers 35 and 36 inserted into the insertion portion 15, the operation portion 16, and the universal cord 19 are connected in the distal end portion 20. The light projecting unit 22 emits normal light and the light projecting unit 23 emits special light as illumination light.

The light projecting unit 22 includes a phosphor 37, and blue laser light is guided from the light source device 14 by the second optical fiber 35. The phosphor 37 is a phosphor that absorbs a part of blue laser light and emits light in an excitation state from green to yellow, and includes, for example, a YAG phosphor, a BAM (BaMgAl ₁₀ O ₁₇ ) phosphor, or the like. The blue laser light guided to the light projecting unit 22 is partly absorbed by the phosphor 37, thereby causing green to yellow fluorescence to be emitted from the phosphor 37 and a part of the blue laser light is transmitted through the phosphor 37. Therefore, the light projecting unit 22 irradiates the subject with pseudo white light (normal light) in which green to yellow fluorescence emitted from the phosphor 37 and blue laser light transmitted through the phosphor 37 are combined as illumination light. . In addition, since the blue laser light which permeate | transmits the fluorescent substance 37 is diffused by the fluorescent substance 37, the normal light irradiated from the light projection unit 22 is uniform within the visual field of the electronic endoscope 12. FIG.

  The light projecting unit 23 includes a light diffusing member 38 and guides blue-violet laser light from the light source device 14 through the second optical fiber 36. The light diffusing member 38 transmits and diffuses blue-violet laser light. Therefore, the light projecting unit 23 irradiates the subject with blue-violet light obtained by diffusing the blue-violet laser light as special light. Since the special light emitted by the light projecting unit 23 is diffused by the light diffusion member 38, it is uniform within the field of view of the electronic endoscope 12.

  The processor device 13 includes a CPU 40, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP) 42, a digital image processing circuit (DIP) 43, a display control circuit 44, an operation unit 45, and the like.

  The CPU 40 is connected to each unit via a data bus, an address bus, and a control line (not shown), and controls the entire processor device 13 in an integrated manner. The ROM 46 stores various programs (OS, application programs, etc.) for controlling the operation of the processor device 13 and various data such as graphic data. The CPU 40 reads necessary programs and data from the ROM 46, develops them in the RAM 47, which is a working memory, and sequentially processes the read programs. Further, the CPU 40 obtains information that changes for each examination such as examination date and time, character information such as subject and operator information from the network such as the operation unit 45 or LAN, and stores the information in the RAM 47.

  The DSP 42 generates image data by performing various signal processing such as color separation, color interpolation, gain correction, white balance adjustment, and gamma correction on the imaging signal input from the CCD 21 via the AFE 33. The image data generated by the DSP 42 is input to the working memory of the DIP 43. Further, the DSP 42 generates ALC control data required for automatic control (ALC control) of the illumination light amount, such as an average luminance value obtained by averaging the luminance of each pixel of the generated image data, and inputs the generated data to the CPU 40.

  The DIP 43 is a circuit that performs various types of image processing on the image data generated by the DSP 42. The image data that has been subjected to various types of image processing by the DIP 43 is temporarily stored in the VRAM 48 as an observation image, and then subjected to display control. It is input to the circuit 44.

  The display control circuit 44 acquires an observation image from the VRAM 48 and receives graphic data and the like stored in the ROM 46 and the RAM 47 from the CPU 40. Examples of the graphic data include a display mask for displaying only an effective pixel region in which the inside of the specimen is copied in the observation image, information such as the name of the specimen and the operator, character information such as the examination date and time, and GUI. The display control circuit 44 superimposes graphic data or the like on the observation image, converts it to a video signal (component signal, composite signal, etc.) corresponding to the display format of the monitor 24, and outputs it to the monitor 24. As a result, the observation image is displayed on the monitor 24.

  The operation unit 45 is a known input device such as an operation panel, a mouse, or a keyboard provided in the housing of the processor device 13. The CPU 40 operates each unit of the electronic endoscope system 11 according to an operation signal input from the operation unit 45 or the operation unit 16 of the electronic endoscope 12.

  The light source device 14 branches two laser diodes (laser light sources) of a blue LD 50 and a blue-violet LD 51 as a light source, a combiner 52 that combines the laser light emitted from the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51, and the combined laser light. A branch coupler 53, first optical fibers 54 and 55 into which laser light branched by the branch coupler 53 is introduced, a socket 56 that holds the first optical fibers 54 and 55 inside, and a CPU 57 are provided.

  The blue LD 50 emits blue laser light having a center wavelength of 445 nm. The blue laser light emitted from the blue LD 50 is guided to the light projecting unit 22 through the combiner 52, the branch coupler 53, the first optical fiber 54, the second optical fiber 35, etc. The normal light is irradiated into the subject.

  The blue-violet LD 51 emits blue-violet laser light having a center wavelength of 405 nm. The blue-violet laser light emitted from the blue-violet LD 51 is guided to the light projecting unit 23 through the combiner 52, the branch coupler 53, the first optical fiber 55, the second optical fiber 36, etc., and is irradiated into the specimen as special light. The

  The CPU 57 controls the light emission timing and the light emission amount of the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51. Based on the ALC control data input from the CPU 40 of the processor device 13, the CPU 57 automatically controls the light emission amounts of the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51 in real time so that the light amount is appropriate for observation.

  In addition, when performing normal light observation, the CPU 57 turns on the blue LD 50 to irradiate only normal light as illumination light. When performing special light observation, the CPU 57 simultaneously turns on the blue LD 50 and the blue-violet LD 51. Thus, normal light and special light are simultaneously irradiated into the specimen. In the case of special light observation, an observation image in which the contrast of the surface blood vessels is improved as compared with the case of normal light observation is taken.

  The first optical fibers 54 and 55 are held in the socket 56. In the connector 18, second optical fibers 35 and 36 are held. As will be described later, when the connector 18 is connected to the socket 56, the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 are connected. As the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36, for example, quartz multimode fibers having a core diameter of 100 μm or more are used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 18 includes a connector main body 60 that holds the second optical fibers 35 and 36, a ring handle 61 that is disposed on the outer peripheral portion and is rotatable with respect to the connector main body 60, and the ring handle 61. And a metal outer cylinder 62 fixed to the connector main body 60.

  The connector main body 60 is provided with two optical fiber holding portions 63 for holding the second optical fibers 35 and 36. A pair of cam grooves 64 is formed on the inner periphery of the ring handle 61. One end of the cam groove 64 is exposed from the end surface of the ring handle 61. A guide key 65 projects from the outer periphery of the metal outer cylinder 62 in a direction along the connector insertion direction. The guide key 65 enters a key groove 70 provided on a socket 56 side, which will be described later, to which the connector 18 is connected. In addition, the number of the optical fiber holding parts 63 provided in the connector main body 60 is arbitrary, and here, two configurations are shown as an example. Further, the connector body 60 is provided with a pipe line (not shown) for supplying air and water to the electronic endoscope 12, a position regulating pin, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the socket 56 includes a metal housing 66 having a conical portion 66 a and a tip cylindrical portion 66 b, and a socket body 67 disposed inside the metal housing 66. The metal housing 66 and the socket body 67 are fixed to the housing of the light source device 14. The socket body 67 is provided with two optical fiber holders 68 for holding the first optical fibers 54 and 55 at positions corresponding to the optical fiber holders 63 of the connector 18.

  A pair of engaging pins 69 projecting in the diameter direction is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion 66b. The engagement pin 69 engages with a cam groove 64 formed in the ring handle 61 of the connector 18. A key groove 70 is formed on the inner periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion 66b at a position on the back side of the engagement pin 69. The keyway 70 receives a guide key 65 provided on the metal outer cylinder 62 of the connector 18. The guide key 65 and the key groove 70 are provided for alignment between the optical fiber holding portion 63 on the connector 18 side and the optical fiber holding portion 68 on the socket 56 side. The second optical fibers 35 and 36 and the first optical fibers 54 and 55 held by the optical fiber holding portions 63 and 68 are respectively pushed by pushing the connector 18 toward the socket 56 along the connector insertion direction. Optically connected.

  When connecting the connector 18 and the socket 56, first, the tip cylinder portion 66 b on the socket 56 side and the metal outer cylinder 62 on the connector 18 side are engaged while the position of the key groove is aligned with the position of the guide key 65. Further, when the ring handle 61 is rotated while the engagement pin 69 is in contact with the end face of the ring handle 61, the engagement pin 69 is received from one end of the cam groove 64. Then, when the ring handle 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow P in the figure, the engaging pin 69 is drawn along the cam groove 64 and the connector 18 and the socket 56 are joined.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical fiber connection structure 71 of the present invention is provided in an optical fiber holding portion 68 that holds the first optical fiber 54 and a socket 56, and a holder portion 100 in which the optical fiber holding portion 68 is incorporated. And an optical fiber holding part 63 that holds the second optical fiber 35, and a holder part 110 that is provided in the connector 18 and into which the optical fiber holding part 63 is incorporated. Note that the first optical fiber 55 and the second optical fiber 36 are similarly held by the optical fiber holding portions 68 and 63 and incorporated in the holder portion 100 of the socket 56 and the holder portion 110 of the connector 18, respectively. Similar to the structure 71, the first optical fiber 55 and the second optical fiber 36 are connected.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the optical fiber holding portion 68 includes a first graded index collimator (hereinafter referred to as a GI collimator) 81, a first ferrule 82, a holding cylinder 83, a screw member 84, A coil spring 85 and a pressing member 86 are provided.

  The first ferrule 82 has a cylindrical shape in which a fiber insertion hole 82a penetrating along the axial direction is provided at the center. The first ferrule 82 has the same outer diameter as the first GI collimator 81. The first optical fiber 54 from which the coating 54a at the tip is peeled off is inserted into the fiber insertion hole 82a and fixed with an adhesive. The tip 82b of the first ferrule 82 is polished into a convex spherical shape or a planar shape together with the tip of the first optical fiber 54 inserted into the fiber insertion hole 82a.

  The first GI collimator 81 includes a graded index fiber 81a and a cylindrical ferrule 81b incorporating the graded index fiber 81a. The ferrule 81b is made of zirconia ceramics. In the first GI collimator 81, the incident end face 81c and the exit end face 81d are polished into a convex spherical shape and a planar shape, respectively. The first GI collimator 81 is brought into physical contact connection (hereinafter referred to as PC connection) with the first optical fiber 54 when the incident end face 81c abuts against the tip 82b of the first ferrule 82. The shapes of the incident end face 81c and the outgoing end face 81d may be any combination of convex-convex, flat-convex, convex-flat, and flat-flat.

  Since the first GI collimator 81 has a larger core diameter than the first optical fiber 54, the first optical fiber 54 can be PC-connected to the first GI collimator 81 without the tip touching the outside air. Thereby, the dust collection effect does not occur at the tip of the first optical fiber 54.

  Further, since the first GI collimator 81 collimates by expanding the beam diameter of the laser light transmitted by the first optical fiber 54, the optical power density at the emission end face 81 d of the first GI collimator 81 is equal to that of the first optical fiber 54. Lower than the tip. As a result, the connection loss is not significantly reduced by dust or scratches on the output end face 81d. In addition, burning of the first GI collimator 81 due to burning of dust and the like on the emission end face 81d and spread of the first optical fiber 54 due to a fiber fuse phenomenon do not occur. Furthermore, since the photochemical reaction between the laser beam and the organic matter in the air is also reduced due to the reduction in the optical power density, the dust collection effect on the exit end face 81d is reduced.

The holding cylinder 73 includes a distal end side holding cylinder 73a and a proximal end side holding cylinder 73b. The front end side holding cylinder 73a is formed in a cylindrical shape, is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the first GI collimator 71 near the front end of the inner peripheral surface, and is fixed to the first GI collimator 71 with an adhesive, for example. The distal end side holding cylinder 73a is fixed by protruding a predetermined amount from the emission end surface 71d which is the distal end of the first GI collimator 71 to the distal end side. Hereinafter, the distal end side of the holding cylinder 73 fixed to the first GI collimator 71 is simply referred to as a distal end side, and the proximal end side with respect to the first GI collimator 71 is simply referred to as a proximal end side. The base end side holding cylinder 73b is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a ferrule storage portion 77, a flange storage portion 78, and a female screw 79 are formed in order from the distal end side of the inner peripheral surface thereof. The distal end portion 77a of the ferrule housing portion 77 has a larger inner diameter and is fitted on the proximal end portion of the distal end side holding cylinder 73a . Tip 77a of the base end side holding cylinder 73b is by fitted to the proximal end of the distal retention tube 73a, and the leading end side holding cylinder 73a, and a base end side holding tube 73b are integrated. The holding cylinder 73 is made of metal such as brass.

  In the holding cylinder 83, a first ferrule 82 is accommodated behind the first GI collimator 81, and a pressing member 86 is disposed behind the first ferrule 82. The first ferrule 82 is inserted from the proximal end side of the holding cylinder 83, and the distal end side is accommodated in the distal end holding cylinder 83a and the proximal end side is accommodated in the ferrule accommodating portion 87 of the proximal end holding cylinder 83b.

  The pressing member 86 is formed in a hollow shape having a flange portion 90 and a cylindrical portion 91 in order from the tip, and is made of a metal such as SUS, for example. The cylindrical portion 91 is formed so that the outer diameter matches the inner diameter of the coil spring 85, and the coil spring 85 is inserted therethrough. The flange portion 90 is formed to have an outer diameter larger than that of the cylindrical portion 91 and is biased by the coil spring 85.

  The screw member 84 is formed in a hollow shape having a screw portion 92, a taper portion 93, and a base end portion 94 in order from the distal end side, and is made of a metal such as brass, for example. The screw portion 92 has a male screw 95 formed on a cylindrical outer peripheral surface. The screw member 84 is fixed to the proximal end side of the holding cylinder 83 when the male screw 95 is screwed with the female screw 89 of the holding cylinder 83. A pressing member 86 and a coil spring 85 inserted through the pressing member 86 are housed inside the inner peripheral surface of the screw portion 92. The tapered portion 93 is formed so that the outer diameter gradually decreases from the proximal end side of the screw portion 92 toward the proximal end portion 94. A stepped portion 96 having a smaller outer diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the screw portion 92 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion 93, and the stepped portion 96 causes the coil spring 85 to be on the proximal end side of the screw member 84. Regulate leaving. The proximal end portion of the pressing member 86 is housed on the proximal end side of the step portion 96.

  When assembling the optical fiber holding portion 68, for example, after fixing the distal end side holding cylinder 83a to the first GI collimator 81, the distal end side holding cylinder 83a and the proximal end side holding cylinder 83b are integrated, and the proximal end side holding cylinder 83b The first ferrule 82 to which the first optical fiber 54 is fixed is inserted from the base end side. Further, the pressing member 86 having the coil spring 85 inserted is inserted behind the first ferrule 82 while the first optical fiber 54 is inserted into the pressing member 86. Then, the male screw 95 of the screw member 84 and the female screw 89 of the holding cylinder 83 are screwed together while the first optical fiber 54, the pressing member 86 and the coil spring 85 are inserted into the screw member 84. When the male screw 95 of the screw member 84 is screwed into the female screw 89 of the holding cylinder 83, the coil spring 85 is disposed between the flange portion 90 of the pressing member 86 and the step portion 96 of the screw member 84. As a result, the pressing member 86 receives the urging force of the coil spring 85 and presses the first ferrule 82 toward the first GI collimator 81, so that the front end surface of the first optical fiber 54 is connected in close contact with the first GI collimator 81. The

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, an optical fiber holding part 68 is incorporated in the holder part 100. The holder unit 100 includes an outer sleeve 101, an inner sleeve 102, a fixed cylinder 103, and a coil spring 104. The outer sleeve 101 includes a large-diameter portion 101a that engages with the holder portion 110 on the connector 18 side, a small-diameter portion 101b into which the inner sleeve 102 is fitted, and a step portion positioned between the large-diameter portion 101a and the small-diameter portion 101b. 101 c.

  The inner sleeve 102 has an outer peripheral surface fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve 101 and an outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holding portion 68 fitted on the inner peripheral surface. The inner sleeve 102 is disposed so that the tip of the inner sleeve 102 protrudes toward the tip of the optical fiber holding portion 68, and the tip of the optical fiber holding portion 63 incorporated on the connector 18 side is engaged. Thereby, when the tip of the optical fiber holding portion 63 is engaged with the inner sleeve 102, the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 held by the optical fiber holding portions 63 and 68 are connected to each other. The sleeve 102 is arranged in parallel to the axial direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inner sleeve 102 is formed with a slit 105 which is an opening cut out from the inner peripheral surface. The slit 105 is a straight line penetrating from the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 102 to the outer peripheral surface, and is formed along a vertical direction perpendicular to the axial direction with respect to the central axis of the inner sleeve 102. The opening formed in the inner sleeve 102 is not limited to the shape like the slit 105, and may be at least an opening cut out from the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 102.

  In addition, at the distal end portions of the outer sleeve 101 and the inner sleeve 102, tapers 101d and 102a whose inner diameter gradually decreases from the distal end side to the proximal end side so as to guide the connector 18 and the optical fiber holding portion 63 to the inner peripheral surface. Is formed.

  The fixed cylinder 103 is formed in a cylindrical shape in which an engagement groove 103a is formed on the outer peripheral surface. A small diameter portion 101 b of the outer sleeve 101 is slidably inserted into the inner peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 103. The coil spring 104 is inserted between the small diameter portion 101 b of the outer sleeve 101 and is disposed between the stepped portion 101 c of the outer sleeve 101 and the tip surface of the fixed cylinder 103.

  The fixed cylinder 103 is fixed by engaging the engaging groove 103 a with the edge of the opening 67 a of the socket body 67. The outer sleeve 101 is fitted with the optical fiber holding portion 68 via the inner sleeve 102, and the small-diameter portion 101 b is fitted through the coil spring 104 to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 103.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the optical fiber holding unit 63 is a second GI collimator having a core diameter equivalent to that of the first GI collimator 81 instead of the first GI collimator 81 and the first ferrule 82 of the optical fiber holding unit 68. 111 and a second ferrule 112 having the same outer diameter as that of the second GI collimator 111. The other components are the same as those of the optical fiber holder 63, and the optical fiber holder 63. And the second optical fiber 35 is held in a state where the second ferrule 112 is pressed against the second GI collimator 111. The optical fiber holding part 63 is incorporated in a state in which the tip part protrudes from the holder part 110.

  When the connector 18 and the socket 56 are connected, when the connector 18 is pushed into the socket 56 side and the ring handle 61 is rotated, in the socket 56, the large-diameter portion 101a is located on the tip side from the small-diameter portion 101b. First, the outer peripheral surface of the holder portion 110 on the connector 18 side engages with the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 101a, and then the tip of the optical fiber holding portion 63 incorporated in the holder portion 110 on the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 102. The parts engage. The distal end portion of the optical fiber holding portion 63 is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 102, and the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 are connected. Further, at this time, the coil spring 104 absorbs an impact caused by the engagement between the holder portion 100 and the holder portion 110 or the engagement between the inner sleeve 102 and the optical fiber holding portion 63.

As shown in FIG. 10, the connector 18 of the electronic endoscope 12, the socket 56 of the light source device 14, often because they are removable, dust 106 such as dust on the inner sleeve 102 is attached to be incorporated into the socket 56 As described above, in the optical fiber connection structure 71 of the present invention, since the slit 105 is formed in the inner sleeve 102, even if dust 106 temporarily adheres inside the inner sleeve 102, the slit is formed. It is easy to be discharged outside through 105. In particular, since the slit 105 is formed along the vertical direction, the dust 106 easily falls naturally due to its own weight. Alternatively, even if the dust 106 adheres to the inner sleeve 102, if the air is blown into the inner sleeve 102 by an air blowing device or the like, the dust 106 is likely to be discharged along the slit 105. In this way, it is possible to prevent the dust 106 from accumulating in the inner sleeve 102, so that the engagement between the inner sleeve 102 on the light source device 14 side and the optical fiber holding portion 63 on the endoscope side can be prevented. The first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36 are smoothly connected to each other. Furthermore, since the inner sleeve 102 and the optical fiber holding portion 63 are reliably engaged and aligned, the transmission loss is reduced by connecting the first optical fibers 54 and 55 and the second optical fibers 35 and 36. be able to.

  In the first embodiment, the slit 105 as the opening is formed in the inner sleeve 102. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a slit continuous with the slit 105 is also formed in the outer sleeve 101. May be.

  In the first embodiment, when the connector 18 and the socket 56 are connected to each other, the inner sleeve 102 that engages with the other optical fiber holding portion 63 is fitted to the one optical fiber holding portion 68. The configuration provided in the socket 56 on the side is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the connector 18 and the socket 56 are connected to each other by being externally fitted to the optical fiber holding portion 63, the optical fiber holding portion is provided. The sleeve that engages with the portion 68 may be provided in the connector 18 on the electronic endoscope 12 side.

  In the first embodiment, the connector 18 and the socket 56 are each provided with two optical fiber holding parts 63 and 68 and holder parts 100 and 110 into which these are incorporated. The number is appropriately changed depending on the number of light sources provided in the distal end portion of the endoscope and the number of laser light sources incorporated in the light source device.

11 Electronic Endoscope System 12 Electronic Endoscope 14 Light Source Device 15 Insertion Unit 18 Connector 21 CCD
35, 36 Second optical fiber 37, 38 Phosphor 50 Blue LD (laser light source)
51 Blue-violet LD (Laser light source)
54, 55 First optical fiber 56 Socket 63 Optical fiber holder (second holder)
68 Optical fiber holder (first holder)
100, 110 Holder part 101 Outer sleeve 102 Inner sleeve 105 Slit

Claims (1)

A light source device having a laser light source, a first optical fiber for guiding laser light from the laser light source, and a socket for holding the first optical fiber therein;
An insertion portion to be inserted into a specimen, a phosphor provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion and excited by laser light to irradiate illumination light; a second optical fiber for guiding laser light to the phosphor; An endoscope system comprising: 2 an optical fiber held inside and an endoscope having a connector detachably connected to the socket;
A first graded index collimator disposed in the socket is attached to an end of the first optical fiber, and the tip of the first optical fiber is exposed from one end face to be connected to the first graded index collimator. A first holding part having a first ferrule;
A second graded index collimator disposed on the connector is attached to the end of the second optical fiber, and the tip of the second optical fiber is exposed from one end face to connect to the second graded index collimator. A second holding part having a second ferrule;
It is arranged on one of the socket and the connector, is fitted to one outer peripheral surface of the first holding part and the second holding part, and has a tip protruding so as to be arranged, and the first holding part and the first holding part 2 a sleeve engaged with the other of the holding parts;
A slit that penetrates from the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve to the outer peripheral surface and that is formed in the axial direction of the sleeve and opens from the tip. The slit is formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the connected state of the socket and the connector. A slit,
An outer sleeve having an inner peripheral surface covering the sleeve, the outer sleeve having an outer slit that is continuous with the slit and penetrates from the inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve to the outer peripheral surface; An outer sleeve formed on the lower side in the vertical direction in the connection state of the socket and the connector ;
A fixed cylinder for slidably holding the outer sleeve;
A coil spring inserted through the outer sleeve, disposed between the step portion of the outer sleeve and the fixed cylinder, and biasing the outer sleeve in a direction of protruding from the fixed cylinder;
An endoscope system comprising:

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