JP4657013B2 - End of the endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an endoscope.

  In general, an endoscope window is provided with an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the subject and an observation window for capturing a light image of the subject irradiated with the illumination light. The optical axis direction of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window is fixed (for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in so-called field-of-view type endoscopes and the like in which the observation direction from the observation window is variable, the illumination direction is also variable in accordance with the observation direction, and the light guide fiber bundle arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion The injection end is configured to be swingable by remote operation from the hand side (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-5-60985 JP 52-71888 A

  FIG. 9 shows a distal end portion of an insertion portion of a conventional endoscope, and an objective optical system is provided in an observation window 93 disposed on the distal end surface of a distal end portion main body 92 connected to the distal end of the insertion portion 91. 94 and a solid-state imaging device 95 for capturing an image of the subject projected by the objective optical system 94 are incorporated.

  An emission end face of the light guide fiber bundle 97 is arranged in the illumination window 95 arranged on the distal end surface of the distal end main body 92 along with the observation window 93, and the illumination light emitted from the light guide fiber bundle 97. A concave lens 98 for expanding the light distribution angle is fitted in the illumination window 95.

  As shown in FIG. 10, there is a case where strong halation may occur due to the condition of reflected light when endoscopically observing the mucosal surface of the body. Under such circumstances, the halation unit 100 is partially displayed on the monitor screen 99. Therefore, if there is an affected part in the vicinity, there is a risk of oversight.

  Therefore, as described in Patent Document 2, if the direction of the illumination optical axis can be changed by swinging the exit end of the light guide fiber bundle, halation is suppressed and oversight of the affected part is prevented. Although there is a case where it can be done, if the configuration is made such that the exit end of the light guide fiber bundle is swung, the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope becomes extremely large, which increases the suffering suffered by the patient.

  Therefore, the present invention is configured so that the direction of the illumination optical axis radiated from the illumination window can be varied without increasing the size of the distal end of the insertion portion, and this is suppressed when halation occurs in the endoscopic observation image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distal end portion of an endoscope that can improve observation performance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the endoscope of the present invention is irradiated with an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the subject and the illumination light at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope At the distal end of the endoscope where an observation window for capturing a light image of a subject is arranged, a pair of transparent members formed on the inner side of the illumination window with inclined surfaces whose opposing surfaces are inclined with respect to the axial direction The direction of the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window is changed by variably arranging the interval in the axial direction and changing the axial interval between the pair of transparent members.

  The concave lens may be disposed closer to the illumination window than the pair of transparent members, and the light guide exit end surface or the electrical light source may be disposed on the back side of the pair of transparent members in the illumination window. Good.

  In addition, a concave surface may be formed on at least one of the illumination light incident surface or the illumination light exit surface of the transparent member disposed near the illumination window in the pair of transparent members, and the axial distance between the pair of transparent members is The operation wire may be inserted into the insertion portion or may be controlled by a motor disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion.

  According to the present invention, a pair of transparent members formed in the shape of a slope whose opposing surfaces are inclined with respect to the axial direction are arranged inside the illumination window, and the interval between the transparent members is variably set in the axial direction. Since the direction of the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window is changed by changing the direction interval, the direction of the illumination optical axis emitted from the illumination window can be changed without increasing the tip of the insertion portion. It can be configured to be variable so that when halation occurs in the endoscopic observation image, it can be suppressed to improve the observation ability.

  An endoscope in which an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the subject and an observation window for capturing a light image of the subject irradiated with the illumination light are arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope. At the front end, a pair of transparent members formed on the inner side of the illumination window in the shape of slopes whose opposing surfaces are inclined with respect to the axial direction are arranged in a variable manner in the axial direction, and the axial distance between the pair of transparent members By changing the direction of the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 shows the overall configuration of the endoscope. The operation portion 2 is connected to the proximal end of the flexible insertion portion 1, and the bending portion 3 formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1 is By rotating the bending operation knob 4 disposed in the operation unit 2, the bending operation knob 4 can be bent at an arbitrary angle in an arbitrary direction.

  An illumination window 6 or the like is arranged on the distal end body 5 connected to the most distal end portion of the insertion portion 1, and the exit end face of the light guide fiber bundle 7 for transmitting illumination light for illuminating the subject and the illumination window 6. A pair of transparent members 8 are disposed between the two.

  Then, by operating the operation wire 9 arranged in the insertion portion 1 with the operation lever 10 arranged in the operation portion 4, the distance between the pair of transparent members 8 is changed, thereby radiating from the illumination window 6. The direction of the optical axis of the illumination light can be changed.

  FIG. 4 shows the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1. A concave lens 60 for expanding the light distribution angle of the illumination light is fitted into the illumination window 6 disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end portion body 5 so as to be watertight. Bonded and fixed.

  The pair of transparent members 8 are rod-shaped members made of optical glass having opposing surfaces formed in a slanted shape inclined with respect to the axial direction and having a perfectly circular cross-sectional shape. The fixed rod 81 arranged on the front side is adjacent to the rear side of the concave lens 60 and is fixed to the tip end body 5.

  On the other hand, the movable rod 82 arranged on the rear side is attached to the movable frame 14 that is movable back and forth in the axial direction, and is arranged between the exit end face of the light guide fiber bundle 7 and the fixed rod 81. The distal end of the operation wire 9 is connected to the movable frame 14.

  The transparent member 8 and the concave lens 60 are arranged on a straight line such that the axis (optical axis) is positioned on the extension of the axis of the exit end of the light guide fiber bundle 7. Since it is such a structure, the front-end | tip part main body 5 can be comprised compactly without requiring a big space in the illumination window 6. FIG.

  The objective optical system 12 and the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 6 are irradiated inside the observation window 11 arranged on the distal end surface of the distal end body 5 along with the illumination window 6 and projected by the objective optical system 12. A solid-state image pickup device 13 for picking up the projected image of the subject is arranged.

  With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, when the movable rod 82 is positioned on the distal end side and in close contact with the fixed rod 81, the illumination light emitted from the emission end face of the light guide fiber bundle 7 is halfway. And the optical axis 6x of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 6 is straight forward.

  Then, when the operation wire 9 is pulled from the operation unit 2 side and the movable rod 82 is retracted into a state where a gap is formed between the operation rod 9 and the fixed rod 81 as shown in FIG. The optical axis 6x of the illumination light is bent outwardly away from the observation window 11.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the state in detail, and the space between the fixed rod 81 and the movable rod 82 forms an air layer, so that the illumination optical axis is the original optical axis X (hereinafter referred to as “reference axis X”). As a result, the incident position A to the fixed rod 81 is deviated from the reference axis X, and the illumination optical axis is deviated in parallel to the reference axis X in the fixed rod 81. It will be in the state.

  Then, the illumination optical axis is bent outward at the incident position B with respect to the concave surface 61 of the concave lens 60, and the illumination optical axis is further bent outward at the outer surface position C of the concave lens 60, so that the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 6 is emitted. The optical axis 6x is bent in an outward direction away from the observation window 11.

  Therefore, when strong halation occurs in the endoscopic observation image when the optical axis 6x of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 6 is straight, the outside of the optical axis 6x of the illumination light is moved away from the observation window 11. By bending in the direction, the occurrence of halation can be suppressed and oversight of the affected area can be prevented.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, as a pair of transparent member 8 arrange | positioned in the illumination window 6, the fixed rod 81 is arrange | positioned back and the movable rod 82 is made forward. It can be placed.

  Further, as in the second and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the illumination light incident surface or illumination light of the fixed rod 81 located near the illumination window 6 in the pair of transparent members 8. By forming the concave surfaces 81a and 81b on at least one of the exit surfaces, the optical axis 6x of the illumination light emitted from the illumination window 6 can be bent more greatly.

  Further, as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the movable rod 82 may be driven by the micromotor 20 or the like instead of the operation wire 9, as in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, instead of the light guide fiber bundle 7, an electric light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) 7 'may be used as an illumination source.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the illumination optical system of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is a side view of the endoscope of the 1st example of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope of 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the illumination optical system of the endoscope of the 2nd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the illumination optical system of the endoscope of the 3rd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope of the 4th Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the endoscope of the 5th Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the insertion part of the conventional endoscope. It is a schematic diagram of a state where halation has occurred in an endoscopic observation image by a conventional endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

6 illumination window 6x optical axis of illumination light 7 light guide fiber bundle 8 transparent member 81 fixed rod 82 movable rod 9 operation wire 11 observation window 14 movable frame 60 concave lens

Claims (3)

An endoscope in which an illumination window for emitting illumination light toward the subject and an observation window for capturing a light image of the subject irradiated with the illumination light are arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope At the tip of
Inside said illumination window, opposing surface is straight arranging the axis transparency fixation rods formed pair Shi inclined had been slanted in the direction the movable rod interval variably axially, said fixed rod above A concave surface is formed on at least one of the illumination light incident surface and the illumination light emission surface and is fixedly disposed adjacent to the illumination window, and the movable rod is disposed so as to move in the axial direction by remote control. the illumination light incident surface, and the illumination light exit surface is formed in a planar shape, the movable rod is moved in the axial direction by remote control by changing the axial distance between the fixed rod and the movable rod, the illumination A distal end portion of an endoscope, wherein the direction of the optical axis of illumination light emitted from a window is changed. The back side of the movable rod in the illumination within the window, the distal end portion of an endoscope according to claim 1 Symbol mounting the light guide exit end face or electrical light sources are arranged. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein an axial distance between the fixed rod and the movable rod is controlled by an operation wire inserted into the insertion portion or a motor disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion. Tip.

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