JP4274516B2 - The tip of the electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device is built in a distal end portion main body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in an electronic endoscope, a solid-state image sensor housing cylinder that houses a solid-state image sensor is disposed so as to protrude from the distal end body into the curved portion, and the illumination optical fiber bundle extends from the curved portion to the distal end body. It is inserted through.
[0003]
In addition, since there is a limit to downsizing of a solid-state imaging device, in a small-diameter endoscope for bronchial examination or the like, it is normal that the solid-state imaging device occupies most of the cross section in the distal end body. .
[0004]
As a result, the optical fiber bundle for illumination is arranged in a state that is completely independent from each other with the solid-state imaging device accommodating cylinder sandwiched in the tip body, and a plurality of illumination windows are provided accordingly. In the curved portion, a plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles are inserted and arranged independently of each other (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-275194 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the diameter of the conventional electronic endoscope having the above-described configuration is to be further reduced, the state-of-the-art node ring constituting the bending portion and the second node ring are rotatably connected. The inward projecting end of the rivet-shaped member interferes with the optical fiber bundle for illumination, and the optical fiber is easily broken during assembly work or repeated use, so that the illumination function is easily deteriorated.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention suppresses interference between the rivet-like member attached to the most advanced node ring of the curved portion and the optical fiber bundle for illumination, so that even when the insertion portion is reduced in diameter, An object of the present invention is to provide a distal end portion of an electronic endoscope that does not cause breakage of an optical fiber due to repeated use.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope of the present invention has a distal end body connected to the distal end of a curved portion having a configuration in which a plurality of node rings are rotatably connected by rivet-like members. The rear end portion of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder containing the solid-state image sensor is arranged so as to protrude from the tip body into the curved portion, and a plurality of illumination windows for radiating illumination light are provided in the tip body. In the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope in which a plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles reaching each illumination window are arranged from the inside of the curved portion to the inside of the distal end portion main body, the plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles are independent from each other in the curved portion. And a plurality of optical fiber bundles for illumination surround the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state imaging device housing cylinder in the vicinity of the rivet-shaped member attached to the most advanced node ring among the plurality of node rings. Arranged so that one covered Are integrally covered by a tube, whereby one in which an optical fiber bundle for each illumination is in the state of not interfering with the rivet-like member that is attached to the joint ring of the cutting edge.
[0009]
In addition, the optical fiber bundle for illumination may be adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder in a portion surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder. It is preferable in terms of durability if it has elasticity.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an overall configuration of a small-diameter electronic endoscope used for bronchial examination or the like. A bending portion 3 and a distal end portion are connected to the distal end of a flexible insertion tube 2 whose proximal end is connected to the operation portion 1. The main body 4 is connected in order, and the insertion part is formed by them.
[0011]
The bending portion 3 is bent in two directions up and down by remote operation from the operation portion 1, and an observation window 5 is arranged at the center of the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 4 as shown in FIG. Illumination windows 6 are arranged on both the left and right sides.
[0012]
4 shows a cross section taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, which is a cross section of the flexible insertion tube 2, and a signal cable 9 for transmitting an imaging signal of an observation image captured from the observation window 5 and each other. Two optical fiber bundles 20 for illumination, which are independently covered with a flexible light guide separation part covering tube 21, are inserted and arranged over the entire length. Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote an operation wire and a guide coil for bending the bending portion 3.
[0013]
FIG. 5 shows the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion, and an objective optical system 7 is disposed in the distal end portion main body 4 at the deep position of the observation window 5, and a solid-state imaging device is located at the subject projection position by the objective optical system 7. 8 is arranged.
[0014]
The solid-state image sensor 8 is housed in a portion near the tip of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder 10 that houses the electronic component 11 and the like, and the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder 10 is disposed near the center axis position of the tip body 4. The rear portion projects from the distal end body 4 into the curved portion 3, and the distal end of the signal cable 9 is connected to the rear end.
[0015]
Reference numeral 12 denotes an electrical insulating tape coated from the entire outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image pickup element housing cylinder 10 to the outer peripheral surface of the signal cable 9. Reference numeral 13 denotes an end of the operation wire 17 which is fixed to the front end portion body 4. It is a wire fixing ring fitted and fixed.
[0016]
The bending portion 3 has a configuration in which a plurality of (for example, about 5 to 20) node rings 14 (14a, 14b...) Are rotatably connected by rivets 15 at the left and right positions, and the outer surface is rich in elasticity. It is covered with an outer tube 16.
[0017]
In FIG. 5, only the most advanced node ring 14a connected to the tip body 4 and the second node ring 14b connected to the most advanced node ring 14a by a rivet 15 are shown. The node rings and rivets are not shown.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the solid-state imaging device accommodating cylinder 10 reaches the vicinity of a portion where the most advanced node ring 14 a and the second node ring 14 b are rotatably connected by a rivet 15. Yes.
[0019]
In the rear flexible insertion tube 2 and in the vicinity of the front illumination window 6, two illumination optical fiber bundles 20 which are arranged independently and completely separated from each other are connected to the most advanced node ring 14 a and two In the vicinity of the connecting portion with the second node ring 14b, it is integrally covered with one elastic light guide integral portion covering tube 22 so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image pickup element housing cylinder 10. .
[0020]
The two optical fiber bundles 20 for illumination are covered with the light guide separating portion covering tube 21 independently from each other in the range from the inside of the flexible insertion tube 2 to the vicinity of the distal end of the bending portion 3. The light guide integral part covering tube 22 is integrally covered at a position slightly rearward of the connecting portion between the node ring 14a and the second node ring 14b.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the VI-VI cross section, the two portions of the optical fiber bundles 20 for illumination covered by the light guide separating portion covering tube 21 are separated from each other at the portion where the covering state is so shifted. They are arranged above the pair of left and right rivets 15 and further covered together with the signal cable 9 by a light guide integrated partial covering tube 22.
[0022]
Then, as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the II cross section in FIG. 5, the optical fiber bundle 20 for illumination is covered at the connecting portion between the most advanced node ring 14 a and the second node ring 14 b. Is only the light guide integral part-coated tube 22.
[0023]
In the rear part of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder 10, the bundled optical fiber bundles 20 for illumination are arranged in an annular shape surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder 10, and the light guide integrated part covering tube 22. By being tightened, it is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder 10 (strictly speaking, the outer surface of the electrical insulating tape 12).
[0024]
Note that the optical fiber bundle for illumination 20 may be adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state imaging device housing cylinder 10 with an adhesive at that portion, and in that case, the optical fiber bundle for illumination is provided that the adhesive has elasticity. The force applied to 20 is absorbed, which is preferable in terms of durability of the optical fiber bundle 20 for illumination.
[0025]
Further, the optical fiber bundle 20 for illumination is divided into two parts which are independent from each other so as to gradually become substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the illumination window 6 shown in FIG. It is separated again.
[0026]
With such a configuration, the two optical fiber bundles 20 for illumination pass through an inward position that does not interfere with the rivet 15 that connects the most advanced node ring 14a and the second node ring 14b. Even if the diameters of the main part 4 and the bending part 3 are reduced, the optical fiber is not broken when the bending part 3 is assembled or when the bending operation is repeated.
[0027]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, the optical fiber bundle 20 for illumination may be provided separately in three or more separately.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the vicinity of the rivet-like member attached to the most advanced node ring among the plurality of node rings forming the curved portion, the plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles are arranged on the outer periphery of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder. It is arranged so as to surround the surface and is integrally covered with one covering tube, so that each optical fiber bundle for illumination does not interfere with a rivet-like member attached to the most advanced node ring. Therefore, even if the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being broken during assembly work or repeated use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 5 of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view showing an overall configuration of an electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the distal end surface of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5 of the electronic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Curved portion 4 Tip body 5 Observation window 6 Illumination window 8 Solid-state imaging device 10 Solid-state imaging device accommodating cylinder 14 Node ring 14a State-of-the-art node ring 14b Second node ring 15 Rivet 20 Optical fiber bundle 21 for illumination Light guide separation Partially covered tube 22 Light guide integrated partially covered tube

Claims (3)

A tip end body is connected to the tip of a curved portion having a configuration in which a plurality of node rings are rotatably connected by a rivet-like member, and a rear end portion of a solid-state image pickup device containing cylinder containing a solid-state image pickup device is the tip. A plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles that are arranged so as to protrude from the inside of the main body into the curved portion and that are provided with a plurality of illumination windows that radiate illumination light on the tip body, and that reach the respective illumination windows. In the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope arranged from the inside of the curved portion to the inside of the distal end portion main body,
In the vicinity of the rivet-like member attached to the most advanced node ring among the plurality of node rings, the plurality of illumination optical fiber bundles are inserted and arranged in the curved portion independently of each other . upper Symbol solid-state imaging device holding cylinder is, its sides formed in a rectangular shape in cross section are arranged in a direction facing the rivet-like member, said plurality of illumination optical fiber bundle as a whole a solid-state image capturing device housed It is formed in a substantially rectangular quadrilateral cross-sectional shape that surrounds the entire outer periphery of the cylinder and is integrally covered with a single coating tube, so that each illumination optical fiber bundle is attached to the most advanced node ring. A distal end portion of an electronic endoscope, characterized in that it does not interfere with a rivet-shaped member. 2. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical fiber bundle is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder in a portion surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the solid-state image sensor housing cylinder. The tip of the. The distal end portion of the electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive has elasticity.

Images