JP6845826B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope.

Generally, an endoscope is provided with a connector portion connected to a control unit, a folding stopper portion and a bending portion in an order extending from the connector portion to the operation portion, extending from the operation portion, and passing through a second folding stopper portion. The insertion portion is provided with an insertion portion to be inserted into the rugged portion, and the insertion portion includes a flexible flexible pipe, a curved pipe that is bent by remote control, and a rigid tip portion in this order from the hand operation portion side.
According to the endoscope, by rotating the insertion part with respect to the operation part instead of the swing operation, the operability is improved, the procedure time is shortened, and the burden on the operator and the burden on the patient are greatly reduced. (See, for example, Prior Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-93052 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-254972

The flexible tube (the side closer to the processor) of the endoscope, especially the tip side of the break-prevention part (holding rubber part), is rotated by the operation of the operator. The flexible tube is bent and tensioned.
When the flexible tube bends frequently, the video signal is transmitted from the sensor (solid-state image sensor; CMOS, CCD, etc.) at the tip, and the driving power of the sensor and the light source (illumination, LED, etc.) provided at the tip is transmitted. Affects the signal line (wired cable extending from the insertion part to the control unit).
An object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of bending of a flexible tube on a signal line for transmitting a video signal of a sensor and driving power of a sensor, a light source, or the like.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the connector portion has a connector portion connected to a controller provided with a power supply, an operation portion connected to the connector portion, and an insertion portion inserted into a rugged portion. An endoscope in which a folding stopper and a bending portion are provided in order from the connector portion on the operation portion side of the above, and has a rotating mechanism that enables the folding stopper portion and the bending portion to rotate. The first substrate provided in the connector portion is provided with the first wireless power feeding device for transmitting power from the power source, and the second substrate provided in the bent portion is provided with the first wireless power feeding device. A second wireless power supply device that receives the power transmitted wirelessly from the first wireless power supply device is provided, and the power from the second wireless power supply device is supplied to the sensor provided in the insertion portion. An endoscope is provided.

The first wireless power feeding device is connected to the first coil, the second wireless power feeding device is connected to the second coil, and the first coil and the second coil are It is preferable that they are arranged close to each other along the rotation axis direction and face each other.
Further, it is preferable that the insertion portion is provided with a light source, and the power from the second wireless power feeding device is supplied to the light source provided in the insertion portion.
A first optical wireless device may be provided in the break-prevention portion, and a second optical wireless device may be provided in the bent portion so that the sensing signal from the sensor is transmitted by optical communication.

The rotation mechanism preferably has a rotatable angle of 360 degrees or more. For example, it is preferable that the mechanism for stopping the rotation is not provided.
The break-prevention portion may be formed of an elastic member.
The sensor may be a solid-state image sensor.

It is preferable that at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate has a regulator for adjusting the power supplied from the power source to the sensor.
The bent portion is preferably formed of a flexible tube.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence of bending of the flexible tube on the video signal transmission of the sensor and the signal line for transmitting the driving power of the sensor, the light source at the tip, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure example of the endoscope by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the internal structure example of the signal transmission mechanism in the structure which includes the operation part, the bending part near the insertion part side, and the 1st break stop part provided between the operation part and the bending part. is there. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a mainly mechanical configuration example between the first break-breaking portion shown in FIG. 2 and the bent portion in the vicinity thereof. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure example corresponding to FIG. 3A. 3B is a view corresponding to FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A is a perspective view before rotation, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view when rotated. It is a functional block diagram which shows one structural example of an endoscope in one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an endoscope according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope A has a gripping operation unit 15 gripped by an operator and an insertion unit 12 extending from the gripping operation unit 15. The video processor 1 can be connected to the endoscope A to function as an endoscope system.

A universal tube (universal cord) 16 extends from the gripping operation portion 15, and a connector portion 5 is provided at the tip of the universal tube 16. Further, from the tip end side of the endoscope A, an insertion portion 12 including a light source 63 such as a sensor 61 and an LED, a gripping operation portion 15, a universal tube 16, and a connector portion 5 are arranged. When the connector terminal 5a of the connector portion 5 is connected to the connector terminal (not shown) of the video processor 1 having the power supply 3, the sensor 61 and the light source 63 are connected to the power supply 3 built in the video processor 1. The light source 63 may be provided in the gripping operation unit 15.

Then, the electric power supplied from the power source 3 built in the video processor 1 is supplied to an illumination lens (not shown) provided on the front end surface of the light source 63 of the insertion portion 12 of the endoscope A for illumination. The lens emits light to the outside with a predetermined light distribution. The image signal of the subject obtained by the sensor 61 is transmitted to the video processor 1.

FIG. 2 shows a radio in a configuration including a connector portion 5, a bent portion 11 in the vicinity of the insertion portion 12 side thereof, and a first break-preventing portion 7 provided between the connector portion 5 and the bent portion 11. It is a side view which shows the internal structure example B of the power transmission mechanism and the wireless signal transmission mechanism in.
As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the first substrate 21 is arranged in the connector portion 5. The first board 21 is provided with a first wireless power feeding device 23 for transmitting the electric power supplied from the power source 3. A first wireless power feeding coil C1 and an optical wireless device 31 are arranged in a first folding prevention portion 7 following the connector portion 5. Wiring L2 and L3 are provided between the first wireless power feeding device 23 and the first wireless power feeding coil C1.

On the other hand, the second substrate 41 is arranged in the bent portion 11 arranged at a position facing the first folding prevention portion 7. A second wireless power supply coil C2, an optical wireless device 33, and a second wireless power supply device 43 that receives power transmitted from the first wireless power supply device 23 are provided on the second substrate 41. Has been done. Wiring L4 and L5 are provided between the second wireless power feeding device 43 and the second wireless power feeding coil C2.
The first wireless power feeding coil C1 and the second wireless power feeding coil C2 are arranged so as to face each other with a certain distance (close to each other). The second wireless power feeding device 43 is connected to the sensor 61 and the light source 63 via wiring.

By providing the wireless power transmission mechanism as described above, the driving power of the sensor 61 and the light source 63 can be wirelessly fed by separating the transmitting side and the receiving side between the bent portion 11 and the first break stopper 7. It can be transmitted by the coil. As a result, even if an extra tension is applied to the universal tube (flexible tube) 16, the tension is absorbed between the bent portion 11 and the first break stopper 7, and finally the necessary signal of the sensor 61 and the signal of the sensor 61 are absorbed. The light source 63 can be appropriately driven. In this way, the power supplied to the sensor 61 and the power supplied to the light source 63 can be transmitted by the wireless power feeding coil that separates the transmitting side and the receiving side.
Further, the video signal obtained from the sensor 61 is transmitted by optical radio by the optical radio device 33 on the transmitting side provided in the bent portion 11 and the optical radio device 31 on the receiving side provided in the first break stopper 7. Can be transmitted. In this way, electric power and signals can be exchanged wirelessly between the bent portion 11 that is mechanically separated and rotated and the first break-breaking portion 7.
Since it is not necessary to supply power or transmit a signal by a continuous cable between the video processor 1 or the power supply 3 and the insertion portion 12, the mechanically separated bending portion 11 and the first break-breaking portion 7 are used. There is no need to connect between them with a wired cable.

Next, the mechanical structure of the endoscope according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing a mainly mechanical configuration example between the first folding stopper 7 shown in FIG. 2 and the bent portion 11 in the vicinity thereof, and FIG. 3B is an internal view corresponding to FIG. 3A. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example. 4A and 4B are views corresponding to FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A is a perspective view before rotation, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view when rotated.
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the connector portion 5, the connecting pipe 57, the rotating pipe 51, and the stop pipe 55 are arranged in order from the connector portion 5 to the gripping operation portion 15.

The rotary pipe 51 is inserted into the hollow cylindrical connecting pipe 57 and fixed by the stop pipe 55. It should be noted that this configuration is generally used as a connecting mechanism that can rotate with each other, but in a general rotating connecting mechanism, rotation is restricted by providing a dowel 53. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the rotation regulation mechanism is removed by not providing the rotation regulation unit (dove 53). As a result, the connector portion 5 and the first break stopper portion 7 can be freely rotated with each other over 360 ° C. or higher.
As the rotation mechanism, a known rotation mechanism can be used without being limited to such an example.
The members 58 and 59 are covering portions provided on the outside of the pipe.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the endoscope according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows an example of a mainly electrical configuration between the first anti-folding portion 7 and the bent portion 11 in the vicinity thereof.
As shown in FIG. 5, the endoscope according to the present embodiment is provided with a connector portion 5 connected to the video processor 1, a first break stopper portion 7, a bending portion 11, and a sensor 61. There is. As described above, the first substrate 21 is provided in the first folding prevention portion 7, and the second substrate 41 is provided in the bent portion 11.

The video processor (controller) 1 is provided with, for example, a power supply 3 and a video signal processing circuit (FPGA) 83. A first substrate 21 is provided on the first folding stopper 7. The first substrate 21 is provided with a regulator 21-2 for adjusting the electric power from the power source 3 and a power transmission IC 21-1 provided with a coil C1. Further, a TIA (transimpedance amplifier) for converting a current received and output by an optical device (photodiode: PD, etc.) into a voltage signal, that is, a conversion element TIA21-4 for converting a current into a voltage, and an optical device 21. -5 (PD) is provided. The buffer 21-3 temporarily stores the voltage signal and transmits it for each unit on the video processor 1 side. For example, a signal is transmitted for each frame / field.
A second substrate 41 is provided on the bent portion 11. The second substrate 41 is provided with a power receiving IC 41-1 having a coil C2 and a regulator 41-2 for adjusting the power from the power receiving IC 41-1, and the adjusted power received is output to the sensor 61. To.

The video signal from the sensor 61 includes a signal correction circuit 41-3 (EQ) provided with a second substrate 41, a video signal drive circuit 41-4 (VCSEL driver), and a video signal wireless transmission circuit 41-5 ( It is transmitted to the optical device 21-5 (PD) via the VCSEL).
Therefore, the electric power from the power source 3 and the video signal from the sensor 61 can be transmitted between the first break-breaking portion 7 and the bent portion 11 even in a configuration having no physical connection.
Therefore, it is possible to transmit electric power and a video signal while having a mechanical mechanism that rotates 360 degrees or more between the first folding stopper 7 and the bending portion 11.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation can be performed as follows.
1) The break-prevention portion (holding rubber portion (elastic member)) has a structure that can rotate 360 degrees or more.
2) The wireless power feeding device can be arranged in the break stopper, and the transmitting / receiving device and the coil can be arranged according to the rotation position.
The wireless power feeding method may be either an electromagnetic induction method or a magnetic resonance method.
3) Arrange the optical wireless device in the break stopper so that the communication device surface is aligned even if it is rotated.
4) Place the light source in the insertion part or the gripping operation part.
5) The device, coil, etc. can be changed according to the drive power of the sensor or light source for the power generated by wireless power supply.

And the following advantages can be provided.
1) In the endoscopic procedure, it is possible to avoid applying extra tension to the post-stage flexible tube by rotating the insertion portion.
2) The drive power of the sensor or light source is transmitted without a wired cable by a wireless power supply coil that separates the transmitting side and the receiving side at the first break stopper located between the bent part and the connector part. Can be done. Therefore, the sensor or the light source can be properly driven even if the flexible tube is subjected to extra tension. Further, the sensor signal from the sensor can also be transmitted between the bent portion and the connector portion without a wired cable. Therefore, even if an extra tension is applied to the flexible tube, the signal from the sensor can be appropriately transmitted to the controller side.
The same configuration can be applied to the second break stopper 17 on the insertion side.

In the above-described embodiment, the configurations and the like shown in the drawings are not limited to these, and can be appropriately changed within the range in which the effects of the present invention are exhibited. In addition, it can be appropriately modified and implemented as long as it does not deviate from the scope of the object of the present invention.
For example, the components for wireless power supply and optical wireless communication may be arranged on either of both sides mechanically separated, and are not limited to the arrangement positions shown in the embodiments and drawings.
In addition, each component of the present invention can be arbitrarily selected, and an invention having the selected configuration is also included in the present invention.

The present invention can be used for endoscopes.

A Endoscope (system)
C1, C2 Wireless power supply coil 1 Video processor 3 Power supply 5 Connector part 5a Connector terminal 12 Insertion part 15 Gripping operation part (operation part)
16 Universal tube 21 First substrate 23 First wireless power supply device 31, 33 Optical wireless device 41 Second substrate 43 Second wireless power supply device 51 Rotating tube 55 Stopping tube 57 Connecting tube 58, 59 Covering part 61 Sensor (solid-state image sensor)
63 Light source

Claims (9)

A connector portion to be connected to the controller with the power, and an operation portion connected to the connector portion, and a insertion portion to be inserted into the measurement site, the connector portion to the operation portion side of the connector portion It is an endoscope in which a break stopper and a bend are provided in order from the beginning.
It has a rotation mechanism that enables the folding prevention portion and the bending portion to rotate.
A first wireless power supply device for transmitting electric power from the power source is provided on the first board provided in the connector portion.
A second wireless power supply device provided in the bent portion is provided with a second wireless power supply device that receives electric power transmitted wirelessly from the first wireless power supply device, and the second wireless power supply device is provided. An endoscope in which electric power is supplied to a sensor provided in the insertion portion. The first wireless power feeding device is connected to the first coil and is connected to the first coil.
The second wireless power feeding device is connected to the second coil and is connected to the second coil.
The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are arranged close to each other along the rotation axis direction. A light source is provided in the insertion portion.
The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein power from the second wireless power feeding device is supplied to the light source provided in the insertion portion. A first optical wireless device is provided in the break stopper.
A second optical wireless device is provided at the bent portion.
The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which transmits a sensing signal from the sensor by optical communication. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation mechanism has a rotatable angle of 360 degrees or more. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the break-prevention portion is formed of an elastic member. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor is a solid-state image sensor. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the endoscope has a regulator for adjusting the electric power supplied from the power source to the sensor on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. .. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bent portion is formed of a flexible tube.

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