JPS6119260B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a drive device for a film cassette for an endoscope, which is loaded into the distal end of an endoscope incorporating a photographing device.

Conventionally, in endoscopes incorporating imaging devices such as gastrocameras, a single cartridge is loaded into the tip of a flexible tube that is inserted into the body cavity, and one film from the cartridge is sequentially inserted into the body for each imaging session. It is designed to be pulled into the flexible tube. Therefore, in order to take out the photographed film after photographing is completed, it is necessary to remove the cap provided at the tip of the flexible tube and to pull out the cartridge by picking it up with your fingers. However, since the photographed film remains exposed while being pulled out, the operation for removing the film must be performed in a dark room. As a result, the work efficiency deteriorates, and the storage of the photographed film also deteriorates. In addition, in order to draw the photographed film into the flexible tube during photographing, the diameter of the flexible tube must be made large considering the width of the film, and the direction and amount of bending of the flexible tube must also be adjusted. This has caused the problem of being limited from the start. Furthermore, since the passage within the film within the flexible tube is formed extremely narrow, the frictional resistance against the film is large, and there is a risk that the film may break, especially when the flexible tube is in a curved state within the body cavity.

Therefore, instead of using such an imaging method, it is conceivable that a film cassette for storing film is loaded into the distal end of the endoscope. That is, a film feed-out shaft and a film take-up shaft are arranged spaced apart from each other in the cassette, and a light entrance for the film is provided between these winding shafts. The take-up shaft is configured to engage with a transmission shaft provided within the distal end of the endoscope when the film cassette is loaded.

However, in this case, means for remotely driving the transmission shaft each time an image is taken is required. For example, a pulley is attached and fixed to the transmission shaft, and an operating wire is hooked between the pulley and an operation pulley provided at the hand operation section of the endoscope, so that the transmission shaft is rotated at the hand operation section. Some devices use this to rotate the take-up shaft of the film cassette. In this case, it is necessary to install a pulley together with the transmission shaft inside the tip of the endoscope, resulting in a complicated structure.In addition, two guide paths are required inside the flexible tube to hang the operating wire. This makes the flexible tube that much thicker, making it unsuitable for use as an endoscope. Moreover, due to the bending of the flexible tube, tension is generated at one end of the operating wire, while slack is generated at the other end, making it difficult to perform accurate transmission and easily causing slippage on the pulley, reducing reliability. It was.

In any case, since a transmission shaft that engages with the film cassette take-up shaft is provided within the distal end of the endoscope, and means for remotely driving this transmission shaft is provided, various parts must be incorporated. In addition, the flexible tube has to be made thicker, and the operability is uncertain.

The present invention has been made focusing on the above circumstances,
The purpose of this is to provide a film cassette body with a shaft for feeding out unused film and a shaft for winding up used film, and to fix one end of an operating wire around a member connected to one end of the film winding shaft. This simplifies the film cassette winding operation structure by making it possible to wind the film simply by pulling the operating wire, and provides a structure that allows remote control without making the flexible tube of the endoscope particularly thick. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drive device for a film cassette for an endoscope, which also ensures reliable operation.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 shows an endoscope with a built-in imaging device.
For example, a gastro camera. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible tube to be inserted into a living body cavity, and a rigid distal end portion 2, which will be described later, is attached to the distal end of the flexible tube. Also,
An operating section 3 is provided at the base end of the flexible tube 1.

The rigid tip portion 2 is formed by incorporating various parts inside a tubular case body 4, and a cap 5 is detachably screwed onto the tip opening of the case body 4. By removing the cap 5, a cassette storage section 6 formed within the rigid tip section 2 can be opened. That is, by attaching and detaching the cap 5 to the cassette storage section 6, the film cassette 7 can be freely loaded or removed. Further, on the side wall of the case body 4, an observation window 8, an illumination window 9, and a photographing window 10 located opposite to the cassette storage section 6 are provided.
are located adjacent to each other. The observation window 8 is connected to the eyepiece of the operating section 3 via an image guide 11 provided within the flexible tube 1. Furthermore, the illumination window 9 is also connected to the operating section 3 via a light guide 12 provided within the flexible tube 1.
Furthermore, it is adapted to be connected to a light source device (not shown).

A photographing lens 1 is provided inside the photographing window 10.
A photographing optical system 14 including 3 and the like is facing,
The photographing optical system 14 forms an image of the field of view inside the body cavity on the exposure surface 15 of the film cassette 7, as will be described later.

The film cassette 7 is provided with a film take-up shaft 17 (in some cases without a wind-up cylinder) and an unused film feed-out shaft 18 which are pivotally supported in both ends of the film cassette main body 16. A passage 20 for the film 19 is formed in the intermediate portion of the film cassette body 16, and a light entrance 2 facing the photographing optical system 14 is provided in the intermediate portion of the film cassette body 16 facing the passage 20.
1 is open. That is, when the film cassette 7 is loaded into the cassette storage section 6, its light entrance 21 is positioned opposite to the exposure surface 15 of the photographic optical system 14. Furthermore, when loaded, the film cassette 7 is loaded with its take-up shaft 17 side facing the proximal side of the flexible tube 1. Incidentally, numerals 22 and 23 are shielding members that shield the passage 20 from the winding shaft 17 and the feeding shaft 18 side, and prevent light from entering through the light entrance 21 when the film cassette 7 is taken out. Reference numeral 24 denotes a pressing spring attached to the wall of the cassette storage section 6, which supports and fixes the film cassette 7 to the cassette storage section 6.

Further, one end of the winding shaft 17 of the film cassette 7 extends so as to project from the side surface of the film cassette body 16, and another member such as a driving pulley 26 is fixedly attached to this projecting portion 25. There is. One end of an operating wire 27 is fixed to the drive pulley 26 and the end thereof is wound around the drive pulley 26 . A locking ring 28 is provided at the other end of the operating wire 27, and the locking ring 28 is detachably connected to the tip of the pulling wire 29. That is, the pulling wire 29 is guided to the operating section 3 of the endoscope through a guide tube 30 provided in the flexible tube 1 of the endoscope, and the locking ring is attached to the tip of the pulling wire 29. A hook 31 is provided which locks onto 28. Further, the proximal end of the pulling wire 29 guided to the operating section 3 of the endoscope is connected to an operating winding drum 32 provided in the operating section 3. In other words, the winding drum 3 is
By rotating 2, the traction wire 29 can be retracted by winding the traction wire 29. Note that the protrusion 25 is
It may be a member around which the operating wire 27 is directly wound, or when the pulley 26 is attached to and detached from the protrusion 25 and rotates, the protrusion 25
The pulley 26 may rotate all at once. Furthermore, the pulley 26 may be disposed at the distal end of the endoscope, and may be fitted with the protrusion 25 of the cassette body 16 to rotate in one direction.

Next, a method of using the film cassette 7 having the above structure will be explained. First, film cassette 7
To load the cartridge, the cap 5 is removed from the rigid tip section 2, and the cassette storage section 6 of the rigid tip section 2 is opened. Meanwhile, film cassette 7
In advance, one end of the operating wire 27 is sufficiently wound around the driving pulley 26, and after such preparation, the locking ring 2 of the operating wire 27 is
8 to lock the hook 31 of the traction wire 29 on the endoscope side. Next, the film cassette 7 is inserted into the cassette storage section 6 from its end on the take-up shaft 17 side.
Then, by attaching the cap 5 to its rigid end portion 2, the film cassette 7 can be loaded into the cassette storage section 6. At this time, the light entrance 21 of the film cassette 7 faces the photographing optical system 14. At this time, the traction wire 29 and the operating wire 27 are stretched by winding an appropriate amount of the traction wire 29 around the winding drum 32 in the operating section of the endoscope, and if the winding drum 32 is further wound, the driving pulley 26 can be used to operate the traction wire 29 and the operating wire 27. The wire 27 can be immediately paid out. That is, by letting out the operating wire 27 from the driving pulley 26, the driving pulley 26 rotates in accordance with the amount of the delivery. Therefore, the drive pulley 26
As the winding shaft 17 is rotated, the winding shaft 17 connected thereto also rotates, and the film 19 can be wound up.

Therefore, when using an endoscope, the flexible tube 1 of the endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, and the observation system is used to observe the inside of the body cavity, and at the same time, by performing an imaging operation. , a predetermined region within the body cavity is photographed. For example, by pulling the photographing lever in the operating section 3 of the endoscope and turning on the flash, the visual field inside the living body cavity is imaged on the film surface in the light entrance 21 of the film cassette 7 via the photographing optical system 14. , to be photographed.

After photographing in this manner, by winding an appropriate amount of the pulling wire 29 around the winding drum 32 at the operation section 3, the film 19 can be advanced by one frame by the operation described above, and the film 19 can be advanced by the amount that has been advanced. The film 19 can be wound onto the take-up shaft 17. Therefore, a new portion of the film 19 can be placed in the light entrance 21 of the film cassette 7.

Photographing is carried out one after another in this manner, and the film 19 fed out from the feeding shaft 18 on which the unused film is wound is wound up again onto the winding shaft 17 after being exposed for photographing.

Then, the series of imaging is completed, and the flexible tube 1 of the endoscope is taken out from the living body cavity. Thereafter, it is not necessary to remove the film cassette 7 in a dark room or the like; the cap 5 of the rigid tip portion 2 is removed at that location, and the film cassette 7 is pulled out from the opened cassette storage section 6. At this time, together with the operation wire 27 connected to the driving pulley 26, the pulling wire 29 locked thereto is also pulled out, so if the hook 31 of the pulling wire 29 is removed from the locking ring 28, the film cassette 7 can be completely removed. can be taken out.

As explained above, the present invention provides a method for fixing and winding one end of an operating wire around the winding shaft of the main body of a film cassette that is loaded into the distal end of an endoscope incorporating a photographing device or a member connected to the winding shaft. The film winding shaft is rotated by pulling out the operating wire.

Therefore, for example, the winding shaft of the film cassette can be driven directly by simply pulling the operating wire without the need for a special transmission shaft or drive pulley in the distal end of the endoscope. The structure can be simplified. Moreover, since the operation can be performed by simply pulling the operating wire, it is only necessary to form a single guide passage in the flexible tube of the endoscope through which the operating wire and the traction wire connected to the operating wire are inserted. The outer diameter of the flexible tube can be made thinner.

Furthermore, since the drive operation is performed by simply pulling a single operating wire, there is no possibility of sagging or slipping of the pulley. Therefore, accurate operations can be performed and reliability can be improved.

In addition, there is no need to go to a darkroom to take out the photographed film, and it can be taken out anywhere, which provides advantages such as extremely improved work efficiency and improved storage of the film.

As described above, according to the present invention, the drive structure can be simplified and the endoscope can be made smaller, making it suitable for use as an endoscope. Furthermore, it has various excellent effects such as good operability and reliable operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an endoscope into which a film cassette is loaded, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the film cassette, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway bottom view of the film cassette. 1...Flexible tube, 3...Operation unit, 5...Cap, 6...
Cassette storage section, 7... Film cassette, 10...
Photographing window, 13...Photographing lens, 14...Photographing optical system,
15...Light entrance, 16...Film cassette body, 1
7... Winding shaft, 18... Paying out shaft, 19... Film, 2
6... Drive pulley, 27... Operation wire, 28... Locking ring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a drive device for a film cassette that incorporates a photographing device at the tip of an endoscope, a light entrance is opened on one side of the hollow box, and an unused film winding shaft and a winding shaft are provided inside the hollow box. A drive device for a film cassette for an endoscope, characterized in that a pulley is provided on the outside of the film cassette, the pulley is connected to one end of the take-up shaft, and one end of the index member is fixed and wound around the pulley.