JPH0410330B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope using a rectangular solid-state image pickup device, and particularly to an endoscope that uses a rectangular solid-state image sensor, and in particular an illumination means and a tube at the tip of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity. In the device in which the solid-state imaging device is disposed within the tip component in which the imaging optical system is incorporated, the rectangular solid-state imaging device is provided offset to the inner periphery, and a forceps channel is provided on the side opposite to the deviation. The present invention relates to an endoscope whose outer diameter can be kept to a minimum while ensuring a sufficient inner diameter.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, various endoscopes have been proposed that use solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (CCDs) as imaging means. This solid-state image sensor is generally rectangular and has a relatively large diameter, although it depends on the number of pixels. Therefore, when this solid-state image sensor is placed inside the distal end component of the endoscope insertion section, an air/water channel and a forceps channel are formed in the axial direction within the distal end component, as well as illumination means and imaging optics. system, etc., the diameter of the tip component inevitably has to be large, or the space for the channel, etc. is restricted by the corners of the rectangular solid-state image sensor and cannot be secured sufficiently. There is a problem that I have been told is not there.

For this reason, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-46922, a conventional example in which the reflection is reflected by a mirror or the like and guided to the imaging surface of a solid-state imaging device arranged parallel to the axis of the insertion section or the distal end. There is.

However, even in this conventional example, since the light guide member such as a mirror forming the imaging means is arranged at the center of the tip, it is difficult to use the illumination means (illumination optical system) or the forceps channel as described above. The space is getting smaller, the lighting intensity is almost insufficient, and the number of treatment tools such as forceps that can be used is limited.
There is a problem in that it becomes difficult to adequately perform therapeutic treatments using treatment tools.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-46924 discloses that the solid-state imaging device is made into a cylinder, an opening is provided at the periphery of the device, and a light guide is passed through the opening to reduce the diameter of the tip of the endoscope. There is a disclosure that there has been an effort to

Incidentally, an endoscope requires a forceps channel for performing tissue biopsy, and generally a forceps channel with an inner diameter of 2 mm or 2.8 mm is used. Additionally, large channels such as 3.7 mm or 4.2 mm may be required for various endoscopic procedures such as laser treatment and microwave coagulation. In addition, multiple channels, etc.
As with the forceps lifting mechanism, there are many needs for endoscopes, and it is necessary to meet these needs to the bare minimum and always consider reducing the diameter.

On the other hand, the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-46924 had the disadvantage that the package itself had to be changed for each model, making it very expensive.

Regarding the light guide, which is the illumination means, it is not necessary to make the light guide too thick by increasing the amount of light per light guide fiber, but the forceps channel cannot be made thinner because physical quantities are required. . Therefore, the forceps channel is generally thicker than the light guide.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope in which the inner diameter of the forceps channel is sufficiently large and the diameter of the distal end component of the insertion portion can be reduced.

[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects] In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope according to the present invention includes an imaging optical system and an imaging optical system in the distal end component on the distal end side of the insertion section inserted into the body cavity, etc. A shaped solid-state image sensor,
In an endoscope in which an illumination means and a forceps channel are respectively arranged, the rectangular solid-state imaging device is provided offset in the circumferential direction so that its two corners are approximately in contact with the inner periphery of the tip component, and the solid-state imaging device is A forceps channel is provided within the tip component on the anti-deflection side of the element.

With this configuration, the inner diameter of the forceps channel can be formed to a required thickness, and the diameter of the distal end component of the insertion section can be made small.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end component, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a distal end component provided at the distal end of an endoscope insertion section, and a frame 2 is provided inside this distal end component 1 in the axial direction.
A cover glass 3 is disposed on the front surface of this frame 2, while an imaging optical system 4 is provided inside the frame.
and a rectangular solid-state image sensor 5 whose imaging surface is located at the imaging position of the imaging optical system 4. The solid-state image sensor 5 is held by a support member 6 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin or ceramics, and is attached to the frame 2 via the support member 6. The support member 6 has a protrusion 6a that protrudes rearward from the back surface of the solid-state image sensor 5, and a printed wiring 6b necessary for the solid-state image sensor 5 is formed on the inner periphery of the protrusion 6a. While each electrode of the solid-state image sensor 5 is connected by soldering, a connecting terminal or pin 6c is extended from the printed wiring 6b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rectangular solid-state image sensor 5 is disposed offset in the circumferential direction so that its two corners are approximately in contact with the inner periphery of the tip component 1, and the tip configuration on the opposite side of the deflection is disposed. The area within the portion 5 is formed to be large. A forceps channel 8, which is required to have a relatively large diameter, is disposed in the axial direction in the tip component 5 having a large area on the anti-deflection side of the solid-state imaging device 5. A light guide 7 as an illumination means and a light guide are provided between the inner periphery of the tip component 5 and the other two sides or corners of the tip component 5, excluding the two sides on the inner circumference deviation side and the opposite side. Air/water channels 9, etc. are arranged in the axial direction.

In this way, since the rectangular solid-state image sensor 5 is disposed offset in the circumferential direction so as to be approximately in contact with the inner periphery of the tip component 1, the area within the tip component 5 on the opposite side is reduced. The forceps channel 8, which is required to have a large inner diameter through which various treatment tools can be inserted, is arranged in this large area, and the tip structure of the endoscope insertion portion is arranged without restricting the inner diameter of the channel 8. can be made smaller in diameter.

In addition, since the necessary wiring for the solid-state image sensor 5 is printed on the support member 6, the necessary wiring is easy, and it does not take up any area in the radial direction, contributing to a reduction in diameter. The solid-state image sensor 5 in the mirror tip component 1 can be easily replaced.

Furthermore, it is possible to use a general-purpose rectangular solid-state image sensor used in general TV cameras, etc., and the cost can be reduced due to the mass production effect.

In the present invention, although in the embodiment described above, the rectangular solid-state image sensor 5 is attached to the frame 2 via the support member 6, this frame 2 is omitted and the support member 6 is directly attached to the tip component 1. Alternatively, the frame body 2 may be formed to directly attach the imaging optical system 4 and the solid-state image sensor 5, and this frame body 2 may be formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin or ceramics. Necessary printed wiring 6b of the solid-state image sensor 5 may also be provided.

In addition, in the present invention, the rectangular solid-state image sensor is not limited to the inner diameter direction of the tip component as in the embodiment.
It can also be placed diagonally. Furthermore, as the illumination means, instead of the light guide, a light source such as a light emitting diode may be provided inside the tip component.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the inner diameter of the forceps channel is sufficiently secured and the diameter of the distal end component of the insertion portion can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end component, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. 1...Tip component, 4...Imaging optical system, 5...
Solid-state image sensor, 7... Light guide, 8, 9...
Channel.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An endoscope in which an imaging optical system, a solid-state image sensor, an illumination means, and a forceps channel are respectively arranged in a distal end component on the distal end side of an insertion section inserted into a body cavity, etc. The solid-state imaging device is disposed with maximum deviation in the circumferential direction so as to be in approximate contact with the inner periphery of the tip component, and the forceps channel is arranged on the opposite side to the direction of deviation of the solid-state imaging device. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope, characterized in that the endoscope is deflected in the direction and arranged so as to be approximately in contact with the inner periphery of the distal end component.