JPH059002B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope with an improved structure of a distal end section provided at the distal end of an insertion section.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an endoscope, an image guide fiber is disposed within a flexible tube of an insertion section to transmit an optical image of an observation field from a distal end to an observation section (eyepiece). However, since optical fibers are mainly made of glass, they tend to break easily, and if, for example, several optical fiber elements forming an image guide fiber break, a clear image cannot be obtained. Therefore, conventionally, a CCD was installed inside the tip case.
A solid-state imaging device such as a BBD is attached via a holding member, and a connecting cord is provided in the flexible tube instead of the image guide fiber, so that the reflected light transmitted from the light guide fiber is used to capture the solid-state image sensor. Some devices have a structure in which a device converts the signal into an electrical output signal and sends this output signal to the observation section through the connection cord, thereby always obtaining a clear image.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned endoscope, a special member (holding member) had to be provided in order to fix the solid element within the tip body, so there are many parts that make up the tip. However, there was a problem in that the tip could not be made smaller.

In addition, since the inside of the tip section where the solid-state image sensor is installed is in communication with the insertion section, the anti-friction agent inside the insertion section may enter the tip section and the surface of the solid-state image sensor, surrounding optical system, and electronic components. There is a risk of it adhering to the
Moreover, this may cause failure to obtain good observation images or may lead to malfunctions.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent lubricant and dust from entering into the tip section on which the solid-state image sensor is attached, and to always obtain good observation images. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can be used without any problems.

[Means and actions for solving problems]

a cylindrical body having a partition wall forming a base at the tip of the insertion section; a solid-state imaging device provided on one side of the partition wall of the cylindrical body; a wiring means formed on the partition wall; and a wiring means provided on the other side of the partition wall. a cover having an objective lens attached to the cylindrical body on one side of the partition wall; and a flexible cable connected to the cylindrical body on the other side of the partition wall. This partition wall prevents anti-friction agent and dirt from entering the distal end portion from the insertion portion.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show the vicinity of a distal end portion 1 of an endoscope insertion portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. This distal end portion 1 is connected to the distal end of a flexible tube 2, and the proximal end of the flexible tube 2 is connected to a proximal operation section (not shown). Also, this tip 1
The main body 3 is formed of a cover 5 attached to a cylindrical holder 4. The holder 4 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom and is made of an insulating material, and the open end of the holder 4 and the substrate 4a serving as a partition are each provided with a cylinder that protrudes outward in the axial direction of the holder 4. Projections 4b and 4c are provided. The flexible tube 2 is watertightly attached to the protrusion 4b on the open end side of the holder 4, and the cover 5 is watertightly attached to the protrusion 4c on the bottom side. There is. Further, the substrate 4a of the holder 4 is provided with a large number of through holes penetrating from the front side (left side in the figure) to the back side (right side in the figure), and each through hole has a conductor 6 made of steel, for example. ...is embedded. Further, on the back side of the substrate 4a of this holder 4, appropriate connection cords 7, which will be described later, are attached to the respective conductors 6.
A copper printed circuit 8 is provided for connection to the conductors 6, and the printed circuit 8 forms a wiring connection portion. The output ends of the conductors 6 are gathered at one location by the printed circuit 8, and one end of the connection cord 7 is connected to each output end at this location by means such as soldering. The connection cords 7 are disposed within the flexible tube 2, and the other end is connected to a monitor device (not shown) in an observation section.

On the other hand, the main body 3 includes a solid-state image sensor.
Contains CCD9. A light receiving section 10 is provided on the front surface of the CCD 9, and a large number of terminals 11 are provided on the back surface. Each terminal 11 of the CCD 9 is inserted into each conductor 6 of the holder 4 and fixed by means such as soldering. Therefore,
The main body 3 of the distal end 1 equipped with the CCD 9 is separated from the inside of the flexible tube 2 of the insertion section by a substrate 4a serving as a partition wall, and prevents dust and the like from entering from the flexible tube 2 side. There is.

Further, the cover 5 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the open end thereof is attached to the protrusion 4c of the holder 4 as described above. An objective lens 12 and one end of a light guide fiber 13 are attached to the bottom 5a of the cover 5. The light guide fiber 13 is formed of an optical fiber, and is inserted through the holder 4 and placed inside the flexible tube 2 having the flex 14, and the other end is connected to a light source device (not shown). has been done. Therefore, when the observation object is irradiated with light sent from the light source device through the light guide fiber 13, the reflected light from the observation object is reflected by the objective lens 12.
The image is formed on the light receiving section 10 of the CCD 9, and this image is further converted into an electrical signal by the CCD 9, and sent to the monitoring device of the observation section through the wiring connection section and the connection cord 7. The output signal of the CCD 9 is reconstructed into an image using a monitor device.

Therefore, in the case of the above structure, the tip part 1
Since the CCD 9 is held by the holding body 4 that forms the main body 3 of the tip, there is no need to provide a special member for holding the CCD 9 within the distal end portion 1.
Therefore, the number of parts constituting the distal end 1 can be reduced compared to the conventional one, and the configuration of the distal end 1 can be simplified, so that the distal end 1 can be made smaller.

Next, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
This is applied to the substrate 21a as a partition wall of the holder 21.
In addition to attaching the CCD 22, the substrate 21a
The conductor 23 buried in the through hole... and the CCD 22
and are connected by a connection cord 24. The connection cord 24 and the conductor 23 are connected by means such as soldering. Further, by means of the printed circuit 25 provided on the back surface (the right side in FIG. 2) of the substrate 21a, the output ends of the conductors 23 are gathered at approximately the center of the substrate 21a, and the output ends of the conductors 23 are gathered at the approximately central portion of the substrate 21a, and the output ends of the conductors 23 are gathered at the approximately central portion of the substrate 21a. Connection cord 27 arranged in...
It is connected to one end of the board by means of soldering or the like.

Even with this configuration, CCD22
Since it is held by the holding body 21, there is no need to provide a special holding member inside the main body 28, and therefore the tip portion 29 can be made smaller.

Moreover, FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment. In this case, the holder 33 forming the main body 32 of the tip portion 31 is molded from a metal material. Cylindrical insulators 34 are attached to through holes 33b provided in a substrate 33a serving as a partition wall of the holder 33, and conductors 35 are attached within these insulators 34. The conductors 35 are connected to the CCD 36 attached to the holder 33 via connection cords 37. Further, the conductors 35a protrude from the substrate 33a of the holder 33 by a predetermined length toward the back side of the substrate 33a (right side in FIG. 4).
A socket 38 is detachably attached to the output ends 35a. One end of a connection cord 40 disposed inside a flexible tube 39 is attached to this socket 38, and the output end 35a of the conductor 35 and the connection cord 40 are connected through this socket 38. It is becoming connected.

Even with this configuration, CCD36
is held by the holder 33 forming the main body 32 of the tip 31, so that the tip can be made smaller as in each of the embodiments described above.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, it goes without saying that the shapes of the holder and the cover can be modified in various ways.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a cylindrical body having a partition wall forming a base at the tip of the insertion section is provided, and a solid-state image sensor is connected to one surface of the partition wall, and a wiring means is connected to the other surface side of the partition wall. The tube has a connecting cord, a cover having an objective lens attached to the cylindrical body on one side of the partition wall, and a flexible tube connected to the cylindrical body on the other side of the partition wall. , can be shortened to the tip length to achieve miniaturization, and
The cylindrical body also serves as a heat sink, improving cooling performance. Furthermore, the partition wall prevents anti-friction agents and dust from entering the tip from the insertion section, and protects the solid-state imaging device housed within the tip from dust, allowing good observation images to be obtained at all times. There is an effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing different embodiments. 1, 29, 31... tip, 9, 22, 36...
...solid-state image sensor, 4a, 21a, 33a...substrate (partition wall).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical body having a partition wall forming a base at the tip of the insertion portion, a solid-state image sensor provided on one surface of the partition wall of the cylindrical body, a wiring means formed on the partition wall, and a wiring means formed on the partition wall. A cover having a connecting cord connected on one side of the partition, an objective lens attached to the cylinder on one side of the partition, and a cover connected to the cylinder on the other side of the partition. An endoscope comprising a flexible tube.