JPH06347707A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an endoscope which enables an endoscope user to check the emission of UV light without preparing a UV light checking member, UV actionometer, etc. CONSTITUTION:Cover glass 25a formed to have the diameter smaller than the diameter of a light guide 29 is disposed on the front end face of the light guide 29 coaxially with the light guide. A fluorescent agent packing member 25b which is an announcing means is disposed to cover the outer periphery of the cover glass 25a. This fluorescent agent-packing member 25b has, for example, a hollow circular columnar shape formed of a transparent member having high UV transmittance and has a space part 25c. A fluorescent agent 30 is packed into this space part 25c which is then hermetically closed. The fluorescent member 30 emits visible light to announce the irradiation with the UV light when the endoscope is irradiated with the UV and endoscope operator is informed of the irradiation of the UV light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope for inspecting using ultraviolet light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe organs in the body cavity and, if necessary, perform various medical treatments using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes are widely used.

Further, these endoscopes are used not only for medical purposes but also for industrial purposes for observing and inspecting an inspected portion in a pipe of a boiler, an engine, a chemical plant, or a machine.

Further, by utilizing the fact that a fluorescent substance emits fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet light, in the medical field a tissue piece is made to absorb the fluorescent substance for inspection, and in the industrial field a fluorescent substance is applied and cracked. When inspecting, the inspection was performed by emitting ultraviolet light that is not visible light.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-144203 discloses an endoscope provided with a light guide for emission that allows ultraviolet light to pass therethrough.

[0006]

In an endoscope that emits ultraviolet light that cannot be seen with the naked eye as described above, the endoscope user determines whether or not ultraviolet light is emitted from the illumination optical system. I could not confirm. Therefore, it may not be possible to detect an abnormality by performing the inspection without noticing that no ultraviolet light is emitted during the inspection. In addition, the endoscope user does not notice that the ultraviolet light is emitted,
There was a risk of being exposed to ultraviolet light while doing other work.

Therefore, when an endoscope user performs inspection by emitting ultraviolet light from the illumination optical system of the endoscope, a fluorescent substance (hereinafter referred to as a fluorescent agent) that emits visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Checking whether or not the ultraviolet light is emitted by preparing a check member or an ultraviolet photometer and applying a lighting optical system to the check member or the ultraviolet photometer. I was trying to confirm.

However, every time an inspection using ultraviolet light is performed, a check member for confirming whether or not the ultraviolet light is emitted, or an ultraviolet light photometer must be prepared, and the inspection is required. Since it was necessary to prepare it in a position close to the inside, preparation and work for the work were troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an endoscope user can confirm that ultraviolet light is emitted without preparing an ultraviolet light check member or an ultraviolet light photometer. The purpose is to provide a simple endoscope.

[0010]

An endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope for selectively injecting either visible light or ultraviolet light from an illumination optical system for inspection. A notification means filled with a fluorescent substance that emits visible light when ultraviolet light was transmitted was provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the notification means filled in the endoscope and filled with the fluorescent substance emits light to notify the endoscope user that the ultraviolet light is being emitted.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a distal end surface of an endoscope insertion portion, FIG. 3 is an AOB sectional view of FIG. 2, and FIG.
AOC sectional view of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the illumination optical system, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 is composed of an elongated insertion portion 2 having flexibility and an operation portion 3 arranged on the proximal side of the insertion portion 2.

The insertion portion 2 has a flexible portion 21 having a proximal end integrally fixed to the operation portion 3 and having flexibility, and a bending portion 22 provided at the tip of the flexible portion 21. It is composed of a hard tip portion 23 provided at the tip of the curved portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, an objective optical system 24 and an illumination optical system 25 are provided on the distal end surface 23a of the distal end portion 23 of the insertion portion, and a chemical and dry air for cleaning the test portion are sent. First channel opening 26a for
And an opening 26b of the second channel for sending the fluorescent agent and the color developing agent to the test area.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation portion 3 has a bending operation knob 31 for bending the bending portion 22 and a first channel communicating with a channel having an opening formed in the tip end face 23a.
It has a channel opening 32a, a second channel opening 32b, a universal cord 33 extending from a side portion, and the like.

An unillustrated light guide or the like is inserted into the inside of the universal cord, and illumination light or ultraviolet light is emitted by connecting the universal cord to a light source device.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an objective lens group 28 for forming an observation image on the image pickup device 27 and an illumination optical system 2 for irradiating illumination light and ultraviolet light inside the tip portion 23.
A light guide 29 facing the light source 5 is provided, and a second channel 26B for sending in various chemicals and air is also formed.

A signal of an observation image formed on the image pickup device 27 is sent to a CCU (not shown) via a signal line 27a extending from the image pickup device, converted into an image signal by this CCU, and observed on a monitor. You can do it.

The channel 26B formed at the tip end
A connection pipe 26C is fixed to this with an adhesive or the like, and the connection pipe 26C and the channel port 32b are connected by a flexible tube 26D to form a channel for sending various chemicals such as a fluorescent agent and a color developing agent to the test part. Is forming. Incidentally, channels (not shown) for sending a chemical for cleaning and dry air are also formed in the same manner. Reference numeral 26E is a thread winding adhesive portion that connects the tube 26D to the connection pipe 26C.

Further, the illumination optical system 25 is composed of a cover glass 25a and a fluorescent material filling member 25b which is a notification means. The light guide 29 facing the cover glass 25a and the illumination optical system 25 is made of a material having a high ultraviolet light transmittance.

The illumination optical system 25 will now be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in the figure, a cover glass 25a having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the light guide 29 is disposed on the tip end surface of the light guide 29 coaxially with the light guide. Further, a fluorescent agent filling member 25b is arranged so as to cover the outer periphery of the cover glass 25a. The fluorescent agent filling member 25b has a hollow cylindrical shape formed of a transparent member having a high ultraviolet light transmittance, and includes a space 25c. The space 25c is filled with the fluorescent agent 30 and sealed with a lid 25d. is doing.

The operation of the endoscope 1 configured as described above will be described. First, the illumination optical system 25 of the endoscope 1 is visually observed to confirm whether or not ultraviolet light is emitted. At this time, when the ultraviolet light is guided to the light guide 29 arranged so as to contact the fluorescent agent filling member 25b and the ultraviolet light is emitted, the ultraviolet light passes through the fluorescent agent filling member 25b filled with the fluorescent agent 30. By doing so, visible light is emitted from the fluorescent agent 30, and the endoscope user is informed that ultraviolet light is being emitted.

When it is confirmed that no ultraviolet light is emitted, normal illumination light (visible light) is emitted from the illumination optical system 25 to insert the insertion portion 2 into the observation target, and the tip portion of the insertion portion 2 is inserted. The tip surface 23a is brought close to the test portion, and the image displayed on the monitor is observed to perform the inspection.

Then, when a portion that is thought to have cracks, cracks, scratches, etc. is found, a cleaning agent is sprayed from the first channel port 32a and sprayed on the observation target area for cleaning. Next, the compressed dry air is jetted to the first channel port 32a and jetted to the observation target area to remove the cleaning agent for cleaning.

Next, the fluorescent agent is sprayed from the second channel port 32b to spray the fluorescent agent on the observation area. Then, while the fluorescent agent penetrates into the cracked or cracked portion of the observation area, the fluorescent agent adheres to the entire surface without scratches or cracks. Here, a cleaning agent is sprayed from the first channel port 32a to clean the fluorescent agent, and the observation target area is cleaned. Then, the fluorescent material sprayed on the entire surface of the observation area without scratches or cracks is cleaned, and only the fluorescent agent that has penetrated into the scratches or cracks remains. Here, when the color former is further ejected from the second channel port 32b, the color former is sprayed onto the observation target area, and the residual fluorescent agent permeating into the scratches or cracks in the observation target area reacts with the color former.

Finally, when the light beam emitted from the illumination optical system 25 is switched from the illumination light to the ultraviolet light and the observation area is irradiated with the ultraviolet light, only the portion where the fluorescent agent and the color developing agent react emits light, The location and size of the wound can be observed.

As described above, it is possible to confirm whether or not the ultraviolet light is emitted by providing the fluorescent agent filling member filled with the fluorescent agent that emits the visible light by irradiating the ultraviolet light on the tip surface. Therefore, the endoscopic inspection can be performed without preparing an ultraviolet light check member or an ultraviolet light photometer.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an endoscope distal end portion according to a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, instead of disposing the fluorescent agent filling member 25b so as to cover the periphery of the cover glass 25a, the fluorescent agent filling member 125 is disposed on the side surface of the tip portion, and the cover glass 25 is provided.
A part of the light guide that should be extended to the front end surface of a is extended to the end surface of the fluorescent agent filling member 125 so that it emits light when ultraviolet light is emitted. In the drawings of this embodiment, the other constructions and actions / effects of disposing the image guide 71 are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. In addition, by disposing the fluorescent agent filling member on the side surface of the distal end portion of the endoscope as described above, the endoscope user can detect the presence of ultraviolet light without seeing any illumination optical system that emits ultraviolet light.・ It is possible to confirm nothing.
Further, since it is not necessary to form the cover glass to have a small diameter with respect to the outer diameter of the light guide and dispose the fluorescent material filling member on the periphery, it is possible to increase the illumination range and improve the illumination efficiency.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope operation section according to an application example of the modification. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the circumference of the cover glass 25a, or
The fluorescent agent filling member disposed on the side of the distal end tip surface is disposed on the endoscope operation section 3, and in addition to the light guide 29 which should extend to the distal end surface of the cover glass 25a, the fluorescent agent filling member 22.
The light guide 29a is extended to the end surface of the fluorescent material 5 so that the fluorescent material filling member 225 emits light when ultraviolet light is emitted.

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

By disposing the fluorescent material filling member on the side of the operation portion as described above, it is easy to determine whether or not the ultraviolet light is emitted even when the endoscope is inserted into the observation object. It will be possible to confirm.

Further, since all the light guides inserted through the endoscope insertion portion can be brought into contact with the cover glass, the illumination efficiency is not lowered.

By the way, as in the above-described embodiment, two channels are formed in the endoscope, and each channel is divided into a channel for cleaning agent and dry air and a channel for fluorescent agent and luminescent agent. In comparison with the case where the cleaning agent, the dry air, the fluorescent agent and the luminescent agent are sent to one channel, the fluorescent agent generated by mixing the cleaning agent with the fluorescent agent and the luminescent agent and sending the dry air, Since it is possible to eliminate evaporation of the luminescent agent, it is possible to observe scratches and cracks without deteriorating the efficacy of the fluorescent agent.

Further, an endoscope can be constructed as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in the figure, the endoscope 99
In order to independently provide a channel for sending a medicine for cleaning, a channel for sending a dry air, and a channel for sending a fluorescent agent and a color developing agent, the endoscope operation section 3 is provided. Cleaning port 91,
A blower port 92 and a fluorescent agent port 93 are provided, and a cleaning opening portion 94, a blower opening portion 95, and a fluorescent agent opening portion 96 are formed on the distal end surface 23a of the endoscope distal end portion, and tubes are connected to connect the tubes. Forming a channel.

The endoscope 99 shown in the figure is an optical endoscope, and an eyepiece portion 97 is provided behind the operating portion 3. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Further, tubes of appropriate lengths are extended from the respective channel openings 91, 92, 93, and a connection mouthpiece is provided at the tips of these tubes.

The operation of the endoscope 99 configured as described above will be described. First, the fluorescent agent filling member 2 of the endoscope 99
25 is visually observed to confirm whether or not ultraviolet light is emitted. Confirm that no ultraviolet light is emitted,
Ordinary illumination light (visible light) is emitted from the illumination optical system 25 to insert the insertion portion 2 into the observation target, and the distal end tip surface 23a of the insertion portion 2 is brought close to the test portion and is displayed on the monitor. The inspection is performed by observing the image of the test site.

Then, when a portion that is thought to have cracks, cracks, scratches, etc. is found, a cleaning agent is sprayed from the cleaning port 91 and sprayed on the observation target area for cleaning. Next, the compressed dry air is jetted to the blower port 92 and jetted to the observation target area to remove the cleaning agent for cleaning.

Next, the fluorescent agent is sprayed from the fluorescent agent port 93 to spray the fluorescent agent on the observation target area. Then, while the fluorescent agent penetrates into the cracked or cracked portion of the observation area, the fluorescent agent adheres to the entire surface without scratches or cracks. Here, a cleaning agent is sprayed from the cleaning port 91 to clean the fluorescent agent, and the observation target area is cleaned. Then, the fluorescent material sprayed on the entire surface of the observation area without scratches or cracks is cleaned, and only the fluorescent agent that has penetrated into the scratches or cracks remains. Here, when the coloring agent is further sprayed from the fluorescent agent port 93, the coloring agent is sprayed on the observation target area, and the fluorescent agent and the coloring agent remaining after penetrating the scratches or cracks in the observation target area react.

Finally, when the light beam emitted from the illumination optical system 25 is switched from the illumination light to the ultraviolet light and the observation area is irradiated with the ultraviolet light, only the portion where the fluorescent agent and the color former react with each other emits light. The location and size of the wound can be observed.

By dividing the cleaning agent channel, the dry air channel, and the fluorescent agent and color former channels into separate channels for blowing dry air, the agent is ready for observation. It can be dried to eliminate clogging in the channel,
The drug can be sent stably at any time.

Further, since the tube with the connection mouthpiece is extended from each channel opening provided in the operation portion, the connection mouthpiece can be connected with the medicine container in a predetermined position.

[0043]

According to the present invention, an endoscope is provided which enables an endoscope user to confirm that ultraviolet light is emitted without preparing an ultraviolet light check member or an ultraviolet light quantity meter. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the distal end surface of the endoscope insertion portion.

3 is an AOB cross-sectional view of the tip portion shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the AOC shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the illumination optical system.

6 is a sectional view of the illumination optical system shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a modified example of the embodiment.

8 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope operation section according to the application example of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an endoscope having a plurality of channels.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the tip end surface of the endoscope tip portion shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 25 ... Illumination optical system 25b, 125, 225 ... Notification means (fluorescent agent filling member) 30 ... Fluorescent substance (fluorescent agent)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope for performing inspection by selectively emitting either visible light or ultraviolet light from an illumination optical system, wherein a fluorescent substance that emits visible light when ultraviolet light is transmitted is used. An endoscope comprising a filled notification means.