JPH10286227A - Endoscopic image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily finely set the flexibility of a bending preventing tube and provide a bending property by providing the bending preventing tube integrally having an elastic member of a material different from the material of the tube in the inner part. SOLUTION: In a TV camera rear end part 24, a bending preventing tube 26 consisting of an elastic material is engagingly locked to a camera housing rear end part 25, and in the inner part of the bending preventing tube 26, a plurality of thin elastic bars 27 as elastic members are arranged so as to cover a cable 3 and integrally formed. The elastic material forming the bending preventing tube 26 is highly flexible, compared with the built-in elastic bars 27, and the bending property as bending prevention depends on the elastic bars 27. Either one of material and diameter of the elastic bars 27 is changed, whereby the bending property of the whole bending preventing tube 26 can be regulated and changed, and a bending preventing tube 26 having an optimum flexibility according to using state can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device for an endoscope which is connected to an endoscope and captures an observation image obtained by the endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical device capable of observing, diagnosing, or treating a diseased part in a body cavity without incision by using a treatment tool by inserting an elongated insertion part into the body cavity from the mouth or the like. Endoscopes are widely used. As a method of observing an endoscope image in this type of endoscope, besides directly observing the endoscope eyepiece provided on the hand side directly with the naked eye, the endoscope eyepiece is attached to the endoscope eyepiece. There is a method of attaching to an imaging device for use and observing it on a monitor.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-138397,
JP-A-7-100101 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-1459.
The endoscope imaging device shown in No. 85 includes a camera head unit having a built-in image sensor that converts an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece unit into an electric signal, and a rear end portion of the camera head unit. A camera controller is connected to the extending electric cable via a camera connector, processes an electric signal obtained by the camera head, and outputs the processed signal to a monitor as a video signal.

[0004] Usually, one end of the electrical cable is provided at the rear end of the camera connector and the camera head where the electrical cable extends.
Dispersion of the stress is achieved by using an elastic rubber member (generally a break prevention) so that a large stress does not act on the point and the internal signal line is disconnected.

[0005]

However, since the conventional buckling prevention tube has a structure in which the wall thickness increases toward the base end, the tubing becomes hard and hard to bend when the wall thickness exceeds a certain level. The effect is lost. In addition, flexibility varies greatly depending on rubber hardness,
If the hardness is too low, the base end of the armor becomes a fulcrum and the stress concentrates on the cable. If the hardness is too high, the break prevention itself becomes the fulcrum of the concentration of the stress, and it is very difficult to adjust the rubber hardness.

[0006] In particular, in the medical field, the use of the endoscope imaging apparatus greatly differs depending on the applied technique, the magnitude of the force applied to the cable varies, and it is necessary to use a folding stopper having appropriate flexibility. It is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope that can easily and finely set the flexibility of a buckling prevention tube and can obtain appropriate flexibility. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device for use.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a flexible long member connected to a portion to be mounted, wherein a flexible tube is fitted to a connection base end of the member. In the imaging device for an endoscope, the buckling prevention tube includes:
An elastic member made of a material different from the material of the tube is provided in the inside thereof, and the flexibility of the buckling prevention portion can be easily changed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is an overall external view of an endoscope system.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a rigid endoscope as an optical endoscope having an objective lens built therein. A TV camera 2 having a solid-state imaging device is connected to a base end of the rigid endoscope 1. A connector section 4 is connected to the TV camera 2 via an electric cable 3, and a video signal obtained from an image pickup device of the TV camera 2 is connected to the receptacle 7 of the front section 6 of the control device 5 by the connector section 4. Is to be transmitted.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a light source device for supplying illumination light to the rigid endoscope 1, and a connector 11 at a distal end of a light guide cable 10 connected to a base 9 at a base end of the rigid endoscope 1.
Is connected to the receptacle 12 of the light source device 8 so that the illumination light is transmitted to the distal end of the rigid endoscope 1.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the TV camera 2. A solid-state image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 22 is provided inside a camera housing 21.
A harness 23 for transmitting a video signal extends from the back surface of the cable 22. These harnesses 23 are bundled and extend as one cable 3 from a rear end 24 of the TV camera. The rear end portion 24 of the TV camera has a rear end portion 25 of a camera housing in which a buckling tube 26 made of an elastic material is locked, and the buckling tube 26 has a plurality of elastic rods 27 as an elastic member therein. 3 are arranged in an annular shape so as to cover them. This buckling prevention tube 26
The elastic material that forms
The elastic bar 2 is larger than
7

As described above, by changing either the material or the diameter of the elastic bar member 27, the overall flexibility of the buckling prevention tube 26 can be adjusted and changed, and the optimum flexibility according to the use condition can be improved. It can be a buckling prevention tube 26.

FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment, and shows the internal structure of the TV camera 2. The internal configuration of the camera housing 21 is the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the inner peripheral surface of the buckling prevention tube 31 locked to the camera housing rear end 25 of the rear end 24 of the TV camera 2. Cable 3
A coil-shaped elastic member 32 is fixed so as to cover.

As described above, by changing any one of the number of windings in addition to the material and diameter of the coil-shaped elastic member 32, the overall flexibility of the tube 26 can be adjusted and changed.
FIG. 4 shows the third embodiment, and shows the internal structure of the TV camera 2. The internal configuration of the camera housing 21 is the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the inner peripheral surface of the anti-folding tube 41 which is locked to the camera housing rear end 25 of the rear end 24 of the TV camera 2. A plurality of coil-shaped elastic members 42 are fixed in the radial direction around the cable 3.

As described above, by changing any one of the number of turns in addition to the material and diameter of the plurality of coil-shaped elastic members 42, the overall flexibility of the buckling prevention tube 41 can be adjusted and changed.

FIG. 5 shows the fourth embodiment, and shows the internal structure of the TV camera 2. Although the internal configuration of the camera housing 21 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the present embodiment uses a shape memory member 51 as an elastic member. A coil-shaped shape memory member 51 is fitted and fixed on the outer periphery of the cable 3, and the first end 52 of the shape memory member 51 is fixed.
A ring-shaped first contact member 53 fitted on the outer periphery of the cable 3 is installed so as to be able to conduct electricity with the shape memory member 51. On the other hand, the second end 54 of the shape memory member is
Is connected to the heating circuit 56 through the
Is connected to a ring-shaped second contact member 59 fixed to the inner peripheral surface 58 of the camera housing. Heating circuit 5
Power is supplied from a CCU (camera control unit) (not shown) via a harness 60 to operate the power supply 6.

When the cable 3 is bent, the shape memory member 5
1 also deforms. Cable 3 when bent over a certain amount
The first contact member 53 fixed to the first contact member comes into contact with the second contact member 59, and the first contact member 53, the second contact member 59, the heating circuit 56, and the shape memory member 51 are all connected and energized. The energized shape memory member 51 is heated, and the shape memory member 51 urges a force in a direction opposite to a force to return to the original shape and to be bent.

As described above, by changing the wire diameter and the number of turns of the shape memory member 51, the flexibility of the cable 3 at the rear end of the TV camera 2 can be adjusted. In this embodiment, the coil-shaped shape memory member is fixed to the outer periphery of the cable. However, as in the first embodiment, a rod-shaped shape memory member may be used. A high effect can also be obtained by incorporating it inside.

FIG. 6 shows the fifth embodiment, and shows the internal structure of the connector section 4. The break prevention tube 26 described in the first embodiment is used for the connector portion 4. A plug unit 63 having contact pins 62 is fixed inside the connector housing 61. A harness 64 is assembled to the contact pins 62, and signals from the TV camera 2 are sent to the CCU via these. Have been. A buckle 26 is locked to the rear end 65 of the connector housing, and the buckle 26 has a plurality of elastic bars 2 inside.
7 is provided so as to cover the cable 3.

It should be noted that the same high effects can be obtained by providing the main components described in the second to fourth embodiments in the connector portion 4 as in the fifth embodiment. According to the above-described embodiment, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 1) In an endoscope imaging apparatus in which a buckling tube is fitted to a connection base end of a flexible long member connected to a mounting portion, the buckling tube is An imaging device for an endoscope, comprising an elastic member of a material different from a material of a tube inside.

(Supplementary Note 2) The imaging device for an endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the buckling prevention tube is harder than the elastic member. (Supplementary Note 3) The imaging device for an endoscope according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the elastic member is a rod-shaped member having a small diameter, and is formed integrally with the buckling tube.

(Supplementary note 4) The endoscope imaging apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the elastic member is a spring member formed in a coil shape, and is formed integrally with the buckling tube.

(Supplementary Note 5) In an endoscope imaging apparatus in which a flexible long member extends from a hard exterior part,
An imaging device for an endoscope, comprising: a shape memory member arranged near the long member; a circuit for heating the shape memory member; and switch means for connecting the heating circuit.

(Supplementary Note 6) The shape memory member is a spring member formed in a coil shape, and is fitted and fixed on the outer periphery of the flexible long member and / or inside the long member. The imaging device for an endoscope according to the above.

(Supplementary note 7) The endoscope according to supplementary note 5, wherein the shape memory member is a plurality of rod-shaped members, and is disposed on the outer periphery of the flexible long member and / or inside the long member. Imaging device.

According to the constitutions described in the appendices 1 to 7, the problem that it is difficult to obtain appropriate flexibility although it has the breaking prevention effect of the prior art is solved, and it is possible to use various techniques using different methods of using the apparatus. Also, appropriate flexibility can be easily provided.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing an elastic member of a material different from the material of the tube inside the tube, the flexibility of the tube can be easily and finely set. , Suitable bending properties can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an entire endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an internal structure of the TV camera according to the embodiment;
(A) is a vertical side view, (b) is a cross-sectional view along the line AA.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing the internal structure of a TV camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B show an internal structure of a TV camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a longitudinal side view, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view along line BB.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing the internal structure of a TV camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view showing an internal structure of a connector section according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hard endoscope 2 ... TV camera 3 ... Cable 26 ... Bend prevention tube 27 ... Elastic bar (elastic member)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jin Kimura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Tanizawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope imaging apparatus in which a buckle tube is fitted to a connection base end of a flexible long member connected to a mounting portion, wherein the buckle tube is provided inside the endoscope imaging device. An imaging device for an endoscope, comprising an elastic member made of a material different from a material of a tube.