JPS644086Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an endoscope in which the amount of illumination light can be adjusted on the hand side.

An endoscope is configured such that a light guide through which illumination light from a light source device is transmitted and an observation optical system are arranged in an insertion section inserted into a body cavity, and the body cavity is illuminated while observing or photographing. has been done. By the way, if the light amount of the light guide is constant, it will become dark when the observation site is far away, and on the other hand, it will become too bright when the observation site is close.
The endoscope is designed to be able to adjust the amount of illumination light. Generally, a flexible endoscope has a photometric element disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion as the illumination light amount adjustment device, and an automatic exposure device electrically connected to the photometric element built in the light source device. In addition, rigid endoscopes are
The light source device is provided with a light amount adjusting means for manually adjusting the amount of illumination light of the light guide.

However, with conventional endoscopes in which the light source device is equipped with a light amount adjustment means, there is no problem when an assistant in addition to the surgeon assists during observation and treatment, but when only one operator performs observation and treatment. When performing treatment, the means for adjusting the amount of illumination light is located on the light source device side away from the endoscope, so it is not possible to operate the light amount adjustment means while performing observation or treatment, and therefore, it is difficult to operate the light amount adjustment means each time when performing the light amount adjustment operation. There are problems in that observation and treatment are interrupted, observation and treatment require more time than necessary, and furthermore, observation and treatment are difficult.

This idea was made in view of the above points, and the light guide cable connected to the light source device and the light guide of the endoscope body have a
By providing the illumination light amount adjustment means, it is possible to adjust the light amount at the hand side of the endoscope, so even when only one operator performs observation and treatment, the light amount can be adjusted as before. There is no need to interrupt observation and treatment each time, which reduces the time required for observation and treatment.Furthermore, since the surgeon can adjust the light intensity while observing himself, the optimum light intensity can be obtained for observation without eye strain. The aim is to provide an endoscope with improved performance.

This invention will be specifically explained below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of this invention. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an endoscope, which consists of an operating section 2 and an insertion section 3, which are equipped with an observation optical system and a light guide 4, so that the inside of the body cavity can be observed while being illuminated. It is configured. The light guide 4 is inserted into the operating section 2 or the insertion section 3 from the side of the operating section 2, and a convex connector 6 is formed on the outer periphery of the light guide entrance end 5 of the operating section 2. This convex connector 6 has a concave connector 9 for a flexible light guide cable 8 connected to the light source device 7.
are removably fitted and connected, and the light guide output end 10 of the light guide cable 8 faces the light guide input end 5 so as to transmit the illumination light from the light source device 7 to the light guide 4 of the endoscope 1. It's getting old. An annular groove 11 is provided on the inner periphery of the concave connector 9.
is formed, and the quick spring 12 disposed in this groove 11 engages in the engagement groove 13 formed on the outer periphery of the convex connector 6, thereby firmly connecting both connectors 6 and 9. ing.

A gap 14 is formed at the connection site between the light guide entrance end 5 and the light guide output end 10, and a rotary diaphragm plate 15 is centered within this gap 14 about shafts 16, 16 protruding from both sides. The light guide 4 is rotatably disposed on the endoscope 1 and is configured to adjust the amount of illumination light transmitted to the light guide 4 on the endoscope 1 side. The shafts 16, 16 of the rotary aperture plate 15 are supported by the inner circumferential wall of the concave connector 9, and one of them protrudes to the outside, and a rotary operation knob 17 is formed in this protrusion.

In such a configuration, by rotating the operation knob 17 located on the proximal side of the endoscope 1 and rotating the aperture plate 15, the endoscope can be viewed from the light guide output end 10 on the light source device 7 side. The amount of illumination light transmitted to the light guide entrance end 5 on the mirror 1 side can be adjusted steplessly from a fully open state to a fully closed state as shown in FIG. Therefore, while observing the endoscope 1, the operator can rotate the operation knob 17 on the hand side to set the optimal illumination light amount for observation at any time.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, an opening 1 is provided in the gap 14 between the light guide entrance end 5 and the light guide exit end 10.
A diaphragm plate 19 having a diameter of 8 is disposed so as to be slidable left and right, and both ends of the diaphragm plate 19 protrude from the outer periphery of the connector 9, and this protrusion is used as a slide operation part, and the aperture plate 19 abuts against the inner wall in the fully open and fully closed states. Stopper 20 that regulates the slide and also serves as a stopper
protrudes from the side. In this configuration, the endoscope 1
The amount of illumination light can be adjusted by sliding the aperture plate 19 on the hand side to the left or right.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, a diaphragm plate 2 that is rotatable in the radial direction about a pivot point 21 is provided in a gap 14 between a light guide entrance end 5 and a light guide exit end 10.
2 is disposed, and the rotating side end protrudes from the outer periphery of the connector 9 to form an operating section 23. In this example,
A groove 24 is formed in the wall surface of the connector 9 over the range of rotation of the diaphragm plate 22, and light shielding measures are taken to prevent illumination light from leaking from the groove 24. With this configuration, the amount of illumination light can be adjusted by rotating the aperture plate 22 about the pivot point 21. In this embodiment, the aperture plate 2
2 may or may not be formed with a semicircular notch 25 as shown.

Furthermore, in this invention, the light amount adjusting member is not limited to the above embodiment, but may have various configurations such as aperture blades,
The arrangement location may be either on the light guide cable side or on the endoscope main body side.

As mentioned above, in this device, the light guide cable connected to the light source device is provided near the connection part with the light guide of the endoscope main body, so that the light amount adjustment means is installed on the endoscope's proximal side. Even when a single surgeon performs observation and treatment, the amount of light can be adjusted while observing the inside of the body cavity, eliminating the need to interrupt observation and treatment each time the amount of light is adjusted, as was the case in the past. The observation and treatment time can be shortened without any loss, and the amount of light can be adjusted by the operator himself while observing, which has the effect of providing the optimal amount of light for observation without eye strain.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the connection between the light guide cable and the endoscope body, and FIG. The figure is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion showing a third embodiment of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Endoscope, 2...Operation unit, 4...Light guide, 5...Light guide entrance end, 6...Connector, 7...Light source device, 8...Light guide cable, 9...Connector, 10... Light guide output end, 15, 19, 22... Diaphragm member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) An endoscope characterized in that an illumination light amount adjustment means is provided near the connection between the light guide cable connected to the light source device and the light guide of the endoscope body. . (2) The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light amount adjusting means is a diaphragm member that can be movably operated from the outside.