JP2004065512A - Connector structure of electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of a connector part of an electronic endoscope which prevents deformation of an outer casing. <P>SOLUTION: In the structure of the connector part which is provided at the fore end part of a universal tube extended from an operating part of the electronic endoscope and which is fitted removably to a video processor, a shielding case which incorporates an electronic circuit connected to a signal transmission cable passed through the universal tube and the outer casing which holds housed cases including the shielding case and is made of a synthetic resin are provided. A stopper rib which prevents deformation of the outer casing is formed inside the outer casing, in contact with the housed cases. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to a connector structure of an electronic endoscope.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
The electronic endoscope is provided with a connector section detachably attached to a separate processor at a distal end of a universal tube extended from an operation section. A signal transmission cable for transmitting an image signal from a CCD (imaging means) to the processor, a light guide for transmitting light emitted from a light source unit in the processor to the distal end of the insertion portion, and the like are inserted through the connector portion. Covered by casing. This outer casing is generally formed of a synthetic resin material. Conventionally, the distal end portion of the universal tube is connected to the connection portion of the outer casing, and the connection portion is tightened with a nut, thereby fixing the universal tube and the connector portion.
[0003]
However, if the universal tube and the connector are fixed only by the fastening force of the nut (fastening force in the thrust direction) as in the conventional case, the outer casing is easily deformed when an external force is applied in the radial direction, This deformation causes problems such as water leakage.
[0004]
[Object of the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector portion structure of an electronic endoscope that can prevent deformation of an outer casing.
[0005]
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is provided at a distal end portion of a universal tube extended from an operation section of an electronic endoscope, and in a connector section structure detachable from a processor, the connector section structure is connected to a signal transmission cable inserted into the universal tube. A shield case containing an electronic circuit built therein; and an outer casing made of a synthetic resin that houses the built-in case including the shield case. The inner casing of the outer casing is brought into contact with the built-in case to prevent deformation of the outer casing. It is characterized in that a stopper rib for prevention is formed.
[0006]
According to the above structure, since the outer rib is restrained from being bent by the stopper rib, the outer casing is less likely to be deformed even when an external force is applied to the outer casing from the radial direction. Can be. It is preferable that a large number of the stopper ribs are formed at predetermined intervals. The formation position (interval, direction) of the stopper rib is appropriately set according to the direction and magnitude of the external force applied to the outer casing.
[0007]
Specifically, the outer casing preferably has a rectangular section having a narrow portion and a wide portion, and a stopper rib is preferably formed on the inner surface of the wide portion. The wide portion of the rectangular section is a gripping portion that is gripped when the processor is attached to and detached from the processor. Generally, it is considered that a large external force is applied to the grip portion of the connector portion when the connector portion is attached to and detached from the processor. Therefore, it is preferable to form a stopper rib on the inner surface of the outer casing serving as the grip portion. Of course, it is also possible to form a stopper rib on the entire inner surface of the outer casing. It is practical that the shield case is made of metal.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic endoscope 1 to which the present invention has been applied. The electronic endoscope 1 has a flexible insertion section 2, a base operation section 3, a universal tube 4 extended from the operation section 3, and a connector section 5 provided at a distal end of the universal tube 4. It can be attached to and detached from the processor 6 via the connector unit 5. The insertion unit 2 is provided with a CCD 7 for electronically converting an image of the distal end of the insertion unit by the objective optical system. After being transmitted to the processor 6 via the cable 27, the image is processed by the processor 6 and displayed on the TV monitor 8. An illumination window is arranged at the distal end of the insertion section. The illumination window is illuminated from a light source in the processor 6 through a connector section 5 and a light guide passing through the universal tube 4, the operation section 3 and the insertion section 2. Light is sent. The operation unit 3 is provided with a large number of operation switches, and each operation switch information is transmitted to the processor 6 via the operation unit 3, the universal tube 4, and the remote cable 28 inserted into the connector unit 5. Between the insertion section 2 and the operation section 3, there is provided a treatment instrument insertion projection 9 for inserting the treatment instrument into the distal end of the insertion section.
[0009]
The connector unit 5 includes a connection plug 10 connected to an electric system in the processor 6, a light guide insertion plug 11 connected to a light source in the processor 6, and a pressure equalizing unit for equalizing the pressure inside and outside the endoscope. An auxiliary water supply port 13 and an air supply / water supply port 14 which are respectively communicated with the pressure control valve 12 and the auxiliary water supply channel 24 and the air supply / water supply channel 25 (FIG. 2) inside the endoscope are protruded. On the surface opposite to the surface on which the sub water supply port 13 and the air supply / water supply port 14 are formed, the suction port 15 communicating with the suction channel 26 (FIG. 2) inside the endoscope and the safety when using the high-frequency treatment instrument are provided. A feedback terminal 16 is provided to secure the terminal. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector section 5.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2, the connector section 5 has an outer casing 17 made of a synthetic resin forming an outer shell, and a built-in case 18 located inside the outer casing 17. The outer casing 17 is a casing divided into a front case and a back case. The outer casing 17 has, in addition to the connection openings for attaching the connection plug 10, the light guide insertion plug 11, the pressure regulating valve 12, the sub water supply port 13, the air supply / water supply port 14, the suction port 15, and the return terminal 16, respectively. A connection opening 19 for receiving the universal tube 4 is formed, and a hollow cylindrical connection ring 20 protrudes from the connection opening 19. The connecting ring 20 connects the universal tube 4 and the built-in case 18, and has a front end attached to the universal tube 4 and a rear end fixed to the built-in case 18. A groove 20a is formed on the outer circumference of the connecting ring 20, and the front and rear cases of the outer casing 17 are fastened by screwing a fastening nut 21 into the groove 20a, so that the universal tube 4 and the connector 5 are connected. Fixed.
[0011]
The built-in case 18 is a metal case, and includes a channel case 22 to which the connecting ring 20 is fixed, and a shield case 23 connected to the channel case 22. The sub-water supply channel 24, the air / water supply channel 25, the suction channel 26, the CCD cable 27, and the remote cable 28 extending from the universal tube 4 are inserted through the channel case 22 through the connection ring 20. The sub water supply channel 24, the air supply water supply channel 25, and the suction channel 26 are connected to the sub water supply port 13 fixed to the channel case 22 through the first, second, and third relay conduits 29, 30, 31, respectively. The air supply port 14 and the suction port 15 communicate with each other. The CCD cable 27 and the remote cable 28 are further inserted from the channel case 22 into the shield case 23. The shield case 23 contains a magnetic core 32 having an electromagnetic noise removing function, a holding substrate 33 for holding the magnetic core 32, an electronic circuit board 34 electrically connected to the connection plug 10, and the like. After the cable 27 and the remote cable 28 are inserted into the insertion holes 32 a of the magnetic core 32, they are connected to the electronic circuit board 34.
[0012]
A feature of the present embodiment is that a stopper rib 35 that contacts the built-in case 18 is formed on the inner surface of the outer casing 17. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outer casing 17.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer casing 17 has a rectangular section having a wide portion 17a extending in the vertical direction and a narrow portion 17b extending in the horizontal direction, and is provided at a predetermined interval on the inner surface of the wide portion 17a. A large number of the stopper ribs 35 are formed. The rectangular section is a portion to be gripped when the connector section 5 is attached to and detached from the processor 6, and the shield case 23 is located in the rectangular section. Each stopper rib 35 is in vertical contact with the shield case 23 and functions as a column of the outer casing 17. That is, when an external force is applied to the outer casing 17, the bending of the outer casing 17 is suppressed by strongly contacting the stopper ribs 35 with the metallic shield case 23. As a result, the deformation of the outer casing 17 can be prevented, and the adverse effects such as water leakage due to the deformation of the outer casing 17 can be eliminated.
[0014]
As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, but the connector structure of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the stopper rib can be formed on the entire inner surface of the outer casing. Further, the member that makes the stopper rib abut is not limited to the shield case, but may be any metal component (hard component) provided in the outer casing.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a connector portion structure of an electronic endoscope that can prevent deformation of the outer casing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an electronic endoscope to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector section shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope 2 Insertion part 3 Operation part 4 Universal tube 5 Connector part 6 Processor 7 CCD
Reference Signs List 8 TV monitor 9 Treatment tool insertion protrusion 10 Connection plug 11 Light guide insertion plug 12 Pressure regulating valve 13 Sub-water supply port 14 Air supply / water supply port 15 Suction port 16 Return terminal 17 Outer casing 17a Wide section 17b Narrow section 18 Built-in case 19 Connection opening 20 Connection ring 20a Groove 21 Fastening nut 22 Channel case 23 Shield case 24 Secondary water supply channel 25 Air supply / water supply channel 26 Suction channel 27 CCD cable 28 Remote cable 29 First relay line 30 Second relay line 31 Third relay Pipe 32 Magnetic core 33 Holding board 34 Electronic circuit board 35 Stopper rib

Claims (3)

In the connector section structure provided at the distal end of the universal tube extended from the operation section of the electronic endoscope and attached to and detached from the processor,
A shield case containing an electronic circuit connected to the signal transmission cable inserted into the universal tube; and a synthetic resin outer casing for housing the built-in case including the shield case;
A connector portion structure for an electronic endoscope, wherein a stopper rib is formed on an inner surface of the outer casing to contact the built-in case to prevent deformation of the outer casing. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing has a rectangular section having a narrow portion and a wide portion, and a stopper rib is formed on an inner surface of the wide portion. Connector structure. 3. The connector part structure of an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shield case is made of metal.

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