JP2006122464A - Rigid endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

【Task】
Rigid endoscope system incorporating a lock mechanism in a bayonet mount that enables locking and unlocking of an imaging device of a rigid endoscope without using an additional part such as a lever operated from the outside.
A mount base 22 having an inner flange 22b at the tip is fixed so as to surround the rigid endoscope insertion portion 14a formed in the front of the photographing apparatus. A bayonet female portion 22c through which the bayonet claw 13c protruding in the radial direction from the eyepiece portion 13 passes is cut out in the inward flange 22b. Inside the mount base 22 is fixed a lock ring 21 in which a concave portion 21a in which the bayonet claw 13c engages in the axial direction is formed only in a portion that does not overlap with the bayonet female portion 22c. A leaf spring 23c for biasing the bayonet claw 13c toward the recess 21a is provided between the recess 21a and the inner flange 22b.
[Selection] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a rigid endoscope system used in the medical field and the industrial field.

  As is well known, a conventional rigid endoscope has a metal insertion tube into which an end is inserted into an inspection object, and an image of the inspection object from the distal end side to the proximal end side inside the insertion tube. The objective optical system and the relay optical system for transmitting the signal are incorporated. In addition, an eyepiece that holds an eyepiece that enables an enlarged observation of an image to be inspected transmitted by each of the optical systems is fixed to the proximal end of the insertion tube.

  In recent years, a rigid endoscope system in which an image to be inspected formed by an eyepiece of the rigid endoscope is photographed by an image sensor in the photographing apparatus and the photographed image is displayed on a monitor by mounting the rigid endoscope on the photographing apparatus. Is in practical use. In such a rigid endoscope system, as a method for connecting the rigid endoscope to the imaging device, for example, a so-called bayonet mount can be considered as disclosed in Patent Document 1 previously filed by the present applicant.

  By the way, in an interchangeable lens camera system in which a bayonet mount is generally used, as shown in Patent Document 2, a lock lever and this lock lever are provided on the main body side (corresponding to an imaging device in the above-described rigid endoscope system). And a concave portion that engages with the lock pin is provided on the lens side (corresponding to the rigid endoscope in the above-described rigid endoscope system), and the tip of the lock pin is engaged with the concave portion. This prevents the rotation of the lens (and therefore the lens will fall off), and allows the lens to rotate only when the lock lever is operated and the lock pin is positively removed from the recess (so the lens can be removed). A locking mechanism is incorporated.

If a lock mechanism using such a lock lever is incorporated in the rigid endoscope system, it is possible to prevent the possibility that the rigid endoscope is detached from the imaging apparatus during the examination. The prevention of rotation by the lock mechanism is called “lock”, and the fact that rotation is possible is called “unlock”.
JP 2004-173813 A JP-A-8-287316

  However, in order to incorporate such a mechanism, the outer diameter of the female mount (in the case of Patent Document 1, the photographing apparatus side mount) must be increased, and the number of parts also increases. It is not suitable for use in rigid endoscope systems that are required to be small and light. In addition, since a joint is inevitably generated in a portion where the lock lever is operated from the outside, it is difficult to adopt a photographing apparatus that is difficult to sterilize unlike a rigid endoscope from the viewpoint of preventing hospital infection.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a rigid endoscope system in which a lock mechanism that enables locking and unlocking of the imaging device of the rigid endoscope is incorporated in the bayonet mount without using an additional part such as a lever operated from the outside. And

  The rigid endoscope system according to the present invention devised to solve the above-described problems incorporates an objective optical system that forms an image based on light from a subject incident from the tip of the rigid endoscope system, and light that connects the images. A rigid endoscope system comprising: a rigid endoscope that emits from the proximal end thereof; and a photographing apparatus that captures the image while the proximal end of the rigid endoscope is detachably connected; A cylindrical joint portion forming an end, a large-diameter portion having an annular first mount surface facing a direction perpendicular to the axis of the connection portion at a level difference between the joint portion, and the parallel to the mount surface At least one bayonet claw projecting in a fan shape from the outer surface of the joint, and the photographing apparatus includes a main body in which an insertion port into which the joint is inserted is formed, and the joint at the insertion port. Of the inserted rigid endoscope An annular inner flange having a notch through which the bayonet claw is allowed to pass in a part in the circumferential direction and an end surface of which is formed as a second mount surface that comes into contact with the first mount surface; A space is formed between the inner flange and the inner flange by being positioned on the main body side, and the bayonet claws that have entered the space are engaged in a direction parallel to the axis of the insertion port to thereby form the first mount surface. And a bayonet claw that has entered a position where the recess overlaps with the recess in the space. And urging means for urging the cavities toward the recesses.

  According to such a configuration, when the joint portion of the rigid endoscope is inserted into the insertion port in the main body of the imaging apparatus, the direction of the bayonet claw of the rigid endoscope and the imaging apparatus are adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of the rigid endoscope with respect to the imaging apparatus. The bayonet claw can pass through the notch if it matches the direction of the notch of the inner flange. After the bayonet claws of the rigid endoscope have entered the space between the inner flange and the lock ring in this way, the bayonet claws of the rigid endoscope are photographed by adjusting the rotational position of the rigid endoscope with respect to the imaging device again. If the bayonet claw is urged by the urging means and is engaged with the recess, the first mount surface of the rigid mirror is the inner flange of the imaging device. It is possible to penetrate to a position where the second mount surface is abutted. Even in this position, the bayonet claw is biased by the biasing means, and this biasing force acts so that the first flange is pressed against the second flange. Thus, in a state where the bayonet claw is engaged with the recess while being urged by the urging means, the bayonet claw does not come off from the recess, so that the rotation of the rigid mirror with respect to the imaging device is restricted. On the other hand, when removing the rigid endoscope from the photographing apparatus, the operator pulls out the rigid endoscope from the photographing apparatus with a force stronger than the urging force by the urging means. Then, the bayonet claw is detached from the recess, so that the rigid mirror can be rotated with respect to the photographing apparatus. As a result, the bayonet claw can pass through the notch if the direction of the bayonet claw of the rigid endoscope matches the direction of the notch of the inner flange of the imaging device by adjusting the rotational position of the rigid endoscope with respect to the imaging device. Therefore, the joint portion of the rigid endoscope can be pulled out from the insertion port in the main body of the photographing unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if there is no additional part such as a lever that is operated from the outside, only the shape of the conventional bayonet mount can be changed, and the locking and unlocking of the rigid mirror imaging device can be performed. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the outer diameter of the female mount, an increase in the number of parts, and occurrence of a seam that is difficult to disinfect in the imaging apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Constitution)
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the rigid endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rigid endoscope 10 that is inserted into a body cavity of a patient through a trocar fitted in the abdominal wall of the patient, and a base of the rigid endoscope 10. The imaging device 14 is connected to an end (an eyepiece 13 (not shown)).

  2 is a perspective view of the rigid endoscope 10 constituting the rigid endoscope system 1, FIG. 3 is a side view of the rigid endoscope 10, and FIG. 4 shows the rigid endoscope 10 from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. It is a rear view when seen.

  The rigid endoscope 10 includes an insertion tube 11 having a long cylindrical shape to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, a cylindrical portion 12 as a large diameter portion having a cylindrical shape coaxially continuous with a proximal end of the insertion tube, It is comprised from the eyepiece part 13 as a junction part which has the cylindrical shape which follows the base end of this cylindrical part 12 coaxially.

  Although not shown in the drawing tube 11 and the cylindrical portion 12, an objective lens for forming an image based on light from a subject incident from the tip thereof and a number of relays for relaying the image The lens is held. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 12 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion tube 11, and illumination light irradiated from the distal end surface of the insertion tube 11 is introduced from an external light source device (not shown) from one place on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A flexible light guide 12a extends vertically.

  In the eyepiece 13, an eyepiece lens is held that emits light, which forms an image relayed by the rearmost relay lens, from its rear end. The outer diameter of the eyepiece portion 13 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 12.

  Three bayonet claws 13c, 13c, 13c projecting in the radial direction are formed to project at the position of the front side 1/4 of the eyepiece 13. Specifically, the shape of these three bayonet claws 13c, 13c, 13c is the same as the outer diameter of the eyepiece 13 from a fan shape having a radius larger than the outer diameter of the eyepiece 13 and an apex angle of about 45 °. The shape is equivalent to cutting out a sector having the same radius and the same apex angle. The three bayonet claws 13c, 13c, 13c are arranged at equal angular intervals of 120 ° along the circumferential direction.

  The step at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 12 and the eyepiece portion 13 forms a step surface (hereinafter referred to as “first mount surface 12b”) orthogonal to the central axis.

  Next, the imaging device 14 will be described. The imaging device 14 is a device that captures an image formed by the rigid endoscope 10, and has an imaging lens and an imaging element (not shown) built therein. A perspective view of the imaging device 14 is shown in FIG. 5, a front view is shown in FIG. 6, and a longitudinal section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. As shown in each of these figures, the imaging device 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a circular cross section having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the insertion portion 13b of the rigid endoscope 10 at the distal end surface. A rigid endoscope insertion portion (insertion opening) 14a is formed.

  A lock ring 21 is formed on the distal end surface of the housing (main body) of the imaging device 14 so as to surround the rigid endoscope insertion portion 14a on the distal end surface. A cylindrical mount base 22 is fixed so as to cover the lock ring 21 while being fixed. A spring ring 23 is disposed in the space between the lock ring 21 and the mount base 22. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the lock ring 21, the spring ring 23, and the mount base 22.

  The mount base 22 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the mount portion 13a of the rigid mirror 10 at the tip of a bottomed cylinder having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of each bayonet claw 13c of the rigid mirror 10. A shape in which a side flange 22b is provided, and three fan-shaped notches (hereinafter referred to as “bayonet female portions 22c, 22c, 22c”) are formed on the inner flange 22b at equal angular intervals (angular intervals of 120 degrees). have. These three bayonet female portions 22c, 22c, 22c are formed in substantially the same shape as the three bayonet claws 13c, 13c, 13c of the rigid endoscope 1, and are approximately the same size or slightly larger than these bayonet claws 13c. have. And the part left by these three bayonet female parts 22c, 22c, 22c in the inward flange 22b functions as what is called a bayonet inner nail | claw. The tip surface of the mount base 22 forms an annular surface (hereinafter referred to as “second mount surface 22e”) that faces in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the rigid endoscope insertion portion 14a.

  The lock ring 21 has three steps on the outer end surface of a flat cylinder having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the mount base 22 and the inner diameter of the rigid endoscope insertion portion 14a at three equiangular intervals. Thus, it has a shape cut discontinuously. That is, the portion of the mount base 22 that overlaps with the bayonet female portions 22c, 22c, and 22c is formed as an intermediate portion 21a, and the portion of the mount base 22 that overlaps with the bayonet inner claw is slightly recessed in the clockwise direction. 21b is formed, and the rest is formed as a convex portion 21c. The convex portion 21c prevents the bayonet claw 13c of the rigid endoscope 10 from rotating counterclockwise by a step formed between the concave portion 21b adjacent to the clockwise direction, and the inner flange 22b of the mount base 22 The spring ring 23 is sandwiched and fixed with the (bayonet inner claw). Therefore, the distance from the surface of the convex portion 21 c to the back surface of the inner flange 22 b of the mount base 22 matches the thickness of the spring ring 23. Moreover, the recessed part 21b is a part which accommodates the bayonet nail | claw 13c of the rigid endoscope 10 in a locked state. Accordingly, the distance from the surface of the recess 21b to the second mount surface 22e of the mount base 22 is longer than the distance from the first mount surface 12b of the rigid endoscope 10 to the rear end of the bayonet claw 13c. The intermediate portion 21a prevents rotation of the bayonet claw 13c accommodated in the concave portion 21b in the clockwise direction by a step formed between the concave portions 21b adjacent in the counterclockwise direction and between the spring ring 23 and the intermediate portion 21a. It has a function of allowing movement of the bayonet claw 13c between the recess 21b through the formed gap. Accordingly, the distance from the surface of the intermediate portion 21a to the second mount surface 22e of the mount base 22 is shorter than the distance from the first mount surface 12b of the rigid endoscope 10 to the front end of the bayonet claw 13c, and the surface of the intermediate portion 21a. The distance from the back surface of the inner flange 22b of the mount base 22 is longer than the sum of the thickness of the spring ring 23 and the thickness of the bayonet claw 13c.

  The inner edge of the spring ring 23 is formed in an annular shape that is substantially the same as the inner edge of the inner flange 22b of the mount base 22 when viewed in the axial direction. Specifically, three notches 23a, 23a, 23a having the same shape and the same size as the bayonet female portion 22c are equiangular at 120 ° along the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral edge of the annular metal plate. It is formed at intervals.

Further, in the portion of the spring ring 23 sandwiched between the notches 23a, 23a, 23a (the portion overlapping the bayonet inner claws), a substantially L-shaped cut (in the radial direction from the substantial center of the edge on the shaft side). In addition to being cut, the cuts formed by cutting in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9 before reaching the outer peripheral edge) 23b, 23b, 23b are formed, and the piece surrounded by these cuts 23b is "" It is comprised as leaf | plate springs 23c, 23c, and 23c by bend | folding in a letter-shape. Each of the leaf springs 23c, 23c, and 23c is close to the inner flange 22b on the side close to each bayonet female portion 22c and is inclined so as to be close to the lock ring 21 on the other side. Enters the recess 21 b of the lock ring 21. Further, the portions left between the notches 23b, 23b, 23b and the notches 23a, 23a, 23a on the side opposite to the leaf springs 23c, 23c, 23c (counterclockwise side) of the lock ring 21 This is a portion that is sandwiched between the convex portions 21 c, 21 c, 21 c and the mount base 22.
(Installation procedure)
Hereinafter, an operation when the rigid endoscope 10 is attached to the imaging apparatus 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15, and an operation when the rigid endoscope 10 is detached from the imaging apparatus 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18. . 11A to 18A are perspective views of the rigid endoscope 10 and the imaging device 14 in each state. However, in order to facilitate understanding, FIGS. 12A to 15A are used. The tip side is omitted from the line AA shown in FIG. 19, and only the eyepiece 13 is shown. Further, in FIG. 13A to FIG. 15A, the mount base 22 is not shown. Moreover, (b) in FIGS. 11 to 18 shows a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 6 in each state.

  First, when the operator attaches the rigid endoscope 10 to the photographing apparatus 14, as shown in FIG. 11, the eyepiece part 13 of the rigid endoscope 10 and the rigid endoscope insertion part 14a of the photographing apparatus 14 are aligned coaxially. At the same time, the direction of the former bayonet claw 13 c is matched with the direction of the bayonet female portion 22 c of the mount base 22.

  Next, the operator moves the rigid endoscope 10 toward the rigid endoscope insertion portion 14a, inserts the former eyepiece 13 into the latter as shown in FIG. 12, and further, as shown in FIG. The former bayonet claws 13 c are passed through the bayonet female portions 22 c of the mount base 22, and the bayonet claws 13 c are substantially in contact with the surfaces of the intermediate portions 21 a of the lock ring 21. At this time, the first mount surface 12 b of the rigid endoscope 10 is separated from the second mount surface 22 e of the mount base 22.

  Next, the operator rotates the rigid endoscope 10 counterclockwise with respect to the imaging device 14 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), each bayonet claw 13c slides on the surface of the intermediate portion 21a in the lock ring 21, and each plate spring 23c of the spring ring 23 resists its elasticity to form a flat plate shape. While being deformed, it passes through the gap between the step with the recess 21b and the spring ring 23, and finally enters the space between the recess 21b and the mount base 22 (claw in the bayonet).

  In this state, when the operator removes the force applied to the rigid endoscope 10, the bayonet claws 13c are moved into the lock ring 21 by the elastic force accumulated in the leaf springs 23c as shown in FIG. It is pushed into the recess 21b. However, since the first mount surface 12b of the rigid endoscope 10 contacts the second mount surface 22e of the mount base 22 before each bayonet claw 13c contacts the surface of each recess 21b, the elasticity of each leaf spring 23c. Is applied as a pressing force of the first mount surface 12b to the second mount surface 22e. Therefore, the rigid endoscope 10 is firmly fixed to the photographing apparatus 14, and even if a slight bending moment is applied to the rigid endoscope 10, the rigid endoscope 10 does not tilt with respect to the photographing apparatus 14. In this state, as shown in FIG. 15B, each bayonet claw 13c enters the recess 21b. Therefore, in this state, the movement of the bayonet claw 13c in the counterclockwise direction is restricted by contacting a step formed between the concave portion 21b and the convex portion 21c, and the movement in the clockwise direction is inhibited by the concave portion 21b. And the intermediate portion 21a is restricted by contacting with a step formed between the intermediate portion 21a and the rigid endoscope 10 with respect to the imaging device 14 even if a force in the rotational direction is applied to the rigid endoscope 10. Therefore, the bayonet claws 13c do not move to the space on the intermediate portion 21a and fall off from the bayonet female portion 22c.

  When the operator removes the rigid endoscope 10 from the imaging device 14 after using the rigid endoscope system 1, the rigid endoscope 10 is pulled out from the imaging device 14 in the axial direction as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, each bayonet claw 13c deforms each leaf spring 23c of the spring ring 23 into a flat plate shape against its elasticity, and its rear end face is more forward than the surface of the intermediate portion 21a. Move to the position.

  Therefore, the operator rotates the rigid endoscope 10 clockwise as shown in FIG. 17A without weakening the pulling direction force applied to the rigid endoscope 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, each bayonet claw 13c passes through the gap between the edge of the intermediate portion 21a and the concave portion 21b and the spring ring 23, and comes out into the space on the intermediate portion 21a.

  From this state, when the operator pulls out the rigid endoscope in the axial direction, each bayonet claw 13c passes through each bayonet female portion 22c of the mount base 22, as shown in FIG. 14a can be extracted.

In general, since the surface of the insertion tube of the rigid endoscope is configured smoothly, no force is generated in the direction of pulling out the rigid endoscope from the imaging apparatus when the rigid endoscope is pulled out from the inspection target. Therefore, there is no possibility that the lock is released by pulling out the rigid endoscope from the inspection object.
(Effect of embodiment)
According to the present embodiment described above, the plate spring 23c installed on the inner surface of the bayonet inner claw of the mount base 22 is urged in the axial direction on the end face of the lock ring 22 forming the bottom surface of the internal space covered by the mount base 22. A recess 22a is formed in which the bayonet claw 13c can enter to a position where the first mount surface 12b contacts the second mount surface 22e, and rotation of the bayonet claw 13c is prevented by engaging each recess 22a. Is done. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a complicated mechanism such as a lock lever that is operated from the outside so as to create a joint on the outer surface of the photographing apparatus 14. Therefore, the rigid endoscope 10 is securely attached to the imaging device 14 without causing the risk of nosocomial infection caused by an increase in the number of parts, resulting in an increase in weight, an enlargement of the mount base 22, and pathogenic substances entering the seam. The former can be prevented from falling off from the latter, and the rigid endoscope 10 can be unlocked from the photographing device 14 to easily remove the former from the latter.

The perspective view of the rigid endoscope system of this embodiment Perspective view of rigid endoscope Side view of rigid endoscope Rear view of rigid endoscope viewed from the direction of arrow IV in Fig. 3 Perspective view of the photographing device Front view of the photographing apparatus viewed from the direction of arrow VI in FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the photographing apparatus along the line VII-VII in FIG. Exploded view of the mount on the camera Front view of spring ring Spring ring perspective view Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device Explanatory drawing of operation at the time of attachment and detachment of rigid mirror to imaging device The figure which shows the position of the cross section of the rigid endoscope in Fig.12 (a) thru | or 15 (a)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rigid endoscope system 10 Rigid endoscope 12b 1st mount surface 13 Eyepiece part 13c Bayonet claw 14 Imaging device 14a Rigid mirror insertion part 21 Lock ring 21a Middle part 21b Recess 22 Mount base 22b Inner flange 22c Bayonet female part 22e 2nd mount Surface 23 Spring ring 23c Leaf spring

Claims (4)

Built-in objective optical system that forms the image based on the light from the subject incident from the tip, and a rigid mirror that emits the light connecting the image from the base end, and the base end of the rigid mirror is attached and detached A rigid endoscope system comprising a photographing device that is freely connected and captures the image,
The rigid endoscope is
A cylindrical joint forming the base end;
A large-diameter portion having an annular first mount surface facing the direction perpendicular to the axis of the connection portion at the step with the joint portion;
Having at least one bayonet claw protruding in a fan shape from the outer surface of the joint in parallel with the mount surface;
The imaging device
A main body formed with an insertion port into which the joint is inserted;
A notch that allows the bayonet claw of the rigid endoscope to pass through when the joint portion is inserted into the insertion port is formed in a part in the circumferential direction, and an end surface thereof is formed as a second mount surface that comes into contact with the first mount surface. An annular inner flange,
A space is formed between the inner flange and the inner flange by being positioned on the main body side with respect to the inner flange, and the bayonet claw that has entered the space is engaged from a direction parallel to the axis of the insertion port. And a lock ring in which a recess that penetrates to a position where the first mount surface comes into contact with the second mount surface is formed only in a portion that does not overlap the notch on the end surface;
A rigid endoscope system comprising biasing means for biasing the bayonet claw that has entered the space overlapping with the concave portion toward the concave portion. The biasing means is a leaf spring that is inclined so as to be close to the inner flange on the side close to the notch and close to the lock ring on the side close to the recess. The rigid endoscope system according to 1. The rigid endoscope has a plurality of bayonet claws,
2. The rigid endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the photographing apparatus includes the notch, the concave portion, and the biasing unit corresponding to each of the bayonet claws. The rigid endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the inner flange is formed at a tip of a cylinder fixed to the main body so as to surround the lock ring.