JP2010046282A - Endoscope distal end tip, endoscope and endoscopic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope distal end tip, an endoscope, and an endoscopic system, capable of relieving the pain of a patient when the endoscope is inserted by miniaturizing (reducing the diameter of) an insertion part flexible tube inserted into the body cavity, and capable of changing the color (wavelength) of the illumination light by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope distal end tip 300 is used to be attached to the distal end (a hard part 230) of the insertion part flexible tube 200 of the endoscope 100 to be inserted into a lumen. The endoscope distal end tip 300 includes an illumination means 800 for irradiating a region to be observed with the illumination light; a light receiving part for receiving at least part of the reflection light reflected on the region to be observed; and a through hole 312 communicating with a treatment instrument insertion hole 232 formed in the insertion part flexible tube 200 when attached to the insertion part flexible tube 200. The illumination means 800 has organic EL elements 810 and 820 on the surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope tip, an endoscope, and an endoscope system.

  Endoscopes can be used to observe organs in the body cavity by inserting the elongated insertion part of the endoscope into the body cavity, and to perform various treatments using treatment tools inserted into the insertion channel of the treatment tool as necessary. It is widely used in the medical field and the like.

  In such an endoscope, illumination light for observing an organ is irradiated from the tip of the bending portion. As a configuration for generating irradiation light, for example, a configuration using a light guide fiber bundle (optical fiber bundle) or a configuration using an LED (for example, see Patent Document 1) is known.

  In the endoscope described in Patent Document 1, an LED is arranged inside the outer cylinder (insertion portion) and at the tip thereof. However, in such a configuration, since the LED is incorporated in the outer cylinder (insertion portion), this LED is used as another LED having different characteristics (for example, brightness, irradiation angle, color (wavelength), etc.). It cannot be exchanged and therefore the characteristics cannot be changed. For this reason, the endoscope of Reference 1 cannot appropriately select illumination light according to the purpose of observation. Further, the LED has a low degree of freedom in designing the shape and the like, and when the LED is arranged, an extra space is generated around the LED, which leads to an increase in the size of the outer cylinder (insertion portion).

  As described above, in the endoscope of Reference Example 1, illumination light according to the purpose of observation cannot be obtained as appropriate, and the insertion portion cannot be reduced in size (smaller diameter).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-160637

  An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope tip chip, an endoscope, and an endoscope system that are small in size and can obtain illumination light according to the purpose of observation.

The object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (15) below.
(1) An endoscope tip chip used by being attached to a distal end portion of an insertion portion flexible tube to be inserted into a lumen provided in an endoscope,
An illumination means for irradiating the observation site with illumination light;
A light receiving unit that receives at least a part of the reflected light reflected by the observation site;
A through hole communicating with the treatment instrument insertion hole formed in the insertion portion flexible tube when mounted on the insertion portion flexible tube;
End tip for endoscope, wherein the illuminating means has at least one surface light source provided on the surface.

  Thereby, it is possible to provide a tip for endoscope which is small and can obtain illumination light in accordance with the purpose of observation.

(2) The endoscope tip chip according to (1), wherein the surface light source is an EL element.
Thereby, size reduction (especially thickness reduction) of a surface light source can be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the endoscope tip. Further, the EL element has a high degree of freedom in design, and it is easy to make the shape in plan view a desired shape. Therefore, the space of the endoscope tip can be effectively utilized.

  (3) The illuminating unit includes, as the at least one surface light source, the tip surface arrangement surface light source provided on the tip surface so as to exclude the light receiving portion and the through hole. End tip for endoscope as described in 2).

  Thereby, the space of the distal end surface of the distal end tip for endoscope can be effectively utilized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the distal tip for an endoscope while ensuring a sufficient installation area of the distal surface arranging surface light source. That is, it is possible to reduce the size of the endoscope distal tip while ensuring that a sufficient amount of light is obtained to illuminate the observation site.

(4) The distal end tip for an endoscope according to (3), wherein the distal end surface arrangement surface light source has a portion provided along an edge of the distal end surface.
Thereby, the space of the distal end surface of the distal end tip for endoscope can be effectively utilized.

(5) When the area excluding the light receiving portion and the through hole on the tip surface is S, the area of the tip surface arrangement surface light source satisfies the range of (3) or 1.0S or 1.0S End tip for endoscope according to (4).
Thereby, the space of the tip for endoscope can be effectively used.

(6) The distal tip for an endoscope according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the light receiving unit is an objective lens system.
Thereby, the light reflected by the observation site can be received more efficiently.

(7) The distal tip for an endoscope according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the distal end surface is configured by a curved convex surface.
Thereby, the area illuminated by the illumination means can be widened.

  (8) The through-hole is provided on the tip surface side and has a tapered portion whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the tip surface, and the illumination unit is provided in the tapered portion as the at least one surface light source. The distal tip for an endoscope according to any one of the above (1) to (7), which includes the tapered portion-arranged surface light source.

  Thereby, since the inner surface (inner wall) space of the through hole can be effectively used as a light source installation place, the space of the endoscope tip can be further effectively used.

  (9) The endoscope tip chip according to (8), wherein the tapered portion arrangement surface light source is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the tapered portion.

  Thereby, the area of the light source for the tapered portion arrangement surface is increased, and a wider range can be illuminated.

  (10) The endoscope tip chip according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the illuminating unit includes a side surface-mounted surface light source provided on a side surface as the at least one surface light source. .

  Thereby, the area | region which can be illuminated with an illumination means becomes wide, and an observation site | part can be illuminated over a wide range.

(11) The distal end tip for an endoscope according to (10), wherein the side surface arranged surface light source is provided along a circumferential direction of the side surface.
Thereby, the irradiation area | region of illumination light becomes wider.

  (12) The device according to any one of (1) to (11), further including a positioning unit that determines a position around the axis of the insertion portion flexible tube with respect to a distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube. Endoscope tip for endoscope.

  Accordingly, when the distal tip for endoscope is attached to the insertion portion flexible tube, the relative positional relationship between these can be surely set to a desired positional relationship. Mounting to the flexible tube is easy.

(13) The inner surface according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein a terminal for supplying electric power to the surface light source by being electrically connected to the insertion portion flexible tube is provided on a base end surface. End tip for endoscope.
Thereby, the electrode supply to a surface light source becomes easy.

  (14) An endoscope having the endoscope distal tip according to any one of (1) to (13).

  Thereby, the endoscope which can obtain the illumination light according to the objective of observation small in size can be provided.

(15) the endoscope according to (14),
An endoscope system having an external device to which the endoscope is connected.

  Thereby, it is possible to provide an endoscope system including an endoscope that is small and can obtain illumination light according to the purpose of observation.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes, an endoscope, and an endoscope system which can select suitably the illumination light according to the objective of observation small in size can be provided. By attaching and using such a distal tip for an endoscope at the distal end of the flexible tube at the insertion portion of the endoscope, it is possible to reduce discomfort given to the patient during insertion of the endoscope and Illumination light according to the purpose (for example, color (wavelength) of illumination light, irradiation region, brightness, etc.) can be easily obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an endoscope tip chip, an endoscope, and an endoscope system of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following, the case where the endoscope of the present invention is applied to a medical endoscope, particularly, an electronic endoscope (electronic scope) will be described.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of an electronic endoscope, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a distal end portion (rigid portion) of an insertion portion flexible tube provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the endoscope tip chip provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the endoscope tip chip shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an endoscope tip. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope mounted on the endoscope, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a region of illumination light emitted from the endoscope distal tip, and FIG. 7 is an organic EL provided in the endoscope distal tip. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting means for mounting the endoscope tip to the endoscope, and FIG. 9 illustrates a procedure for mounting the endoscope tip. It is a figure for doing. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in FIG. 1 will be described as “base end” and the lower side will be described as “tip”. Moreover, in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, for the sake of convenience of explanation, illustration of a part of the rigidity (mounting means) is omitted.

  An endoscope system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an external device 900, an electronic endoscope 100 that is used by being connected to the external device 900 (hereinafter simply referred to as “endoscope 100”), and an external device via a cable 910. And a monitor device 920 connected to the device 900.

  The endoscope 100 includes a flexible insertion portion flexible tube 200 having flexibility (flexibility), an endoscope distal tip 300 attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 200, and an insertion. An operation unit 400 connected to the proximal end of the flexible tube 200 and operated by the operator to operate the entire endoscope 100; a flexible connection tube 500 connected to the operation unit 400; It has a light source insertion portion 600 connected to the distal end portion of the flexible tube 500, an imaging means 700 for imaging the observation site, and an illumination means 800 for irradiating the observation site with illumination light. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the endoscope tip 300 is also simply referred to as “tip tip 300”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion flexible tube 200 includes a flexible tube portion 210 and a bendable bending portion 220 provided at the distal end portion of the flexible tube portion 210 from the base end side (the operation portion 400 side). And a rigid portion 230 provided at the tip of the bending portion. Such an insertion portion flexible tube 200 is used by being inserted into a body cavity (lumen) in a state where the distal tip 300 is attached to the rigid portion 230.

  The bending portion 220 is bent in four directions by operating the operation knobs 410 and 420 installed on the side surface of the operation portion 400. By bending the bending portion 220 in a predetermined direction, the rigid portion 230 and the distal end are bent. The direction of the chip 300 can be changed integrally.

  The hard portion 230 is made of, for example, a hard plastic material and has a substantially cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 2, two through holes 231 and 232 that penetrate in the axial direction are formed inside the hard portion 230. Inside the through-hole 231, an image sensor (a solid-state image sensor such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD) 710 is provided (fitted) with its light receiving surface facing the front end side.

  The image sensor 710 is provided in the light source insertion portion 600 by an image signal cable (not shown) continuously arranged in the insertion portion flexible tube 200, the operation portion 400, and the connection portion flexible tube 500. Connected to the image signal connector 610. The imaging element 710 constitutes an imaging unit 700 that images an observation site together with an objective lens system 720 described later.

  On the other hand, the through-hole 232 is a treatment instrument insertion hole (hereinafter, the through-hole 232 is also referred to as a “treatment instrument insertion hole 232”), and can be provided continuously in the flexible tube portion 210 and the bending portion 220. The treatment instrument insertion port 430 communicates with the flexible tube 240. A treatment instrument such as a forceps, a catheter, or a guide wire is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion hole 232 from the treatment instrument insertion port 430.

Next, the tip 300 used by being attached to the hard part 230 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tip 300 has a cylindrical shape. In addition, the outer diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the rigid portion 230. Thereby, in a state where the distal tip 300 is mounted on the rigid portion 230, the boundary portion between the distal tip 300 and the rigid portion 230 becomes a continuous surface without a step, and the insertion portion flexible tube 200 is placed in the body cavity (lumen). The discomfort experienced by the patient during insertion can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 4, two through holes 311 and 312 that penetrate the distal end surface 301 and the proximal end surface 302 are formed inside the distal end tip 300, and the distal end surface 301 of the distal end tip 300 is formed. The organic EL elements 810 and 820 are provided on the side surface 303 and the side surface 303, respectively. The organic EL elements 810 and 820 constitute an illumination unit 800 that irradiates the observation site with illumination light.

  An objective lens system 720 is provided (inserted) inside the through hole 311 of the two through holes 311 and 312. The objective lens system 720 constitutes a light receiving unit that receives at least a part of the reflected light reflected by the observation site.

  In the present embodiment, as described later, the position (posture) of the distal tip 300 with respect to the rigid portion 230 when the distal tip 300 is attached to the rigid portion 230 is determined, and when the distal tip 300 is attached to the rigid portion 230. These two through holes 311 and 312 are surely communicated with the through holes 231 and 232 of the rigid portion 230, respectively.

  In other words, when the tip 300 is attached to the hard part 230, the through hole 311 and the through hole 231 communicate with each other, and the through hole 312 and the through hole 232 communicate with each other as shown in FIG. As a result, the objective lens system 720 and the image sensor 710 face each other, and the reflected light reflected by the observation site enters the objective lens system 720 and is guided to the light receiving surface of the image sensor 710. Further, the treatment instrument inserted in the treatment instrument insertion hole 232 can be protruded from the distal end surface 301 of the distal tip 300 through the through hole 312.

  In order to make the movement of the treatment instrument within the treatment instrument insertion hole 232 and the through hole 312 smooth, the boundary between the through hole 312 and the treatment instrument insertion hole 232 is formed of a continuous surface without a step. It is preferable to do. Thereby, the treatment tool is prevented from being caught in the treatment tool insertion hole 232 and the through hole 312, and the movement of the treatment tool as described above can be performed smoothly.

Such a tip 300 is made of, for example, a hard plastic material.
The organic EL element (tip surface arrangement surface light source) 810 provided on the tip surface 301 has a sheet shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, such an organic EL element 810 is configured so as to exclude the objective lens system 720 and the through hole 312, that is, the region other than the objective lens system 720 and the through hole 312 on the tip surface 301. It is provided over almost the whole area. In other words, the organic EL element 710 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the objective lens system 720, and is also provided so as to surround the periphery of the through hole 312, and further along the edge of the tip surface 301. It has a formed edge.

  By making the shape of the organic EL element 810 in this way, the space of the tip chip 300 (tip surface 301) can be used effectively, and the size (area) of the organic EL element 810 is sufficiently secured (that is, The tip tip 300 can be reduced in diameter (downsized) while ensuring a sufficient amount of light to irradiate the observation site.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the tip surface 301 is provided over almost the entire region other than the objective lens system 720 and the through hole 312. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the objective of the tip surface 301 of the tip chip 300 is provided. When the area excluding the lens system 720 and the through hole 312 is S, the area of the organic EL element 810 (area in plan view) preferably satisfies the range of 0.4S to 1.0S, 0.7S It is more preferable to satisfy the range of -1.0S. As a result, the organic EL element 810 is provided in most of the region excluding the objective lens system 720 and the through hole 312 on the tip surface 301, and a sufficient amount of illumination light can be secured.

  On the other hand, the organic EL element (side arrangement surface light source) 820 provided on the side surface 303 has a sheet shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the organic EL element 820 is provided over the entire circumference of the tip chip 300. In addition, the width is also substantially equal to the length of the tip 300 (length in the axial direction). That is, the organic EL element 820 is provided over almost the entire side surface 303 of the tip chip 300.

  Such an organic EL element 820 can be formed by, for example, bending a sheet-like organic EL element along the outer periphery of the side surface 303. Since the organic EL element 820 has flexibility as will be described later, the organic EL element 820 has excellent followability to the curved side surface 303 and can be disposed on the side surface 303 relatively easily.

  According to such an organic EL element 820, it is possible to further illuminate the periphery of the irradiation region of the organic EL element 810. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently illuminate the observation site and its surroundings. Therefore, the imaging part 700 can easily image the observation site. In particular, in this embodiment, since the organic EL element 820 is provided over the entire side surface 303, the observation site and its surroundings can be illuminated more efficiently.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the organic EL element 820 is provided such that a part of the light irradiation region Q2 intersects the light irradiation region Q1 of the organic EL element 810 (the light irradiation region Q2 and the light irradiation region). A region where Q1 intersects is indicated by Q3 in FIG. 6). Thereby, the observation site and its surroundings can be illuminated in a wide range and sufficiently brightly by the organic EL elements 810 and 820.

  The arrangement and shape of the organic EL elements 810 and 820 have been described above. The colors (light emission colors) of illumination light generated from these organic EL elements 810 and 820 may be the same or different. Moreover, it does not specifically limit as a color (wavelength) of illumination light, White, red, blue, green, yellow etc. are mentioned.

  For example, when the illumination light is white, the mucosal surface can be clearly observed with a natural color, and when the illumination light is blue (wavelength of about 410 nm), the capillaries on the surface of the mucosa are emphasized. The capillary blood vessel can be clearly observed, and the illumination light is green (wavelength of about 540 nm), so that the relatively thick blood vessel in the deep mucosa is emphasized and the relatively thick blood vessel can be clearly observed. It becomes like this.

  Such organic EL elements 810 and 820 have the following configuration, for example. The configurations of the organic EL elements 810 and 820 are not limited to those shown below. Since the organic EL elements 810 and 820 have the same configuration, the organic EL element 810 will be described as a representative, and the description of the organic EL element 820 will be omitted.

  The organic EL element 810 has a configuration (bottom emission type) in which light (illumination light) is extracted from the substrate 811 side described later. The configuration of the organic EL element 810 is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration (top emission type) in which light is extracted from the cathode 814 side described later may be used.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the organic EL element 810 is provided on the substrate 811, the anode 812 provided on the substrate 811, the organic EL layer 813 provided on the anode 812, and the organic EL layer 813. A cathode 814 and a protective layer 815 provided so as to cover the layers 812, 813, and 814 are provided.

  The organic EL layer 813 includes a hole transport layer 813a, a light emitting layer 813b, and an electron transport layer 813c, which are formed on the anode 812 in this order.

  The substrate 811 serves as a support for the organic EL element 810, and the layers are formed on the substrate 811. The substrate 811 may be either hard or soft (having flexibility). Here, it is preferable to use a flexible substrate for the organic EL element 820 that needs to be curved.

  The constituent material of the substrate 811 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include various resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, and polyarylate, and various glass materials. Species or a combination of two or more can be used.

  The anode 812 is an electrode that injects holes into the organic EL layer 813 (hole transport layer 813a). The anode 812 is substantially transparent (colorless transparent, colored transparent, translucent) so that light emission from the organic EL layer 813 can be visually recognized.

Examples of such an anode material include ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), SnO ₂ , Sb-containing SnO ₂ , oxides such as Al-containing ZnO, Au, Pt, Ag, Cu or alloys containing these, and the like. One or more of these can be used in combination.

  The cathode 814 is an electrode that injects electrons into the organic EL layer 813 (electron transport layer 813c). Examples of such a cathode material include Ag, Cu, Al, and alloys containing these, and one or more of these can be used in combination.

  The hole transport layer 813a of the organic EL layer 813 has a function of transporting holes injected from the anode 812 to the light emitting layer 813b.

  Examples of the constituent material (hole transport material) of the hole transport layer 813a include arylcycloalkane compounds, arylamine compounds, phenylenediamine compounds, carbazole compounds, stilbene compounds, oxazole compounds, triphenylmethane. System compounds and the like.

  The electron transport layer 813c of the organic EL layer 813 has a function of transporting electrons injected from the cathode 814 to the light emitting layer 813b.

  Examples of the constituent material (electron transport material) of the electron transport layer 813c include benzene compounds (starburst compounds), naphthalene compounds, phenanthrene compounds, chrysene compounds, perylene compounds, anthracene compounds, and the like. .

  When energization (voltage is applied) between the anode 812 and the cathode 814, holes move in the hole transport layer 813a and electrons move in the electron transport layer 813c. Will recombine. In the light emitting layer 813b, excitons (excitons) are generated by the energy released during the recombination, and energy (fluorescence or phosphorescence) is emitted (emitted) when the excitons return to the ground state.

  As a constituent material (light emitting material) of the light emitting layer 813b, holes can be injected from the anode 812 side when electrons are applied, and electrons can be injected from the cathode 814 side, thereby providing a field where holes and electrons recombine. Any thing can be used as long as it is possible.

  Examples of the luminescent material include low-molecular luminescent materials such as benzene compounds, naphthalene compounds, phenanthrene compounds, chrysene compounds, polyacetylene compounds, polythiophene compounds, polyfluorene compounds, polyparaphenylene compounds, and the like. Such a polymer light-emitting material. These can be appropriately selected according to the required emission color.

The protective layer 815 is provided so as to cover the layers 812, 813, and 814 constituting the organic EL element 810. The protective layer 815 has a function of hermetically sealing the layers 812, 813, and 814 constituting the organic EL element 810 and blocking oxygen and moisture.
The organic EL elements 810 and 820 included in the illumination unit 800 have been described in detail above.

  The organic EL element is a light source that has a high degree of freedom in design and can obtain a desired shape (planar shape) relatively easily. Therefore, by using an organic EL element as a light source, a relatively complicated shape as in this embodiment can be easily obtained. In addition, since the organic EL element hardly generates heat, the tip chip 300 does not reach a high temperature, and the patient can be prevented from being burned.

  In addition, for example, when an LED is used as a light source as in the prior art, a diffusion lens for diffusing light generated by the LED is required, and it is necessary to secure a space for disposing the diffusion lens. . However, according to the organic EL element, since such a diffusing lens or the like is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced, leading to miniaturization of the tip chip.

  Next, a mounting means for mounting the distal tip 300 to the rigid portion 230 will be described.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the distal end surface 233 of the rigid portion 230, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing the proximal end surface 302 of the distal end chip 300. As shown in FIG. 8A, a plurality of grooves 234 to 239 are provided along the circumferential direction on the edge (outer peripheral portion) of the distal end surface 233 of the rigid portion 230. These six grooves 234 to 239 are provided asymmetrically with respect to the center of the front end surface 233. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, six projections (connector pins) 331 to 336 that engage with the grooves 234 to 239 are formed on the proximal end surface 302 of the distal tip 300.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the groove 234 has an “L” shape bent inside the rigid portion 230. More specifically, the groove 234 opens to the distal end surface 233 and communicates with the axially extending portion 234a extending in the axial direction of the rigid portion 230 and the axially extending portion 234a, and the circumferential direction of the distal end surface 233 And a circumferentially extending portion 234b extending in the direction. Further, a curved convex portion 234c protruding inward is formed on the side surface of the circumferentially extending portion 234b. Since the grooves 235 to 239 have the same configuration as the groove 234, the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 9, only the groove 234 is illustrated for convenience of explanation, and the illustration of the grooves 235 to 239 is omitted. The same applies to the protrusions 331 to 336.

  Further, the protrusion 331 has an “L” shape bent in the middle. More specifically, the protrusion 331 extends from the proximal end surface 302 and extends in the axial direction of the distal tip 300, and extends from the distal end of the axially extending portion 331 a. And a circumferentially extending portion 331b extending in the direction. Moreover, the curved recessed part 331c which dents inside is formed in the side surface of the circumferential direction extension part 331b.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the protrusions 331 to 336 are inserted into the corresponding grooves 234 to 239, and the tip 300 is moved in the axial direction with respect to the hard portion 230, As shown in b), the tip 300 is attached and fixed to the rigid portion 230 by sliding in the circumferential direction. At this time, since the curved concave portions provided in the protrusions 331 to 336 engage with the curved convex portions provided in the grooves 234 to 239, the distal tip 300 is firmly fixed by the hard portion 230.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 331 to 336 are provided asymmetrically with respect to the center of the base end surface 302 so as to correspond to the grooves 234 to 239. Therefore, the tip 300 can be attached to the rigid portion 230 only in a predetermined (one) posture set in advance. Therefore, as described above, when the distal tip 300 is attached to the rigid portion 230, the through holes 311 and 312 of the distal tip 300 and the through holes 231 and 232 of the rigid portion 230 can be reliably communicated. From this, it can be said that the protrusions 331 to 336 constitute positioning means for determining the position around the axis of the rigid portion 230 of the tip 300.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 331 and 332 function as terminals for supplying power to the organic EL element 810, and the protrusions 333 and 334 also function as terminals for supplying electrodes to the organic EL element 820. . Specifically, the protrusions 331 and 332 are respectively connected to the anode 812 and the cathode 814 of the organic EL element 810 by conductors (not shown), and the protrusions 333 and 334 are respectively anodes of the organic EL element 820 by conductors (not shown). And connected to the cathode.

  Also, in the grooves 234 to 237 corresponding to the protrusions 331 to 336, terminals that are electrically connected to the protrusions 331 to 336, respectively, are disposed when the tip chip 300 is mounted, and these terminals are inserted respectively. Connected to the light source connector 620 provided in the light source insertion portion 600 by wiring (not shown) continuously arranged in the inner portion flexible tube 200, the operation portion 400, and the connecting portion flexible tube 500. Has been.

  In the present embodiment, the case where each of the groove and the protrusion is provided is described. However, the number of the groove and the protrusion is not particularly limited, and may be five or less, or seven. It may be the above. Further, which of the six protrusions 331 to 336 is used as the terminal as described above is not particularly limited, and for example, the function of all the terminals may be covered by one protrusion 331.

Such an endoscope 100 operates as follows.
First, select the tip tip according to the purpose of observation from a plurality of tip tips with different shapes, colors (wavelengths) of illumination light, brightness, illumination range, etc., and select the tip tips as described above. And attached to the endoscope 100 (rigid portion 230). Next, the image signal connector 610 and the light source connector 620 of the endoscope 100 are each connected to the external device 900. Next, a voltage is applied from the external device 900 to the organic EL elements 810 and 820, and illumination light is emitted from the organic EL elements 810 and 820. The illuminated illumination light is reflected at the observation site and becomes reflected light that forms a subject image. Part of this reflected light enters the objective lens system 720 and is guided to the light receiving surface of the image sensor 710.

  The image sensor 710 receives the reflected light guided to the light receiving surface. As a result, a subject image is captured. An image signal (CCD signal) corresponding to the captured subject image is output from the image sensor 710. This image signal is input to a control unit (not shown) and subjected to predetermined signal processing. The image signal subjected to this processing is input to the external device 900 via the image signal connector 610.

  The input image signal is converted into a predetermined television signal by the external device 900. Such a television signal is input to the monitor device 920 via the cable 910, and an endoscope monitor image such as a moving image or a still image of the subject imaged by the image sensor 710 is displayed on a screen (not shown) of the monitor device 920. Is displayed.

  For example, the operation unit 400 may be provided with a changeover switch that switches ON / OFF of energization to the organic EL element 820. Thereby, the organic EL element 820 can emit light only when necessary.

  According to the endoscope system 1 (endoscope 100) as described above, a plurality of tip tips (for example, the tip tip of the present embodiment, a second to be described later) having different characteristics (irradiation area, color of illumination light, etc.). The tip according to the third embodiment) can be selected according to the purpose of observation (imaging), and for example, even during surgery, the tip used is different in characteristics. It can be easily replaced with another tip. Therefore, illumination light according to the purpose of observation can be easily obtained.

  In addition, for example, even when the performance (for example, the light amount) of the organic EL elements 810 and 820 is deteriorated with time, it is only necessary to replace the tip with a new tip. 1 running cost is reduced.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the endoscope system of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the distal tip provided in the endoscope system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the endoscope system according to the second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the endoscope system according to the first embodiment described above, and description of similar matters will be omitted. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment.

  The endoscope system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the endoscope system of the first embodiment described above except that the configuration of the tip is different.

In the tip chip 300 of the present embodiment, the tip surface 301 has a curved convex surface, and the organic EL element 810 is also curved in a convex shape so as to follow the tip surface 301. By forming the tip chip 300 in such a shape, the irradiation area by the organic EL element 810 becomes wider as compared with the first embodiment, for example.
Also according to the second embodiment, the same operations and effects as the first embodiment are obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the endoscope system of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the distal tip provided in the endoscope system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the endoscope system according to the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the endoscope system according to the first embodiment described above, and description of similar matters will be omitted. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment.

  The endoscope system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the endoscope system of the first embodiment described above except that the configuration of the tip is different.

  In the tip chip 300 of the present embodiment, the through hole 312 has a tapered portion 312a whose outer diameter gradually increases toward the tip surface 301 on the tip side (tip surface 301). An EL element (taper portion arrangement surface light source) 830 is provided.

  Although it does not specifically limit as angle (theta) (inclination with respect to the axis | shaft of the front-end | tip tip 300) of the taper part 312a, It is preferable that it is about 5-45 degrees, and it is more preferable that it is about 10-40 degrees. Thereby, an observation part can be illuminated more effectively.

The organic EL element 830 is provided over the entire circumference of the tapered portion 312a. Thereby, an observation part can be illuminated more effectively. Such an organic EL element 830 constitutes the illumination unit 800.
Also according to the third embodiment, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on suitable embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, each part constituting the endoscope system (endoscope) of the present invention can be replaced with any one that exhibits the same function, or other configurations can be added. Moreover, you may combine each embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where an organic EL element is used as the surface light source included in the illumination unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an inorganic EL element may be used. In addition, as in the first and second embodiments described above, when the illumination unit has a plurality of EL elements, some of them may be organic EL elements and others may be inorganic EL elements. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the tip surface arrangement surface light source and the side surface arrangement surface light source are provided as separate bodies. However, they may be integrally formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, as a mounting means for mounting the tip to the hard part, the tip is provided with a plurality of protrusions bent in an L-shape and provided on the hard part, and is engaged with each protrusion. However, conversely, a plurality of protrusions may be provided on the hard tip and a plurality of grooves may be provided on the tip, or each of the tip and the hard portion may be one or more. And may have one or more grooves.

  Further, the configuration of the mounting means is not particularly limited, and for example, the mounting means is configured by linear protrusions extending in the axial direction of the tip and a plurality of linear grooves engaging with the protrusions. Alternatively, the tip may be attached and fixed to the hard part by screwing.

  Further, in addition to the mounting means as described above, for example, after covering the boundary between the tip and the hard part, the heat shrinkable tube is covered, and then the heat shrinkable tube is contracted by heating, and the contraction force causes the tip and the tip to be attached. You may be comprised so that a rigid part may be fixed auxiliary.

1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of an electronic endoscope. It is an expanded sectional view of the front-end | tip part (hard part) of the insertion part flexible tube with which the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an endoscope tip chip provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing of the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the state with which the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes was mounted | worn with the endoscope. It is a figure which shows the area | region of the illumination light irradiated from the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the organic EL element with which the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes is provided. It is a perspective view explaining the mounting means for mounting | wearing the endoscope front-end | tip tip to an endoscope. It is a figure for demonstrating the mounting | wearing procedure of the front-end | tip tip for endoscopes. It is a perspective view of the front-end | tip chip | tip with which the endoscope system concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention is provided. It is sectional drawing of the front-end | tip tip with which the endoscope system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention is provided.

Explanation of symbols

1 Endoscope system 100 Electronic endoscope (endoscope)
200 Insertion section flexible tube 210 Flexible tube section 220 Bending section 230 Hard section 231 Through hole 232 Through hole (treatment instrument insertion hole)
233 Tip surface 234 to 239 Groove 234a Axial extension portion 234b Circumferential extension portion 234c Curved convex portion 240 Flexible tube 300 Tip tip for endoscope 301 Tip surface 302 Base end surface 303 Side surface 311, 312 Part 331-336 Protrusion (connector pin)
331a Axial extension portion 331b Circumferential extension portion 331c Curved concave portion 400 Operation portion 410 Operation knob 420 Operation knob 430 Treatment instrument insertion port 500 Connection portion flexible tube 600 Light source insertion portion 610 Image signal connector 620 Light source connector 700 Imaging means 710 Imaging element 720 Objective lens system 800 Illumination means 810 Organic EL element (tip surface arrangement surface light source)
820 Organic EL element (Side light source on the side)
830 Organic EL element (tapered surface light source)
811 Substrate 812 Anode 813 Organic EL layer 813a Hole transport layer 813b Light emitting layer 813c Electron transport layer 814 Cathode 815 Protective layer 900 External device (light source processor)
910 cable 920 monitor device

Claims (15)

End tip for endoscope used by being attached to the distal end portion of an insertion portion flexible tube to be inserted into a lumen provided in an endoscope,
An illumination means for irradiating the observation site with illumination light;
A light receiving unit that receives at least a part of the reflected light reflected by the observation site;
A through hole communicating with the treatment instrument insertion hole formed in the insertion portion flexible tube when mounted on the insertion portion flexible tube;
End tip for endoscope, wherein the illuminating means has at least one surface light source provided on the surface.   The endoscope tip according to claim 1, wherein the surface light source is an EL element.   3. The inner surface according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit has a tip surface arrangement surface light source provided on a tip surface so as to exclude the light receiving portion and the through hole as the at least one surface light source. End tip for endoscope.   The distal tip for an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the distal end surface arrangement surface light source has a portion provided along an edge portion of the distal end surface.   The area of the said front end surface arrangement surface light source satisfies the range of 0.4S-1.0S, when S is the area except the said light-receiving part and the said through-hole of the said front end surface. End tip for endoscope.   The endoscope tip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light receiving unit is an objective lens system.   The distal tip for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the distal end surface is configured by a curved convex surface.   The through-hole is provided on the tip surface side and has a tapered portion whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the tip surface, and the illumination means is a taper provided in the taper portion as the at least one surface light source. The distal end tip for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a partial arrangement surface light source.   The distal end tip for an endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the tapered portion arrangement surface light source is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the tapered portion.   The endoscope tip according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the illuminating unit includes a side surface-mounted surface light source provided on a side surface as the at least one surface light source.   The distal end tip for an endoscope according to claim 10, wherein the side surface arranged surface light source is provided along a circumferential direction of the side surface.   The endoscope distal end according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising positioning means for determining a position around an axis of the insertion portion flexible tube with respect to a distal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube. Chip.   The distal end tip for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a terminal on the base end face for supplying electric power to the surface light source by being electrically connected to the insertion portion flexible tube.   An endoscope having the tip for endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The endoscope according to claim 14,
An endoscope system having an external device to which the endoscope is connected.

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