JP2015039568A - Light source device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which it is difficult to design a compact optical filter in a configuration not to dispose a condensing optical lens between the optical filter and a light guide.SOLUTION: A light source device for an endoscope comprises: a light source; a condensing optical system condensing light emitted from the light source; a holding part holding a light guide of the endoscope; a rotary turret in which a plurality of kinds of optical filters are arranged in a circumferential direction and which is disposed in a position close to the incident end of the light guide held by a holding member, near a condensing point by the condensing optical system; a casing storing the light source, the condensing optical system, the holding part and the rotary turret; a rotation drive part inserting one optical filter of the plurality of kinds of optical filters into an optical path of light by rotating the rotary turret, and provided outside the casing; and a drive transmission part transmitting rotation drive by the rotation drive part provided outside the casing to the rotary turret stored inside the casing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device that supplies light for irradiating a subject such as a lesion to an endoscope.

  An endoscope system for observing a subject such as a lesion is used in a medical field. The endoscope system includes an endoscope light source device that irradiates a body cavity that does not reach natural light through a light guide such as an electronic scope or a fiberscope. A specific configuration of this type of endoscope light source device is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  The endoscope light source device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a lamp, a filter mechanism, and a condensing optical system. In Patent Document 1, light emitted from a lamp passes through an optical filter (for example, a special light filter) provided on a rotating plate of a filter mechanism, enters a condensing optical system, and is collected by the condensing optical system. After being irradiated and incident on the incident end of the light guide of the endoscope, it is guided toward the subject.

JP 2001-190490 A

  Since the endoscope light source device described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which light having a large diameter (for example, parallel light) emitted from a lamp is directly passed through an optical filter, the optical filter is designed to have a large size (large area). There is a need. In order to make the optical filter small (small area), for example, a configuration in which a condensing lens is arranged between the lamp and the rotating plate and an optical filter is arranged in the vicinity of a condensing point by the condensing lens is adopted. Can be considered. According to this configuration, since the diameter of light when passing through the optical filter becomes small, the optical filter can be designed to be small. However, in this configuration, in order to make light incident on the incident end of the light guide of the endoscope, an optical lens group that condenses the diverging light after passing through the condensing point is disposed between the optical filter and the light guide. There is a need. The more optical lenses to be arranged, the more disadvantageous in terms of aberration, such as chromatic aberration, which is not desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical filter that does not require a concentrating optical lens to be disposed between the optical filter and the light guide. It is providing the light source device for endoscopes which can be designed small.

  An endoscope light source device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source, a condensing optical system that collects light emitted from the light source, a holding unit that holds a light guide of the endoscope, and a plurality of types of light sources. A rotary turret in which optical filters are arranged in the circumferential direction, the optical filter being arranged in the vicinity of the incident end of the light guide held by the holding member and in the vicinity of the condensing point by the condensing optical system; and a light source A housing housing the condensing optical system, the holding unit, and the rotary turret, and inserting one optical filter among a plurality of types of optical filters into the optical path of the light by rotating the rotary turret. And a drive transmission unit that transmits rotational driving by the rotational driving unit provided outside the housing to a rotary turret accommodated in the housing.

  According to this embodiment, since the optical filter is disposed in the vicinity of the condensing point by the condensing optical system, the diameter of light when passing through the optical filter is thin. Further, since the optical filter is disposed at a position close to the incident end of the light guide, the light condensed by the condensing optical system passes through the optical filter and then directly enters the incident end of the light guide. Therefore, the endoscope light source device according to the present embodiment has a configuration suitable for designing an optical filter in a small size even though the condensing optical lens is not disposed between the optical filter and the light guide. It has become. The position close to the incident end of the light guide is generally also a position close to the back side of the front surface of the housing. Various components including a circuit board for an operation unit provided on the front surface are attached to the back side of the front surface of the housing. Therefore, an empty space is limited at a position close to the back side of the front surface of the housing. Therefore, even if the optical filter (rotary turret) can be installed at a position close to the back side of the front surface, it is difficult to install even the drive mechanism (the drive circuit and the motor in Patent Document 1). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rotation drive unit is provided outside the housing instead of inside the housing. Thereby, the structure which accommodates a rotary turret rotatably in the position close | similar to the incident end of a light guide is implement | achieved.

  The drive transmission unit may have a configuration in which one end is connected to a bearing unit provided at the center of the rotary turret and a pinion gear attached to the other end of the shaft unit. In addition, the rotation drive unit may be configured to have an annular portion that is rotatably held outside the housing and has an inner peripheral surface formed with an internal gear that meshes with the pinion gear. In this configuration, the rotary turret rotates around the bearing portion by transmitting the rotation operation of the internal gear accompanying the rotation of the annular portion through the pinion gear and the shaft portion.

  In the endoscope light source device, a scale indicating each optical filter is attached to each of a plurality of predetermined angular positions on the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion, and one scale among the plurality of scales is positioned at a predetermined position. When the annular portion is rotated, the optical filter indicated by the one scale may be inserted into the optical path.

  The holding part may be configured to hold the middle part of the shaft part rotatably.

  In the endoscope light source device, the holding unit, the rotary turret, the rotation drive unit, and the drive transmission unit may form a detachable unit that is detachable from the housing.

  In the rotary turret, for example, one optical filter among a plurality of types of optical filters is an opening without the optical filter instead of the optical filter.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, an endoscope for which an optical filter can be designed in a small size while having a configuration that does not require a concentrating optical lens between an optical filter and a light guide. A light source device is provided.

1 is an external view of an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical connection unit of embodiment of this invention, and the light source device provided in the housing | casing. It is the side view and perspective view of the optical connection unit of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the optical connection unit of embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, an electronic endoscope system will be described as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Overall configuration of electronic endoscope system 1]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment includes an electronic scope 100 and a processor 200. The processor 200 is an apparatus that integrally includes a signal processing device that processes a signal from the electronic scope 100 and a light source device that irradiates a body cavity that does not reach natural light through the electronic scope 100. In another embodiment, the signal processing device and the light source device may be configured separately.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic scope 100 includes an insertion portion flexible tube 11 covered with a flexible sheath. The distal end portion (bent portion 14) of the insertion portion flexible tube 11 bends in response to a remote operation from the hand operation portion 13 connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion flexible tube 11. The bending mechanism is a well-known mechanism incorporated in a general endoscope, and bends the bending portion 14 by pulling the operation wire in conjunction with the rotation operation of the bending operation knob of the hand operation portion 13. The proximal end of the distal end portion 12 covered with a hard resin housing is connected to the distal end of the bending portion 14. When the direction of the distal end portion 12 changes according to the bending operation by the rotation operation of the bending operation knob, the imaging region by the electronic scope 100 moves. Moreover, the universal cable 15 is extended from the hand operation part 13, and the connector part 16 is connected to the base end.

  The connector portion 16 includes a connector case 16a formed of a hard synthetic resin. The connector case 16a is composed of a front side case and a back side case having a substantially symmetrical shape. The connector case 16a accommodates and holds various parts such as an electronic circuit board in a closed space defined by fitting the front side case and the back side case. Protects from impact. The connector case 16 a holds the electrical connection portion 17 and the optical connection portion 18.

  An electrical connection unit 23 and an optical connection unit 24 are held on the front panel 22 of the casing 21 of the processor 200. The electrical connection unit 23 is electrically connected to an image processing device built in the processor 200, and the optical connection unit 24 is optically connected to a light source device built in the processor 200.

  The electrical connection unit 23 has a connection structure corresponding to the electrical connection portion 17. Further, the optical connection unit 24 has a connection structure corresponding to the optical connection unit 18. By connecting the electrical connection unit 17 and the optical connection unit 18 to the electrical connection unit 23 and the optical connection unit 24, respectively, the electronic scope 100 and the processor 200 are electrically and optically connected.

[Configuration of Optical Connection Unit 24]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the light source device provided in the optical connection unit 24 and the housing 21. As shown in FIG. 2, a lamp 25, lenses 26 a to 26 c and a blade stop 27 are installed in the housing 21.

  The lamp 25 is a high-intensity lamp such as a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, or a metal halide lamp, and emits white light including at least a visible light region. As shown in FIG. 2, the irradiation light emitted from the lamp 25 is condensed by the lens 26a, and after passing through a blade stop 27 installed in the vicinity of the condensing point, is limited to an appropriate amount of light, Collimated by the lens 26b.

  FIG. 3A is a side view of the optical connection unit 24 alone. As shown in FIG. 3A, the optical connection unit 24 includes a base cap 241, an operation ring 242, a tip cap 243, and a rotary turret 244. FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the optical connection unit 24 when viewed from the tip cap 243 side. FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the optical connection unit 24 when viewed from the rotary turret 244 side. FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the optical connection unit 24 with the base cap portion 241 removed when viewed from the rotary turret 244 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B to 3D, the rotary turret 244 includes a plurality of types of optical filters 244a to 244d having different spectral characteristics, and equiangular intervals (90 °) in the circumferential direction. Are arranged side by side. The optical filters 244a to 244d have spectral characteristics suitable for capturing different spectral images, such as a blood vessel structure in the vicinity of the surface layer, a deep blood vessel structure, and a specific lesion. In order to irradiate the subject with normal white light, one of the optical filters 244a to 244d may be replaced with a simple opening (without an optical filter).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the irradiation light collimated by the lens 26b is collected by the lens 26c. By operating the optical connecting unit 24, the surgeon can insert one of the optical filters 244a to 244d into the irradiation light path near the condensing point by the lens 26c. The irradiation light condensed by the lens 26c is transmitted through an optical filter disposed in the vicinity of the condensing point.

  The optical connection portion 18 is provided with a light guide (LCB: Light Carrying Bundle) 19 (a chain line in FIG. 2). The optical connecting unit 24 holds the light guide 19 at a position where the incident end of the light guide 19 and the condensing point by the lens 26c are substantially coincident with each other. Therefore, the irradiation light that has passed through the optical filter is collected at the incident end position of the light guide 19 and is incident on the incident end. The irradiation light incident on the incident end propagates by repeating total reflection in the light guide 19. Irradiation light propagating through the light guide 19 is emitted from the exit end of the light guide 19 disposed in the distal end portion 12, and irradiates the subject through a light distribution lens (not shown).

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the optical filter is disposed in the vicinity of the condensing point by the lens 26c, the diameter of the irradiation light when passing through the optical filter is thin. Further, since the optical filter is disposed at a position close to the incident end of the light guide 19, the irradiation light collected by the lens 26 c passes through the optical filter and then directly enters the incident end of the light guide 19. Therefore, the processor 200 according to the present embodiment has a configuration suitable for designing the optical filter in a small size even though the condensing optical lens is not disposed between the optical filter and the light guide 19. .

  FIG. 4A is a side sectional view of the optical connection unit 24 alone. FIG.4 (b) is AA sectional drawing of Fig.4 (a). In the present embodiment, the optical connection unit 24 is configured to be detachable from the front panel unit 22. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, an internal thread 241 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of an annular base cap 241. By fastening the female screw 241 a with a male screw (not shown) formed on the front panel unit 22, the entire optical connection unit 24 including the base cap 241 is fixed to the front panel unit 22. By loosening and removing the base cap 241 from the male screw, the entire optical connection unit 24 including the base cap 241 is detached from the front panel portion 22.

  For example, a plurality of types of optical connection units 24 such as an optical connection unit having an optical filter suitable for spectral imaging of a blood vessel structure and an optical connection unit having an optical filter suitable for spectral imaging of a specific lesion are prepared. Think if you are. In this case, the surgeon can perform arbitrary spectral imaging by exchanging the optical connection unit 24 by himself / herself without requesting the manufacturer.

  The optical connection unit 24 is provided with a cylindrical column 245. The cylindrical column 245 is inserted and passed through a through hole formed in the center of the base cap 241. The base cap 241 and the cylindrical column 245 are fixed to each other by press-fitting, bonding, or the like. When the surgeon connects the optical connecting portion 18 and the optical connecting unit 24, the light guide 19 (the chain line in FIG. 4A) is inserted into the cylindrical hollow portion 245a of the cylindrical column 245.

  The optical connection unit 24 includes a holding portion 248 that is connected and fixed to the cylindrical column 245. The holding portion 248 has a through passage 248a having the same coaxial diameter as the cylindrical hollow portion 245a. The holding portion 248 also has a biasing spring 248b. When the optical connecting portion 18 is completely inserted into the optical connecting unit 24 by the surgeon, the light guide 19 inserted into the cylindrical hollow portion 245a (the chain line in FIG. 4A) is further inserted into the through passage 248a. Thus, the incident end is held at a position substantially coincident with the condensing point by the lens 26c. The position of the light guide 19 in the through passage 248a is loosely moved by the biasing spring 248b.

  On the base cap 241, an operation ring 242 and a tip cap 243 are held in this order from the base cap 241 side. The tip cap 243 has a cylindrical column 245 inserted into a through-hole formed in the center of the tip cap 243 and is fixed by press-fitting or bonding. The operation ring 242 is an annular member, and is held between the base cap 241 and the tip cap 243 so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the cylindrical column 245.

  The optical connection unit 24 is provided with a drive transmission shaft 246. One end of the drive transmission shaft 246 is connected to the rotary turret 244 by being press-fitted into a bearing portion 244 e provided at the center of the rotary turret 244. A pinion gear 247 is press-fitted into the other end of the drive transmission shaft 246. Further, the drive transmission shaft 246 is inserted in a through passage 248c formed in the holding portion 248 at an intermediate portion, and is held to be slidable around the axis line in the through passage 248c.

  As shown in FIG. 3D and FIG. 4B, an internal gear 242 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the operation ring 242. The internal gear 242a meshes with a pinion gear 247 that is press-fitted into the other end of the drive transmission shaft 246. Therefore, when the operator grips the outer peripheral surface of the operation ring 242 and rotates the operation ring 242 around the central axis of the cylindrical column 245, the internal gear 242a also rotates around the central axis of the cylindrical column 245. The rotation operation of the internal gear 242a is transmitted to the rotary turret 244 via the pinion gear 247 and the drive transmission shaft 246. Thereby, the rotary turret 244 rotates around the axis of the drive transmission shaft 246 (around the central axis of the bearing portion 244e).

  A total of four scales 242b representing each of the optical filters 244a to 244d are stamped on the outer peripheral surface of the operation ring 242 at equiangular intervals (90 ° intervals). The operating ring 242 is rotated so that one of the four scales 242b comes to a predetermined position (for example, a position where it is combined with a mark (not shown) stamped on the outer peripheral surface of the tip cap 243), and the rotary turret 244 is rotated. , The optical filter indicated by the one scale 242b is inserted into the irradiation optical path.

  Various components including a circuit board for an operation unit provided in the front panel unit 22 are attached to the back side of the front panel unit 22. Therefore, an empty space is limited at a position close to the back side of the front panel unit 22. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the minimum components (the rotary turret 244 and the holding portion 248) are arranged at positions close to the back side of the front panel portion 22, and other components (the base cap 241, the operation ring 242, The tip cap 243 and the cylindrical support 245) are disposed outside the housing 21, and the rotation of the operation ring 242 disposed outside the housing 21 is driven into the housing 21 via the pinion gear 247 and the drive transmission shaft 246. It is configured to transmit to the rotary turret 244 accommodated therein.

  The above is the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the embodiment of the present application also includes an embodiment that is exemplarily specified in the specification or a combination of obvious embodiments and the like as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope system 11 Insertion part flexible tube 12 Tip part 13 Hand operation part 14 Bending part 15 Universal cable 16 Connector part 16a Connector case 17 Electrical connection part 18 Optical connection part 19 Light guide 21 Case 22 Front panel part 23 Electrical connection unit 24 Optical connection unit 25 Lamp 26a to 26c Lens 27 Blade diaphragm 100 Electronic scope 200 Processor 241 Base cap 241a Female screw 242 Operation ring 242a Internal gear 242b Scale 243 Tip cap 244 Rotary turret 244a to 244d Optical filter 244e Bearing 245 Cylindrical column 245a Cylindrical hollow portion 246 Drive transmission shaft 247 Pinion gear 248 Holding portion 248a Through passage 248b Energizing spring 248c Through passage

Claims (6)

A light source;
A condensing optical system for condensing the light emitted from the light source;
A holding unit for holding a light guide of the endoscope;
A rotary turret in which a plurality of types of optical filters are arranged in the circumferential direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of the incident end of the light guide held by the holding member and in the vicinity of the condensing point by the condensing optical system. And
A housing that houses the light source, the condensing optical system, the holding unit, and the rotary turret;
A rotation drive unit provided outside the housing, wherein one of the plurality of types of optical filters is inserted into the optical path of the light by rotating the rotary turret;
A drive transmission unit that transmits rotational driving by a rotational driving unit provided outside the housing to a rotary turret housed in the housing;
Comprising
Endoscope light source device. The drive transmission unit is
A shaft portion having one end connected to a bearing portion provided at the center of the rotary turret;
A pinion gear attached to the other end of the shaft portion;
Have
The rotational drive unit is
An annular portion rotatably held outside the housing, wherein an inner gear meshing with the pinion gear is formed on an inner peripheral surface;
The rotary turret is
Rotating operation of the internal gear accompanying rotation of the annular portion is transmitted through the pinion gear and the shaft portion, thereby rotating around the bearing portion.
The endoscope light source device according to claim 1. A scale indicating each optical filter is attached to each of a plurality of predetermined angular positions on the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion,
When the annular portion is rotated so that one of the plurality of graduations is in a predetermined position, an optical filter indicated by the one graduation is inserted into the optical path.
The endoscope light source device according to claim 2. The holding part is
Holding the middle part of the shaft part rotatably;
The endoscope light source device according to claim 2 or 3. The holding unit, the rotary turret, the rotation driving unit, and the drive transmission unit form a detachable unit that can be attached to and detached from the housing.
The light source device for endoscopes according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The rotary turret is
One of the plurality of types of optical filters is an opening without the optical filter instead of the optical filter.
The light source device for endoscopes according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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