JP2000217776A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of preventing an optical member from being broken caused by a temperature change to in the optical member and mirror-barrel of respectively different thermal expansion coefficients in the case of bonding these optical member and mirror-barrel. SOLUTION: When molten brazer is let flow into a gap 43 between a mirror- barrel 32 and an optical member 41 in the case of brazing the optical member 41 to the inner periphery of top end of the mirror-barrel 32, the gap 43 widened by a difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of the mirror-barrel 32 and the optical member 41 is filled with brazer. When heating the brazer is finished, the optical member 41 is strained by the mirror-barrel 32 because of a difference in the velocity of contraction between the mirror-barrel 32 and the optical member 41 however the force of contraction of the mirror-barrel 32 is buffered by a thin part 45 formed near the rear side of the optical member 41 within the mirror-barrel 32 and the force of straining the optical member 41 is weakened at the top end of the mirror-barrel 32. Thus, the generation of damage such as crack on the optical member 41 is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope which is resistant to autoclave sterilization by maintaining airtightness in a lens barrel holding optical members and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes that can be inserted into a body cavity or the like to observe a deep portion of the body cavity or the like and perform a medical treatment or the like by using a treatment tool as needed are widely used in the medical field. Is now available.

[0003] In the case of a medical endoscope, it is essential to surely disinfect and sterilize the used endoscope in order to prevent infectious diseases and the like. In the past, this disinfecting sterilization process relied on a gas such as ethylene oxide gas or a disinfecting solution, but as is well known, sterilizing gases are highly toxic, and the sterilizing operation is complicated to ensure the safety of the sterilizing operation. . In addition, there is a problem in that it takes a long time for aeration to remove gas adhering to the device after sterilization, so that the device cannot be used immediately after sterilization. Further, there is a problem that the running cost is high. In the case of a disinfectant, the management of the disinfectant is complicated,
There is a disadvantage that the disposal of the disinfectant requires a great deal of expense.

[0004] Therefore, recently, without complicated work,
High-temperature, high-pressure steam sterilization called autoclave sterilization, which can be used immediately after sterilization and has low running costs, is becoming the mainstream in sterilization of endoscope equipment.
This autoclave sterilization is also called general sterilization, in which a vacuum is applied before a sterilization step, sterilization is performed in a short time with high-temperature steam in detail, and a vacuum is applied for drying after the end of the sterilization step. 1992
Is specified to be exposed at 132 ° C. for 4 minutes at about 2 atm in a sterilization process. As described above, in the autoclave sterilization, the endoscope is exposed to high-temperature and high-pressure steam, which is far less than the airtightness under a normal pressure of 1 atm or the watertightness of disinfecting by immersing the endoscope in a conventional disinfecting solution. A high airtightness is required for the endoscope.

[0005] Therefore, conventionally, a portion of an endoscope which must be prevented from invading water vapor in autoclave sterilization is, for example, soldering, hard brazing, laser welding or the like as shown in JP-A-9-265046. , Airtightly joined. When an optical member made of optical glass is joined to a lens barrel holding the optical member, for example, made of a material such as ceramics, a metal coat such as gold plating or nickel plating is applied to the joint surface. After that, by soldering, hard brazing, laser welding, etc.
The joining surfaces are joined in an airtight manner. In the present application, airtight refers to airtightness that can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure steam of autoclave sterilization.

[0006]

However, as described in the prior art, when the optical member and the lens barrel are joined by hard brazing, soldering, or the like, the optical member and the lens barrel undergo thermal expansion. In general, the optical members are tightened by the lens barrel due to the temperature difference between the time of heating for joining by hard brazing or soldering and the time of cooling after joining. May have occurred. In addition, due to the heat at the time of performing the autoclave sterilization, a force to create a gap in a joint between the optical member having a different coefficient of thermal expansion and the lens barrel acts to separate the joint, thereby impairing airtightness in the joint. There was a case. Further, in order to reduce the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the optical member and the lens barrel, when the lens barrel is formed of a material such as Kovar having a similar thermal expansion coefficient to general optical glass forming the optical member, The range of choices for the material of the lens barrel has been narrowed, leading to an increase in cost. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when the optical members and the lens barrel have different coefficients of thermal expansion, the temperature generated in these optical members and the lens barrel when these optical members and the lens barrel are joined. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can prevent an optical member from being damaged by a change and can maintain airtightness at a joint. Further, another object of the present invention is that even if the optical members and the lens barrel have different coefficients of thermal expansion, the joint may be damaged due to a temperature change occurring in the optical members and the lens barrel during autoclave sterilization of the endoscope. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that can prevent the occurrence of airtightness and maintain airtightness at the joint.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope having a lens barrel for holding an optical member, wherein an endoscope is provided between the optical member and the lens barrel. A thin portion is provided at a position near the joining portion of the lens barrel, which has a joining portion for hermetically joining, and buffers a stress generated around the joining portion when the optical member and the lens barrel are thermally expanded or cooled and contracted. It is characterized by doing. In the endoscope according to the first aspect, even when the optical members and the lens barrel have different coefficients of thermal expansion, the optical members and the lens barrel are connected to each other at the time of joining the optical member and the lens barrel and at the time of autoclaving the endoscope. It is possible to prevent the optical member and the joint from being damaged by the generated temperature change, and it is possible to maintain airtightness at the joint. Further, the endoscope according to claim 2 is an endoscope having a lens barrel that holds an optical member, the endoscope further comprising a joining portion that hermetically joins between the optical member and the lens barrel, A slit is formed at a position near the joint of the lens barrel to buffer stress generated around the joint when the lens barrel thermally expands or contracts. In the endoscope according to the second aspect, even when the thermal expansion coefficients of the optical member and the lens barrel are different, the optical member is damaged due to a temperature change occurring in the optical member and the lens barrel when the optical member and the lens barrel are joined. Can be prevented, and it is possible to maintain airtightness at the joint.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the entire configuration of an endoscope, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the surroundings, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the airtight connector.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope 1 according to the present embodiment includes an elongated hard insertion portion 2 inserted into a body cavity or the like.
An operation unit 3 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit 2 for gripping and operating the endoscope 1, a universal cord 4 extending from the operation unit 3 side and connecting to an external device, A light guide connector 5 provided at the end of the universal cord 4 and detachably connected to a light source device (not shown) which is an external device, and extends from the side of the light guide connector 5 and is connected to a camera control unit (not shown) which is an external device. And a camera connector 7 provided at an end of the camera cable 6 and detachably connected to a camera control unit.

The insertion portion 2 includes, in order from the operation portion 3 side, an elongated hard portion 11 formed of a hard member, and a bending portion 12 which bends up and down and left and right by remote operation from the operation portion 3. And a distal end hard portion 13 formed of a hard member. The operation section 3 has a bending operation knob 14 for performing a bending operation on the bending section 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bending portion 12 includes a plurality of bending pieces 21 connected to each other by rivets 22 so as to be freely rotatable. Among the plurality of bending pieces 21, the front end of the bending piece 21 positioned at the foremost end is fixed to the rear end of the distal end hard portion 13 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A through hole 31 is formed in the distal end hard portion 13 in the longitudinal direction. The through-hole 31 has a lens barrel 32 formed of a metal or the like in a substantially cylindrical shape and holding the contents therein.
Are fitted and accommodated. In this lens barrel 32,
An optical member 33 composed of a plurality of optical lenses, a cover glass, and the like for forming an image of a subject in a body cavity or the like; and an imaging unit arranged such that an imaging surface is located at an imaging position of the optical member 33 And a circuit board 35 on which a circuit for amplifying input / output signals of the solid-state imaging device 34 and the like are arranged.
An airtight connector 36 for electrically connecting the inside and the outside while maintaining the airtightness in the inside 2 is arranged in order from the front end side, and the lens barrel 3
2.

An optical member 41 which is located at the forefront of the plurality of optical members 33 and whose front end face is exposed from the endoscope 1 includes:
The lens barrel 32 is disposed on the inner periphery of a lens barrel tip 42 which is the tip of the lens barrel 32. The optical member 41 is formed of, for example, sapphire glass having high resistance to water vapor.
The material of the optical member 41 is not limited to sapphire glass, but may be quartz glass or multi-component glass. The outer peripheral surface of the optical member 41 is subjected to a metallizing process such as gold plating or nickel plating.
In the gap 43 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel distal end portion 42, a joining portion 44 is joined by, for example, hard brazing.
Is provided. The joining portion 44 is not limited to hard brazing, but may be soft brazing such as soldering. The joining portion 44 hermetically joins the optical member 41 and the lens barrel distal end portion 42, and prevents gas such as high-pressure high-temperature steam for autoclave sterilization from entering this portion.

A groove is formed on the inner periphery of the lens barrel 32 near the rear of the joint portion 44, that is, on the inner periphery of the lens barrel 32 near the rear end of the lens barrel distal end 42. A thin portion 45 having a smaller thickness than the portion is formed. Since the thin portion 45 is formed in the lens barrel 32, the force that causes a portion of the lens barrel 32 behind the thin portion 45 to expand or contract due to heat is buffered by the thin portion 45, and the lens barrel distal end portion 42. The transmitted power is reduced. That is, the force with which the lens barrel 32 expands and contracts due to the heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure steam of the autoclave sterilization is reduced with respect to the joint portion 44. A silicon-based elastic adhesive layer 46 is provided in a gap between the vicinity of the distal end of the lens barrel 32 and the hard distal end 13, for example, and the thin portion 45 and the lens barrel distal end 4 are provided.
The second deformation force is absorbed.

On the other hand, the hermetic connector body 51, which is the main body of the hermetic connector 36, is made of, for example, stainless steel having high resistance to water vapor.
6 and the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the lens barrel 32, for example,
They are joined by welding such as fusion welding, pressure welding, and brazing. Thus, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the hermetic connector 36 are hermetically joined, and gas such as high-temperature and high-pressure steam for autoclave sterilization enters the lens barrel 32 from this portion. Has been prevented.

The hermetic connector body 51 is provided with a plurality of rod-like connecting pins 52 made of a conductive material such as a metal penetrating the front end face and the rear end face thereof. Is an electric cable 53 inserted through the insertion section 2, the operation section 3, the universal cord 4, the light guide connector 5, and the camera cable 6, and the other end of which is electrically connected to the camera connector 7. Are electrically connected. The wiring 54 of the solid-state imaging device 34 and the circuit board 35 is electrically connected to the camera control unit (not shown) via the connection pins 52 and the electric cables 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hermetic connector body 51 of the hermetic connector 36 is formed with a through hole 55 penetrating the front end face and the rear end face thereof. It is inserted. The gap between the through hole 55 and the connection pin 52 is filled with, for example, a molten glass 56 which is a non-conductive member that has been poured into the gap and hardened, thereby forming the airtight connector body 51 and the connection pin 52.
Gas such as high-temperature and high-pressure steam for autoclave sterilization is prevented from entering between the above.

Therefore, with the above configuration, the front end of the lens barrel 32 is connected to the optical member 4 joined to the lens barrel 32 at the joint 44.
1, the rear end of the lens barrel 32 is hermetically sealed by a hermetic connector 36 welded to the lens barrel 32, whereby the inside of the hermetic connector 36 is hermetically sealed.

Next, of the operation of the present embodiment, the operation when the optical member 41 is joined to the lens barrel 32 will be described. The optical member 41 whose outer peripheral surface has been metallized
The clearance 43 is fitted to the inner periphery of the lens barrel tip 42 at the tip.
The molten wax is poured into the flask. Then, the optical member 41
The lens barrel 32 is heated and expands. At this time, due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32,
The lens barrel 32 expands from the optical member 41, the gap 43 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 widens, and the gap 43 is filled with wax. Next, when the heating of the wax is stopped, the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 are cooled and contracted. Then, since the lens barrel 32 generally contracts faster than the optical member 41, the optical member 41 is tightened by the lens barrel 32. However, in the lens barrel 32 of the present embodiment, a thin part 45 is formed in the vicinity of the rear part of the lens barrel tip 42, and the force of contraction of the part of the lens barrel 32 behind the thin part 45 is reduced by the thin part. 45
And the force by which the lens barrel 32 tightens the optical member 41 at the lens barrel distal end portion 42 is reduced. As described above, the joint portion 44 is formed while preventing the optical member 41 from being damaged such as a crack.

Next, a description will be given of the operation around the joint 44 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 when the endoscope 1 is subjected to autoclave sterilization. When performing autoclave sterilization on the endoscope 1, the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 are heated and expanded by high-temperature and high-pressure steam filled around the endoscope 1. At this time, the lens barrel 32 generally expands from the optical member 41, but the force of expanding the part of the lens barrel 32 behind the thin part 45 is buffered by the thin part 45, and the lens barrel 32 at the lens barrel distal end 42 widens. The power to crouch is reduced. Therefore, the spread of the gap 43 is suppressed, and the joint portion 44 is prevented from being separated or damaged. The front end of the lens barrel 32 is a lens barrel 3
2 are hermetically sealed by an optical member 41 and a rear end portion of the lens barrel 32 is hermetically sealed by a hermetic connector 36 welded to the lens barrel 32. The gap between the connection pin 52 and the connection pin 52 is hermetically sealed with a molten glass 56 to prevent the high-temperature and high-pressure steam from autoclave sterilization from entering the lens barrel 32.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 have different coefficients of thermal expansion, when the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 are joined, the optical member 41 does not The occurrence of damage such as cracks can be prevented. Even if the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 have different coefficients of thermal expansion, it is possible to prevent the joint 44 from being damaged by autoclave sterilization performed on the endoscope 1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when the optical members 41 and the lens barrel 32 have different coefficients of thermal expansion, when the optical members 41 and the lens barrel 32 are joined and when the endoscope 1 is sterilized in an autoclave, These optical members 41
In addition, it is possible to prevent the optical member 41 and the joint portion 44 from being damaged by a temperature change occurring in the lens barrel 32, and it is possible to obtain an effect that airtightness in the joint portion 44 can be maintained. Further, since the force applied to the joint portion 44 when the endoscope 1 is subjected to autoclave sterilization is reduced, the joint portion 44 is repeatedly applied to the endoscope 1 by autoclave sterilization.
Metal fatigue and the like are reduced, and the durability of the joint portion 44 is improved. Further, since the joint portion 44 and the optical member 41 are prevented from being damaged by the above, the invasion of water vapor into the lens barrel 32 when the endoscope 1 is subjected to autoclave sterilization is prevented, and the endoscope 1 is accommodated in the lens barrel. The deterioration of the optical member 33, the solid-state imaging device 34, the circuit board 35, and the wiring 54 due to water vapor is prevented. Further, since the damage of the optical member 41 at the time of joining the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 32 can be prevented, the yield at the time of joining them can be improved, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens barrel 32 may be different from the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical member 41, the range of choice of the material of the lens barrel 32 is expanded, and the cost can be reduced.

The endoscope 1 is not limited to a rigid endoscope having a hard insertion portion 2 but may be a flexible endoscope having a soft insertion portion. The material of the lens barrel 32 may be Kovar, ceramics, or the like.

Next, a first modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modification, instead of forming a thin portion 45 by forming a groove in the inner periphery of the lens barrel 32 near the rear of the lens barrel 32 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2), FIG. As shown, a thin portion 45 was formed by forming a groove in the outer periphery of the lens barrel 32 near the rear of the lens barrel 32.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. The operation of the thin portion 45 of the present modification is the same as the operation of the thin portion 45 of the first embodiment. The operation of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the present modification, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a second modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this modified example, as in the first modified example of the first embodiment (see FIG. 4), a thin portion 45 is formed by forming a groove in the outer periphery of the lens barrel 32 near the rear end of the lens barrel tip 42. Instead, as shown in FIG. 5, a thin portion 45 was formed by forming a groove from the vicinity of the rear end of the lens barrel 42 to the distal end 42 of the lens barrel. In other words, not only is the wall near the rear end of the lens barrel tip 42 thin, but also the lens barrel tip 42 is thin. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment. The operation of the thin portion 45 in the vicinity of the rear portion of the lens barrel distal end portion 42 is the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in this modified example, the first
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. Also,
In this modification, since the lens barrel distal end portion 42 is formed to be thin, the force at which the lens barrel distal end portion 42 tends to deform due to a temperature change is weakened, and the optical member 4 is smaller than in the first embodiment.
The force applied to the optical member 41 and the joint 44 is reduced, and damage to the optical member 41 and the joint 44 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a lens barrel tip according to the embodiment. This embodiment has a feature in the configuration of the lens barrel distal end, and the configuration of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment. In addition, parts configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lens barrel 6 of the present embodiment
An optical member 41 having an outer peripheral surface subjected to a metallizing process is disposed on the inner periphery of one end. The lens barrel 61 is formed with notches, for example, four slits 62 formed along the longitudinal direction of the lens barrel 61 from the distal end of the lens barrel 61 to a position behind the optical member 41. In the gap 63 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61,
A solder 64 for joining them is filled. The slit 62 is also filled with wax. The number of the slits 62 is not limited to four, but may be any number. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The optical member 41 whose outer peripheral surface has been metallized is
The molten solder 64 is poured into these gaps 63 by fitting into the inner periphery of the tip. Then, the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 6
Each 1 is heated and expands. At this time, due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61, the lens barrel 61 expands from the optical member 41, and the gap 63 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 is widened. Will be filled.
Next, when the heating of the wax is stopped, the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 are cooled and contracted. Then, since the lens barrel 61 generally contracts faster than the optical member 41, the optical member 41 is tightened by the lens barrel 61 via the wax 64. Then
In response to the tightening force, the wax 64 filled in the gap 63 between the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 flows out to the slit 62 side, and while the force applied to the optical member 41 is buffered, the wax 64 is gradually cooled and solidified. . As described above, while preventing the optical member 41 from being damaged such as a crack,
The optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 are joined by the solder 64.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 have different coefficients of thermal expansion, when the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 are joined together, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of breakage such as cracks and the like, and it is possible to obtain the effect that airtightness at the joint can be maintained. In addition, since the damage of the optical member 41 at the time of joining the optical member 41 and the lens barrel 61 can be prevented, the yield at the time of joining them can be improved, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens barrel 61 may be different from the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical member 41, the range of choice of the material of the lens barrel 61 is widened, and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 7 relates to a modification of the second embodiment.
It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a front-end | tip hard part and its periphery. In this modification, the configuration near the distal end portion of the lens barrel is different from that of the second embodiment, and the configuration of other parts is the same as that of the second embodiment. The description of the parts configured similarly is omitted. In addition, parts configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present modification, the thin portion 4 is provided at the distal end portion of the lens barrel 61, as in the second modification (see FIG. 5) of the first embodiment.
5, a slit 62 (not shown) is formed at the position of the thin portion 45, as in the second embodiment (see FIG. 6). Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment. The operation of the thin portion 45 of this modification is the same as the operation of the second modification of the first embodiment. The operation of the slit 62 is the same as that of the second embodiment. Therefore, according to the present modification, an effect having both the effects of the second modification of the first embodiment and the effects of the second embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

Meanwhile, an objective optical system for forming an object image and an image pickup for imaging the object image formed by the objective optical system are provided in a hard end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope generally called an electronic endoscope. A solid-state imaging device as a means, a circuit board constituting a circuit for amplifying input / output signals of the solid-state imaging device, and a signal cable extending rearward from the circuit board,
An imaging device arranged in order from the front end side is provided. At this time, the signal cables are bundled in, for example, a resin signal cable tube and extend rearward. In general, the objective optical system and the solid-state imaging device are housed in a lens barrel, and a heat-shrinkable tube is coated, for example, from the rear part of the lens barrel to a front end of the outer cover of the signal cable. The objective optical system, the solid-state imaging device, the circuit board, and the like are protected from the outside air by filling with an agent or the like. However, the outer peripheral length of the signal cable tube is generally shorter than the outer peripheral length of the circuit board filled with filler, and these are covered with a heat-shrinkable tube formed to have a diameter corresponding to the outer peripheral length of the portion of the circuit board. Then, the contraction force of the heat-shrinkable tube was not sufficiently obtained at the portion of the signal cable tube, and a gap was sometimes generated between the signal cable tube and the heat-shrinkable tube. Then, when the endoscope was subjected to autoclave sterilization, water vapor entered through the gap at the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube, and was mounted on the solid-state imaging device, the circuit board, and the circuit board housed in the heat-shrinkable tube. There has been a problem that electronic components such as hybrid ICs and wiring are damaged or deteriorated. Further, when the heat-shrinkable tube is extended further rearward to secure a sufficient contraction force at the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube, there is a problem in that the distal end hard portion becomes long.

Therefore, FIG. 8 shows a configuration of an imaging apparatus capable of improving the airtightness of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube while suppressing the length of the hard end portion and improving the resistance to autoclave sterilization. A configuration of a different imaging device is shown in FIG. 9, and a configuration of an imaging device different from those of FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown in FIG.

An image pickup apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 8 includes an objective optical system 102 for forming a subject image, a solid-state image pickup device 103 as an image pickup means for picking up the subject image formed by the objective optical system 102, A lens barrel 10 that holds a part of the objective optical system 102 disposed in front of the optical system 102 on the inner periphery.
4 and the rear end of the lens barrel 104, and the objective optical system 102
Of the objective optical system 102 and the solid-state image sensor 103 disposed around the rear thereof, and a lens barrel 105 for protecting the periphery of the solid-state image sensor 103, and electronic components 106 constituting a circuit for amplifying input / output signals of the solid-state image sensor 103 are mounted. And a signal cable 108 extending rearward from the circuit board 107 and transmitting a drive signal for driving the solid-state imaging device 103, an imaging signal output from the solid-state imaging device 103, and the like. Bundled signal cable tube 109
And a heat-shrinkable tube 110 covering the outer periphery from the rear of the lens barrel 105 to the front end of the signal cable tube 109 and thermally shrinking, and a coil 111 for fastening the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 to the signal cable tube 109. . According to the imaging apparatus 101 having the configuration shown in FIG.
Since the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is fastened to the front end of the signal cable tube 109 by the coil 111, the air-tightness of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is improved while preventing the hard end of the heat-shrinkable tube from elongating. Improves resistance.

Next, the configuration of the imaging apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 9 will be described. Note that portions having the same role as the imaging device 101 illustrated in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different points from FIG. 8 will be described. In the imaging device 101 shown in FIG. 9, a pipe 121 is externally fitted to the front end of the signal cable tube 109, and the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is covered not through the pipe 121 but directly on the outer periphery of the signal cable tube 109. Has a configuration in which the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is fastened to the pipe 121. According to the imaging device 101 having the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the same effects as those of the imaging device 101 having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained. Further, a pipe 121 is provided, and this pipe 12 is provided.
Since the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is tightened by the coil 1 and the coil 111, the force for tightening the heat-shrinkable tube 110 by the coil 111 increases, and the length of the coil 111 in the longitudinal direction can be shortened. The length of the distal end hard portion can be reduced as compared with the imaging device 101 having the configuration.

Next, the configuration of the image pickup apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 10 will be described. Note that portions having the same role as the imaging device 101 illustrated in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different points from FIG. In the imaging device 101 shown in FIG. 8, a substantially cylindrical base 131 is provided, and a through-hole 132 penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the base 131 is provided.
The front end of the signal cable tube 109 is inserted into the front end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 and the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 133 is covered with a large-diameter flange portion 133 at the front end of the base 131. The through hole 1
An adhesive is filled between the inner peripheral surface 32 and the outer peripheral surface at the front end of the signal cable tube 109. The flange 1
The cross-sectional shape of 33 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the portion of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 that covers the periphery of the circuit board 107 filled with the filler. According to the imaging apparatus 101 having the configuration shown in FIG.
09, a base 131 having a flange 133 having a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the portion of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 covering the periphery of the circuit board 107 is fitted onto the front end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110. As a result, a sufficient shrinking force at the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is ensured, a gap can be prevented from being formed at the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110, and the length of the base 131 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. By forming, the airtightness of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 is improved while preventing the hard end portion from becoming long, and the resistance to autoclave sterilization is improved.

As described above, according to the imaging apparatus 101 described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, the airtightness of the rear end of the heat-shrinkable tube 110 covering the imaging apparatus 101 is improved. When applied to the device 101, it is possible to prevent the solid-state imaging device 103, the circuit board 107, the electronic components 106 and the wiring mounted on the circuit board 107 from being damaged or deteriorated.

[Supplementary Note] (Additional item 1-1) An endoscope having a lens barrel for holding an optical member, the endoscope having a joint portion for hermetically joining the optical member and the lens barrel, An endoscope, wherein a thin portion for buffering stress generated around the joint when the lens barrel thermally expands or contracts is formed at a position near the joint of the lens barrel.

(Additional Item 1-2) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, the thin portion is formed by forming a groove in an inner periphery of the lens barrel.

(Additional Item 1-3) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, the thin portion is formed by forming a groove on the outer periphery of the lens barrel.

(Additional Item 1-4) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, the thin portion is formed at a position near the rear of a position of the lens barrel to be joined to the optical member.

(Additional Item 1-5) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, wherein the heat is generated when the endoscope is subjected to autoclave sterilization.

(Additional Item 1-6) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, the heat is generated when the optical member is joined to the lens barrel.

(Additional Item 1-7) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, wherein the thin wall portion has a force for thermally deforming a portion of the lens barrel located behind the thin wall portion. Prevents transmission around the joint.

(Additional Item 1-8) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1, wherein the thin portion has a thermal deformation around the joint portion at a position behind the thin portion of the lens barrel. Prevent being blocked by force.

(Additional Item 2-1) An endoscope having a lens barrel for holding an optical member, the endoscope further comprising a joining portion for hermetically joining the optical member and the lens barrel, wherein the optical member and the mirror are provided. An endoscope, wherein a slit is formed at a position near the joint of the lens barrel to buffer stress generated around the joint when the cylinder thermally expands or contracts.

(Additional Item 2-2) The endoscope according to Additional Item 2-1 wherein the slit portion is formed at a plurality of locations.

(Additional Item 2-3) The endoscope according to Additional Item 2-1, wherein the slit portion is formed to be elongated from the position of the joint portion of the lens barrel toward a position near the rear. It is a notch that did.

(Additional Item 2-4) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 2-1, the heat is generated when the optical member is joined to the lens barrel.

(Supplementary note 2-5) The endoscope according to Supplementary note 2-1 wherein the optical member, the barrel, and the molten braze for brazing by hard brazing or soft brazing are used. During the filling, a part of the molten wax flows out to the slit.

(Additional Item 3-1) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2, the material of the optical member is a multi-component glass.

(Additional Item 3-2) In the endoscope according to Additional Items 1-1 and 2-1 the material of the optical member is quartz glass.

(Additional Item 3-3) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein the material of the optical member is sapphire glass.

(Additional Item 3-4) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein a metal coating treatment is applied to an outer peripheral surface of the optical member.

(Additional Item 3-5) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 3-4, the metal film treatment is gold plating.

(Additional Item 3-6) In the endoscope according to Additional Item 3-4, the metal film treatment is nickel plating.

(Additional Item 3-7) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein the lens barrel is made of Kovar.

(Additional Item 3-8) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein the lens barrel is made of ceramics.

(Additional Item 3-9) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein the endoscope is autoclavable.

(Additional Item 3-10) The endoscope according to Additional Item 1-1 and Additional Item 2-1 wherein the joint portion brazes between the optical member and the lens barrel. It was formed by doing.

(Additional Item 3-11) The endoscope according to Additional Item 3-10, wherein the brazing is hard brazing.

(Additional Item 3-12) The endoscope according to Additional Item 3-10, wherein the brazing is soft brazing such as soldering.

[0062]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
In endoscopes, even if the optical members and the barrel have different coefficients of thermal expansion, the temperature change that occurs in these optical members and the barrel during joining of these optical members and the barrel and during autoclave sterilization of the endoscope Accordingly, the optical member and the joint can be prevented from being damaged, and the airtightness at the joint can be maintained. Further, in the endoscope according to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the optical members and the lens barrel have different coefficients of thermal expansion, a temperature change generated in these optical members and the lens barrel when the optical member and the lens barrel are joined together. The optical member can be prevented from being damaged, and the airtightness at the joint can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end hard portion and its periphery.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an airtight connector.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of a distal end hard portion according to a first modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of a distal end hard portion according to a second modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of a lens barrel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end hard portion and its periphery according to a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an imaging device in which the rear end of a tube that covers the imaging device has improved airtightness.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration different from FIG. 8 of the imaging device in which the rear end of a tube covering the imaging device is improved in airtightness.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration different from FIGS. 8 and 9 of an imaging device in which the rear end of a tube covering the imaging device is improved in airtightness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 13 ... Hard tip part 32 ... Lens barrel 41 ... Optical member 42 ... Lens barrel tip 44 ... Joint part 45 ... Thin part 61 ... Lens barrel 62 ... Slit 63 ... Wax

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiichi Hikuma 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Futaki 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Takao Yamaguchi, inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Jun Hiroya 2-43, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Yasuhito Kura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 2-72 Inside Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. Takahiro Kishi 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No.2 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeaki Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Hikari Industry Co., Ltd. in the F-term (reference) 2H040 BA24 CA22 DA12 DA13 GA03 GA04 4C061 AA00 BB00 CC00 DD03 FF35 FF40 GG09 JJ06 JJ13

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having a lens barrel for holding an optical member, comprising: a joining portion for airtightly joining the optical member and the lens barrel, wherein the optical member and the lens barrel are thermally expanded or An endoscope, wherein a thin-walled portion for buffering a stress generated around the joint portion upon cooling and contraction is formed at a position near the joint portion of the lens barrel. 2. An endoscope having a lens barrel for holding an optical member, the endoscope further comprising a joining portion for hermetically joining the optical member and the lens barrel, wherein the optical member and the lens barrel are thermally expanded or An endoscope, wherein a slit portion for buffering a stress generated around the joint portion upon cooling and shrinking is formed at a position near the joint portion of the lens barrel.