JP2001327460A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an endoscope device having a photon scanning probe capable of increasing a scanning range without increasing in size of a distal end of the probe. SOLUTION: This endoscope device comprises an endoscope having a slender inserting part to be inserted into a celom, and a photon scanning microscope scanning the photon scanning probe inserted into a treatment implement insertion channel 4 formed in the endoscope and scanned at a focus of a supplied observation light by a problem distal end 5 projected from an end opening 4a of he channel 4 with respect to a part to be examined to transmit a reflected light of the light from the part to be examined obtained by the scanning, and a device body for driving the probe. A balloon 63 as a fastening means for fastening the end 5 is provided near the opening of the channel formed at the end 11 of the inserting part. The balloon 63 is connected to a gas supply pump 65 via a gas supply tube 64.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus provided with an optical scanning probe for obtaining optical image information by scanning light from a light source device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, light generated by a light source is transmitted through an optical fiber, emitted from the end face thereof to a portion to be inspected, and at that time, a focal position is scanned to obtain optical information for the portion to be inspected. An endoscope device having a scanning probe has been realized. The light scanning probe is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel formed in the endoscope, and projects from the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope, thereby scanning light generated by the light source with respect to the target portion. I have.

[0003] Such a conventional optical scanning probe is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the light emitted from the distal end portion 101a of the optical fiber 101 is condensed and radiated to the inspection target side to be inspected via an optical scanning mechanism (scanner), and reflected from the inspection target side. An optical unit 110A for receiving light (return light) is provided at the tip of the probe.

A rear end of a thin plate 112 whose front end is elastically deformable in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the rear end is fixed to a base 111 of the optical unit 110A. The optical fiber tip 1 is placed on the optical axis of an objective lens 113 provided on the tip side of the thin plates 112.
01a is arranged.

[0005] By applying a drive signal to the piezoelectric element 114 mounted at a position closer to the front of each thin plate 112, the combination of the plate-like piezoelectric element 114 and the thin plate 112 becomes
By deforming the distal end side so as to bend in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface with respect to the rear end side, the optical fiber distal end portion 101a and the objective lens 113 are moved together so that the emitted light can be scanned. ing.

[0006]

However, as described above, when the optical fiber tip 101a and the objective lens 112 are integrally scanned, the base 111 is shaken by the reaction, and the base 111 is shaken. There is a problem that the scan angle with respect to the table 111 cannot be made large.

On the other hand, when an optical unit 120A having a large and heavy base (base) 121 is constructed as shown in FIG. 14, the base (base) 121 does not move in response to the above reaction. Therefore, the loss of the scanning angle is eliminated. However, if the base (base) 121 is large and heavy, there is a problem that the optical unit 120A becomes large, and accordingly, the tip of the probe also becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an endoscope apparatus provided with an optical scanning probe capable of increasing a scanning range without increasing the size of the probe tip. Aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a treatment tool insertion channel provided in an elongated insertion portion, and a focus of observation light supplied from a light source. A scanning probe that scans the object to be inspected and transmits reflected light of the observation light from the object to be observed obtained by the scanning to the observation unit, and the light from the tip opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel. When the probe tip of the scanning probe protrudes, fixing means for fixing the probe tip to the insertion portion tip of the endoscope is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to realize an endoscope apparatus including an optical scanning probe capable of increasing the scanning range without increasing the size of the probe tip.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the optical scanning microscope of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip of the optical scanning probe according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4 is an external view showing an optical unit provided at the tip. FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram showing a control unit, FIG. 6 is a graph showing how a scanning surface is optically scanned, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a tip of an insertion portion of an endoscope in a state where an optical scanning probe is inserted, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has an elongated insertion portion 2 inserted into a body cavity, and is continuously provided on a base end side of the insertion portion 2. An electronic endoscope (hereinafter, simply referred to as an endoscope) 1A having a watertight structure provided with an operating unit 3 which is also operated as a holding unit, and a treatment tool insertion channel 4 provided in the endoscope 1A, With the probe tip 5 protruding from the tip opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4,
The focus of the supplied observation light is scanned with respect to the object to be inspected, and the optical scanning probe 5A that transmits the reflected light of the observation light from the object to be acquired obtained by the scanning and drives the optical scanning probe 5A. Optical scanning microscope 7 having device main body 6
It is mainly composed of The operating section 3 connects a base end of a universal cable 8 and a distal end of the universal cable 8 is provided with a connector 9 detachably connected to a light source device and an image processing device (not shown). I have.

The insertion portion 2 has a distal end 11 provided at a distal end, a bendable bending portion 12 provided at a rear portion of the distal end portion 11, and a long, long portion provided at a rear portion of the bending portion 12. And a flexible portion 13 having flexibility. The operating section 3 is provided with a bending operation lever 14 at a rear end side of the operating section 3 gripped by an operator, and the bending section 12 can be bent by rotating the bending operation lever 14. Further, a forceps insertion port 15 for inserting a treatment tool such as forceps is formed on the front side of the operation unit 3, and the forceps insertion port 15 communicates with the treatment tool insertion channel 4 inside. Usually, a forceps stopper (not shown) is inserted into the forceps insertion port 15.
Is installed.

In the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1A,
A light guide 16 (see FIG. 8) is inserted, and illumination light from the light source device (not shown) is
6 is supplied to the base end side. The illuminating light guided by the light guide 16 is emitted forward from the end surface on the side of the distal end portion 11 to illuminate a diseased part in a living body (not shown). The illuminated subject image such as the affected part is formed on an image pickup device (not shown) disposed on the focal plane by an objective lens system 17 (see FIG. 7) attached to the distal end portion 11.
An image processing device (not shown) converts an image pickup signal from the image pickup device into an image processing device (not shown).
, The endoscope image is displayed on a monitor (not shown) or the like.

In the present embodiment, when the probe tip 5 of the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 of the endoscope 1A and protrudes from the tip opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. The probe tip 5
Is fixed to the insertion portion distal end portion 11 of the endoscope.

First, the detailed configuration of the optical scanning microscope 7 having the optical scanning probe 5A will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical scanning microscope 7 includes the optical scanning probe 5A and the apparatus main body 6 as described above,
As shown in FIG. 2, the device main unit 6 includes a light source unit 21 for generating observation light, a light transmission unit 22 for transmitting the light, and a return light from the optical scanning probe 5A via the light transmission unit 22. The control unit 23 performs signal processing for detecting and forming an image and control of an optical scanning unit, which will be described later, provided in the optical scanning probe 5A. The apparatus main body 6 detects the reflected light from the test object side by the optical scanning of the optical scanning probe 5A, forms an image by the control unit 23, and confocals the image on a display means such as a monitor (not shown) by the optical scanning. Type of microscope image is displayed.

The optical scanning probe 5A is formed to be elongated so that it can be inserted into a body cavity or the like. The light passing through the light transmitting section 22 is emitted from the probe tip 5 to the subject side, and the return light is emitted. The light is guided to the light transmitting section 22. The light source unit 21 is composed of, for example, a laser oscillation device that outputs a laser beam. As the laser light, for example, an argon laser having a wavelength of 488 mm is suitable for cell observation.

The light transmitting section 22 includes light transmitting fibers (abbreviated simply as fibers) 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24.
and a four-terminal coupler 25 that bidirectionally branches and optically couples them. Fibers 24a, 24b,
24c and 24d are single mode fibers.
Note that these fibers 24a to 24d may be multi-mode fibers that play a similar role.

The end of the fiber 24a is connected to the light source 2
1, the end of the fiber 24c is connected to the control unit 23, and the end of the fiber 24d is connected to a non-reflective device or the like (closed). The fiber 24b is formed in a long shape, and is guided to the probe tip 5 through, for example, the inside of a flexible tube 26 constituting an outer tube of the optical scanning probe 5A. The light tube 26 is inserted through the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 of the endoscope 1A and inserted into a body cavity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the probe tip 5
An annular hard optical frame 30 having one end attached to the distal end of the tube 26, an optical unit 31A mounted inside the optical frame 30, and a piezoelectric And a (transparent and hard) tip cover unit 32 as a transparent window member pressed against an object (test portion) attached via an element.

The distal end of the elongated optical fiber 24b inserted into the tube 26 is fixed to the optical unit 31A, and the light emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber 24b is inspected via an optical scanning mechanism (scanner). Then, the light is condensed and irradiated on the test portion side, and reflected light (return light) from the test portion side is received.

The optical unit 31A shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3 is shown in detail in a perspective view in FIG. This optical unit 3
1A has the following configuration. The base (base) 33 of the optical unit 31A is fixed to the optical frame 30. The base 33 is configured to be heavier than a lens holder 34 and an objective lens 35 described later so as not to move easily. The front end side of the optical fiber 24b is inserted into the center hole of the base 33, and a part of the base 33 near the front end pressed into the inner wall of the hole is fixed.

The base 33 has two sets of parallel thin plates 3.
The rear ends of 6a, 36b, 36c, 36d are fixed. That is, the thin plates 36a and 36a constituting the parallel leaf springs
6c and the thin plates 36b and 36d have parallel plate surfaces, respectively, and one thin plate 36a (or 36c) and the other thin plate 3
6b (or 36d) is disposed so that the plate surface is orthogonal to each other, each rear end portion is fixed to the base 33, and the front end side (with respect to the rear end portion) is elastically deformable in the vertical and horizontal directions. I have.

Further, each thin plate 36i (i = ad) has a plate-like piezoelectric element 37i (3) polarized in the thickness direction.
7d (not shown) is mounted at a position closer to the front of each thin plate 36i. As the piezoelectric element 37i, a unimorph type piezoelectric element is used. Incidentally, these piezoelectric elements 37i are:
It may be a bimorph type piezoelectric element.

The electrodes on both sides of each piezoelectric element 37i are connected to a cable 38 (see FIG. 2) for driving the piezoelectric element 37i, and drive means for the control unit 23 (through the tube 26). )It is connected to the.

The lens holder 34 is adhered to the tips of the four thin plates 36i. The lens holder 34 includes the objective lens 35 as a condensing optical system and the optical fiber 24b as a light transmitting means. The tip, that is, the optical fiber tip 39, is fixed. The lens holder 34 has a frame for mounting the objective lens 35 and a conical (cone) extending frame portion extending rearward from the frame to extend the frame on the optical axis O of the objective lens 35. The distal end portion 39 of the optical fiber is fixed to the small hole provided at the apex portion of the protruding frame portion, for example, by being fitted thereinto (the objective lens 3).
The optical fiber tip 39 is disposed on the optical axis 5).

Then, by applying a drive signal to the piezoelectric element 37i, the combination of the plate-shaped piezoelectric element 37i and the thin plate 36i is deformed so that the front end is bent in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface with respect to the rear end. Then, the lens holder 34 held at the tip can be moved in the direction bent by the deformation, and the optical fiber tip 39 and the objective lens 35 held by the lens holder 34 are moved together, The emitted light can be scanned. At this time, the light that has been expanded and emitted so that the tip 39 of the extremely thin optical fiber is the focal point is collected by the objective lens 35,
The light is emitted so as to be focused at the position of the focal point 41 on the part to be inspected.

The piezoelectric elements 37a, 37b, 37
By driving at c and 37d, the focal point 41 is scanned in the horizontal direction (X direction) 42 and the vertical direction (Y direction) 43 in FIG. 2 so that the scanning surface 44 including the focal point 41 can be scanned. This scanning surface 44 is a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical scanning probe 5A. It is to be noted that the objective lens 35 optimally has a numerical aperture of, for example, 0.3 or more, 0.5 or more, and more preferably 0.7 or more.

The tip cover unit 32 includes a cover holder 45 and a cover glass 46 fixed to the cover holder 45, and the cover holder 45 is fixed to the tip of the optical frame 30. The probe tip 5 is hermetically sealed by these structures.

Next, the detailed configuration of the control unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 23 includes a laser driving circuit 51 that drives a laser of the light source unit 21, a piezoelectric element 37b,
X drive circuit 52 for driving 37d, piezoelectric elements 37a, 3
Drive circuit 53 for driving 7c, the optical fiber 24c
A photodetector 54 having a built-in amplifier for photoelectrically converting and amplifying output light from the photodetector 54, an image processing circuit 55 for performing an image signal with respect to an output signal of the photodetector 54, and a video signal generated by the image processing circuit 55 are input. Thus, a monitor 56 for displaying a microscope image by the reflected light when the scanning surface 44 is scanned and a recording device 57 for recording a video signal generated by the image processing circuit 55 are provided.

Further, the laser driving circuit 51
1 and a cable 58 (see FIG. 3). The X drive circuit 52 is connected to the piezoelectric elements 37b and 37d, and the Y drive circuit 53 is connected to the piezoelectric elements 37a and 37c via cables 38, respectively. And the X drive circuit 5
2, the piezoelectric elements 37b, 37d via the cable 38
At a high speed, and a cable 38 is connected to the Y drive circuit 53.
By slowly driving the piezoelectric elements 37a and 37c via the, the scanning surface 44 is two-dimensionally scanned as shown in FIG.

For example, by increasing the amplitude of the voltage for driving the piezoelectric elements 37b and 37d, the scanning range in the X direction 42 can be increased. Similarly, by increasing the amplitude of the voltage for driving the piezoelectric elements 37a and 37c. , Y direction 4
3 can be enlarged, and a desired scanning range can be easily obtained.

In the present embodiment, light from the light source device 2 is passed through the optical scanning probe 5A to form an elongated optical fiber 24.
b, the light is transmitted to the distal end side, and is emitted toward the portion to be inspected by the objective lens 35 as a condensing optical system fixed (held) together with the distal end surface by the lens holder 34. At this time, the lens holder 34 is Elements 37b, 37 constituting
Applying a sine wave as an AC signal to d, scanning at a high speed in the horizontal direction, and applying a triangular wave of low frequency to the piezoelectric elements 37a, 37c, scanning light in the vertical direction, and reflecting light from the focal position. To obtain a scanned image.

By thus moving the lens holder 34 holding the distal end surface of the optical fiber 24b and the objective lens 35 by the scanning means (driving means), a desired scanning range can be covered and the objective can be covered. A special lens is not required as the lens 35, the lens design becomes easy, and it is also easy to improve the resolution by increasing the numerical aperture.

By inserting the optical scanning probe 5A into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 from the forceps insertion opening 15 of the endoscope 1A, the probe tip of the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted as shown in FIGS. 5 is the insertion portion tip 1
The distal end hard portion 11a is formed so as to protrude from the distal end opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. Note that the objective lens system 17 and an imaging device (not shown) are provided in the distal end hard portion 11a of the distal end portion 11. Reference numeral 61 denotes a nozzle for cleaning the objective lens system 17 for cleaning the objective lens system 17, and reference numeral 62 denotes an illumination lens system of the light guide 16 provided through the insertion portion 2.

In the vicinity of the opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 formed in the distal end hard portion 11a of the distal end portion 11, the base 3 near the rear of the probe distal end 5 is provided.
A balloon 63 is provided as fixing means for fixing the probe distal end portion 5 so as to cover the outer surface near 3. The balloon 63 may be configured to be provided at the probe tip 5.

An air supply tube 64 is provided on the balloon 63.
Are connected, and an air supply pump 65 is connected to the air supply tube 64. Needless to say, the effect is greater when the balloon 63 is installed near the base 33.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, the insertion section 2 of the endoscope 1A is inserted to a site to be observed in a body cavity of a patient. The forceps insertion port 1 of the endoscope 1A
5, the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, and the probe tip 5 protrudes from the tip opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4.

Next, the balloon 63 is inflated using the air supply pump 65 in order to fix the probe distal end 5 of the optical scanning probe 5A to the insertion distal end 11 of the endoscope 1A. Subsequently, the probe tip 5 is pressed against the portion to be inspected. At this time, since the probe tip 5 is fixed in the test portion, image blurring is reduced. Since the probe tip 5 is fixed to the insertion portion tip 11 of the heavier endoscope 1A by the balloon 63, the scanning angle is not reduced.

The light source section 21 driven by the laser drive circuit 51 irradiates a laser beam, and this light is
a. This light is split into two laser lights by a four-terminal coupler 25, one of which is guided to the closed end, and the other light is sent to the probe tip 5 of the optical scanning probe 5A via the optical fiber 24b. It is led to.

The laser light is expanded and emitted with the optical fiber distal end portion 39 as the focal point, and then condensed by the objective lens 35. After passing through the cover glass 35, the focal point 41 is formed at the test portion. . The reflected light from the focal point 41 passes through the same optical path as the incident light, and is again incident on the fiber at the fiber tip 39. That is, the optical fiber tip 39
And the focal point 41 of the test portion are in a confocal relationship of the objective lens 35. The reflected light from other than the focal point 41 cannot pass through the same optical path as the incident light, and therefore hardly enters the fiber on the optical fiber end face 20. Therefore, the optical probe device 4 forms a confocal optical system.

In this state, the X drive circuit 5 of the control unit 3
2 drives the piezoelectric elements 37b and 37d. Here, the operation of the piezoelectric element 37i will be described. When a voltage is applied to these piezoelectric elements 37i, their thickness changes. When a positive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 37i, the piezoelectric element 37i is deformed so as to increase in thickness, and accordingly, the piezoelectric element 37i contracts in the length direction. At this time, the piezoelectric element 37i is a thin plate 3 having the same length.
6i, the piezoelectric element 37i as a whole
It is designed to bend to the side.

Conversely, when a negative voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 37i, the piezoelectric element 37i is deformed so as to become thinner, and accordingly the piezoelectric element 3i is deformed.
7i extends in the length direction. Here, since the piezoelectric element 37i is bonded to the thin plate 36i whose length does not change, the piezoelectric element 37i is bent toward the thin plate 36i as a whole. Here, when drive signals of opposite polarities are applied to the two opposing piezoelectric elements 37b and 37d so that one is deformed to the piezoelectric element side and the other is deformed to the thin plate side, these are driven in the horizontal direction 42.
In the same direction.

When an alternating current having the opposite polarity is applied to the piezoelectric elements 37b and 37d, the lens holder 34 vibrates, whereby the objective lens 35 and the optical fiber tip 39 also move, and the position of the focal point 41 of the laser beam is shifted. Is the X direction 4 of the scanning surface 44
2 (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3).

In this case, when driven at the resonance frequency of this system, a large displacement can be obtained. Further, similarly to the X drive, the position of the focal point 41 of the laser beam is scanned in the Y direction 43 on the scanning surface 44 by the Y drive circuit 53. Here, by making the frequency of the vibration in the Y direction sufficiently lower than the frequency of the scanning in the X direction, the focal point vibrates the scanning surface 44 in the horizontal direction at a high speed as shown in FIG. (Y direction). Along with this, the reflected light at each point on the scanning surface 44 is transmitted by the optical fiber 24b.

The light incident on the fiber 24b is 4
The fiber is divided into two parts by a terminal coupler 25.
The light is guided to the photodetector 54 of the control unit 23 through c, and is detected by the photodetector 54. Here, the photodetector 54 outputs an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the incident light, and is further amplified by a built-in amplifier (not shown).

This signal is sent to the image processing circuit 55. The image processing circuit 55 refers to the drive waveforms of the X drive circuit 52 and the Y drive circuit 53 to calculate where the focus position is the signal output, and further calculates the intensity of the reflected light at this point. By repeating these operations, the reflected light from the scanning surface 44 is imaged, temporarily stored as image data in an image memory in an image processing circuit 55, and the image data is read out in synchronization with a synchronization signal. 4
An image of the two-dimensional reflected light intensity at the focal position when scanning 4 is presented (displayed). Also, the image data is recorded in the recording device 57 as needed.

As a result, this embodiment has the following effects. Since the probe tip 5 is fixed to the insertion portion tip 11 of the heavier endoscope 1A by the balloon 63, it is possible to increase the scanning range without increasing the size of the probe tip 5. Also, the optical scanning probe 5
In A, since the optical fiber distal end portion 39 and the objective lens 35 are both driven, the optical system is simple and satisfactory, and a high-performance optical system can be easily realized. According to the present embodiment, by increasing the diameter of the objective lens 35,
Images with higher resolution can also be obtained. Further, by driving at a resonance frequency in, for example, the X direction, which is driven at a high speed, the scanning range in the X direction can be increased.

In this embodiment, the endoscope apparatus 1 having the optical scanning probe 5A having an optical scanning mechanism (scanner) for integrally scanning the objective lens 35 and the optical fiber 24b has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and includes an optical scanning probe having an optical scanning mechanism (scanner) for scanning only the objective lens and an optical scanning probe having an optical scanning mechanism (scanner) for scanning only the optical fiber. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the endoscope apparatus configured.

The endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses the electronic endoscope 1A having a built-in image pickup device on the distal end side of the elongated insertion section 2, but an image guide is provided in the insertion section 2. An endoscope having a configuration in which the subject image guided by the image guide is inserted and captured by an imaging device built in the operation unit 3 may be used, or the subject image guided by the image guide is operated. An optical endoscope that can be observed with an eyepiece provided in the unit 3 may be used.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 9 and 10 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a distal end portion of an optical scanning probe having the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope in a state where the optical scanning probe of FIG.

In the first embodiment, the balloon 63 is provided near the opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 as fixing means for fixing the probe tip 5; however, in the second embodiment, the balloon 63 is provided. Then, a tapered surface is formed on the inner peripheral surface near the opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, and a tapered surface that contacts the tapered surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Is provided with an auxiliary member for fitting. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted, and the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral.

As shown in FIG. 9, the probe tip 5 of the second embodiment has a substantially cylindrical member 70 inserted and fixed as an auxiliary member near the base (base) 33 on the outer peripheral surface of the probe tip 5. It is composed. The outer peripheral surface of the substantially cylindrical member 70 is formed with a tapered surface 70a on the distal end side so as to gradually become smaller in diameter.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, near the opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 formed at the distal end portion 11 (hard distal portion 11a) of the insertion portion of the endoscope 1A, the substantially cylindrical member is provided. 70, the tapered surface 7 with which the tapered surface 70a contacts
1 is formed so as to gradually become smaller in diameter at the tip end side.

When the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 from the forceps insertion opening 15 of the endoscope 1A, the tapered surface 71 of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 and the substantially cylindrical member 70 are inserted. Tapered surface 70a
And the probe tip 5 is fixed,
It protrudes from the distal end opening 4 a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4.

As a result, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained. The base (base) 33 is connected to the substantially cylindrical member 7.
0, and a configuration in which a similar tapered surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof may be used.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the distal end opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 has a tapered surface 71.
And a tapered surface 70a that contacts the tapered surface 71 of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface,
In the third embodiment, the probe distal end portion 5 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the distal end opening portion 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, although a substantially cylindrical member 70 for inserting the probe distal end portion 5 is provided. An actuator as a fixing means is provided. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted, and the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the probe distal end 5 is placed near the opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 formed in the distal end 11 (hard distal end 11a) of the insertion section of the endoscope 1A. An actuator 80 is provided as fixing means for fixing. The actuator 80 is made of a known shape memory alloy, and usually has a diameter larger than that of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4.
Smaller diameter than The actuator 80 is controlled and driven by driving means (not shown).
Note that the actuator 80 may be constituted by another actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a solenoid, an actuator using fluid pressure, or the like.

Thus, the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 from the forceps insertion port 15 of the endoscope 1A, and the probe tip 5 is inserted through the distal end opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. When the probe is protruded and the actuator 80 is operated, the probe distal end portion 5 is fixed by the actuator 80 at the insertion portion distal end portion 11 of the endoscope 1A. As a result, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the first to third embodiments, the fixing means for fixing the probe tip 5 of the optical scanning probe 5A is provided on the tip opening 4a side of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, but the fourth embodiment Endoscope 1A
A detachable hood is attached to the distal end surface of the insertion portion distal end 11 as fixing means for fixing the probe distal end 5. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted, and the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12, a hood 90 is removably attached to and fixed to the distal end surface of the insertion portion distal end 11 of the endoscope 1A. This hood 90
A tongue-shaped bent portion 91 made of an elastic body is provided at least at a part of the inside of the optical scanning probe. The probe tip 5 is held and fixed when the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted. ing. The state of the bent portion 91 when the optical scanning probe 5A is not inserted is indicated by a dotted line.

Thus, the hood 90 is attached and fixed to the distal end portion 11 of the insertion section of the endoscope 1A so that the bent portion 91 of the hood 90 faces the distal end opening 4a of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. When the optical scanning probe 5A is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 from the forceps insertion opening 15 of the mirror 1A, the probe tip 5 hits the bent portion 91, and the bent portion is bent as shown by a solid line in FIG. Therefore, since the probe tip 5 is held and fixed to the hood 90, the scanning angle and range are not reduced. As a result, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Supplementary Note] (Supplementary Note 1) The focus of observation light supplied from the light source is scanned on the test portion through the treatment tool insertion channel provided in the elongated insertion portion, and the scan is performed. An optical scanning probe that transmits reflected light of the observation light from the target to be obtained to the observation unit, and when the probe tip of the optical scanning probe projects from the tip opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel, this Fixing means for fixing a distal end portion of the probe to a distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope.

(Additional Item 2) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the fixing means is a telescopic balloon provided at the tip of the probe.

(Additional Item 3) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the fixing means is a telescopic balloon provided at a distal end portion of the insertion section of the endoscope.

(Additional Item 4) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the fixing means is a hood detachably provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope.

(Additional Item 5) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the fixing means is an auxiliary member provided at a tip portion of the probe.

(Supplementary Note 6) The fixing means may include a tapered surface formed on an inner peripheral surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope and a taper surface of the inner peripheral surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel so that the probe tip can be brought into contact with the tapered surface. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope device is a tapered surface formed in the portion.

(Additional Item 7) The additional means is characterized in that the fixing means is a base provided at the distal end of the probe and a fixing member for fixing the base to the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope. 2. The endoscope device according to 1.

(Additional Item 8) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the fixing means is formed of a shape memory alloy.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, the probe tip can be miniaturized and the scanning range can be enlarged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the light scanning microscope of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a distal end portion of the optical scanning probe according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an optical unit provided at a distal end portion.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram showing a control unit.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing how a scanning surface is optically scanned.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope in a state where the optical scanning probe is inserted.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a probe tip of an optical scanning probe according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope in a state where the optical scanning probe of FIG. 9 is inserted.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a distal end portion of an insertion section of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical unit provided at a probe tip of a conventional optical scanning probe.

14 is a sectional view showing an optical unit having a larger base than the optical unit shown in FIG. 13;

[Description of Signs] 1 endoscope apparatus 1A endoscope 1A (electronic endoscope 1A) 2 insertion section 4 treatment tool insertion channel 4a channel opening 5 probe tip 5A optical scanning probe 6 Device main body 7 Optical scanning microscope 11 Tip 11a Hard tip 15 Forceps insertion slot 33 Base (base) 63 Balloon (fixing means) 64 Air supply tube 65 Air supply pump

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A focus of observation light supplied from a light source is scanned on a portion to be inspected by passing through a treatment tool insertion channel provided in an elongated insertion portion, and the portion to be inspected obtained by the scanning is scanned. An optical scanning probe that transmits the reflected light of the observation light from the optical scanning probe to an observation unit; and when the probe distal end of the optical scanning probe projects from the distal end opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel, the probe distal end is moved to the inside. An endoscope apparatus comprising: fixing means for fixing to a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope.