JP2002034909A - Endoscope apparatus for being attached to finger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small endoscope apparatus for being attached to a finger allowing inspection of waterproofness in a closed chamber with a plug member attached into a communication hole, by communicating the closed chamber in an endoscope body storing a CCD(charge coupled device) and an LED(light emitting device) with an external part and engaging the rubber made plug member having a hole with the communication hole. SOLUTION: The endoscope apparatus 10 for being attached to the finger has the closed chamber 66 storing the CCD 32 and the LED 34 inside the endoscope body 20. The closed chamber 66 communicates with the external part through the communication hole 68B, and the rubber made plug member 70 is engaged with the communication hole 68B. A supply hole 70A is formed in the plug member 70, and blocked by engaging the plug member 70 with the communication hole 68B. For inspecting airtightness of the closed chamber 66, an injection needle 74 is inserted into the supply hole 70A, the injector 72 supplies air to the closed chamber, then the endoscope body 20 is sunk, and existence of bubble occurrence is observed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a finger-mounted endoscope device which is worn on an operator's finger and is preferably used for examining a shallow site in a body cavity such as a rectum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A finger-mounted endoscope apparatus in which observation means corresponding to an endoscope is configured to be mounted on an operator's finger in order to properly inspect a shallow site in a body cavity is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 9-163702. 4-336
No. 026.

This finger-mounted endoscope apparatus has an endoscope main body provided with an imaging lens, a solid-state imaging device for forming an optical image by the imaging lens, and a light source serving as illumination means. The endoscope body is configured by connecting a cylindrical finger sack member into which a finger is inserted to a rear end portion thereof.

In such a finger-mounted endoscope apparatus, a solid-state imaging device and a light source are housed in a sealed room to form a waterproof structure in order to be immersed in a chemical solution for cleaning and disinfection after use.
Therefore, as a method for inspecting the watertightness of the closed chamber, it is necessary to supply air to the closed chamber and pressurize it, and then submerge the entire apparatus in water to check for the generation of air bubbles from the closed chamber.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and can be used for a small-sized finger mounting which can perform a waterproof test of a sealed room in which observation means and illumination means are stored. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope body having illumination means and observation means for observing a portion to be inspected under illumination of the illumination means, and the endoscope. In a finger-mounted endoscope apparatus provided with a finger sack member connected to a mirror body, the endoscope body is formed with a sealed chamber for storing and arranging the illumination means and the observation means in a sealed state. The closed chamber is provided with a plug that allows the supply of gas to the closed chamber from a pressurizing means provided separately from the endoscope main body and maintains the airtightness of the closed chamber. And

[0007] According to the present invention, the gas for inspection can be supplied to the closed chamber through the plug, so that the waterproof test of the closed chamber can be performed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a finger-mounted endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a finger-mounted endoscope apparatus 10 according to an embodiment is mounted on a right hand 12 of an operator, and FIG. 2 shows a distal end of the finger-mounted endoscope apparatus 10. A sectional view of the part is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope device 1 for finger mounting
Reference numeral 0 denotes an endoscope, a glove 16, and a cap member 18.

The endoscope 14 has an endoscope body 20 at its distal end.
And a finger sack member 22 connected to the rear end of the endoscope main body 20.

An observation window 26 is formed in the center of the front surface of the endoscope main body 20, and four illumination windows 28, 28 (only two are shown) are provided on a circumference centered on the observation window 26. Are formed. The endoscope main body 20 includes an optical system 30 constituting an imaging lens, and a solid-state imaging device (C
CD) 32, a white light emitting diode (LE) as an illumination means
D) and the substrates 36, 37 and the like are built in. The optical system 30 is fixed to the endoscope main body 20 via a lens barrel 38 at a position corresponding to the observation window 26. Further, the CCD 32 is fixed at an image forming position of the optical system 30, and the LED 34 is fixed at a position corresponding to the illumination window 28. Further, instead of the white light emitting diode 34, a high-luminance micron-sized lamp or a light guide fiber may be applied as the illumination means.

A substrate 36 is a CCD substrate and a substrate 37 is an LED
A plurality of lead wires 39 are connected to predetermined positions of these substrates 36 and 37 by soldering. These lead wires 39, 39... Supply power for driving the CCD 32, transmit electric signals photoelectrically converted by the CCD 32 to the processor section 40 of FIG. 1, and LEDs 34, 34. Are supplied to drive the power supply, and are connected to the tubes 42 and wired. The tube 42 has a distal end connected to the endoscope main body 20 in a hermetically sealed state via a holder 43, and a rear end located at the processor 40 of FIG.
Connected to. The processor unit 40 processes the electric signal into a video signal, and converts the video signal into a monitor 46.
Output to As a result, an image of the inspection target is displayed on the monitor 46.

The finger sack member 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes the first joint 12 of the right index finger 12A of the operator.
The length is formed such that it can be inserted to the vicinity of the second joint exceeding B. The finger sack member 22 is formed of an elastically deformable member, for example, a plastic such as polyurethane or an elastomer, and has a distal end portion provided with the endoscope main body 2.
0 is inserted and held.

On the other hand, the glove 16 shown in FIG. 1 is made of transparent rubber made of latex or the like, and an opening 50 is formed at the tip of the index finger 16A. This opening 5
At 0, the cap member 18 is bonded in an air-tight and liquid-tight state. When the glove 16 is attached to the right hand 12 with the endoscope 14 attached to the index finger 12A, the opening 50
, The endoscope main body 20 of the endoscope 14 is protruded as shown in FIG. At this time, the concave groove 21 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the endoscope main body 20 is fitted into the convex claw 18A formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cap member 18. Thereby, the cap member 18 is attached to the endoscope 14. The finger to which the endoscope 14 is attached is not limited to the index finger 16A, and the endoscope 14 may be attached to another finger.

The cap member 18 is formed of a transparent member such as acrylic or glass. Also, the cap member 1
A window 19 is formed on the front surface of 8. This allows
The endoscope 14 attached to the cap member 18
4 can illuminate the inspection target and the CCD 32 can image the inspection target through the window 19 without any trouble.

The cap member 18 has a hole 19A to which the distal end of the air supply tube 58 is fixed.
When the distal end of the air supply tube 58 is fixed to 9A, the window 19 is cleaned by the compressed air injected from the injection port 58A of the air supply tube 58. As a result, a clear image of the portion to be inspected can always be obtained.

The air supply tube 58 is connected to a compressor 64 via a leak valve 62 operated by the operator's left hand 60 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the leak valve 62
Is operated, the compressed air from the compressor 64 is supplied to the air supply tube 58, and the injection port 58A of FIG.
From the window 19. Cleaning water may be supplied instead of compressed air, or compressed air and cleaning water may be switched and supplied.

As shown in FIG. 3, a closed chamber 66 is formed inside the endoscope main body 20. That is, the distal end side opening of the endoscope main body 20 is closed by the optical system 30 and the illumination window 28, the gap between the lens barrel 38 supporting the optical system 30 and the endoscope main body 20, and the interior of the illumination window 28 and the interior. Endoscope body 20
, A sealant (not shown) is applied. The rear end side opening of the endoscope main body 20 is closed by a back member 68, and a sealant (not shown) is applied to a gap between the back member 68 and the endoscope main body 20. This allows
A sealed chamber 66 is formed inside the endoscope main body 20, and devices that require waterproofing such as the LED 34, the CCD 32, and the boards 36 and 37 are housed and arranged in the sealed chamber 66.

The rear member 68 has a communication hole 68B for communicating the inside and outside of the sealed chamber 66, and a mounting hole 68A into which the holder 43 of the tube 42 is inserted. Holder 43
A concave groove 43A is formed all around the outer peripheral surface of
By fitting the O-ring 69 into the concave groove 43A, the gap between the mounting hole 68A and the holder 43 is sealed.

On the other hand, a plug member 70 is attached to the communication hole 68B. The stopper member 70 is made of silicon rubber or EP.
It is made of a rubber material having chemical resistance such as DM, and is formed in a column shape slightly larger than the communication hole 68B. This plug member 70
Is fitted into the communication hole 68B by being elastically deformed and pushed into the communication hole 68B.

Next, a method of using the finger-mounted endoscope device 10 configured as described above will be described.

First, the finger sack member 22 of the endoscope 14
The index finger 12A of the operator's right hand 12 is inserted. And
When the glove 16 is attached to the right hand 12, the endoscope body 20 of the endoscope 14 is opened through the opening 50 of the index finger 16A of the glove 16.
Projecting as shown in FIG.
Then, the concave groove 21 of the endoscope main body 20 is fitted, and the cap member 18 is attached to the endoscope 14. Thus, the finger-mounted endoscope apparatus 10 is mounted on the right hand 12 of the operator as shown in FIG.

Next, when performing a diagnosis, the LED 34 and the CCD 32 are driven, and the cap member 18 is inserted into the body cavity to a predetermined depth with the cap member 18 at the head, and imaging of a portion to be inspected in the body cavity is started. Then, the imaging range is appropriately changed by bending and extending the finger 12A, and an image of the inspected portion at any site is taken.

When the diagnosis is completed, the endoscope for finger mounting is pulled out of the body cavity, and the cap member 18, the glove 16, and the endoscope main body 20 are immersed in water or a chemical solution to be washed and disinfected. At this time, LED34, CCD32,
Since the substrates 36, 37 and the like are housed in the sealed chamber 66 having a waterproof property, it is possible to prevent problems caused by washing and disinfection.

Next, an inspection method for inspecting the waterproofness of the sealed chamber 66 of the endoscope body 20 using the syringe 72 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the syringe 72 used for the waterproof test of the sealed chamber 66 operates by pushing the piston 78 forward with respect to the cylinder 76.
Compressed air is blown out from the distal end opening of the injection needle 74. A three-way cock 80 is disposed between the injection needle 74 and the cylinder 76. By operating the lever 81, the three-way cock 80 is rotated, and the communication between the opening at the distal end of the injection needle 74 and the leak port 82 is blocked. Can be switched. In addition, when the distal end opening of the injection needle 74 is formed on the side surface of the injection needle 74, air can be supplied to the closed chamber 66 because the distal end opening is not closed even when the distal end of the injection needle 74 contacts the substrate 36 of the closed chamber 66. .

In the syringe 72 configured as described above, first, the three-way cock 80 is inserted into the opening of the tip of the injection needle 74 and the cylinder 7.
The injection needle 74 is pierced into the stopper member 70 while the piston 78 is pulled rearward so as to establish a supply hole 70A. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, after the injection needle 74 is passed through the plug member 70, the endoscope main body 20 is submerged. At this time, since the injection needle 74 penetrates so as to be in close contact with the supply hole 74A, the injection needle 74 and the supply hole 70
Air does not leak from the gap with A, and water does not enter the closed chamber 66 from the gap.

Next, the piston 78 is pushed to the distal end side to supply air from the distal end of the injection needle 74 to the closed chamber 66. At this time, if there is a leak in the closed chamber 66, air leaks from the leak and air bubbles are generated. Therefore, the waterproofness of the closed chamber 66 can be inspected based on whether or not bubbles are generated.

After the examination is completed, the endoscope body 20 is taken out of the water. By operating the lever 81 of the syringe 72, the closed chamber 66 is communicated with the outside through the leak port 82, and the pressure in the closed chamber 66 is reduced to the atmospheric pressure.

Next, the injection needle 74 is pulled out of the stopper member 70. When the injection needle 74 is pulled out, the plug member 70 is
8B is elastically deformed by receiving compressive stress from the hole wall of
OA is closed. Therefore, the waterproofness of the closed chamber 66 is maintained.

A supply hole 70A is previously formed in the center of the plug member 70 along the axial direction of the plug member 70, and when the plug member 70 is fitted into the communication hole 68B, the communication hole 6A is formed.
8B, the plug member 70 is elastically deformed in the direction in which the supply hole 70A is closed by the compressive stress received from the hole wall of the supply hole 70A.
May be closed. In this case, the size of the supply hole 70A is set to a size that is closed when the plug member 70 is fitted into the communication hole 68B, for example, about 1 mm in diameter.

As described above, according to the finger-mounted endoscope apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, since the plug member 70 is attached to the sealed chamber 66, the closed chamber is fitted into the communication hole 68B while the plug member 70 is fitted. Air can be supplied to the airtight chamber 66, and the waterproofness of the closed chamber 66 can be inspected. In addition, the supply hole 70A is
Since it is closed by its own elastic force, the waterproofness can be maintained after the inspection. Therefore, the finger-mounted endoscope device 10 is
The endoscope main body 20 can be washed and disinfected by immersing it in water, a chemical solution or the like.

The finger-mounted endoscope apparatus 10 has a simple structure in which it is simply fitted into a rubber plug member 70 in the insertion hole 68B, and can be manufactured at low cost. It can be arranged and the device can be miniaturized.

The method for testing the waterproofness of the sealed chamber 66 is as follows.
The inspection is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be performed by the following method. That is, first, the injection needle 74 is inserted into the plug member 70, air is supplied from the injection needle 74 to the closed chamber 66, and the closed chamber 66 is pressurized. Then, the injection needle 74 is pulled out from the stopper member 70. At this time, the plug member 70
Since the supply hole 70A is closed by its own elastic force, the sealed chamber 66 is maintained in a pressurized state. Next, the endoscope main body 20 is submerged, and a waterproof test is performed. After the inspection is completed, if necessary, the injection needle 74 is inserted into the plug member 70, and the three-way cock 80 is rotated to make the closed chamber 66 communicate with the outside, and the closed chamber 66 is depressurized to the atmospheric pressure.

In the above-described embodiment, the syringe 72
Although the gas was supplied to the closed chamber 66 by the above, the gas supply means is not limited to this. For example, the gas supply means 84 shown in FIG.
The airbag 85 is formed with a hole 85 </ b> A communicating between the inside and the outside. The gas supply unit 84 contracts the airbag 85 while closing the hole 85A with a finger, thereby reducing the injection needle 8.
Air is blown out from the distal end opening 86A of the sixth chamber 6 to pressurize the closed chamber 66. Then, by releasing the finger from the hole 85A, the closed chamber 66 communicates with the outside to reduce the pressure. Further, as another gas supply means, an injection needle may be communicated with a discharge port of a pump for discharging a gas of a constant pressure, and a gas of a constant pressure may be blown from the injection needle.

The structure of the plug member 70 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, like the plug members 88, 92, and 94 shown in FIGS. It is only necessary to provide a hole to be formed and a valve body for closing the hole.

The plug member 88 shown in FIG. 7 protrudes toward the closed chamber 66, and a C-ring 90 is attached to this protruding portion. The C-ring 90 presses the plug member 88 made of an elastic body from the outside, and closes the supply hole 88A. When the injection needle 74 of FIG. 4 is inserted into the supply hole 88A, the C ring 9
0 extends outward, and the inside and outside of the sealed chamber 66 communicate with each other via the supply hole 88A. When the injection needle 74 is pulled out from the supply hole 88A, the C-ring 90 presses the plug member 88 from the outside, and closes the supply hole 88A.

In the plug member 92 shown in FIG. 8, a check valve 92B is provided on the sealed chamber 66 side, and the check hole 92B opens and closes a supply hole 92A communicating between the inside and the outside of the sealed chamber 66.
When the injection needle 74 shown in FIG. 4 is inserted into the supply hole 92A, the check valve 92B opens the supply hole 92A and connects the closed chamber 66 and the supply hole 92A. Further, the injection needle 74 is connected to the supply hole 92.
A, the check valve 9 is pulled out by the internal pressure of the closed chamber 66.
2B closes the supply hole 92A, and the closed chamber 66 and the outside are shut off.

The plug member 94 shown in FIG. 9 is made of metal, resin, or the like, and is mounted so as to protrude toward the closed chamber 66. Openings 94A, 94A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion, and the inside and outside of the sealed chamber 66 are communicated through the openings 94A, 94A. A rubber tube 96 is externally fitted to the protruding portion of the plug member 94, and the openings 94 </ b> A, 9 </ b> A are formed by the rubber tube 96.
4A is closed. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied from the opening 94A to the sealed chamber 66, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the plug member 94 and the rubber tube 96, and compressed air is supplied to the sealed chamber 66 from the gap. When the supply of the compressed air is stopped, the opening 94A is closed by the elastic return force of the rubber tube 96 and the internal pressure of the closed chamber 66.

[0040]

As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus for finger mounting according to the present invention, the gas for inspection can be supplied to the closed chamber through the plug, so that the waterproof test of the closed chamber can be performed. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a finger-mounted endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an operator's hand;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the endoscope when worn on a glove.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the endoscope main body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a syringe for supplying gas to the closed chamber shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a cross-sectional view of the syringe shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a gas supply unit different from FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a plug member having a structure different from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a plug member having a structure different from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a plug member having a structure different from that of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Endoscope apparatus for finger | toe mounting, 14 ... Endoscope, 16 ... Gloves, 20 ... Endoscope main body, 22 ... Finger sack member, 30 ... Optical system, 32 ... Solid-state imaging device (CCD), 34 ... Light emission Diode (LED), 36: substrate, 38: lens barrel, 6
6 closed chamber, 68 back member, 70 plug member, 70A
Supply hole, 72: syringe, 74: injection needle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope body having illumination means and an observation means for observing a portion to be inspected under illumination of the illumination means, and a finger-suck member connected to the endoscope body. In the endoscope apparatus, the endoscope main body is formed with a closed chamber that houses and arranges the illumination unit and the observation unit in a sealed state, and is provided in the closed chamber separately from the endoscope main body. An endoscope device for finger mounting, characterized in that a stopper is provided to allow the supply of gas from the pressurizing means to the closed chamber and maintain the airtightness of the closed chamber. 2. The finger mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper has a supply hole for supplying gas to the closed chamber, and the supply hole is closed by an elastic restoring force of the stopper. Endoscope device. 3. The plug body includes a supply hole for supplying gas to the closed chamber, and a valve body for opening and closing the supply hole, and the valve body is closed by an internal pressure of the airtight chamber. The endoscope device for finger mounting according to claim 1.