JP2003038437A - Portable endoscope and light source cooling device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [PROBLEMS] To effectively cool down a temperature of a light emitting diode when the light emitting diode is used as a light source for an endoscope. SOLUTION: A light source unit 20 having a light emitting diode 34, a pump 42, and water W are provided on a portable fiberscope 10.
Tanks 23 containing each of the pipes 41A and 41 as circulation pipes.
B, 45A, 45B, a relay pipe 46, and a temperature sensor 32 are provided. The temperature of the light source unit 20 is measured by a temperature sensor,
If the measured temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the pump drive control circuit 4
4 activates the pump 42. As a result, the water W is used to cool the light source unit 20 so that the pipe 41A, the pipe 45A, and the relay pipe 4 are cooled.
6. Continue to flow while circulating through the circulation line constituted by the tube 45B and the tube 41A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope using a light emitting diode as a light source for illuminating a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional electronic endoscope devices and light source devices for fiberscopes are provided with a light source for illuminating an observation site such as the stomach. For example, a xenon lamp,
Halogen lamps are used. The light emitted from the light source passes through the optical fiber bundle for illumination provided in the scope, exits from the tip of the scope, and is irradiated toward the observation site. As a result, the subject image of the observation site is optically or electrically transmitted to the operation unit side of the scope.

On the other hand, recently, an endoscope apparatus using a light emitting diode as a light source has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-216114), and the power consumption is reduced and the light source apparatus is downsized by using the light emitting diode. Is being pursued.

[0004]

The light emitting diode has a characteristic of temperature dependence, and if the temperature around the light emitting diode rises while the light emitting diode is lit, the light emission brightness is reduced, and further, as a light source. The life is shortened. Therefore, it is necessary not to raise the temperature when the light emitting diode is turned on for a long time. As one method for lowering the temperature of a light emitting diode to cool it, a method of using water during water supply is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-
216113). In order to remove the fog on the lens, remove dirt attached to the lens, or clean the observation site, normally, there are air supply and water supply channels inside the scope, and water is discharged from the tip of the scope at appropriate times by the operator's operation. . In the above method, a member having high thermal conductivity is interposed between the air / water supply channel and the light emitting diode arranged at the distal end of the scope. When water is discharged from the tip, cold air is transmitted to the light emitting diode to lower the temperature.

However, according to such a method, the light emitting diode can be cooled only during the water supply operation. Further, the water supply work is not a work that is performed regularly and frequently during operations such as surgery and inspection, so that the temperature of the light emitting diode cannot be effectively lowered.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when a light emitting diode is used as a light source for an endoscope, an endoscope provided with a light source cooling device capable of effectively lowering the temperature of the light emitting diode and cooling the light source, and the inner portion. An object is to obtain a light source cooling device for an endoscope.

[0007]

A portable endoscope according to the present invention is a fiberscope having a light source for illuminating an object to be observed, the light source including a light emitting diode, and is operated by a battery. It is a portable scope. A portable endoscope of the present invention includes a light source cooling device including a tank for storing a liquid capable of cooling a light source, a circulation pipe line, a pump, and pump drive control means. At least a part of the circulation pipe is piped around the light source,
The circulation line and the tank are in communication so that liquid circulates between the circulation line and the tank. The pump operates to circulate the liquid. By the operation of the pump, the liquid is sent from the tank to the circulation pipe, flows around the light source, and further returns to the tank through the circulation pipe. The pump drive control means controls the operation of the pump, and the pump starts or stops operating according to the pump drive control means.

The liquid in the tank is, for example, water, which has a temperature (any temperature between 10 and 35 ° C.) capable of cooling the light source temperature. As the liquid flows around the light source, heat is absorbed around the light source, and the temperature at the light source decreases. Due to such a cooling action, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the light source from rising and the emission brightness from decreasing, and it is possible to observe a bright subject image.
An endoscopic examination can be performed with the light emitting diode turned on for a long time. Further, the decrease in the lamp life due to the temperature dependence of the light emitting diode is improved, and it becomes unnecessary to frequently replace the light emitting diode.

In order to operate the pump in accordance with turning on and off of the light source, it is desirable that the portable endoscope further has a light source ON / OFF detecting means for detecting ON / OFF of the light source. , Start / stop the pump according to the turning on / off of the light source. As a result, the pump is automatically operated or stopped simply by turning on and off the light source.

In order to circulate the liquid only when the temperature of the light source exceeds a certain value, it is desirable that the portable endoscope further has a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the light source. Activates the pump only when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature. Battery life is extended because the pump operates only when the light source temperature is high and requires cooling.

When the portable endoscope has air supply and water supply channels and the tanks and pumps for air supply and water supply are attached to the portable endoscope, they are used to cool the light source. Good to do. That is, it is desirable to circulate the liquid in the tank for air supply and water supply. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform air supply and water supply, and it is possible to cool the light source by lowering the temperature of the light source with almost no additional components.

In order to effectively lower the temperature, it is preferable that the light source is covered with a heat transfer member having a high heat tradition, and a circulation pipe is provided around the light source in the vicinity of the heat transfer member. This effectively transfers the heat of the light source to the liquid in the circulation line. Also, to reduce the temperature more effectively,
It is desirable that a part of the circulation conduit is spirally wound around the light source. As a result, heat is absorbed throughout the light source.

In order to cool the temperature of the light source with a simple structure,
It is desirable that the light source is provided in the operation unit of the portable endoscope. In this case, an optical fiber bundle for illumination is provided between the tip and the light source.

The light source cooling device for an endoscope according to the present invention comprises:
Not only a portable endoscope but also a light source provided in a conventional electronic endoscope device or a light source device for a fiberscope can be applied, and a liquid capable of cooling the light source for illuminating a subject is stored. Tank, a circulation pipe that is connected to the tank so that the liquid circulates in the pipe, a pump that circulates the liquid in the circulation pipe, and a pump drive control that controls the operation of the pump. And means.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A portable endoscope as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a portable endoscope according to this embodiment. The endoscope in the present embodiment is a portable fiberscope equipped with a light source and is used for observation of the bronchus and upper digestive tract.

The fiberscope 10 comprises a bending portion 12 including a tip portion 13, a flexible portion 14, an operating portion 16 and an eyepiece portion 18. Inside the fiberscope 10, a light source portion 20 and a light for illumination are provided. Fiber bundle (not shown here),
An optical fiber bundle (not shown) for the image guide is provided. When surgery, inspection, etc. are started, the bending portion 12 and the flexible portion 14 are inserted from the tip portion 13 into the body, and the tip portion 1 of the bending portion 12 is operated by operating a lever (not shown).
3 is directed towards the observed object. Fiberscope 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a portable fiberscope which does not require a commercial power source and is operated by a battery 25 described later.

The light source section 20 is composed of a light emitting diode (not shown here), and when the light source switch 16A provided on the operation section 16 is operated, the light source section 20.
Light is emitted from. The light emitted from the light source unit 20 is emitted from the tip portion 13 of the fiberscope 10 via the optical fiber bundle for illumination. As a result, the subject S is illuminated with light. The light reflected by the subject enters an optical fiber bundle for image guide through an objective lens (not shown) provided at the tip portion 13. As a result, the optical subject image is sent to the eyepiece 18 side through the optical fiber bundle for image guide. Then, by forming an optical subject image in the eyepiece unit 18, the operator can observe the subject image through the eyepiece unit 18.

The fiberscope 10 in this embodiment
An air supply / water supply unit 22 is attached to the connection unit 28 via a connecting portion 28. A tank 23 in which water W is stored is attached to a lower portion of the air / water feeding unit 22, and a connecting pipe 2 attached to an upper portion of the air / water feeding unit 22.
The tip portion 24A of No. 4 is connected to the connection mouth ring 26 of the connection portion 28. A battery 25 for operating the fiberscope 10 is connected to the air / water supply unit 22. When the air supply / water supply switch 16B of the operation unit 16 is operated to discharge the air or water W from the tip portion 13 for defrosting the lens, cleaning dirt, and the like,
The water W in the tank or the compressed air is sent to the tip portion 13 via the air supply and water supply channels (not shown here) formed in the fiberscope 10. On the other hand, as described later, in order to cool the light emitting diode of the light source unit 20, the water W in the tank 23 is sent to the light source unit 20, and the water W circulates between the tank 23 and the light source unit 20.

A forceps channel (not shown) is formed in the fiberscope 10 in addition to the air supply and water supply channels, and the forceps channel 29 of the connecting portion 28 is connected to the suction unit 30. The dirt and the like adhering to the observation site is sucked by the suction unit 30 into a forceps port (not shown) formed in the tip portion 13 of the forceps channel, and is sucked into the suction unit 30 via the forceps channel.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the fiberscope 10 to which the air supply / water supply unit 22 is attached.

The tank 2 is provided in the air / water supply unit 22.
A pump 42 for sucking the water W in the pump 3 is provided, and the drive is controlled by a pump drive control circuit 44. The pipe 41A extending into the tank 23 is connected to the pipe 45A in the connecting pipe 24 with the pump 42 interposed therebetween, and the pipe 45A is connected to the fiberscope 10 via the connection mouthpiece 26.
It is connected to 46A of the relay pipe 46 inside. 46A of the relay tube 46 continues to the light source section 20, and is spirally wound around the light source section 20 like 46B. Further, the relay tube 46 is connected to the light source section 20 from the end of 46B through 46C.
To the connection base 26, and is connected to one pipe 45B in the connection pipe line 24. The pipe 45B is connected to a pipe 41B that extends into the tank 23 inside the air / water supply unit 22. The LED drive circuit 47 for turning on the light emitting diode 34, the pump drive control circuit 44 for driving and controlling the pump 42, and the like are powered by the battery 25, and the LED drive circuit 47 in the fiberscope 10 connects the connecting tube 24. It is electrically connected to the battery 25 via the.

In the light source section 20 provided in the operating section 16, a cylindrical metal member 38 having high heat conductivity is provided around the light emitting diode 34, and the light emitting diode 34, the collector member, and the like are provided in the metal member 38. An optical lens 36 is arranged. The light emitting diode 34 is driven by the LED drive circuit 47, and when the operator presses the light source switch 16A, the light emitting diode 34 is turned on. Light emitting diode 3
The light emitted from the light source 4 enters the incident end 15A of the optical fiber bundle 15 for illumination via the condenser lens 36. The optical fiber bundle 15 extends from the operation portion 16 to the tip portion 13, and when light is emitted from the emission end 15A of the optical fiber bundle,
The subject S is irradiated with light.

A temperature sensor 32 is attached to the light source section 20, and the temperature in the light source section 20 is sent to the pump drive control circuit 44 as an electric signal. Light source 2
When the temperature of 0 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the pump drive control circuit 44 outputs a drive signal to the pump 42 to operate the pump 42.

When the pump 42 operates, the water W in the tank 23 passes through the pipe 41A in the air supply / water supply unit 22 and the pipe 45A in the connecting pipe line 24 to the relay pipe 46A in the fiberscope 10 to 46A. Sent. Fiberscope 10
Inside, the water W passes through 46 A of the relay pipe 46 and the light source unit 20.
Flows up to. Then, around the light source unit 20, the spiral pipe 46B of the relay pipe 46 is wound so as to be in contact with the metal member 38. Further, from the light source unit 20 to the relay tube 4
The water W flows as it is toward the pipe 45B in the connection pipe line 24 via 46C of 6 and returns to the tank 23 through the pipe 41B in the air supply / water supply unit 22. While the pump 42 is operating, the water W in the tank 23 is
5A, the relay pipe 46, the pipe 45B, and the pipe 41B are flowing while passing through as a circulation pipeline.

On the other hand, when the air supply / water supply switch 16B is operated, the pump 42 is driven by the pump drive control circuit 44, and a solenoid valve (not shown) is opened to supply the water W air supply / water supply unit 22 with a pipe 47A. The air is sent to the air / water supply channel 17 via the pipe 47B in the connecting pipe 24 and the pipe 47C in the fiberscope 10.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the light source cooling operation executed by the pump drive control circuit 44. Light source switch 1 for turning on the light emitting diode 34
When 6A is turned on, the pump drive control circuit 44 detects lighting of the light emitting diode 34. Further, in order to turn off the light emitting diode 34 from the lighting state, the light source switch 16A
Is turned off, the pump drive control circuit 44 detects that the light emitting diode 34 is turned off.

In step 101, the LED drive circuit 47
Sends a current to the light emitting diode 34, which causes the light emitting diode 34 to light up. And step 102
Then, the temperature of the light source unit 20 is measured by the temperature sensor 32, and the measured value X is sent to the pump drive control circuit 44 as a signal. When step 102 is executed, the routine proceeds to step 103, where it is judged if the measured value X is larger than the upper limit value Y. The upper limit value Y is determined according to the characteristics of the light emitting diode 34, and here the upper limit value Y is 40 (° C.).
Stipulated in.

When it is determined in step 103 that the measured value X is larger than the upper limit value Y, the process proceeds to step 104, and the pump drive control circuit 44 drives the pump 42 to operate the pump 42 or to continue the operation. The signal is output. On the other hand, when it is determined that the measured value X is less than or equal to the upper limit value Y, the pump drive control circuit 44 controls the pump 42 not to operate or to stop the operation. Step 104 or Step 1
When 05 is executed, the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 106, the pump drive control circuit 44 determines whether or not the light emitting diode 34 is on. That is, it is determined whether or not the light source switch 16A has performed the turn-off operation. If it is determined that the light emitting diode 34 is on, step 10
Returning to step 2, steps 102 to 105 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the light emitting diode 34 is not turned on, that is, the light emitting diode 34 is turned off by the operation of the light source switch 16A, the process proceeds to step 107, and the operation is stopped according to the control signal from the pump drive control circuit 44, Alternatively, the pump 42 is controlled so as not to operate. When step 107 is executed, the light source cooling operation ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the light source unit 2
When the temperature X at 0 becomes larger than the upper limit value Y,
The pump 42 operates and the water W in the tank 23 is
A, the pipe 45A, the relay pipe 46, the pipe 45B, the pipe 41B, and the tank 23 circulate. Then, the cold air of the water W flowing around the light source unit 20 along the spiral pipe is transmitted to the light emitting diode 34 through the metal member 38, so that the temperature around the light emitting diode 34 is lowered.

In this embodiment, a tank for supplying air and water,
Although the temperature of the light source unit 20 is cooled with respect to the fiberscope 10 provided with the air supply / water supply unit 22 having a pump, the air supply / water supply tank and the pump are not used in combination. Alternatively, a circulation tank or pump for storing the water W may be independently attached to the fiberscope. Further, even if the temperature X does not exceed the upper limit Y, the water W may circulate and flow while the light emitting diode 34 is on. In this case, the pump drive control circuit 44 turns on / off the light source switch 16.
The pump 42 is turned on / off at the same time when the above is detected.
Further, the power supply to the circuits in the fiberscope 10 such as the LED drive circuit 47 for lighting the light emitting diode 34 is not from the battery 25 in the air supply / water supply unit 22, but is provided in the battery provided in the fiberscope 10. May be done in.

In this embodiment, the light source unit provided in the portable endoscope is cooled, but the light source unit of the conventional fixed type electronic endoscope apparatus or the fixed type for the fiberscope is used. You may apply to a light source device.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a light emitting diode is used as a light source for an endoscope, the temperature of the light emitting diode can be effectively lowered and cooled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a portable endoscope of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a portable endoscope to which an air / water feeding unit is attached.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a light source cooling operation executed in a pump drive control circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Fiberscope (portable endoscope) 17 Air and water supply channels 20 light source 22 Air / water supply unit 23 tanks 25 batteries 32 Temperature sensor 34 light emitting diode 38 Metal member (heat transfer member) 41A, 41B tube 42 pumps 44 Pump drive control circuit (pump drive control means) 46 Relay pipe 47 LED drive circuit Y upper limit (predetermined temperature) W water (liquid)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A portable endoscope including a light source for illuminating an object, the light source including a light-emitting diode, the tank being for storing a liquid capable of cooling the light source. A pipe for circulating at least a part of the light source and communicating with the tank so that the liquid circulates in the pipe; a pump for circulating the liquid in the circulation pipe; and an operation of the pump. A portable endoscope comprising a light source cooling device comprising a pump drive control means for controlling. 2. The portable endoscope further comprises a light source ON / OFF detecting means for detecting whether the light source is turned on or off, and the pump drive control means operates the pump according to the turning on of the light source, The portable endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the pump is stopped when the light source is turned off. 3. The light source cooling device further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the light source, and the pump drive control means operates the pump only when the measured temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature. The portable endoscope according to claim 1. 4. The portable endoscope further has an air supply / water supply channel, the tank is an air supply / water supply tank, and the pump is an air supply / water supply pump. The portable endoscope according to claim 1. 5. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is covered with a heat transfer member having high heat conductivity, and the circulation pipeline is provided in the vicinity of the heat transfer member. Endoscope. 6. The portable endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a part of the circulation conduit is spirally wound around the light source. 7. The portable endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the light source is provided in an operation unit of the portable endoscope. 8. A tank for storing a liquid capable of cooling a light source for illuminating an object, and a circulation pipe lined around the light source and communicating with the tank so that the liquid circulates in the pipe. A light source cooling device for an endoscope, comprising: a pump that circulates the liquid in the circulation line; and a pump drive control unit that controls an operation of the pump.