JP2016013313A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope allowing an operator to quickly exchange batteries without changing a hand holding the endoscope when exchanging the batteries and preventing a fall of a component such as a battery.SOLUTION: An endoscope 1 includes: an insertion part having flexibility; a display part 4 capable of displaying an endoscope image; a grip part 2 to which the display part 4 is fixed and the distal end of the insertion part is connected, and from which the insertion part is extended; a joystick 3 provided at an upper side of the grip part 2; a battery storage part 2B provided at the grip part 2 and capable of storing a battery 16; and a lid 11 for covering the battery storage part 2B, the lower part of which is journaled to the lower part of the grip part 2 and that can be opened by pulling down the upper part thereof 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly, to an endoscope with a built-in battery.

  Conventionally, endoscopes have been widely used in industrial fields, medical fields, and the like. For example, the examiner inserts a long and thin insertion portion into the examination target, and performs an endoscopic examination by looking at an endoscopic image displayed on the display unit. The inspector operates the operation unit with one hand and performs an insertion operation while holding the elongated insertion unit with the other hand.

  There are various types of endoscopes depending on the purpose and location of the examination. For example, there is an endoscope with a built-in battery because there is a place where the power cannot be taken at the examination place. In recent years, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4897116, a display unit that displays an endoscopic image and an operation unit for performing various operations such as a bending operation and image recording are integrally carried and An endoscope apparatus that is easy to operate has been proposed.

  The operation unit is provided with an operation device such as a joystick. The inspector operates the operation device while observing the endoscopic image displayed on the monitor to bend the bending portion in a desired direction. Thus, it is possible to observe a desired site or insert the insertion portion in a desired direction.

  In the case of a battery-driven endoscope, if the remaining battery level decreases during use, the battery may be replaced even during inspection.

Japanese Patent No. 4897116

  However, in the case of the endoscope device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4897116 described above, since the lid of the battery housing portion is disposed on the upper rear surface where the display portion is provided, in order to replace the battery, The inspector must open the lid after changing the endoscope apparatus with the back side facing forward. After opening the lid, the inspector takes out the old battery from the battery housing portion and replaces the new battery into the battery housing portion. There must be.

  Although it is desirable that the battery can be replaced quickly, in the case of the endoscope apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 4897116, the battery can be replaced by changing the endoscope apparatus so that the back cover is on the near side. The complicated work of opening the lid after the back side is directed to the front side is necessary, and the battery cannot be easily replaced.

  When replacing the battery, it is only necessary to replace the battery by placing the endoscope on a desk or table. For example, in the case of an industrial endoscope, the endoscope should be placed at a high place such as a steel tower. It cannot be placed on a desk or the like, and replacement work is not easy.

In particular, the insertion part of the endoscope is elongated, and the endoscope is always pulled in the direction of the insertion part due to the weight of the insertion part itself, so the operation of changing the endoscope or the state in which the lid is opened is maintained. In order to operate, the examiner needs a strong force.
In addition, when the battery is replaced, the inspector may accidentally drop the battery.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can quickly replace a battery without having to change the endoscope when replacing the battery, and can prevent parts such as a battery from falling. To do.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the insertion unit having flexibility, a display unit capable of displaying an endoscopic image, the display unit is fixed, and a proximal end of the insertion unit is connected to the insertion unit. A gripping part extending from the gripping part, an operating device provided on an upper side of the gripping part, a battery housing part provided in the gripping part and capable of housing a battery, and a lid for covering the battery housing part. And a lid that can be opened so as to tilt the upper portion of the lid while the lower portion of the lid is pivotally supported at the lower portion of the gripping portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is not necessary to change an endoscope at the time of battery replacement, The battery which can perform battery replacement rapidly and can prevent fall of components, such as a battery, can be provided.

1 is a front view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view seen from the back diagonal direction of the endoscope in connection with embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a battery replacement lid is opened halfway. It is a front view of the lid | cover 11 in connection with embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the lid | cover 11 in connection with embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the lid | cover 11 in connection with embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the slanting upper part of the back surface side of the lid | cover 11 concerning embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the lid | cover 11 along the IX-IX line of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a front view of an endoscope according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the endoscope according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the endoscope according to the present embodiment viewed from an obliquely rearward direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the endoscope according to the present embodiment in a state where the battery replacement lid is opened halfway.

The endoscope 1 is a battery-powered endoscope having a grip portion 2, a joystick 3, a display portion 4 capable of displaying an endoscopic image, and an insertion portion 5.
The grip part 2 has a substantially cylindrical body part. As shown by a dotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the user who is an inspector grips the grip portion 2 with one hand H (right hand or left hand), the user can slightly grip the grip portion 2 from the center portion of the grip portion 2. The lower portion 2a has a shape such that the diameter of the lower portion 2a is slightly thinner than the diameter of the upper portion 2b. The lower part 2a and the upper part 2b constitute a body part.
In the following description, the side facing the display surface 4a of the display unit 4 when the user is holding the grip unit 2 with one hand and looking at an endoscopic image that is an inspection image displayed on the display unit 4 Is referred to as the front side of the grip portion 2. In FIG. 2, an arrow FS indicates the near side with respect to the display unit 4.

  The grip 2 has a bottom 2c that can be placed on a table such as a desk. The bottom portion 2c has an enlarged diameter and a flat bottom surface 2c1 so that the bottom portion 2c does not easily fall over when the grip portion 2 is placed on a table. That is, the grip portion 2 of the endoscope 1 can stand on a stand or the like. The endoscope 1 is self-supporting on a table or the like so that the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 2 coincides with the vertical direction. Here, the bottom surface 2c1 is the bottom surface of the bottom plate member 2A fixed to the housing 2x of the grip portion 2 with screws or the like. The housing 2x of the grip portion 2 is made of resin.

  The upper part 2d of the grip portion 2 has an inclined surface 2d1 that is a flat surface inclined toward the front side. The joystick 3 as an operation device is provided so as to protrude in a direction orthogonal to the inclined surface 2d1. That is, the joystick 3 as an operating device is provided on the upper part 2 d side of the grip portion 2.

  The grip portion 2 has a size that allows the user to grip with one hand and to operate the joystick 3 with the thumb in the gripped state. As shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the user can operate the joystick 3 with the thumb while holding the grip portion 2 with the hand H.

  The display unit 4 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely rearward from the upper part 2d of the grip unit 2 so that the display surface 4a faces slightly upward on the near side of the grip unit 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a flexible and elongated insertion portion 5 is provided on the back surface of the grip portion 2 so as to extend obliquely downward from the back surface. The insertion portion 5 extends from the back surface opposite to the front surface of the grip portion 2 in the direction of a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the axis O of the grip portion 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the axis C <b> 1 of the insertion portion 5 extending from the back surface of the grip portion 2 coincides with the axis of the joystick 3. In other words, the axis of the joystick 3 and the extending direction axis of the insertion portion 5 are coaxial. The predetermined angle θ1 is an angle in the range of 20 to 50 degrees, and preferably an angle in the range of 40 to 45 degrees.
That is, the grip portion 2 has a shape that can be gripped with one hand of the user, the display portion 4 is fixed, the base end of the insert portion 5 is connected, and the insert portion extends from the back surface.

  In addition, a holding hole 2 e for locking and holding the distal end portion of the insertion portion 5 is provided in the lower portion on the back side of the grip portion 2. The holding hole 2e is formed in an extending portion in which a part of the bottom plate member 2A extends upward. The user can hold the distal end portion of the insertion portion 5 in the retaining hole 2e by passing the distal end portion of the insertion portion 5 through the retaining hole 2e.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lid 11 is a lid that is provided on the front surface of the grip portion 2 and covers the battery housing portion 2 </ b> B disposed inside the front surface side of the grip portion 2. That is, the battery housing portion 2 </ b> B capable of housing the battery 16 is provided in the grip portion 2 and is provided below the joystick 3. The lid 11 is configured to be opened on the front side of the grip portion 2 so that the upper part of the lid 11 may fall down. In other words, the lid 11 is configured to be able to open from the upper side to the lower side in the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 2.

  Two holes (not shown) are provided on the front side of the bottom 2c of the grip portion 2, and a shaft member 11a provided at the lower portion of the lid 11 described later is inserted into the two holes. A hinge 13 is formed by the two holes provided in the bottom 2c and the shaft member 11a. A hinge 13 for opening and closing the lid 11 is provided on the bottom 2 c of the grip 2.

  That is, the lid 11 is a lid for covering the battery housing portion 2B, and the lower portion of the lid 11 is pivotally supported by the hinge 13 at the lower portion of the grip portion 2, and is opened so that the upper portion of the lid 11 is tilted forward. It is possible.

An unlocking operation member 14 for releasing the locked state in which the lid 11 is closed is provided on the top of the lid 11.
(Structure of the lid)
FIG. 5 is a front view of the lid 11. FIG. 6 is a side view of the lid 11. FIG. 7 is a top view of the lid 11. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rear surface side of the lid 11 as viewed from obliquely above. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lid 11 taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

  As described above, the lid 11 is disposed on the front surface of the grip portion 2, which is a surface facing the user who is viewing the display portion 4 by gripping the grip portion 2 with one hand H when using the endoscope 1. It is comprised so that 11 may be pushed down and opened.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 11 has a shape in which the upper part is wider than the lower part, and the upper width L1 is larger than the lower width L2. That is, when the lid 11 is closed, the width L1 of the upper portion of the lid 11 is larger than the width L2 of the lower portion of the lid 11.
An unlocking operation member 14 is disposed on the upper side of the lid 11. A shaft member 11 a constituting the hinge 13 is fixed to the lower portion of the lid 11.

  The lid 11 includes a front surface portion 11A that constitutes a part of the housing 2x on the front surface side of the grip portion 2, and side wall portions 11B that are provided on both sides of the front surface portion 11A. The two side wall portions 11B constitute a part of the housing 2x on both side surfaces of the grip portion 2. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the lid 11 in the direction orthogonal to the axis O of the grip portion 2 is substantially U-shaped (see FIG. 7). The front surface portion 11 </ b> A constitutes a part of the front surface of the grip portion 2, and the two side wall portions 11 </ b> B constitute a part of two side surfaces of the grip portion 2. That is, in a state where the lid 11 is closed, the lid 11 has a shape that covers a part of the side surface of the grip portion 2.

  The unlocking operation member 14 is provided in the central portion on the upper side of the front surface portion 11 </ b> A of the lid 11. The unlocking operation member 14 is a part of the unlocking mechanism 15, and the unlocking mechanism 15 is disposed on the back side of the lid 11. As shown in FIG. 9, the unlocking operation member 14 is slidable below the lid 11, and is biased upward by a biasing mechanism using a spring (not shown).

  When the unlocking operation member 14 is slid below the lid 11 against the biasing force of the spring, the protrusion 14a of the unlocking operation member 14 and the housing 2x of the gripping part 2 are disengaged, The lid 11 can be opened.

  That is, the unlocking operation member 14 constitutes a part of an unlocking mechanism 15 that is a locking mechanism for locking the lid 11 in the closed state, and the unlocking operation member 14 is disposed on the top of the lid 11. The lid 11 is operated to release the lock mechanism so that the lid 11 can be opened.

The lid 11 opens from the closed position to the front side by rotating around a rotation axis of the hinge 13 to a predetermined angle θ2, for example, 120 degrees.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lid 11 covers the battery housing portion 2 </ b> B formed at the lower portion of the grip portion 2. The battery housing portion 2B is a recess for housing the battery 16, and the opening of the battery housing portion 2B is covered by the lid 11.

The battery removal button 17 is provided above the opening of the battery housing part 2B. The battery eject button 17 is covered with the lid 11 when the lid 11 is closed, and can be operated when the lid 11 is opened. The battery eject button 17 is a button that is pressed when the battery 16 accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 2B is ejected. When the battery eject button 17 is pressed, the battery 16 changes from a state where it cannot be removed to a state where it can be removed. That is, when the battery eject button 17 is pressed, the battery 16 is unlocked.
The battery 16 is arranged below the axis C1 of the insertion portion 5 that coincides with the axis of the joystick 3, and the lid 11 is also arranged to be opened and closed below the axis C1.

The display unit 4 is disposed above the axis C1.
(Function)
1) Holding and Joystick Operation As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the user can operate the joystick 3 while holding the holding portion 2 with one hand H. 1 and 2, the grasping portion 2 of the endoscope 1 is grasped with one hand H which is the left hand, and the joystick 3 is operated with the thumb of the grasping left hand H while the insertion portion 5 is advanced and retracted with the right hand (not shown). Shows that you can.
2) Battery replacement After turning off the power of the endoscope 1, the user moves the thumb of the left hand H to the unlocking operation member 14 while holding the gripping part 2, and moves the unlocking operation member 14 downward. When moved, the projecting portion 14a of the unlocking operation member 14 that is locked to the housing 2x of the grip portion 2 is changed from the engaged state with the housing 2x to the non-engaged state in which the projecting portion 14a is not engaged with the housing 2x. The user can open the lid 11 by tilting it toward the front side.

The user pushes the battery removal button 17 with the thumb of the left hand H and takes out the battery 16 with the right hand. After taking out the old battery 16, the user accommodates the new battery 16 in the battery accommodating portion 2B.
That is, the user can open the lid 11 by operating the unlocking operation member 14 without holding the gripping part from the state of gripping the gripping part during the endoscopic examination.

In particular, since the lid 11 has a substantially U-shape as shown in FIG. 7, when the lid 11 is opened, even if the user accidentally releases the battery 16 above the lid 11, the lid 11 11, the battery 16 is prevented from falling.
Further, since the unlocking operation member 14 is provided at the upper part of the lid 11, the unlocking operation member 14 also plays a role of preventing the battery 16 from dropping.

That is, when the lid 11 is opened, the upper portion of the lid 11 is lowered and the lower portion of the lid is raised, so that the dropped battery 16 is more reliably received.
Moreover, since the upper part of the holding part 2 is wider than the lower part, not only it is easy to hold, but the area for receiving the battery 16 when the lid 11 is opened is large.
Furthermore, since the opening direction of the lid 11 is on the front side, it is not necessary to change the gripping portion, and the operation is easy.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the user quickly replaces the battery 16 by opening the lid 11 while holding the grip 2 without holding the endoscope when replacing the battery. be able to.

  In addition, when the lid 11 is opened, the back surface of the lid 11 serves as a receiving portion for the battery 16, so that even if a new battery 16 is temporarily placed or the removed battery is dropped, the lid 11 can receive the The battery 16 can be prevented from dropping.

  As described above, it is possible to provide an endoscope that allows a user to quickly replace a battery without having to change the endoscope when replacing the battery, and to prevent parts such as the battery from falling. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope, 2 Grip part, 2A Bottom plate member, 2B Battery accommodating part, 2a Lower part, 2b Upper part, 2c Bottom part, 2c1 Bottom face, 2d Upper part, 2d1 Inclined surface, 2e Holding hole, 2x Housing, 3 Joystick, 4 Display part, 4a Display surface, 5 Insertion part, 11 Cover, 11A Front part, 11B Side wall part, 11a Shaft member, 13 Hinge, 14 Unlocking operation member, 14a Protruding part, 15 Unlocking mechanism, 16 Battery, 17 Button .

Claims (9)

An insertion part having flexibility;
A display unit capable of displaying an endoscopic image;
The display unit is fixed, and the proximal end of the insertion unit is connected, and the insertion unit extends,
An operating device provided on the upper side of the gripping portion;
A battery housing portion provided in the grip portion and capable of housing a battery;
A lid for covering the battery housing portion, and a lid that can be opened so as to tilt the upper portion of the lid while the lower portion of the lid is pivotally supported in the lower portion of the gripping portion;
The endoscope characterized by having.   The lid is disposed on a front surface of the gripping portion, which is a surface facing the user who is gripping the gripping portion by hand and viewing the display portion when using the endoscope, and tilts the lid to the near side. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is opened.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a width of an upper portion of the lid is larger than a width of a lower portion of the lid when the lid is closed.   4. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the lid has a shape that covers a part of a side surface of the grip portion when the lid is closed. 5. A locking mechanism for locking the lid in a closed state;
An unlocking operation member disposed on the top of the lid and operated to release the locking mechanism so that the lid can be opened;
The endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by comprising:   The endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the battery housing portion is provided below the operation device.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the insertion portion extends from a back surface opposite to the front surface of the grip portion.   The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the insertion portion extends downward from a back surface of the grip portion. The operating device is a joystick,
The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the axis of the joystick and the extending direction axis of the insertion portion are coaxial.

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