JP2998578B2 - Endoscope main body operation unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a main body operation section of an endoscope used for medical treatment, industrial use, and the like, and more particularly to a mounting mechanism of operation means including switches and the like in the main body operation section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope is generally constructed by connecting a main body operating portion to a base end portion of an insertion portion and a universal cord detachably connected to a light source device or the like. Although it is configured, a person who operates the endoscope is operated by holding the main body operation unit with one hand. For this purpose, the main body housing of the main body operation section is provided with various operation means operated by fingers of the operator. As this type of operation means, there is an angle operation knob for bending an angle portion provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion in a desired direction. Further, when the observation window provided at the distal end of the insertion portion becomes dirty, a cleaning valve for supplying a cleaning fluid including a cleaning liquid and pressurized air is operated.
There are a so-called air / water supply button and a suction button for sucking dirt and the like in the body cavity.

Here, as an observation mechanism in an endoscope, an image of an observation target portion obtained through an observation window is guided to an eyepiece through an image guide, and observation is performed through the eyepiece. An optical endoscope and a solid-state imaging device are made to face an observation window. The solid-state imaging device converts an image of an object to be observed into an electric signal and transmits the signal to a processor. There is an electronic endoscope that performs processing and displays the image on a monitor device. In an optical endoscope, an eyepiece is provided, and this eyepiece is connected to the rear end side of the main body operation unit, that is, the side opposite to the side where the insertion unit is continuously provided. Become. Whether it ’s an optical endoscope,
Further, even in the case of an electronic endoscope, the main body housing in the main body operation section is only provided with an eyepiece or not, so that the main body housing constituting the main body operation section is usually an optical housing. It can be shared by both endoscopes and electronic endoscopes.

[0004] Since at least an image guide needs to be exposed to the eyepiece, an insertion member such as an image guide is inserted into the rear end of the body housing configured for an optical endoscope. It is necessary to provide a through hole. On the other hand, an electronic endoscope does not require an eyepiece, but external devices such as a processor and a VTR (video tape recorder) are connected, and not only the endoscope but also external devices connected to the endoscope can be controlled more. For smooth operation, it is necessary to provide operating means such as switches for controlling their operations. Therefore, when configured as an electronic endoscope, the space at the rear end of the main body housing is used as a mounting portion for operating means such as a switch. For this purpose, for example, a switch case is used, and this switch case is fixed to the rear end of the main body housing. A switch is provided in the switch case, and a cable is connected to the switch, and the cable must be extended into the main body operation unit. Therefore, the above-described through hole is used as the cable insertion unit. Like that.

Here, in order to fix the connecting members such as the eyepiece and the switch case to the main body housing of the main body operating portion, the connecting members are brought into contact with the periphery of the through hole in the main body housing from the outside, and the inner side of the through hole is formed. From the abutment plate,
In general, the connecting member and the pressing plate are pressed against the wall surface of the main body housing by using a bolt.

[0006]

By the way, when the connecting member is fixed to the main body housing of the main body operating portion as described above, the connecting member is securely fixed in the axial direction thereof.
It is kept in a state without rattling. However, in the rotational direction, the connecting member only frictionally engages with the main body housing. Therefore, if a strong rotational force is applied or the force is repeatedly applied in the rotational direction, the bolt may be loosened. In particular, in the case of an optical endoscope provided with an eyepiece, a diopter adjustment ring is provided on the eyepiece for performing diopter adjustment, and the diopter adjustment ring is repeatedly rotated. When operated, the bolts fixing the eyepiece are loosened, and the eyepiece becomes unstable. In extreme cases, there is a drawback that the eyepiece may fall off. Therefore, in order to prevent the connecting member from rotating with respect to the main body housing, it is necessary to provide a means such as a key connection. However, providing such a detent mechanism increases the size of the connecting portion of the connecting member. There is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to simplify the structure of a connecting portion between a main body operating portion and a connecting member without increasing the size of the main body. An object of the present invention is to maintain a very stable state even when a rotational force is applied to a connecting member connected to a casing.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a main body housing provided with operating means connected to a base end portion of an insertion portion and held by an operator to perform an operation. A through hole is formed at the rear end to allow the insertion member to pass through. The connecting member comes in contact with the outside and the holding plate from the inside , and the connecting member stops in this through hole.
The main body housing is sandwiched between the connecting member and the holding plate and fastened with a bolt, and one end surface of the holding plate is attached to the inner surface of the main body housing. And the bolt insertion portion is rotated in the rotation direction with respect to the connection member in the through hole.
It is characterized in that it is provided at a position eccentric to the center of rotation of the connecting member when a force acts .

[0009]

The connecting member and the holding plate are securely fixed in the axial direction of the bolt by the pressing force generated by the tightening of the bolt. Further, since one end surface of the holding plate is in contact with the inner surface of the main body housing, the holding plate is also fixed in the rotation direction. Since the connecting member itself is only in surface contact with the main body housing, the connecting member itself is not restricted in the rotational direction. However, when trying to rotate the connecting member, the bolt is inserted at a position eccentric from the center of rotation, so that the force for rotating the bolt around the axis does not act, but it is applied to the center of rotation of the connecting member. A force acts on the center and moves in a circular direction whose radius is the amount of eccentricity. As a result, the rotational force of the connecting member is not converted into a force for rotating the bolt, but is transmitted to the pressing plate to try to rotate the pressing plate. Then, since the presser plate comes into surface contact with the inner surface of the main body housing and cannot rotate, the rotational force of the connecting member is ultimately received by the main body housing. Therefore, there is no fear that the bolt is loosened. Here, in order to ensure that the rotational force of the connecting member is received by the inner surface of the main body housing, the contact length between the holding plate and the inner surface of the main body housing may be increased. As far as possible from the contact with the inner surface,
Again, the connecting member can be stabilized. To this end, the bolt insertion position may be provided at a position on the opposite side of the contact portion of the holding plate with the main body housing with respect to the rotation center position of the connecting member.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of an endoscope. In the figure, 1 is a main body operation unit, 2 is an insertion unit to be inserted into a body cavity or the like, and 3 is a universal cord. Here, in the illustrated endoscope, an image guide faces an image forming position of an objective lens provided in an observation window at a distal end of the insertion section 2, and the image guide extends from the insertion section 2 to the inside of the main body operation section 1. The eyepiece 4 is extended to an eyepiece 4 provided in connection with the rear end of the main body operation unit 1, and the inside of the body cavity or the like can be observed by touching the eyepiece 4. This is a so-called optical endoscope. Further, a solid-state imaging device is provided at an image forming position of an objective lens at the tip of the insertion portion, and the solid-state imaging device is used as an electronic endoscope configured to convert an image of an observation target portion into an electric signal. The eyepiece unit 4 is not mounted, but instead, a switch case 5 provided with various operation means, particularly switches, is mounted.

As described above, the main body operation section 1 is provided with the connecting member including the eyepiece section 4 or the switch case 5, and is configured as an optical endoscope or an electronic endoscope. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an eyepiece 4 as an example of the connecting member. In the figure, 10 indicates an image guide,
The image guide 10 is fixedly connected to the main body 11 of the eyepiece 4. A lens barrel 13 provided with an eyepiece 12 is attached to the main body 11, and the image guide 10 faces the lens barrel 13 at a predetermined interval. A cam pin 14 protrudes from the lens barrel 13, and the cam pin 14 penetrates a guide hole 11 a provided in an axial direction of the main body 11, and is provided by being fitted to the main body 11. 15 are engaged with the cam grooves 15a. A diopter adjustment ring 16 is connected to the cam ring 15. By rotating the diopter adjustment ring 16, the lens barrel 13 is displaced in a direction to approach or separate from the end face of the image guide 10. The diopter can be adjusted.

On the other hand, when configured as an electronic endoscope, the switch case 5 connected to the main body operation unit 1 is configured as shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a case main body. Two switches 21 operated by fingers or the like are fixed to the case main body 20 so as to be screwed into the screw holes 20a. Each of the switches 21 is connected to a pair of cables 22. The cables 22 pass through cable insertion holes 20 b provided in the case main body 20 and are led out toward the main body operation unit 1.

Next, an attachment structure of the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5 to the main body operation unit 1 will be described. A through hole 6 for inserting an insertion member is provided at the rear end of the main body housing 1a constituting the main body operation unit 1, and a holding plate is provided inside the main body housing 1a with the through hole 6 interposed therebetween. The eyepiece 4 or the switch case 5 is fastened and fixed by inserting a bolt through the holding plate. As a mechanism for fixing the eyepiece 4, a holding plate 30 shown in FIG.
As a mechanism for fixing the switch case 5, the holding plate 40 shown in FIG. 5 is used.

The eyepiece 4 is fixed by using two bolts 31, 31, as is apparent from FIGS.
The bolt 31 is a bolt insertion hole 3 formed in the holding plate 30.
2, and is screwed into a screw hole 17 formed in a surface of the main body 11 of the eyepiece 4 facing the holding plate 30. The holding plate 30 is provided with a through hole 33 through which the image guide 10 is inserted, and a power supply to a camera (not shown) detachably connected to the eyepiece 4 and a signal such as a shutter release signal. A cable insertion hole 34 for inserting a cable for transmission / reception is formed.

On the other hand, the fixing of the switch case 5 is performed using a single bolt 41, as is apparent from FIGS. Bolt insertion holes 42 and 23 are respectively formed in the holding plate 40 and the surface of the case body 20 of the switch case 5 facing the holding plate 40. The bolt insertion hole 23 on the 20 side is provided with a large-diameter portion 23a, and a nut 43 is accommodated in the large-diameter portion 23a. Therefore, the switch case 5 is fixed by screwing the bolt 41 and the nut 43 together.
The cable 22 extending through the cable insertion hole 20b of the case body 20 is attached to the holding plate
Cable insertion hole 4 for guiding inside the main body housing 1a
4 have been established.

The connecting member composed of the eyepiece 4 or the switch case 5 is fixed to the main body housing 1a as described above, but in any case, these connecting members are connected to the holding plate 30 or 40. Bolts 31 or 4 between
1, the connecting member is firmly fixed in the direction in which these connecting members are pulled away from the main body housing 1a, that is, in the axial direction of the bolts 31, 41, but the force for rotating in one direction. Works,
The bolts 31 and 41 may be loosened. In particular, in the case of the eyepiece 4, since the diopter adjustment ring 16 is rotated, a rotational force is often applied to the entire eyepiece 4. If the bolts 31 and 41 seem to be easily loosened when the force in the rotation direction acts as described above, the eyepiece 4 is formed.
The connection member such as the switch case 5 cannot be stably held.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body 11 of the eyepiece 4 and the case body 20 of the switch case 5
Since it is fitted in the through hole 6 of the main body housing 1a, it is possible to provide a rotation preventing mechanism such as a key coupling part or a screw mounting at this fitting part. However, the provision of the detent mechanism complicates the configuration of the connecting portion,
In order to ensure that the rotation preventing function is exerted, it is necessary to provide a large-scale rotation preventing mechanism, which results in an increase in the size of the connecting portion.

Therefore, in the present invention, the connecting member can be surely prevented from rotating without providing the above-described special rotation preventing mechanism. For this,
First, the end surfaces 30a, 40a of the holding plates 30, 40 are brought into contact with the inner surface of the side wall of the main body housing 1a. The contact end surfaces 30a, 40a of the holding members 30, 40 are in contact with a predetermined length. Thereby, the holding plate 3
0 and 40 are fixed so as not to rotate.

Since the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5 constituting the connecting member are only in surface contact with the main body housing 1a, they are not regulated in the rotation direction. Here, when rotating the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5,
The rotation centers are O ₁ and O _{2 in} FIGS. 4 and 5. Then, in the eyepiece section 4 of FIG. 4, two insertion has been that bolts 31 and 31 eccentrically together with respect to the rotation center O _1, located on either side of the position across the rotation center O _1, Contact end face 3
It is disposed at a position eccentric roughly on the extension of the line connecting the intermediate position and the rotation center O ₁ of the contact portion of the main body housing 1a of 0a. In the case of the switch case 5, the bolt 41 is mounted in position on the extended line of the line connecting the substantially intermediate position and the rotation center O ₂ of the abutment to the main body housing 1a of the abutting end face 40a .

[0020] As described above, placing the bolts 31 and 41 to the eccentric position with respect to the rotation center O _1, O _2, moreover apart than the distance of the abutment end face 30a, from 40a to the rotational center O _1, O ₂ When the user tries to rotate the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5, which are the connecting members, the force for rotating the bolts 31 and 41 around the axis does not act, but the eyepiece is used. A force is applied to move the switch case 4 and the switch case 5 in a circular direction having the eccentric amount as a radius around the rotation centers O ₁ and O ₂ of the connecting members. As a result, the rotational force acting on the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5 is not converted into a force for rotating the bolts 31 and 41, but
It is transmitted to the holding plates 30 and 40 and the holding plates 30 and 40
Is converted to a force in the direction of rotation. Since the contact end surfaces 30a, 40a of the holding plates 30, 40 come into surface contact with the inner surface of the main body housing 1a and cannot rotate, this rotational force is finally received by the main body housing 1a and There is no possibility that the members 31 and 40 rotate and become loose. Moreover,
Contact end faces 30 of holding plates 30 and 40 for bolts 31 and 41
Since there is a sufficient distance from the a and 40a to the mounting portions of the bolts 31 and 41, the function of preventing the rotation of the eyepiece 4 and the switch case 5 can be more strongly exerted, and the eyepiece 4 as a connecting member can be exerted. And the switch case 5 is extremely stably held.

Here, on one side of the main body housing 1a,
An opening for maintenance of the inside is provided, and this opening is always closed in an airtight state with the lid 1b. Therefore, when a force is applied to the wall on this side, the pressure is applied by the pressing force. There is a possibility that the airtightness of the mounting portion 1b may be reduced. However, the contact end faces 30a, 40a of the holding plates 30, 40 are in contact with the lid 1b.
Since the wall surface is on the opposite side of the mounting portion, even when a considerable rotational force acts, the airtightness of the mounting portion of the lid 1b does not decrease.

[0022]

According to the present invention, as described above, the holding plate is brought into contact with the main body housing and the bolt is mounted at a position eccentric from the rotation center of the connecting member. The structure of the connecting part with the connecting member is complicated,
Even if a rotational force is applied to the connecting member connected to the main body casing without increasing the size, the bolts are not loosened, and an effect such as an extremely stable state can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope including a main body operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting portion between the main body operation unit and the eyepiece in the horizontal direction, that is, the HH direction in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in a vertical direction of a connecting portion between a main body operation unit and a switch case, that is, a direction LL in FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1 showing a configuration of a pressing plate for an eyepiece;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the configuration of a holding plate for a switch case.

[Description of Signs] 1 Main body operation section 4 Eyepiece section 5 Switch case 10 Image guide 11 Main body section 12 Eyepiece lens 17 Screw hole 20 Case main body 21 Switch 23 Bolt insertion hole 30, 40 Holding plate 30a, 40a Contact end face 31, 41 bolt 32, 42 bolt insertion hole

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A through-hole is provided at a rear end of a main body housing, which is provided at a base end of an insertion portion and is provided with an operating means for an operator to hold and operate, and a through-hole is formed. In order to fixedly attach the connecting member consisting of the case or the eyepiece of the operation means to the through hole forming portion, the connecting member is brought into contact with the surrounding of the through hole in the main body housing from the outside, and the pressing plate is brought into contact with the inside from the inside , And the connecting member is locked in this through hole.
In a state where the main body housing is sandwiched between the connecting member and the holding plate, and one end surface of the holding plate is brought into contact with the inner surface of the main body housing. In addition, the bolt insertion portion has a rotational force against the connecting member in the through hole.
A main body operation section of an endoscope, wherein the main body operation section is provided at a position eccentric with respect to a rotation center of the connecting member when actuated . 2. The bolt insertion portion is formed at a position opposite to a contact portion of the holding plate to the main body housing with respect to a rotation center of the connecting member. The main body operation section of the endoscope according to claim 1.