JP3278736B2 - Endoscope tip structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distal end structure of an endoscope, and more particularly to a cleaning liquid or compressed air from an air / water nozzle to an observation window or an illumination window provided at the distal end of an endoscope insertion portion. The present invention relates to a structure of a distal end portion of an endoscope that injects a gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a structure of a rigid distal end portion of a conventional side-view type endoscope. As shown in FIG. 1, an observation window 2 and an illumination window 3 are arranged on a side surface of the tip rigid portion 1. The subject light incident from the observation window 2 is transmitted to the triangular prism 4
After being changed at right angles to the rear side, an image is formed on the image forming surface of the image guide 6 by the objective optical system 5, and then, through the image guide 6, to an eyepiece of an endoscope hand operating unit (not shown). Be guided.

An air / water nozzle 7 is arranged near the observation window 2. The air / water supply nozzle 7 is connected to a tube 8 by an air / water supply valve provided in the endoscope hand operation unit.
The cleaning liquid or compressed air supplied through the nozzle is jetted toward the surface 2A of the observation window 2. First, the cleaning liquid is jetted to wash the observation window surface 2A, and then the compressed air is jetted for observation. The cleaning liquid attached to the window surface 2A is removed, and the observation window surface 2A is dried.

[0004]

However, in the conventional distal end structure of the endoscope, as shown in FIG. 6, the observation window surface 2A has a rigid distal end portion 1 due to an assembly error of the observation window 2 or the like.
May fall from the side surface or protrude from the side surface as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, when the observation window 2 is assembled at the lowered position, the compressed air blown out from the air / water supply nozzle 7 flows on the observation window surface 2A and then into the observation window opening 1A. Since it collides with the wall surface 1B, even if compressed air is blown, the observation window surface 2A
There is a drawback that water drops 9 remain on the top.

When the observation window 2 is assembled at a position where the observation window 2 protrudes as shown in FIG. 7, the compressed air blown out from the air / water supply nozzle 7 causes the observation window 2 facing the air / water supply nozzle 7 to flow. However, there is a disadvantage that the flow of the compressed air changes upward or the flow velocity decreases, so that the water droplet 9 on the observation window surface 2A cannot be removed even when the compressed air is sprayed.

Therefore, in the conventional endoscope end structure,
The cleaning liquid attached to the observation window surface 2A cannot be completely removed. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a distal end structure of an endoscope that can completely remove a cleaning liquid attached to an observation window surface with compressed air ejected from an air / water supply nozzle. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an endoscope insertion portion having a rigid window at the distal end and an illumination window.
In the distal end structure of the endoscope which is provided with an observation window and injects a cleaning liquid or compressed air from an air / water nozzle to the surface of the observation window, an injection port of the air / water nozzle is provided on the upper position from the surface before Symbol view Sammado the lower edge of the lower outer wall surface of the distal end rigid portion to the illumination window from the injection port
The observation window is formed in the direction of the outer wall surface.
Inside, the observation window is substantially horizontal, and the illumination window side of the observation window is
Installed directly so that it protrudes from the outer wall,
The cleaning liquid or compressed air is jetted from above and observed
The cleaning liquid or compressed air flowing over the window surface is observed
The outer wall having a step relative to the observation window on the illumination window side of the window;
It is characterized by flowing down to the surface .

According to the present invention, since the lower edge of the injection port of the air / water supply nozzle is provided on the same plane as the surface of the observation window or above the surface of the observation window, the air / water supply is provided. The compressed air jetted from the nozzle flows on the observation window surface without colliding with the outer peripheral surface of the observation window. In addition, since a step is formed at the edge of the opening edge supporting the observation window opposite to the ejection port, water droplets on the observation window are completely removed.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope according to the present invention; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a rigid distal end portion 10 to which a distal end structure of an endoscope according to the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, an illumination window 12 is provided on a front side surface of the distal end rigid portion 10, and an emission end 14 </ b> A of a light guide 14 is fixed to a lower portion of the illumination window 12. Light guide 1
The base end of 4 is connected to the light source section via an insertion section (not shown) of the endoscope, a hand operation section, and a connection tube. As a result, the illumination light from the light source unit is
The light is radiated from the illumination window 12 to the subject via the light source 4.

An observation window 16 is arranged on the side surface of the rigid tip portion 10 in close proximity to the illumination window 12. The illumination window 1
The subject light of the subject irradiated in 2 enters the observation window 16, is reflected by the triangular prism 18 disposed below the observation window 16, is turned backward by 90 °, and then is turned back by the objective optical system. An image is formed on the image forming surface 22A of the image guide 22 by the image forming lens group 20. Imaging surface 22A
The subject light (subject image) formed in step (1) is guided to an eyepiece of a hand operation unit (not shown) via the image guide 22, and is observed from the eyepiece.

An air supply / water supply nozzle 24 is arranged on the right side of the observation window 16 in FIG. This air / water supply nozzle 24
Is formed by fixing a nozzle cap 28 to an air supply / water supply port 26 formed in the distal end rigid portion 10 with a set screw 30. An injection port 32 is formed at the tip of the nozzle cap 28, and the injection port 32 communicates with the air / water supply port 26 via a groove 34 formed on the back surface of the nozzle cap 28. In addition, the air / water inlet 26
Is connected to a tube 38 via a pipe 36 formed integrally with the air / water supply port 26, and the tube 38 is connected to an air / water supply valve of a not-shown operation unit.
Accordingly, the cleaning liquid or compressed air supplied from the air / water supply valve is jetted from the tube 38 to the observation window surface 16A from the injection port 32 via the conduit 36, the air / water supply port 26, and the groove 34. It is. The nozzle cap 28
After being fixed to the air supply / water supply port 26, the outer surface is covered with a rubber cover member 40.

By the way, the injection port 32 of the air / water supply nozzle 24 has a lower edge 32A in the figure provided at a position above the observation window surface 16A in the figure. The outer wall surface (opening edge supporting the observation window 16) 10A of the rigid distal end portion from the injection port 32 to the illumination window 12 is formed to be inclined in the lower left direction in the figure. Of the outer wall surface 10A, the outer wall surface on the left side in the figure with the observation window 16 interposed therebetween (the edge opposite to the injection port 32) 10
B is formed such that a step is formed on the observation window surface 16A.

When the observation window 16 is to be cleaned by the endoscope structure configured as described above, first, a cleaning liquid is supplied from an air supply / water supply valve (not shown), and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the air supply / water supply nozzle. 24 are sprayed from the injection ports 32. The sprayed cleaning liquid is applied to the outer wall 10 inclined as shown in FIG.
A flows along A and passes over the observation window surface 16A. Thus, the observation window surface 16A is cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

Next, compressed air is jetted from the jet port 32. The jetted compressed air flows along the outer wall surface 10A similarly to the cleaning liquid, and flows on the observation window surface 16A without colliding with the outer peripheral surface 16B of the observation window 16. Then, the compressed air that has flowed on the observation window surface 16A flows toward the illumination window 12 without collecting water drops because the outer wall surface 10B is formed in a stepped shape with respect to the observation window surface 16A. Thus, in the present embodiment, the cleaning water adhering to the observation window surface 16A can be completely removed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the injection port 32 and the outer wall surface 10A are formed to be inclined, it is possible to efficiently wash away the adhered matter such as blood adhered to the observation window surface 16A with the washing water, and to observe the observation window. The cleaning liquid adhering to the surface 16A can be efficiently removed with compressed air.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a rigid distal end portion in which the distal end structure of the endoscope of the present invention is applied to a direct-view type endoscope. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. is there. An air supply / water supply port 54 communicating with the tube 52 is formed on an end surface 50A of the distal end rigid portion 50 shown in FIG. 4, and a nozzle cap 56 is fixed to the air supply / water supply port 54. The injection port 58 of the nozzle cap 56 is directed to the observation window 60,
It is located on the same plane as the observation window surface 60A. Also,
The end face 50 facing the injection port 58 with the observation window 60 interposed therebetween.
A part of A is formed with a groove 62 so that a step is formed with respect to the observation window surface 60A.

According to the second embodiment constructed as described above, the compressed air jetted from the jet port 58 is supplied to the end face 50A.
Flows along the observation window surface 60A without colliding with the outer peripheral surface of the observation window 60. Then, the compressed air flowing on the observation window surface 60A flows toward the groove 62 as it is. Therefore, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the cleaning water adhering to the observation window surface 60A can be completely removed.

In FIG. 3, reference numerals 64 and 66 denote illumination windows, and reference numeral 68 denotes a forceps channel. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge 32A of the injection port 32 of the air / water supply nozzle 24 is arranged above the observation window surface 16A, but is arranged on the same plane as the observation window surface 16A. In the second embodiment, the injection port 58 of the air / water nozzle is arranged on the same plane as the observation window surface 60A.
, And may be arranged in the outer direction of the distal end rigid portion 50.

[0018]

As described above, according to the distal end structure of the endoscope according to the present invention, the lower edge of the injection port of the air / water nozzle is positioned on the same plane as the surface of the observation window, or the observation is performed. Since the step is provided above the surface of the window and a step is formed at the edge of the opening edge supporting the observation window opposite to the injection port, water droplets on the observation window can be completely removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rigid distal end portion to which a distal end portion structure of an endoscope according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the rigid tip portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a direct-viewing endoscope distal end portion to which the distal end portion structure of the endoscope according to the present invention is applied;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of a conventional side-viewing endoscope.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which cleaning water attached to an observation window is removed by a conventional endoscope distal end structure;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which cleaning water attached to an observation window is removed by a conventional endoscope distal end structure;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50: Tip rigid portion 16, 60: Observation window 24: Air / water nozzle 32, 58: Injection port 62: Groove

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An illumination window is provided on a rigid end of an endoscope insertion portion.
An observation window is provided , and in the end structure of the endoscope configured to inject the cleaning liquid or the compressed air from the air / water nozzle to the surface of the observation window, the injection port of the air / water nozzle lower edge of the from the surface of the pre-Symbol view Sammado is provided on the upper position, to the illumination window from the injection port
The outer wall surface of the rigid portion at the tip of the
The observation window is located in the middle of the outer wall, and the observation window is substantially horizontal.
The illumination window side of the observation window projects from the outer wall
The cleaning solution from above and obliquely above the observation window.
Is the cleaning liquid from which compressed air was injected and flowed over the observation window surface
Alternatively, the compressed air is applied to the observation window on the illumination window side of the observation window.
A distal end structure of the endoscope, wherein the distal end structure is configured to flow down to the outer wall surface having a step with respect to the endoscope.