1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope which includes a transmission line through which signals or light is transmitted, the transmission line being arranged inside a base section on a proximal end side of an insertion section.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. H2 (1990)-159243 discloses an endoscope having a frame that prevents noise from being introduced into a cable from an ultrasonic motor acting as a noise source. The frame of the endoscope also functions to shield the cable from not only the noise from the motor but also a bending operation wire. That is, in a conventional noise introduction prevention mechanism, the cable and the noise source (the ultrasonic motor) are arranged to be simply partitioned by a wall portion.
An endoscope according to the present invention includes: an elongated insertion section which is inserted into a body cavity from a distal end portion; a hard base section provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion section; a transmission line which is extended from the inside of the insertion section to the base section and through which signals or light is transmitted; a holding portion which is disposed in the base section and holds the transmission line while restricting movement of the insertion section and the base section in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction thereof; and a connector portion which is provided in the base section and connects an end portion of the extended transmission line to an external device through the holding portion.
The best modes for carrying out the present invention will now be explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
A first embodiment will now be explained with reference to
As shown in
The endoscope 12 includes the elongated insertion section 22, a hard base section 24, and a universal cord (tubular body) 26 having a connector 28 that is connectable with the light source device 14 and the processor 16 at one end portion thereof. A proximal end portion of the insertion section 22 is connected with one end portion (distal end portion) of the base section 24. The other end portion of the universal cord 26 is connected with the other end portion (proximal end portion) of the base section 24. The connector 28 includes a light guide connector 28a to be connected with the light source device 14 and an electrical connector 28b to be connected with the processor 16.
The operating section 20 is provided separately from the endoscope 12. The operating section 20 includes an operating section main body 32a, an operation stick 32b which gives a bending operation instruction, and various kinds of switches 32c. The operating section 20 is electrically connected with the light source device 14 through an operation signal cable 34. Therefore, various kinds of operation instruction signals output when respective operation members, e.g., the operation stick 32b or the switches 32c in the operating section 20 are operated are input to the light source device 14 via the operation signal cable 34. Since the light source device 14 is electrically connected with a later-explained bending drive mechanism 60, the bending drive mechanism 60 is operated by an operation in the operating section 20. Therefore, the operating section 20 can bend a bending portion 44 of an insertion section 22 of the endoscope 12 in an up-and-down direction (UD) direction or a right-and-left (RL) direction.
The insertion section 22 of the endoscope 12 includes a distal end constituting portion 42, the bending portion 44, and a flexible tube portion 46 from a distal end side toward a proximal end side. A proximal end portion of the flexible tube portion 46 is connected with one end portion of the base section 24.
As shown in
The observation optical system 54 includes an object lens 54a, a CCD 54b, and a CCD cable 54c. The object lens 54a and the CCD 54b are arranged in the distal end constituting portion 42 of the insertion section 22. To the CCD 54b is electrically connected the CCD cable 54c through which a signal is transmitted to the CCD 54b when the processor 16 controls the CCD 54b. The CCD cable 54c is electrically connected with the electrical connector 28b (see
As shown in
As shown in
The drive sources 62 include first and second motor frames 72a and 72b and a pair of geared motors 74. The first motor frame 72a is fixed to a proximal end portion of the frame (the frame body) 24a of the base section 24 through screws 73a. The second motor frame 72b is fixed to the first motor frame 72a on the outer side of the frame 24a through a screw 73b. The geared motors 74 are fixed to the second motor frame 72b. A drive shaft 74a of the motor 74 is formed with a D-shaped cross section and arranged in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the base section 24 to face the inside of the frame 24a.
The driving force transmission mechanism 64 includes a coupling 82, a sprocket 84, a chain 86, and a puller member 88. The coupling 82 is rotated by rotation of the drive shaft 74a of each motor 74. The coupling 82 is also arranged to the sprocket 84. That is, the coupling 82 which transmits a driving force of the drive shaft 74a of the motor 74 to the sprocket 84 is arranged between the geared motor 74 and the sprocket 84. A rotary shaft 84b arranged in an operating portion 84a of the sprocket 84 is fixed by screws 85 to pierce the frame 24a. Therefore, the sprocket 84 is rotated with respect to the rotary shaft 84b with rotation of the coupling 82. It is to be noted that the sprocket 84 for bending in the up-and-down direction and bending in the right-and-left direction is arranged at each end portion of the rotary shaft 84b. Therefore, the rotary shaft 84b is common to each sprocket 84, thereby reducing an axial deviation from the geared motor 74 when assembling each drive source 62.
As shown in
A D-shaped opening portion 92a in which the D-shaped drive shaft 74a of the motor 74 is fitted and arranged without rotating is formed in one side surface of the first member 92. A concave portion 92b is formed in the other side surface of the first member 92 along a radial direction running through the central axis. A concave portion 92c (see
A convex portion 94a engaging with the concave portion 92b of the first member 92 is formed on one side surface of the second member 94. A concave portion 94b is formed in the other side surface of the second member 94. It is preferable for a longitudinal direction of the concave portion 94b to be perpendicular to that of a longitudinal direction of the convex portion 94a.
A convex portion 96a engaging with the concave portion 94b of the second member 94 is formed on one side surface of the third member 96. A concave portion 96b having a substantially circular cross section is formed in the convex portion 96a. A right screw nut 96c and a left screw nut 96d (see
Therefore, the first to third members 92, 94, and 96, i.e., the coupling 82 integrally rotates with rotation of the drive shaft 74a of the motor 74. Then, the sprocket 84 also rotates with respect to the rotary shaft 84b with rotation of the drive shaft 74a of the motor 74. Even if the drive shaft 74a of the geared motor 74 slightly deviates from the rotary shaft 84b of the sprocket 84 by the coupling 82, the driving force of the motor 74 is smoothly transmitted to the rotary shaft 84b of the sprocket 84.
As shown in
As shown in
It is to be noted that the rotary shaft 84b of the sprocket 84 is fixed to the frame 24a. Moreover, when the coupling 82 rotates around the rotary shaft 84b, the sprocket 84 rotates. Therefore, when each motor 74, each coupling 82, and each sprocket 84 are provided for the up-and-down (UD) direction and the right-and-left (RL) direction, each sprocket 84 can be independently rotated and operated by control of each motor 74.
A cylindrical holding portion (hollow body) 120 is, e.g., screwed and fixed to the proximal end portion of the frame 24a. At this time, the holding portion 120 is inserted into a through hole 72c of the first motor frame 72a. Therefore, a proximal end portion of the holding portion 120 is extended from the proximal end portion of the frame 24a along the axial direction of the base section 24. The holding portion 120 is formed of an electroconductive material, e.g., aluminum. Alternatively, a thin film formed of an electroconductive material (e.g., aluminum foil) is attached to an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 120. Additionally, it is also preferable for the holding portion 120 to have an electroconductive material, e.g., aluminum foil, sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof. Therefore, the holding portion 120 functions as an electrostatic shield. The CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b extended from the distal end constituting portion 42 of the insertion section 22 are inserted into the insertion section 22 to be led to the universal cord 26 through the inside of the holding portion 120. An internal diameter of the holding portion 120 is formed to be small so that the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b can be prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. That is, the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b are inserted into the holding portion 120 to restrict their positions in the frame 24a. Therefore, the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b are inserted into a narrow space and substantially uniformly shielded from noise because the holding portion 120 functions as the electrostatic shield. Accordingly, the holding portion 120 prevents noise from the geared motor 74 and the motor control board 112 from being introduced into the CCD cable 54c.
Meanwhile, a maximum bending angle of the bending portion 44 with respect to the flexible tube portion 46 is determined depending on a type of the endoscope 12. For example, if the endoscope 12 according to the embodiment is used for a large intestine, the maximum bending angle of the bending portion 44 is 180 degrees in the up-and-down (UD) direction and 160 degrees in the right-and-left (RL) direction. The motor control board 112 stores the bending angle, i.e., an angle of rotation (swiveling angle) of the sprocket 84 in a memory (not shown) of the motor control board 112 to control the maximum bending angle.
Here, as shown in
A function of the endoscope system 10 according to the embodiment will now be explained. Here, a function of the bending drive mechanism 60 in the base section 24 of the endoscope 12 will be mainly explained.
The operation stick 32b of the operating section 20 is operated in an appropriate direction. There, an operation signal is input to the motor control board 112 of the base section 24 through the operation signal cable 34, the light source device 14, the light guide connector 28a, and the universal cord 26. The motor control board 112 drives the drive shaft 74a of the motor 74 to be rotated based on the input signal.
When the drive shaft 74a of the motor 74 is rotated, the coupling 82 rotates. When the coupling 82 rotates, the sprocket 84 rotates with respect to the rotary shaft 84b. The chain 86 moves based on rotation of the sprocket 84. Therefore, the operation wire 48 moves along its axial direction through the puller member 88 and the latch member 48a. Therefore, the bending portion 44 bends with movement of the operation wire 48.
At this time, when the bending portion 44 is bent, the holding portion 120 allows movement of the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b in the axial direction alone but restricts movement of the same in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. Therefore, the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b hardly move. Further, since an inner space of the holding portion 120 having a function as the electrostatic shield is very narrowly formed, a shielded state of the motor 74 against radiated noise can be substantially uniformly maintained in the holding portion 120. Even when the bending portion 44 is bent in this manner, the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b hardly move, and the shielded state in the holding portion 120 against the radiated noise can be substantially uniformly maintained, thereby avoiding coming under the influence of the radiated noise as much as possible.
As explained above, according to the embodiment, the following can be said.
The CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b are inserted into the elongated cylindrical holding portion 120 with the narrow space formed of an electroconductive material, and the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b are held in the holding portion 120 in such a manner that these members rarely move. Therefore, the holding portion 120 functions as the electrostatic shield, the shielded state in the holding portion 120 against the radiated noise can be substantially uniformly maintained, and the influence of the radiated noise on the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b can be avoided as much as possible.
It is to be noted that the description has been given as to the structure where the connector 28 is provided at the proximal end portion of the hard base section 24 through the universal cord (the tubular body) 26 in this embodiment. Besides, as shown in
A second embodiment will now be explained with reference to
In this embodiment, as shown in
In this case, a first electric contact 55a is attached to a CCD cable 54c arranged in an insertion section 22 and the base section 24 of an endoscope 12 at a position of a proximal end portion of the base section 24. Moreover, a second electric contact 55b which can be electrically connected with the first electric contact 55a is attached at a position of the other end portion of the universal cord 26. An electric cable 54d is connected with the second electric contact 55b. The electric cable 54d is electrically connected with an electrical connector 28b at one end portion through a path of the universal cord 26.
A first light contact 53a is attached to a light guide fiber 52b at a position of the proximal end portion of the base section 24. Moreover, a second light contact 53b which can be optically connected with the first light contact 53a is attached at a position of the other end portion of the universal cord 26. A light guide fiber 52c is connected with the second light contact 53b. The light guide fiber 52c is optically connected with a light guide connector 28a at one end portion through the path of the universal cord 26.
When attaching the proximal end portion of the base section 24 and the other end portion of the universal cord 26 to each other, they are attached in a state where they are constantly aligned at predetermined positions. When these members are attached in this manner, the first electric contact 55a is electrically connected with the second electric contact 55b, and the first light contact 53a is optically connected with the second light contact 53b.
Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, thereby omitting an explanation thereof.
According to this embodiment, when, e.g., carrying the endoscope 12, carriage can be facilitated. Additionally, although not shown in this embodiment, when cleaning a surgical instrument insertion channel and others, cleaning can be readily performed.
A third embodiment will now be explained with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Like the first embodiment, the light guide fiber 52b and the CCD cable 54c are inserted into the holding portion main body 122. The air supply duct 56a, the water supply duct 56b, and the suction duct 56c are arranged on the outer side of the holding portion main body 122. The air supply duct 56a, the water supply duct 56b, and the suction duct 56c are arranged in a state where they pierce the proximal end portion of the frame 24a.
It is to be noted that, as shown in
It is to be noted that this embodiment has the same function and effect as those of the first embodiment, thereby omitting an explanation thereof.
A fourth embodiment will now be explained with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
It is to be noted that, as shown in
Therefore, since the electroconductive material functions as an electrostatic material and the insides of the opening portions 25e and 25f are narrowly formed, movement in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is restricted, thereby obtaining a substantially uniformed shielded state. Therefore, as explained in the first embodiment, the influence of the radiated noise on the CCD cable 54c and the light guide fiber 52b can be avoided as much as possible.
A modification of this embodiment will now be explained with reference to
As shown in
Therefore, like the above explanation, noise can be prevented from being introduced into the light guide fiber 52b and the CCD cable 54c arranged in the through hole 120c having an electrostatic shielding function.
As shown in
Therefore, like the above explanation, noise can be prevented from being introduced into the light guide fiber 52b and the CCD cable 54c arranged in the through hole 120d having the electrostatic shielding function.
Although the several embodiments have been specifically explained with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not restricted to the foregoing embodiments and include all embodiments carried out without departing from the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005-337235 | Nov 2005 | JP | national |
This is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2006/320958, filed Oct. 20, 2006, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) in Japanese. This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-337235, filed Nov. 22, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2006/320958 | Oct 2006 | US |
Child | 12109782 | US |