阅读说明：本技术 内窥镜 (Endoscope with a detachable handle ) 是由 森本康彦 井山胜藏 福泽常夫 于 2019-08-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种能够防止插入部的顶端部的部件数量增加及粗径化、并且抑制该顶端部的温度上升的内窥镜。所述内窥镜具备：顶端部主体,其设于插入部的顶端侧,具有顶端、基端及长度轴；处置器具导出口,其形成于顶端部主体,使插通于插入部内的处置器具导出；竖立台支撑部件,其是设于顶端部主体内的金属制的竖立台支撑部件,并且轴支撑控制从处置器具导出口导出的处置器具的导出方向的竖立台；光导,其插通于插入部内,透过形成于顶端部主体的照明窗而射出照明光；以及光导保持部,其设于竖立台支撑部件,保持光导的照明窗侧的光导顶端部。(The invention provides an endoscope capable of preventing the increase of the number of components and the diameter of the tip part of an insertion part and inhibiting the temperature rise of the tip part. The endoscope is provided with: a distal end portion body provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a treatment instrument lead-out port formed in the distal end portion body and configured to lead out a treatment instrument inserted into the insertion portion; an upright stand support member which is a metal upright stand support member provided in the distal end portion body and which supports an upright stand that controls the direction of discharge of the treatment instrument from the treatment instrument discharge port; a light guide inserted into the insertion portion and emitting illumination light through an illumination window formed in the distal end portion body; and a light guide holding portion provided on the standing stand support member and holding a light guide distal end portion of the light guide on the illumination window side.)

1. An endoscope, comprising:

a distal end portion body provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis;

a treatment instrument outlet port formed in the distal end portion body and configured to lead out a treatment instrument inserted into the insertion portion;

an upright stand support member which is a metal upright stand support member provided in the distal end portion body and supports an upright stand that controls a direction of the treatment instrument guided out from the treatment instrument guide-out port;

a light guide inserted into the insertion portion and emitting illumination light through an illumination window formed in the distal end portion body; and

and a light guide holding portion provided on the standing stand support member and holding a light guide distal end portion of the light guide on the illumination window side.

2. The endoscope of claim 1,

the light guide holding part is a groove formed in an outer wall surface of the upright stand support member and into which the light guide distal end part is fitted.

3. The endoscope of claim 2,

the distal end portion body includes a housing including a housing main body and a cover,

the housing main body has an opening portion and accommodates the standing stand support member and the standing stand in the opening portion,

the cover is detachably attached to the opening, and when attached to the opening, presses and fixes the light guide distal end portion fitted in the groove to the groove.

4. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

an upright stand accommodating chamber provided inside the treatment instrument outlet of the distal end portion body and accommodating the upright stand;

a treatment instrument insertion channel provided in the insertion portion and through which the treatment instrument is inserted;

a through hole formed in the upright stand support member and communicating with the upright stand accommodating chamber; and

a metal tube connecting the treatment instrument insertion channel and the through hole of the vertical stand support member.

5. The endoscope of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the insertion portion includes a bent portion connected to the proximal end side of the distal end portion body,

the bending portion has a plurality of metal rings connected along the longitudinal axis,

the standing platform support member is connected to an end ring located on the most tip side of the bent portion among the plurality of rings directly or indirectly by means of another metal member.

6. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:

an observation window provided in the distal end portion body; and

a nozzle provided in the distal end portion body and ejecting a fluid toward the observation window,

the illumination window is provided in the distal end portion body within an ejection range of the fluid ejected from the nozzle.

7. The endoscope of claim 6,

wherein the observation window is provided in the distal end portion body at a position on one side in the width direction with respect to the treatment instrument lead-out port, when a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and a normal direction of an opening surface of the treatment instrument lead-out port is taken as the width direction of the treatment instrument lead-out port,

the illumination window is provided on the distal end portion body on the other side of the treatment instrument lead-out port opposite to the one side.

8. The endoscope of claim 6,

the illumination window is a first illumination window provided in the distal end region of the distal end body at a position displaced from the treatment instrument lead-out port toward the proximal end of the distal end body,

when a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and a normal direction of an opening surface of the treatment instrument lead-out port is defined as a width direction of the treatment instrument lead-out port, the observation window is disposed on the distal end portion body at a position on one side in the width direction with respect to the proximal end side region.

9. The endoscope of claim 8,

the illumination window includes the first illumination window and a second illumination window arranged on the distal end portion body at a position on the other direction side opposite to the one direction side with respect to the proximal end side region.

10. The endoscope of any one of claims 1 to 9,

the treatment instrument is provided with an ultrasonic transducer which is provided in the distal end portion body and is positioned on the distal end side of the distal end portion body with respect to the treatment instrument outlet.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an endoscope including a treatment instrument guide-out port and an upright stand on a distal end side of an insertion portion.

Background

As an ultrasonic endoscope, there is known an ultrasonic endoscope including an electronic scanning type ultrasonic transducer at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope, and a treatment instrument introduction port is disposed at a proximal end side of the ultrasonic transducer at the distal end portion. In an endoscopic examination using this ultrasonic endoscope, for example, an ultrasonic image of a treatment target site (including an observed site, an examination site, and the like) is acquired by an ultrasonic transducer, and a puncture treatment instrument that is inserted through a treatment instrument insertion channel and a treatment instrument outlet and is led out into the body punctures the treatment target site to extract cells. In order to treat a desired position with such a treatment instrument, it is necessary to change the direction of the treatment instrument to be led out from the treatment instrument outlet formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion. Therefore, a treatment instrument standing mechanism is provided inside the treatment instrument outlet at the distal end portion of the insertion portion (see patent document 1).

The treatment instrument erecting mechanism includes an erecting base accommodating chamber, an erecting base rotating mechanism, and the like. The stand accommodating chamber is provided in a treatment instrument lead-out opening at the distal end portion of the insertion portion. The vertical table is supported in the vertical table housing chamber to be rotatable about a rotation axis. The standing table rotating mechanism rotates the standing table in accordance with a standing table rotating operation performed by an operation portion of the ultrasonic endoscope.

An illumination window for emitting illumination light toward a treatment target site or the like is provided on an outer surface of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, in addition to the treatment instrument outlet and the observation window for observing the treatment target site. Therefore, a light guide (optical fiber cable) for guiding the illumination light from the light source device to the illumination window is inserted into the insertion portion.

The light guide distal end portion, which is the distal end portion of the light guide on the side opposite to the illumination window, absorbs a part of the illumination light and generates heat. Therefore, the temperature of the distal end portion of the insertion portion rises. Therefore, patent document 2 discloses an endoscope apparatus in which a distal end portion of an insertion portion is divided into a region where a light guide is fixed and another region, and a heat insulating material is provided at a boundary between the two regions. This prevents the temperature of the distal end of the insertion portion from rising due to heat generation at the distal end of the light guide.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-132923

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2003-153852

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

Patent document 1 does not describe suppression of temperature increase at the distal end of the insertion portion due to heat generation at the distal end of the light guide. Further, if a heat insulator is provided in the distal end portion of the insertion portion as in the endoscope apparatus described in patent document 2, there is a problem that the number of components of the distal end portion increases and the diameter of the distal end portion becomes larger.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an endoscope capable of preventing an increase in the number of components and an increase in the diameter of a distal end portion of an insertion portion, and suppressing a temperature increase in the distal end portion.

Means for solving the technical problem

An endoscope for achieving the object of the present invention includes: a distal end portion body provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a treatment instrument lead-out port formed in the distal end portion body and configured to lead out a treatment instrument inserted into the insertion portion; an upright stand support member which is a metal upright stand support member provided in the distal end portion body and which supports an upright stand that controls the direction of discharge of the treatment instrument from the treatment instrument discharge port; a light guide inserted into the insertion portion and emitting illumination light through an illumination window formed in the distal end portion body; and a light guide holding portion provided on the standing stand support member and holding a light guide distal end portion of the light guide on the illumination window side.

According to this endoscope, the heat generated at the distal end portion of the light guide is moved to the metal standing stand supporting member, whereby the temperature rise at the distal end portion of the light guide can be suppressed.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, the light guide holding portion is a groove formed in an outer wall surface of the standing stand supporting member and into which the light guide tip portion is fitted. This allows heat generated at the distal end portion of the light guide to move toward the stand support member.

In an endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention, the distal end portion body includes a housing including a housing main body having an opening and accommodating the standing stand support member and the standing stand in the opening, and a cover that is detachably attached to the opening and presses and fixes the light guide distal end portion fitted in the groove when attached to the opening. This improves the adhesion between the light guide distal end portion and the upright stand support member, and thus improves the heat dissipation of the light guide distal end portion.

An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention includes: an upright stand accommodating chamber provided inside the treatment instrument outlet of the distal end portion body and accommodating an upright stand; a treatment instrument insertion channel provided in the insertion portion and through which a treatment instrument is inserted; a through hole formed in the standing stand support member and communicating with the standing stand accommodating chamber; and a metal tube connecting the treatment instrument insertion channel and the through hole of the upright support member. Thus, the heat generated at the light guide distal end portion can be further moved to the metal pipe via the upright stand support member, and therefore, the heat radiation property of the light guide distal end portion can be further improved.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, the insertion portion includes a bending portion connected to the proximal end side of the distal end portion main body, the bending portion includes a plurality of metal rings connected along the longitudinal axis, and the standing stand support member is directly or indirectly connected to a distal end ring located on the distal end side of the bending portion among the plurality of rings via another metal member. This allows heat generated at the distal end portion of the light guide to be further transferred to the metal ring via the upright-stand supporting member, thereby further improving heat dissipation at the distal end portion of the light guide.

An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention includes: an observation window provided in the distal end portion body; and a nozzle provided in the distal end portion body and configured to discharge the fluid toward the observation window, wherein the illumination window is provided in the distal end portion body within a discharge range of the fluid discharged from the nozzle. Thus, the distal end portion of the light guide can be cooled via the illumination window by the fluid discharged from the nozzle.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, when a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and a normal direction of the opening surface of the treatment instrument lead-out port is set as a width direction of the treatment instrument lead-out port, the observation window is provided on the distal end portion body on one side in the width direction with respect to the treatment instrument lead-out port, and the illumination window is provided on the distal end portion body on the other side in the opposite direction to the one side with respect to the treatment instrument lead-out port.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, the illumination window is a first illumination window provided in a proximal end side region of the distal end portion body at a position displaced from the treatment instrument lead-out port toward the proximal end side of the distal end portion body, and the observation window is disposed in a position on one side in the width direction with respect to the proximal end side region of the distal end portion body when a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and a normal direction of an opening surface of the treatment instrument lead-out port is taken as the width direction of the treatment instrument lead-out port.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, the illumination window includes a first illumination window and a second illumination window arranged on the distal end side body at a position on the other direction side opposite to the one direction side with respect to the proximal end side region.

In the endoscope according to the other aspect of the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer is provided on the distal end portion body and is positioned on the distal end side of the distal end portion body with respect to the treatment instrument outlet port.

Effects of the invention

The present invention can prevent the increase in the number of components and the increase in the diameter of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and can suppress the temperature rise of the distal end portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic inspection system to which an endoscope of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a channel structure of the ultrasonic endoscope.

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

Fig. 4 is a right side view of the tip portion of the insertion portion.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upright housing.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the erected housing when the erected housing is viewed from the housing top end side.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the upright-table operating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the rotation of the stand in accordance with the operation of the operation lever.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the housing.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an observation axis and an observation range of an observation window, a first illumination axis and a first illumination range of a first illumination window, and a second illumination axis and a second illumination range of a second illumination window.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion inserted into the lumen.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an upright housing and a light guide held by the upright housing.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view of a bent portion.

Fig. 15 is an external perspective view of a distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope according to another embodiment in which the arrangement of the first illumination window is different.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an upright housing and a second light guide held by the upright housing according to another embodiment.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory view for explaining another example of the structure for holding the light guide tip portion by the upright case.

Detailed Description

[ Structure of ultrasonic inspection System and ultrasonic endoscope ]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic inspection system 2 to which an endoscope of the present invention is applied. As shown in fig. 1, the ultrasonic examination system 2 includes an ultrasonic endoscope 10 that images the inside of a lumen 154 (also referred to as a body cavity, see fig. 12) of a subject, an ultrasonic processor device 12 that generates an ultrasonic image, an endoscope processor device 14 that generates an endoscope image, a light source device 16 that supplies illumination light for illuminating the inside of the lumen 154 to the ultrasonic endoscope 10, and a monitor 18 that displays the ultrasonic image and the endoscope image.

The ultrasonic endoscope 10 corresponds to the endoscope of the present invention, and includes an insertion portion 20, an operation portion 22, and a universal cord 24.

The insertion portion 20 is inserted into various lumens 154 (see fig. 12). The operation section 22 is provided continuously to the proximal end side of the insertion section 20 and is operated by the operator.

An operation unit 22 is connected to one end of the universal cord 24. Further, an ultrasonic connector 27 connected to the ultrasonic processor device 12, an endoscope connector 28 connected to the endoscope processor device 14, and a light source connector 30 connected to the light source device 16 are provided on the other end side of the universal cord 24. The light source connector 30 is connected to a water supply tank 118 via a socket 32 for supplying air and water, and a suction pump 124 via a socket 34 for suction.

The ultrasonic processor device 12 generates an ultrasonic image based on an ultrasonic detection signal output from the ultrasonic endoscope 10. The processor device for endoscope 14 generates an endoscope image based on the image pickup signal output from the ultrasonic endoscope 10.

The light source device 16 is connected to the incident end of the light guide 128 (see fig. 2) inserted into the insertion portion 20, the operation portion 22, the universal cord 24, and the light source connector 30. The light source device 16 supplies illumination light to the incident end of the light guide 128. The illumination light is emitted from the light guide 128 to the treatment target region through illumination windows 90A and 90B (see fig. 3) described later.

The monitor 18 is connected to both the ultrasonic processor device 12 and the endoscope processor device 14, and displays the ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic processor device 12 and the endoscope image generated by the endoscope processor device 14. The ultrasonic image and the endoscopic image may be displayed either one of them or both of them.

The operation unit 22 is provided with an air/water supply button 36 and an air suction button 38 in parallel, and a pair of corner buttons 42, an operation lever 43, a treatment instrument insertion port 44, and the like.

The insertion portion 20 has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, and includes a distal end 50, a bending portion 52, and a soft portion 54 in this order from the distal end side toward the proximal end side. The distal end portion 50 is formed of a hard member, and is also referred to as a distal end hard portion. An ultrasonic transducer 62 is provided at the distal end portion 50, and a bag 64 covering the ultrasonic transducer 62 is detachably attached.

One end of the bending portion 52 is connected to the proximal end side of the distal end portion 50, and the other end thereof is connected to the distal end side of the soft portion 54. The bending portion 52 is configured to be bendable and is remotely bent by rotating the pair of corner knobs 42. This enables the distal end portion 50 to be oriented in a desired direction.

The flexible portion 54 is long and thin and flexible, and connects the bending portion 52 and the operation portion 22.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a channel structure of the ultrasonic endoscope 10. As shown in fig. 2, inside the insertion portion 20 and the operation portion 22, a treatment instrument insertion passage 100, an air supply and supply line 102, and a balloon line 104 having one end communicating with the internal space of the balloon 64 are provided.

One end side of the treatment instrument insertion channel 100 is connected to a standing case 200 (see fig. 3) described later, and the other end side of the treatment instrument insertion channel 100 is connected to a treatment instrument insertion port 44 in the operation unit 22. Thus, the treatment instrument insertion port 44 and a treatment instrument outlet port 94 (see fig. 3) described later communicate with each other through the treatment instrument insertion channel 100. Further, a suction line 106 branches from the treatment instrument insertion channel 100, and the suction line 106 is connected to the suction button 38.

One end side of the air-water supply and supply line 102 is connected to an air-water supply and supply nozzle 92 (see fig. 3) described later, and the other end side of the air-water supply and supply line 102 is branched into an air supply line 108 and a water supply line 110. The air supply line 108 and the water supply line 110 are connected to the air and water supply button 36, respectively.

One end side of the capsule line 104 is connected to the supply and discharge port 70 opened in the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 50 at a position inside the capsule 64, and the other end side of the capsule line 104 is branched into a capsule water supply line 112 and a capsule water discharge line 114. The capsule water supply line 112 is connected to the air supply and water supply button 36, and the capsule water discharge line 114 is connected to the suction button 38.

The air supply and water supply button 36 is connected to an air supply line 108, a water supply line 110, and a capsule water supply line 112, and also connected to one end of an air supply line 116 connected to an air supply pump 129 and one end of a water supply line 120 connected to a water supply tank 118. The air supply pump 129 is operated at all times in ultrasonic observation.

A branch line 122 branches from the air supply source line 116, and the branch line 122 is connected to an inlet (above the liquid surface) of the water supply tank 118. The other end of the water supply source pipe 120 is inserted into the water supply tank 118 (below the liquid surface). When the internal pressure of the water supply tank 118 rises due to the supply of air from the air supply pump 129 via the branch line 122, the water in the water supply tank 118 is transferred to the water supply source line 120.

The air and water supply button 36 may be a two-stage switch button. The air supply/water supply button 36 switches between leakage of air from the air supply source line 116, ejection of air from the air supply/water supply nozzle 92, ejection of water from the air supply/water supply nozzle 92, and supply of water into the balloon 64, in accordance with an operation by an operator. Since a specific switching method is a known technique, a description thereof will be omitted.

The suction button 38 is connected to one end side of a suction source line 126 in addition to the suction line 106 and the bladder drainage line 114. A suction pump 124 is connected to the other end side of the suction source pipe 126. The suction pump 124 is also operated at all times during the ultrasonic observation. The suction button 38 is a two-stage switching type button, similar to the air and water supply button 36.

The suction button 38 switches communication between the suction source line 126 and the outside (atmosphere), suction of various aspirators from the treatment instrument outlet port 94 (see fig. 3), and discharge of water in the balloon 64, in accordance with an operation by the operator. Since a specific switching method is a known technique, a description thereof will be omitted.

Returning to fig. 1, the operation lever 43 of the operation unit 22 is described in detail later, and is used for changing the lead-out direction of a treatment instrument (not shown, the same applies hereinafter) led out from the treatment instrument lead-out port 94 (see fig. 3).

[ Structure of distal end portion of insertion portion ]

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the distal end portion 50 of the insertion portion 20. Fig. 4 is a right side view of the tip portion 50 of the insertion portion 20. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the distal end portion 50 of the insertion portion 2 (). In fig. 3 and 5, the balloon 64 is not shown. In fig. 5, the light guide 128 is not shown.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the distal end portion 50 includes a housing 72 (also referred to as a case) corresponding to the distal end portion body of the present invention. The housing 72 has a distal end constituting the distal end of the insertion portion 20, a proximal end connected to the bending portion 52, and a longitudinal axis LA. Hereinafter, the distal end side of the housing 72 is referred to as "housing distal end side", and the proximal end side of the housing 72 is referred to as "housing proximal end side".

The housing 72 is provided with an ultrasonic observation unit 60 for acquiring an ultrasonic detection signal, a treatment instrument lead-out port 94 of a treatment instrument, a first inclined surface 86A and a second inclined surface 86B, and an endoscope observation unit 80 for acquiring an image pickup signal, from the housing distal end side toward the housing proximal end side. Further, inside the housing 72, an upright stand accommodating chamber 94a and an upright stand 96 which are positioned inside the treatment instrument outlet 94, and a metal upright case 200 (also referred to as an upright stand unit) which rotatably supports the upright stand 96 are provided. The housing 72 is provided with a lever housing cover 76.

The treatment instrument outlet port 94 is opened on the outer surface of the housing 72 at a position between the ultrasonic observation unit 60 and the endoscope observation unit 80 (the first inclined surface 86A). The treatment instrument inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 100 of the insertion section 20 is led out from the treatment instrument outlet 94. Hereinafter, as shown in fig. 3, a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis LA and the normal direction NV of the opening surface of the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 is defined as the width direction WD of the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94, one direction side of the width direction WD is defined as the L direction side, and the other direction side opposite to the one direction side of the width direction WD is defined as the R direction side.

The first inclined surface 86A and the second inclined surface 86B are inclined surfaces parallel to the width direction WD and inclined from an attitude perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA toward the housing proximal end side. The inclination angle of the first inclined surface 86A is different from that of the second inclined surface 86B, as will be described later.

The first inclined surface 86A is formed on the outer surface of the housing 72 at a position closer to the housing base end side than the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, and is formed over a region from the formation region of the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 to the L direction side thereof in the width direction WD. The first inclined surface 86A is provided with an observation window 88 of the endoscope observation portion 80, a first illumination window 90A, and an air supply/water supply nozzle 92. The first inclined surface 86A may be divided into a region where the observation window 88 is provided, a region where the first illumination window 90A is provided, and a region where the air supply/water supply nozzle 92 is provided.

The second inclined surface 86B is formed on the outer surface of the housing 72 on the housing distal end side with respect to the first inclined surface 86A in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, and is formed in a region on the R direction side with respect to the region where the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 is formed in the width direction WD. A second illumination window 90B is provided on the second inclined surface 86B. The second inclined surface 86B may be formed at the same position as the first inclined surface 86A or at a position closer to the housing proximal end side than the first inclined surface 86A in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA.

The ultrasound observation unit 60 is provided on the housing 72 at a position closer to the distal end side of the housing than the treatment instrument outlet 94. The ultrasonic observation unit 60 includes an ultrasonic transducer 62 including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic transducers of the ultrasonic transducer 62 are sequentially driven based on a drive signal input from the ultrasonic processor device 12. Thus, each ultrasonic transducer sequentially generates an ultrasonic wave toward the treatment target site and receives an ultrasonic echo (echo signal) reflected by the treatment target site. Each ultrasonic transducer outputs an ultrasonic detection signal (electric signal) corresponding to the received ultrasonic echo to the ultrasonic processor device 12 via a signal cable (not shown) inserted into the insertion portion 20, the universal cord 24, and the like. As a result, an ultrasonic image is generated in the ultrasonic processor device 12.

The balloon 64 is attached to the case 72 on the distal end side of the case with respect to the treatment instrument outlet 94, and is formed in a bag shape covering the ultrasonic transducer 62, thereby preventing attenuation of ultrasonic waves and ultrasonic echoes. The bag body 64 is formed of an elastic material having elasticity such as latex rubber, and a retractable locking ring 66 is provided at an opening end on the base end side of the housing. Between the ultrasonic observation unit 60 of the housing 72 and the treatment instrument outlet 94, the locking groove 68 is provided in the entire circumferential direction of the housing 72. The capsule body 64 is detachably mounted to the housing 72 by fitting the locking ring 66 into the locking groove 68.

The endoscope observation portion 80 has an observation window 88 provided in the first inclined surface 86A. In the housing 72 and behind the observation window 88, although not shown, an observation optical system (an objective lens or the like) constituting the endoscope observation unit 80, an image pickup device of a ccd (charge Coupled device) type or a cmos (complementary Metal Oxide semiconductor) type, and the like are arranged. The imaging element captures an observation image taken in through the observation window 88. The imaging device outputs an imaging signal of an observation image to the processor device for endoscope 14 via a signal cable, not shown, inserted into the insertion portion 20, the universal cord 24, and the like. As a result, an endoscopic image is generated in the processor device for endoscope 14.

The first illumination window 90A and the second illumination window 90B emit illumination light toward the front of each other, as will be described later. The exit ends of the light guides 128 described above are disposed in the housing 72 and behind the illumination windows 90A and 90B, respectively. Therefore, by connecting the light source connector 30 to the light source device 16 as shown in fig. 2 described above, the illumination light emitted from the light source device 16 is guided to the illumination windows 90A and 90B via the light guide 128, and the illumination light is emitted from the illumination windows 90A and 90B.

The air and water supply nozzle 92 is provided on the first inclined surface 86A and in the vicinity of the observation window 88. The air/water supply nozzle 92 is connected to one end side of the air/water supply line 102 shown in fig. 2, and discharges a fluid such as water or air toward the observation window 88 in order to clean foreign matter and the like adhering to the surface of the observation window 88.

The housing 72 accommodates the above-described respective parts of the ultrasonic observation unit 60 and the endoscope observation unit 80, and the stand 96 and the stand case 200, which will be described later. The portion of the housing 72 closer to the housing base end side than the ultrasonic observation unit 60 is divided into two portions in the vertical direction in the drawing with a plane parallel to both the longitudinal axis LA and the width direction WD as a boundary. Therefore, the housing 72 is constituted by a housing main body 72a located at the lower side in the drawing and a housing cover 72b located at the upper side in the drawing.

The housing main body 72a accommodates the ultrasound observation unit 60 at a distal end portion on the distal end side of the housing with respect to the treatment instrument outlet 94, and has a locking groove 68. The housing main body 72a has an opening 71, and the opening 71 is an opening 71 provided in a portion closer to the housing base end side than the locking groove 68, and is covered with a housing cover 72b (see fig. 5). The housing main body 72a accommodates a part of each of the stand 96 and the stand case 200 in the opening 71.

A groove portion 74 (see fig. 4) formed along the longitudinal axis LA and the supply/discharge port 70 opened at the end portion of the groove portion 74 on the case base end side are formed on the side surface on the L direction side of the tip portion of the case main body 72 a. Thereby, the water may be supplied to the inside of the capsule 64 through the supply and discharge port 70, or the water inside the capsule 64 may be discharged.

The case cover 72b is detachably attached to the opening 71 of the case main body 72 a. The housing cover 72B is formed with the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94, the first inclined surface 86A, and the second inclined surface 86B, which are described above, from the housing distal end side toward the housing proximal end side. The housing cover 72B covers the endoscope observation unit 80 and two light guides 128 for guiding illumination light to the illumination windows 90A and 90B.

When the case cover 72b is attached to the opening 71 of the case main body 72a, an upright stand housing chamber 94a, which is a housing space for the upright stand 96, is formed inside the treatment instrument outlet 94. Further, a partition wall 73 (see fig. 5) that constitutes the side surface on the L direction side of the standing stand accommodating chamber 94a is formed so as to straddle both of the case main body 72a and the case cover 72 b.

On the side surfaces of the housing main body 72a and the housing cover 72b on the R direction side, a fitting hole 75 (see fig. 5) into which the lever housing cover 76 is fitted is formed so as to straddle the housing main body 72a and the housing cover 72b at a position facing a lever housing chamber 212 (see fig. 5) of the upright case 200, which will be described later.

The stand accommodating chamber 94a communicates with the treatment instrument insertion port 44 via the treatment instrument insertion passage 100 (see fig. 2) and the like described above. Therefore, the treatment instrument inserted into the treatment instrument insertion port 44 is introduced into the lumen 154 (see fig. 12) from the treatment instrument lead-out port 94 via the treatment instrument insertion channel 100, the standing stand accommodating chamber 94a, and the like.

The stand 96 is rotatably supported (axially supported) by the stand case 200 via a rotating shaft 216 (see fig. 6) in the stand accommodating chamber 94 a. The stand 96 has an arc-shaped guide surface 96a that guides the treatment instrument guided into the stand housing chamber 94a to the treatment instrument guide outlet 94. Thus, the stand 96 switches the direction of the treatment instrument guided from the treatment instrument insertion path 100 into the stand accommodating chamber 94a, and leads the treatment instrument out of the treatment instrument lead-out port 94. As will be described in detail later, the stand 96 rotates about the rotation shaft 216 in the stand housing chamber 94a in response to the operation of the operation lever 43, thereby changing the direction of the treatment instrument introduced into the lumen 154 (see fig. 12) from the treatment instrument introduction port 94. Therefore, the standing stand 96 controls the direction in which the treatment instrument is led out from the treatment instrument outlet 94.

The lever accommodation cover 76 is fitted into a fitting hole 75 in the outer surface of the housing 72. The rod housing cover 76 is detachably mounted to the upright housing 200 by a bolt 77 penetrating the rod housing cover 76 in a state of being fitted to the fitting hole 75 (see fig. 5).

[ Structure of erecting case ]

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upright case 200, and fig. 7 is a front view of the upright case 200 when the upright case 200 is viewed from the case distal end side. As shown in fig. 6 and 7 and fig. 5 described above, the stand case 200 corresponds to the stand supporting member of the present invention, and is formed of, for example, a metal material having corrosion resistance. The upright housing 200 has a base 202 and a partition wall 204 extending from the base 202 toward the housing top end side.

The distal end surface of the base 202 on the housing distal end side constitutes a side surface of the standing stand accommodating chamber 94a on the housing proximal end side. A through hole 202a parallel to the longitudinal axis LA is formed in the base 202, and the through hole 202a communicates with the standing table accommodating chamber 94a and the treatment instrument insertion passage 100. Thus, the treatment instrument insertion path 100 communicates with the vertical stage housing chamber 94a via the through hole 202 a.

Two light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B are formed on the upper surface (the surface on the side of the treatment instrument in the direction of removal) of the outer wall surface of the base 202. Here, since the illumination windows 90A and 90B are disposed on the upper side of the upright housing 200 (the side in the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis LA and the width direction WD), the two light guides 128 corresponding to the illumination windows 90A and 90B are disposed along the upper surface of the base 202. Thus, the emission end of one of the light guides 128 is held at a position facing the first illumination window 90A and the emission end of the light guide 128 is held at a position facing the second illumination window 90B by the light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B.

The partition wall 204 is provided between the stand 96 (stand accommodating chamber 94a) and a stand vertical bar 210 (bar accommodating chamber 212) described later. The partition 204 has a side wall surface 206 as an R-direction side surface thereof, and a facing wall surface 208 as an L-direction side surface thereof and facing the standing stand 96.

A rod receiving chamber 212 for receiving the standing stand upright 210 is formed in the side wall surface 206. A holding hole 214 (see fig. 6) penetrating the partition wall 204 in the width direction WD (the axial direction of the rotary shaft 216) is formed in the bottom surface of the rod housing chamber 212 on the upright stand 96 side. The holding hole 214 communicates the rod accommodating chamber 212 and the standing stand accommodating chamber 94 a. The holding hole 214 also rotatably supports the rotary shaft 216. Further, since the standing stand vertical rod 210 in the rod housing chamber 212 rotates (swings) about the rotation shaft 216, the rod housing chamber 212 is formed in a fan shape (fan shape) about the rotation shaft 216.

A wire insertion hole 224 (see fig. 6) through which the operation wire 222 is inserted is formed in a side wall surface of the lever housing chamber 212 on the housing base end side.

In the side wall surface 206, bolt holes 220 into which the bolts 77 described above are screwed are formed in a region that is in the peripheral region of the rod accommodating chamber 212 and that is covered by the rod accommodating cover 76. The number of bolts 77 and bolt holes 220 is not particularly limited.

The facing wall surface 208 constitutes a side surface of the standing stand accommodating chamber 94a on the R direction side. The holding hole 214 is opened in the facing wall surface 208. Further, a notch 208a (see fig. 7) into which a part of the stand 96 enters is formed in the facing wall surface 208.

The standing stand vertical rod 210 rotates the standing stand 96 around the rotation shaft 216 in accordance with the operation of the operation lever 43. One of the rotating shafts 216 having a two-part structure is provided at one end of the standing stand vertical rod 210, and the operation wire 222 is connected to the other end of the standing stand vertical rod 210.

One of the rotating shafts 216 of the two-part structure is provided at one end of the standing stand vertical rod 210 as described above, and the other is provided at one end of the standing stand 96. The standing stand vertical rod 210 and the standing stand 96 are connected to each other via a rotating shaft 216 having a two-part structure. For example, in the present embodiment, one of the rotary shafts 216 of the two-part structure is coupled to the other by using the bolt 211 penetrating one end side of the standing stand vertical rod 210, and the standing stand vertical rod 210 and the standing stand 96 are coupled via the rotary shaft 216 (see fig. 6). Thereby, the stand vertical rod 210 rotates (swings) integrally with the stand 96 around the rotation shaft 216.

The operation wire 222 has a distal end side coupling portion 222a (see fig. 5) coupled to the upright stand vertical bar 210 in the bar housing chamber 212 on one end side. The other end of the operation wire 222 is inserted into the insertion portion 20 through a wire insertion hole 224 of the rod housing chamber 212, and is connected to an upright stand operation mechanism 226 (see fig. 8) in the operation portion 22.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the stand operation mechanism 226. As shown in fig. 8, the operating wire 222 has a base end side coupling portion 222b coupled to the stand operation mechanism 226 on the base end side thereof. The stand operation mechanism 226 includes an operation lever 43, a rotary drum 226A connected to the operation lever 43 and rotatable within a certain angle range, a crank member 226B connected to the rotary drum 226A, and a slider 226C connected to the crank member 226B. The base end side coupling portion 222b is coupled to the slider 226C.

When the operating lever 43 is operated to rotate the rotary drum 226A, the operating wire 222 is pushed and pulled via the crank member 226B and the slider 226C, whereby the standing stand vertical rod 210 swings, and the standing stand 96 rotates (swings) about the rotary shaft 216 in response to the swinging of the standing stand vertical rod 210.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the rotation of the standing stand 96 according to the operation of the operation lever 43. As shown by symbol IXA in fig. 9, when the operation lever 43 is operated to rotate the rotary roller 226A in one direction, the operation wire 222 performs a pressing operation, and the standing stand vertical rod 210 rotates in the direction SW1 about the rotary shaft 216. Thereby, the standing stand 96 rotates to the falling position in accordance with the rotation.

As shown by symbol IXB in fig. 9, when the operating lever 43 is operated to rotate the rotary roller 226A in the reverse direction, the operating wire 222 is pulled, and the upright stand upright 210 rotates about the rotary shaft 216 in the SW2 direction opposite to the SW1 direction. Thereby, the stand 96 is rotated to the stand position in accordance with the rotation. In this way, the rotation shaft 216 is rotated via the operation wire 222 and the standing stand vertical rod 210 by the operation of the operation lever 43, whereby the standing stand 96 can be displaced (erected and collapsed).

[ first illumination window, second illumination window, and observation window ]

Fig. 10 is a top view of the housing 72. As shown in fig. 10, first illumination window 90A is formed in base end side region ER in first inclined surface 86A described above. The proximal end side region ER is a region located at a position displaced from the treatment instrument outlet 94 toward the housing proximal end side on the outer surface of the housing 72.

More specifically, the proximal region ER is a region of the housing 72 located closer to the housing proximal side than the treatment instrument outlet 94 in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, and is a region within a range in which the treatment instrument outlet 94 is formed in the width direction WD. Thus, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be illuminated with the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window 90A.

When the end portion of the standing stand 96 opposite to the end portion on the side where the rotation shaft 216 is provided is the other end portion of the standing stand 96, the first illumination window 90A is provided in the housing 72 (the base end side region ER) at a position closer to the housing base end side than the other end portion of the standing stand 96 at least when the standing stand 96 is located at the tilted position. In other words, at least when the standing stand 96 is located at the falling position, the other end portion of the standing stand 96 is located closer to the case distal end side than the first illumination window 90A. Thus, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be illuminated with the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window 90A.

Further, the first illumination window 90A is more preferably provided closer to the housing base end side than the other end portion of the stand 96 even when the stand 96 is located at the stand position (i.e., regardless of the rotational position of the stand 96). Thus, even when the stand 96 is rotated (completely raised) to the standing position, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof led out from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be illuminated with the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window 90A.

The observation window 88 is provided on the first inclined surface 86A as described above. The observation window 88 is provided on the housing 72 on the housing proximal end side with respect to the treatment instrument lead-out port 94 in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, similarly to the first illumination window 90A. Thus, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out port 94 can be observed through the observation window 88.

Further, the observation window 88 is provided at a position on the L direction side with respect to the base end side region ER in the first inclined surface 86A. By disposing the observation window 88 and the first illumination window 90A in the same first inclined surface 86A, that is, at substantially the same position in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, the observation range 150B (see fig. 11) of the observation window 88 can be illuminated with the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window 90A.

The second illumination window 90B is provided on the second inclined surface 86B of the housing 72 described above. The second illumination window 90B is different from the first illumination window 90A in the emission direction of illumination light, as will be described later.

The air/water supply nozzle 92 is provided on the first inclined surface 86A on the L direction side of the observation window 88. The air supply/water supply nozzle 92 cleans the observation window 88 by discharging a fluid such as water or air to the observation window 88 as described above. At this time, the formation position of first illumination window 90A in proximal end side region ER and the formation position of second illumination window 90B in second inclined surface 86B are adjusted so that both illumination windows 90A and 90B are included in the discharge range of the fluid discharged from air-supply/water-supply nozzle 92. Thus, the illumination windows 90A and 90B and the light guide distal ends 141A and 141B (see fig. 13) of the light guides 128 can be cooled by the fluid discharged from the air and water supply nozzle 92.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the observation axis 150A and the observation range 150B of the observation window 88, the first illumination axis 151A and the first illumination range 151B of the first illumination window 90A, and the second illumination axis 152A and the second illumination range 152B of the second illumination window 90B. Note that in fig. 11 (and also in fig. 12 described later), in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated, the axes and the ranges are described assuming that the observation window 88 and the illumination windows 90A and 90B are located at the same position.

As shown in fig. 11, the observation axis 150A is an axis extending from the observation window 88 in its normal direction, the first illumination axis 151A is an axis extending from the first illumination window 90A in its normal direction, and the second illumination axis 152A is an axis extending from the second illumination window 90B in its normal direction. Each of the observation axis 150A, the first illumination axis 151A, and the second illumination axis 152A is an inclined axis inclined toward the case distal end side from a posture perpendicular to both the width direction WD and the length axis LA. Observation axis 150A and first illumination axis 151A are parallel to the normal line of first inclined surface 86A, and second illumination axis 152A is parallel to the normal line of second inclined surface 86B.

The observation axis angle θ 0 is an inclination angle of the observation axis 150A with respect to the reference axis LB parallel to the longitudinal axis LA when viewed from the width direction WD side (the paper surface perpendicular direction side). The first illumination axis angle θ 1 is an inclination angle of the first illumination axis 151A with respect to the reference axis LB when viewed from the width direction WD side. The second illumination axis angle θ 2 is an inclination angle of the second illumination axis 152A with respect to the reference axis LB when viewed from the width direction WD side. The reference axis LB is an axis intersecting the observation axis 150A at the observation axis angle θ 0, an axis intersecting the first illumination axis 151A at the first illumination axis angle θ 1, and an axis intersecting the second illumination axis 152A at the second illumination axis angle θ 2.

The observation axis angle θ 0 and the observation range 150B are set to values in an angular range from one to the other of the distal end side of the housing 72 [ the insertion direction side (the advancing direction side) of the insertion portion 20 ] and the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof led out from the treatment instrument outlet 94, respectively, which can be observed through the observation window 88 when viewed from the width direction WD side. The observation axis angle θ 0 and the observation range 150B are preferably values that allow the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 194 to be observed while the upright table 96 is rotated to the upright position.

Since the first illumination axis angle θ 1 is equal to (including substantially equal to) the viewing axis angle θ 0, the first illumination axis 151A is parallel to (including substantially parallel to) the viewing axis 150A. The first illumination range 151B includes the observation range 150B at least when viewed from the width direction WD side. Thus, the first illumination window 90A can illuminate the above-described angle range (observation range 150B) with illumination light.

Since the second illumination axis angle θ 2 is smaller than the first illumination axis angle θ 1, the second illumination axis 152A is inclined toward the housing top end side than the first illumination axis 151A. In other words, second inclined surface 86B has an inclination angle closer to the perpendicular to reference axis LB than first inclined surface 86A.

When the difference between the first illumination axis angle θ 1 and the second illumination axis angle θ 2 is Δ θ, the second illumination range 152B is inclined toward the housing distal end side by the difference Δ θ with respect to the first illumination range 151B. Therefore, the second illumination range 152B partially overlaps with the first illumination range 151B.

At this time, the second illumination axis angle θ 2 (difference Δ θ) is set to a value such that the observation range 150B is included in the second illumination range 152B when viewed from at least the width direction WD side. Therefore, the second illumination window 90B can also illuminate the above-described angle range (observation range 150B) with illumination light.

Fig. 12 is a side view of the tip portion 50 of the insertion portion 20 inserted into the lumen 154. As shown in fig. 12 and fig. 11 described above, by tilting second illumination window 90B (second illumination axis 152A and second illumination range 152B) by difference Δ θ toward the housing distal end side with respect to first illumination window 90A (first illumination axis 151A and first illumination range 151B), the illumination light amount of the illumination light with which second illumination window 90B illuminates the insertion direction side of insertion portion 20 can be increased. As a result, for example, when the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the narrow lumen 154, the visibility (forward visibility) of the inner wall of the lumen 154 located on the insertion direction side of the insertion portion 20 is improved.

Further, by inclining the second illumination window 90B toward the housing distal end side with respect to the first illumination window 90A by the difference Δ θ, when the inner wall surface of the narrow lumen 154 such as the duodenum is illuminated, the illumination light amount of the illumination light irradiated from the second illumination window 90B toward the inner wall surface can be reduced from the illumination light amount of the illumination light irradiated from the first illumination window 90A toward the inner wall surface. Thus, the illumination light amount of the illumination light to be irradiated to the inner wall surface of the lumen 154 can be reduced as compared with the case where the second illumination axis angle θ 2 is set to be the same size as the first illumination axis angle θ 1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of halation in the endoscope image due to an excessive amount of illumination light applied to the inner wall surface of the lumen 154. Further, it may be possible to selectively perform illumination only by the second illumination window 90B as needed.

Since the first illumination window 90A is disposed in the base end side region ER described above, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof led out from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be illuminated from one direction side (base end side region ER side) at all times by the first illumination window 90A. This prevents the treatment target site from entering shadows of the vertical stand 96, the treatment instrument, and the like when viewed through the first illumination window 90A. Further, since the irradiation form of the illumination light to the treatment instrument is not changed by the displacement of the treatment instrument accompanying the rotation of the upright stand 96, it is possible to prevent the endoscope image from being hardly seen, and the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof led out from the treatment instrument outlet 94 from departing from the first illumination range 151B. As a result, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be reliably illuminated with the illumination light emitted from the first illumination window 90A, and therefore, the visibility of the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be improved.

Further, by inclining the first illumination window 90A (the first illumination axis 151A and the first illumination range 151B) by the difference Δ θ toward the housing proximal side than the second illumination window 90B (the second illumination axis 152A and the second illumination range 152B), the illumination light amount of the illumination light with which the first illumination window 90A illuminates the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 can be increased. As a result, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be reliably illuminated with the illumination light, and thus the visibility of the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be improved.

By combining the first illumination window 90A and the second illumination window 90B in this manner, the front visibility of the insertion portion 20 and the visibility of the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be improved.

[ modifications of the first illumination window, the second illumination window, and the observation window ]

In the present embodiment, the entire first illumination window 90A is housed in the base-side region ER in the width direction WD, but a part of the first illumination window 90A may protrude to the L-direction side or the R-direction side of the base-side region ER. However, in order to reliably illuminate the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof with illumination light regardless of the rotational position of the stand 96, it is preferable that the entire first illumination window 90A be housed in the base end side region ER in the width direction WD.

In the present embodiment, the first illumination axis angle θ 1 of the first illumination axis 151A of the first illumination window 90A is less than 90 °, but the first illumination axis angle θ 1 may be 90 ° (including substantially 90 °) depending on the size of the first illumination range 151B of the first illumination window 90A. That is, the base end side region ER (the first inclined surface 86A) may be a surface parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

In the present embodiment, the observation window 88 is formed in the first inclined surface 86A and at a position on the L direction side of the base end side region ER, but the position of forming the observation window 88 is not particularly limited. However, in order to always observe the treatment instrument and the treatment target site derived from the treatment instrument lead-out port 94, the observation window 88 is preferably positioned closer to the housing proximal end side than the treatment instrument lead-out port 94 on the housing 72.

In the present embodiment, the second illumination window 90B is formed on the second inclined surface 86B, but the position where the second illumination window 90B is formed is not particularly limited. In the above embodiment, the second illumination axis angle θ 2 is made smaller than the first illumination axis angle θ 1, but the second illumination axis angle θ 2 may be made larger than the first illumination axis angle θ 1, or both may be made equal. In the above embodiment, the second illumination window 90B is provided on the housing 72 on the housing distal end side from the proximal end side region ER, but may be provided on the housing proximal end side from the treatment instrument outlet 94. Further, if the above-described front visibility and the visibility of the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be ensured only by the first illumination window 90A, the second illumination window 90B may be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the observation axis 150A is parallel to the first illumination axis 151A, but may not be parallel to each other. For example, the viewing axis angle θ 0 may be an angle between the first illumination axis angle θ 1 and the second illumination axis angle θ 2.

[ Heat dissipation at the tip end of light guide ]

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the stand case 200 and the light guides 128 (the first light guide 128A and the second light guide 128B) held by the stand case 200.

As shown in fig. 13, the light guide 128 includes a first light guide 128A that emits illumination light through the first illumination window 90A and a second light guide 128B that emits illumination light through the second illumination window 90B. The first illumination window 90A and the second illumination window 90B constitute an illumination window of the present invention.

The first light guide 128A has a light guide tip portion 141A as a tip portion on the opposite side to the first illumination window 90A. The tip portion of the light guide tip 141A on the emission end side is inclined at the first illumination axis angle θ 1 described above with respect to the base end portion of the light guide tip 141A parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

The second light guide 128B has a light guide tip portion 141B as a tip portion on the opposite side to the second illumination window 90B. The tip portion of the light guide tip 141B is inclined at the second illumination axis angle θ 2 described above with respect to the base end portion of the light guide tip 141B parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

Here, metal members such as nozzles are attached to the distal ends of the light guide distal ends 141A and 141B. Further, the base end portions of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B are covered with various sleeves.

The light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B absorb part of the illumination light and generate heat when the illumination light is emitted from the respective emission ends. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heat radiation of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B is performed by the upright case 200.

As described above, the two light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B (see fig. 5 and 6) corresponding to the light guide holding portion and the groove of the present invention are formed on the upper surface of the outer wall surface of the base 202 of the stand case 200.

A proximal end portion of the light guide distal end portion 141A is fitted into the light guide holding groove 203A. Thus, light guide holding groove 203A holds light guide distal end portion 141A at a position where its distal end portion (emission end) faces first illumination window 90A. Further, the base end portion of the light guide tip portion 141B is fitted into the light guide holding groove 203B. Thereby, the light guide holding groove 203B holds the light guide distal end portion 141B at a position where the distal end portion (emission end) thereof faces the second illumination window 90B.

In order to further reduce the diameter of the tip 50, the light guide tips 141A and 141B may be adhesively fixed in the light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B without providing a nozzle, a sleeve, or the like at the light guide tips 141A and 141B.

Since the vertical case 200 is made of metal, the thermal conductivity is higher than the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B. Further, since the upright case 200 is in direct contact with the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B or in indirect contact with the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B via a metal member such as a nozzle, heat moves from the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B to the upright case 200. This enables heat to be radiated from the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B.

When the housing cover 72B (corresponding to the cover of the present invention) shown in fig. 3 to 5 described above is attached to the opening 71 of the housing main body 72a, the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B are pressed against the upper surface side of the upright case 200 by the inner surface of the housing cover 72B. Thus, the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B are pressed and fixed into the light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B by the housing cover 72B. As a result, the adhesion between the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B and the upright case 200 is improved, and thus the heat dissipation of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B is improved. Further, a pressing portion such as a protrusion for pressing the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B may be provided on the inner surface of the housing cover 72B.

A metal pipe 145 is connected to the case base end side of the upright case 200. The metal tube 145 connects the treatment instrument insertion channel 100 to the through hole 202a of the upright case 200. Thus, the treatment instrument insertion passage 100 communicates with the vertical stage housing chamber 94a via the metal pipe 145 and the through hole 202 a. Therefore, the treatment instrument inserted into the treatment instrument insertion path 100 is guided to the standing stand accommodating chamber 94a through the metal tube 145 and the through hole 202 a.

The metal pipe 145 is made of metal, and therefore has a higher thermal conductivity than the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B. Therefore, the heat generated in the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B can be further moved to the metal pipe 145 via the upright case 200. This can further improve the heat dissipation of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B.

In the present embodiment, the heat of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B is transferred to the bending portion 52 via the upright case 200.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view of the bent portion 52. As shown in fig. 14, the bending portion 52 includes a plurality of metal rings 160 (also referred to as node rings or bending pieces) connected along the longitudinal axis LA, and a sleeve 161 covering each ring 160. The rings 160 adjacent to each other are rotatably connected by a rivet 162. Since the connection structure of the rings 160 is a known technique, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Since each ring 160 is made of metal, it has higher thermal conductivity than the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B, as in the case of the upright case 200 and the metal pipe 145 described above.

A plurality of corner lines (not shown) are inserted into each ring 160. One end of each of the corner wires is connected to the distal end portion 50, and the other end thereof is connected to a pulley (not shown) that is rotationally operated by the pair of corner knobs 42. Thus, the bending portion 52 is remotely bent (bent) by rotating the pair of bend knobs 42 provided on the operation portion 22. As a result, the distal end portion 50 can be oriented in a desired direction.

Of the rings 160, a ring 160 (hereinafter, referred to as a top ring 160A) located on the top end side (the top end 50 side) closest to the bending portion 52 is fixed to the outer shell 72 by a bolt or the like (not shown) in a state of being connected (coupled) to the outer shell proximal end side of the outer shell 72.

At this time, the base end portion of the base 202 of the stand case 200 on the outer shell base end side is inserted into the inside of the top ring 160A. The base end portion of the base 202 is fixed inside the top ring 160A by a metal bolt 165 (corresponding to another metal member of the present invention) penetrating the top ring 160A from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the top ring 160A. Thus, the upright housing 200 is indirectly connected to the top ring 160A by the bolts 165. Further, the upright case 200 and the tip ring 160A may be directly connected by providing a holding portion for holding the base end portion of the base 202, a contact portion with the base 202, or the like on the inner side of the tip ring 160A.

In this way, by connecting the upright case 200 and the tip ring 160A indirectly by a metal member such as the bolt 165, directly connecting the two, or connecting both, the heat generated in the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B can be moved to the tip ring 160A and the other rings 160 via the upright case 200. This can further improve the heat dissipation of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B.

[ Effect of the present embodiment ]

As described above, in the present embodiment, by holding the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B to the metal upright case 200, the heat generated in the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B can be moved to the upright case 200, and the heat of the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B can be dissipated. This can suppress the temperature rise of the light guide distal ends 141A and 141B without providing a heat insulator in the distal end 50. As a result, the temperature rise of the distal end portion 50 can be suppressed while preventing an increase in the number of components and an increase in the diameter of the distal end portion 50.

In the present embodiment, the metal pipe 145 and the tip ring 160A (ring 160) are connected to the stand case 200, whereby heat transferred from the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B to the stand case 200 can be further transferred from the stand case 200 to the metal pipe 145 and the tip ring 160A. As a result, the heat dissipation of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B can be further improved.

In the present embodiment, since both of the illumination windows 90A and 90B are disposed within the discharge range of the fluid discharged from the air/water supply nozzle 92 (corresponding to the nozzle of the present invention), the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B can be cooled through the illumination windows 90A and 90B by the fluid discharged from the air/water supply nozzle 92. As a result, the temperature rise of the light guide distal ends 141A and 141B, that is, the temperature rise of the distal end 50 can be suppressed.

[ ultrasonic endoscope of other embodiment ]

In the ultrasonic endoscope 10 of the above embodiment, the first illumination window 90A is disposed in the proximal end side region ER of the housing 72, but the first illumination window 90A may be disposed outside the proximal end side region ER of the housing 72.

Fig. 15 is an external perspective view of the distal end portion 50 of the ultrasonic endoscope 10 according to another embodiment in which the arrangement of the first illumination window 90A is different. As shown in fig. 15, an ultrasonic endoscope 10 according to another embodiment is basically the same as the ultrasonic endoscope 10 according to the above-described embodiment except that the first inclined surface 86A of the housing 72 has an observation window region 86A1, a nozzle region 86A2, and an illumination window region 86A3 which are parallel to each other, and the arrangement of the first illumination window 90A on the housing 72 is different. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment in terms of functions and structures, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the opposite side to the normal direction of first inclined surface 86A is referred to as the normal opposite direction.

The observation window region 86A1, the nozzle region 86A2, and the illumination window region 86A3 are inclined surfaces that respectively constitute a part of the first inclined surface 86A and have the first illumination axis 151A described above as a normal line. The observation window region 86A1 is formed on the first inclined surface 86A at a position closer to the housing proximal end side than the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 in the direction along the longitudinal axis LA, and is formed at a position closer to the treatment instrument lead-out opening 94 in the L direction in the width direction WD. The observation window 88 described above is provided in the observation window region 86a 1.

The nozzle region 86A2 is formed on the first inclined surface 86A at a position on the opposite side of the normal to the observation window region 86A1, and is formed on the L direction side with respect to the observation window region 86A1 in the width direction WD. The nozzle region 86A2 is displaced in the first inclined surface 86A toward the most normal direction side. The nozzle area 86a2 is provided with the above-described air/water supply nozzle 92.

The illumination window area 86A3 is formed on the first inclined surface 86A on the normal direction side of the first inclined surface 86A with respect to the top of the air/water supply nozzle 92, and is formed on the L direction side of the treatment instrument lead-out 94 in the width direction WD. The illumination window area 86A3 is displaced on the first inclined surface 86A toward the side closest to the normal line direction of the first inclined surface 86A. In addition, in the illumination window area 86a3, a first illumination window 90A according to another embodiment is formed.

In the other embodiment, the first illumination window 90A (the first illumination axis 151A and the first illumination range 151B) is inclined by the difference Δ θ toward the housing base end side from the second illumination window 90B (the second illumination axis 152A and the second illumination range 152B) as in the above embodiments. Thus, the treatment instrument and the treatment target site thereof can be illuminated with illumination light through the first illumination window 90A.

In this case, the first illumination window 90A of the other embodiment is provided in the illumination window area 86a3 described above, i.e., on the L direction side of the upright case 200 in the width direction WD. Therefore, in another embodiment, the first light guide 128A is not disposed on the upper surface of the base 202 in the housing 72, but is disposed at a position separated from the base 202 in the L direction. Thus, in another embodiment, only the light guide tip portion 141B of the second light guide 128B is held on the upright case 200. Thus, in another embodiment, the second light guide 128B corresponds to a light guide of the present invention and the second illumination window 90B corresponds to an illumination window of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the stand case 200 and the second light guide 128B held by the stand case 200. As shown in fig. 16, the stand case 200 according to the other embodiment has basically the same configuration as the stand case 200 according to the above embodiment except that only the light guide holding groove 203B is formed on the upper surface thereof and the light guide tip portion 141B is held by the light guide holding groove 203B. Thus, in another embodiment, the heat generated in the light guide tip portion 141B can be moved to the stand case 200 and further moved to the metal pipe 145, the tip ring 160A (the ring 160), and the like via the stand case 200.

In this way, in the other embodiment, since the heat is radiated from the light guide distal end portion 141B by the metal upright case 200, the temperature rise of the light guide distal end portion 141B can be suppressed. As a result, in the other embodiment, the temperature increase of the distal end portion 50 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the temperature of both the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B increases as in the related art. This eliminates the need to provide a heat insulator or the like in the distal end portion 50, and thus prevents an increase in the number of components and an increase in the diameter of the distal end portion 50.

In the above-described another embodiment, the observation window region 86A1, the nozzle region 86A2, and the illumination window region 86A3 are formed in the first inclined surface 86A so as to be different from each other, but the observation window region 86A1, the nozzle region 86A2, and the illumination window region 86A3 may be formed on the same plane without a step. In the above-described another embodiment, the observation window region 86A1 (observation axis 150A) in the first inclined surface 86A and the illumination window region 86A3 (first illumination axis 151A) are formed parallel to each other, but they may be formed non-parallel to each other. Further, if the above-described front visibility and the visibility of the treatment instrument and the treatment target site can be ensured only by the second illumination window 90B, for example, the first illumination window 90A may be omitted.

[ others ]

In the above embodiment, the light guide holding grooves 203A, 203B are formed on the upper surface of the outer wall surface of the upright case 200 (base 202), but the light guide holding grooves 203A, 203B may be formed on a surface other than the upper surface of the outer wall surface.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the holding structure of the light guide tip portions 141A and 141B by the upright case 200. In the above embodiment, the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B are held by the light guide holding grooves 203A and 203B formed on the upper surface of the stand case 200, but the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B may be held by other methods.

As shown in fig. 17, as the light guide holding portion of the present invention, the base 202 of the upright case 200 may be provided with two through holes 230A and 230B (may be tubes) penetrating from the distal end surface on the distal end side of the housing to the proximal end surface on the proximal end side of the housing. The light guide tip portion 141A is inserted and fixed into the through hole 230A, and the light guide tip portion 141B is inserted and fixed into the through hole 230B. This allows the heat generated in the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B to move toward the stand case 200, and therefore, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. In the other embodiment shown in fig. 16, the through hole 230B may be formed in the base 202 of the upright housing 200 in the same manner.

The light guide holding portion of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it holds the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B and can move the heat of the light guide distal end portions 141A and 141B to the upright case 200.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the standing stand 96 is rotated via the operation wire 222 and the standing stand vertical rod 210 has been described, but the method of rotating the standing stand 96 is not particularly limited, and a known method can be employed.

In the above embodiment, the first inclined surface 86A is parallel to the observation window 88 and the first illumination window 90A, but the observation window 88 and the first illumination window 90A may be provided so as not to be parallel to the first inclined surface 86A. Similarly, second illumination window 90B may be provided so as not to be parallel to second inclined surface 86B.

In the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic endoscope 10 including the ultrasonic observation unit 60 (the ultrasonic transducer 62) has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to an endoscope including the upright stand 96 for guiding a treatment instrument, for example, a side-view endoscope such as a duodenoscope.

Description of the symbols

2 ultrasonic inspection system

10 ultrasonic endoscope

12 ultrasonic processor device

14 processor device for endoscope

16 light source device

18 monitor

20 insertion part

22 operating part

24 universal cord

27 ultrasonic connector

28 endoscope connector

30 light source connector

32 casing

34 casing

36 air and water supply button

38 suction button

42 corner button

43 operating rod

44 treatment tool insertion port

50 tip end portion

52 bending part

54 soft part

60 ultrasonic observation unit

62 ultrasonic transducer

64 capsule

66 locking ring

68 locking groove

70 supply and discharge port

71 opening part

72 outer cover

72a housing body

72b housing cover

73 partition wall

74 groove part

75 jogged hole

76-rod accommodation cover

77 bolt

80 Observation part of endoscope

86A first inclined surface

86A1 View Window area

86A2 nozzle area

86A3 Lighting Window area

86B second inclined surface

88 observation window

90A first lighting window

90B second lighting window

92 air and water supply nozzle

94 treatment tool exit port

94a standing stand accommodating chamber

96 erecting table

96a guide surface

100 treatment instrument insertion channel

102 air and water supply pipeline

104 bag pipeline

106 suction line

108 air supply pipeline

110 water supply pipeline

112 capsule water supply line

114 bladder water drain line

116 air supply pipeline

118 water supply tank

120 water supply source pipeline

122 branch pipeline

124 suction pump

126 suction source pipeline

128 light guide

128A first light guide

128B second light guide

129 air supply pump

141A light guide tip

141B light guide tip part

145 metal tube

150A observation axis

150B observation Range

151A first illumination axis

151B first illumination Range

152A second illumination axis

152B second illumination range

154 lumen

160 ring

160A top ring

161 casing tube

162 rivet

165 bolt

200 upright casing

202 base

202a through hole

203A light guide holding groove

203B light guide holding groove

204 spacer wall

206 side wall surface

208 facing the wall

208a cut out portion

210 vertical pole of vertical stand

211 bolt

212 rod receiving Chamber

214 holding hole

216 rotating shaft

220 bolt hole

222 operating line

222a distal end side connecting part

222b base end side connecting part

224 wire insertion through hole

226 erecting table operating mechanism

226A rotary drum

226B crank member

226C slider

230A through hole

230B through hole

Distal region of ER

LA Length shaft

LB reference shaft

Normal direction of NV

WD width direction

Difference of delta theta

Angle of theta 0 viewing axis

Theta 1 first illumination axis angle

θ 2 second illumination axis angle.