JP2000333902A - Image pickup device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device for an endoscope having a remote controller allowing an operator to do operations himself or herself and being excellent in controllability such that even if it is shaped to fully function, it will not hinder the operator's movements. SOLUTION: This image pickup device for an endoscope has a camera cable 22 connected to a camera control unit 12 connected to a camera head body 20 and adapted for processing electric signals obtained by the camera body 20 and for outputting the signals to a monitor as image signals, the camera head body 20 having image pickup elements built therein for converting endoscope images from an endoscope eye-piece part into the electric signals. A remote-control cable 26 branching from the middle part of the camera cable 22 is formed, and a remote controller 28 is attached to the branching remote- control cable 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope imaging apparatus for a system for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In surgery, various medical devices are used for diagnosis and treatment. For example, in the case of an endoscope imaging apparatus provided with a camera head 1 mounted on an endoscope as shown in FIG. 7, a camera control unit 2 for controlling the camera head 1 is usually provided from an operating table in an operating room. Because it is set up in a "dirty area" in a remote place,
It is strictly forbidden for the surgeon to directly operate the switches of the camera control unit 2 with his / her hand in the “clean area”. Therefore, the switch operation of the camera control unit 2 is performed by a nurse or an assistant other than the operator on behalf of the operator, or the camera head 1 is operated so that the operator can remotely control the switch operation of the camera control unit 2. A remote switch 4 built in or externally attached to the camera head body 3 is operated.

[0003]

(Disadvantages of the prior art) It is difficult for a nurse or an assistant other than the operator to operate the switches of the camera control unit 2 on behalf of the operator, as the operator himself thinks. There was a disadvantage that the adjustment operation could not be performed directly and the efficiency of the procedure could not be increased.

On the other hand, in the case where the remote switch 4 is built in or externally attached to the camera head main body 3, it is necessary to prevent the remote switch 4 from hindering the movement of the operator. There is a drawback that the shape of the (remote controller) is greatly restricted, and it is not possible to make the shape giving priority to the operability of the operator or to provide sufficient functions to the remote controller.

(Purpose) The present invention is designed so that an operator can perform an operation himself, has excellent operability, and has a shape (for example, even if it is enlarged) that has a sufficient function. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope image pickup device provided with a remote controller that does not hinder the operation.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A camera head body incorporating an image sensor for converting an endoscope image from the endoscope eyepiece to an electric signal, and an electric signal connected to the camera head body, processing the electric signal obtained by the camera head body, and connecting to a monitor. In an endoscope imaging apparatus having an electric cable connected to a camera control unit that outputs a video signal, an electric cable branched from an intermediate portion of the electric cable is provided, and a remote controller is provided on the branched electric cable. An imaging device for an endoscope.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus for an endoscope according to the first aspect, wherein a position fixing clip is provided near the remote controller or the remote controller.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote controller or a reel device provided near the remote controller and configured to wind the branched electric cable. Is an imaging device for an endoscope.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] An imaging apparatus for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Structure) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an entire camera head of an imaging device for an endoscope, and reference numeral 12 denotes a camera control unit.

An apparatus body 13 of the camera control unit 12 is mounted on an upper surface of an apparatus body 14 of another device. As shown in FIG. 2A, a male fastener, for example, a so-called magic tape (male side) 16 is fixed to the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 13 of the camera control unit 12 or its feet 15 with an adhesive. At the position where the magic tape (male side) 16 on the camera control unit 12 side is placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 14 of the device, a female fastener, a so-called magic tape (female side) 1
7 is fixed with an adhesive.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the male magic tape 16 and the female magic tape 17 are engaged with each other, so that the apparatus main body 13 of the camera control unit 12 is separated from the apparatus main body 14 of another apparatus. And is assembled in a position where two upper and lower units are overlapped. At this time, the positioning means prevents the apparatus main body 13 of the camera control unit 12 from being displaced from the apparatus main body 14 of another device.

Of course, the female magic tape 17 may be fixed to the upper camera control unit 12 side and the male magic tape 16 may be fixed to the lower apparatus main body 14 side.

The magic tapes 16 and 17 may be hook-shaped on the male side and looped on the female side, or may have a relationship between a convex portion and a concave portion meshing with the convex portion as shown in FIG. May be used.

As shown in FIG. 4, a rubber suction cup 19 is provided in place of the magic tape, and this is attached to either the bottom of the upper camera control unit 12 or the top of the lower apparatus body 14 with an adhesive. It may be fixed.

The camera head 11 has a camera head body 20 mounted on an endoscope eyepiece, and the camera head body 20 converts an endoscope image from the endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal. An imaging device 21 is provided. The camera head body 20 is provided so as to be connected to one end of a camera cable 22 as an electric cable, and a connector 23 is provided at the other end of the camera cable 22. The connector 23 is detachably connected to a connection port 24 of the camera control unit 12.

At a substantially central portion 25 of the camera cable 22, a remote control cable 26 as an electric cable is branched into a Y-shape or a T-shape. Remote control cable 26
A remote controller 28 is provided at the branch extension end. The remote controller 28 is provided with an operation unit having a remote switch 29, a liquid crystal screen 30, and the like.

A power switch 31, an operation switch 32, and the like are provided on the front of the apparatus body 13 of the camera control unit 12.

(Action and Effect) Conventionally, the camera head body 2
Since the remote switch 29 was provided on the device 0 itself, it was not possible to provide the liquid crystal screen 30, which was difficult to mount in terms of space, or a knob-type switch having excellent operability. In the imaging device for an endoscope, a remote controller 28 is provided on a remote control cable 26 branched from the middle of the camera cable 22, and the remote controller 28 is separated from the camera head main body 20. Instead, the liquid crystal screen 30, a knob-type switch having excellent operability, and the like can be provided.

Therefore, when it becomes necessary for a nurse or an assistant other than the operator to operate the switch, it is not necessary to operate the switch on the camera control unit 12 side as in the prior art, and the action range is within the reach of the remote control cable 26. And the switch operation can be performed by taking a wider view.

[Second Embodiment] An imaging device for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, different portions will be mainly described.

(Construction) In this embodiment, a remote controller 28 provided at the end of a remote control cable 26
A clip 43 is provided on the back surface 42 of the main body case 41 of FIG.

The clip 43 may be provided on the side surface of the main body case 41 of the remote controller 28 or not directly on the main body case 41.
For example, it may be provided near the remote controller 28 in the middle of the remote control cable 26.

(Operation and Effect) In this embodiment,
By using the clip 43, the remote controller 28 can be fixed at a desired position such as the operating condition of the switch operator (operator), so that the remote controller 28 can be prevented from dropping unexpectedly. Further, even if the remote controller 28 has a large shape with emphasis on operability, the remote controller 28 can be fixed at a position that does not hinder the movement of the operator.
In other words, giving priority to space, remote controller 2
8 can be prevented from being sacrificed.

[Third Embodiment] An imaging device for an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, different portions will be mainly described.

(Configuration) In this embodiment, a remote controller 28 connected to the end of a remote control cable 26
A reel device 51 for winding the remote control cable 26 is incorporated in the main body case 41, and a remote control cable winding handle 52 for operating the reel device 51 is provided on the rear surface 42 of the main body case 41.

The reel device 51 may be provided on the side surface of the main body case 41 of the remote controller 28 or not on the remote controller 28 but directly on the remote controller cable 26 near the remote controller 28. It may be provided. Similarly, the handle 52 may be provided on the side surface of the remote controller 28 instead of the rear surface 42 of the remote controller 28.

(Action, Effect) Remote Controller 2
By operating the handle 52, the reel device 51 provided at 8 can take up or unwind the remote control cable 26 and change the length of the remote control cable 26.
For example, the camera head main body 2 in the camera head 11
When the operator himself holding / operating 0 operates the remote controller 28, the operator uses the remote controller cable 26 with the handle 52 wound up. In addition, assistants and nurses other than the surgeon operate the remote controller 28.
Is operated with the remote control cable 26 sent out by the handle 52. That is, the length of the remote control cable 26 can be easily changed to an optimum length according to the situation of the procedure.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the remote controller can be operated by the operator himself, and furthermore, the shape of the remote controller is excellent (for example, large). It does not hinder the movement of the surgeon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a positioning unit when the camera control unit is mounted on the upper surface of another device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing a portion of the positioning means.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a positioning unit when the camera control unit is mounted on the upper surface of another device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a clip attached to a remote controller of the imaging device for an endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reel device attached to a remote controller of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional imaging device for an endoscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Camera head of endoscope imaging device, 12: Camera control unit, 20: Camera head body, 21
... Image sensor, 22 ... Camera cable, 23 ... Connector, 24 ... Connection port, 26 ... Remote control cable, 28 ...
Remote controller, 29 ... Remote switch, 3
0: liquid crystal screen; 43: clip; 51: remote control cable winding reel device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera head body having an image pickup device for converting an endoscope image from an endoscope eyepiece into an electric signal, and an electric signal connected to the camera head body and obtained by the camera head body. An endoscope imaging device having an electric cable connected to a camera control unit for processing and outputting the image signal to a monitor, wherein an electric cable branched from an intermediate portion of the electric cable is provided. An imaging device for an endoscope, characterized in that a remote controller is provided in the device. 2. An endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position fixing clip is provided near the remote controller or the remote controller. 3. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reel device provided near the remote controller or the remote controller and configured to wind the branched electric cable. apparatus.