Endoscopy

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that makes it possible to reuse a camera that has an expensive solid-state imaging element. This endoscope (100) comprises a shaft (10) that is to be inserted into the body, a handle (20) that has a grip (21) and operation knobs (25, 26) and is attached to a base-end side of the shaft (10), and a camera (30) that has a cable tube (35) and a camera bed (31) on which an imaging element is installed. The camera can be separated from the handle and the shaft. A camera channel (13) in which the camera is to be arranged is formed in the shaft, and a camera channel port (23) that communicates with the camera channel (13) is provided in the handle. A camera connector (50) that is mounted in the camera channel port when the camera is arranged in the camera channel is attached to the cable tube of the camera.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope having a shaft to be inserted into the body, an operating handle, and a camera. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as a small endoscope used for diagnosing and treating the bile duct, pancreatic duct, etc. via a duodenoscope, there is known an endoscope that is equipped with a shaft to be inserted into the body, an operating handle, and a camera (see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] A camera (including a transmission cable) and an optical fiber are disposed in the shaft that constitutes this endoscope, and a water supply channel and a forceps channel are formed. The camera that is disposed on the shaft and constitutes the endoscope is equipped with a solid-state imaging element (CMOS image sensor). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4764417 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A small endoscope such as that described in the above Patent Document 1 is equipped with a camera having an expensive solid-state image sensor, and therefore it is desirable to reuse such an endoscope. However, cleaning a small endoscope is difficult, and the camera may be damaged during cleaning. For this reason, the small endoscope described in Patent Document 1 is not permitted to be reused, and is disposed of together with the camera after use.

[0006] The present invention has been made based on these circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of reusing a camera having an expensive solid-state image sensor. A second object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can prevent a shaft from being inserted into a delivery device or into the body with a camera extending from the tip surface of the shaft. A third object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that allows fine adjustment of the position of the tip of the camera relative to the tip surface of the shaft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The endoscope of the present invention comprises: a shaft to be inserted into a body; A handle attached to a proximal end side of the shaft; The camera includes a camera head having an imaging element and a cable tube, The camera is characterized in that it is separable from the handle and the shaft.

[0008] According to an endoscope having such a configuration, after use, the camera, which is an expensive component of the endoscope, can be reused by separating the camera from the handle and shaft and cleaning it.

[0009] (2) the shaft is formed with a camera channel in which the camera is disposed; The handle is provided with a camera channel port that communicates with the camera channel; The camera cable tube preferably has a camera connector attached thereto which plugs into the camera channel port when the camera is properly positioned in the camera channel.

[0010] With an endoscope configured in this manner, the camera can be properly positioned in the camera channel by inserting the camera through the camera channel port provided in the handle, passing the camera through the camera channel formed in the shaft, and attaching the camera connector attached to the camera's cable tube to the camera channel port.

[0011] (3) In the endoscope of (2) above, it is preferable that the camera connector has a camera position adjustment mechanism that, when attached to the camera channel port, moves the camera back and forth so that the tip of the camera disposed in the camera channel is displaced between a first position that is proximal to the tip surface of the shaft where the camera channel opens, and a second position that is distal to the tip surface of the shaft.

[0012] According to an endoscope having such a configuration, the position of the tip of the camera relative to the tip surface of the shaft can be finely adjusted between a first position and a second position. In addition, by positioning the tip of the camera at a first position using the camera position adjustment mechanism and then inserting the camera into the camera channel, it is possible to prevent the camera from being inserted into a delivery device or the body with the camera extending from the tip surface of the shaft.

[0013] (4) In the endoscope described above in (3), it is preferable that the distance from the first position to the second position is 2 to 100 mm.

[0014] (5) In the endoscope described above in (3) or (4), it is preferable that the camera position adjustment mechanism is a mechanism that uses a feed screw to reciprocate the camera.

[0015] (6) In the endoscope according to the above (5), the camera position adjustment mechanism includes a connector case that is attached to the camera channel port and has an inner circumferential surface formed with a guide groove extending along the axial direction; a slide member that is slidable relative to the connector case, the slide member comprising: a shaft portion that extends into the connector case, a portion of which extends toward the base end of the connector case, at least the base end portion of which is formed with a male thread, and into which the cable tube of the camera is inserted and fixed; and a guide portion that is integrally formed with the shaft portion so as to surround the tip end portion of the shaft portion, and has a protruding ridge portion that is guided by the guide groove formed on its outer circumferential surface; a rotary knob located on a base end side of the connector case, the rotary knob being restricted in its axial movement, the rotary knob having a female thread portion that screws into the male thread portion of the shaft portion of the slide member, rotating the rotary knob in one direction to slide the slide member from a base end position to a tip end position, thereby moving the tip end of the camera from the first position to the second position; It is preferable that the mechanism moves the tip of the camera from the second position to the first position by rotating the rotary knob in the other direction to slide the sliding member from the tip position to the base position.

[0016] (7) In the endoscope according to (6) above, when the slide member of the camera position adjustment mechanism is not at the base end position, the camera connector is attached to the camera channel port. It is preferable that the connector be provided with a connector attachment restriction mechanism that restricts the connector from being attached to the connector.

[0017] With an endoscope configured in this manner, when the sliding member is not in the base end position, it is not possible to place a camera in the camera channel (mount a camera on the endoscope), so that it is possible to reliably prevent the shaft from being inserted into a delivery device or into the body with the camera extending from the tip surface of the shaft.

[0018] (8) In the endoscope according to the above (7), the connector attachment restriction mechanism is configured to include a port side connector attached to the camera channel port so as to be interposed between the camera channel port and the camera connector, The port-side connector has an insertion passage for the cable tube formed therein, when the slide member is in the base end position, a base end portion of the port side connector can be inserted into the connector case to couple the port side connector and the camera connector, It is preferable that when the slide member is not in the base end position, even if an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the inside of the connector case, the tip of the slide member interferes and prevents insertion.

[0019] (9) In the endoscope according to the above (8), a circular through hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the connector case, a tip portion of the port side connector is inserted into the handle from the camera channel port; the base end portion of the port-side connector includes an inner tube portion that forms an insertion passage for the shaft portion of the slide member, and an outer tube portion whose outer circumferential shape is formed to match the inner circumferential shape of the connector case, a notch is formed in a peripheral wall of the outer tube portion to avoid contact with the protruding rib portion of the guide portion when the sliding member slides, and a hemispherical protrusion is formed on an outer periphery of a peripheral wall portion that is sandwiched between the notches and exhibits flexibility; when the slide member is in the base end position, when an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the connector case, the peripheral wall portion bends and the protrusion retreats inward so that the protrusion does not hinder the insertion, and when the base end portion of the port side connector is inserted into the connector case, the bent peripheral wall portion returns to its original position and the protrusion fits into the through hole of the connector case, It is preferable that, when the slide member is not in the base end position, even if an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the inside of the connector case, the tip of the slide member interferes with the peripheral wall portion that is bent inward, preventing the insertion.

[0020] (10) In the endoscope according to (3) or (4) above, the camera position adjustment mechanism includes a fixed member attached to the camera channel port, and a movable member into which the cable tube of the camera is inserted and fixed, the movable member moving in an axial direction relative to the fixed member; by pushing the movable member at a base end position to move it to a tip end position, the tip end of the camera is moved from the first position to the second position; The movable member is moved from a distal end position to a proximal end position by pulling back the movable member, thereby moving the distal end of the camera from the second position to the first position; The camera position adjustment mechanism may be a mechanism that provides a clicking sensation in response to movement of the movable member.

[0021] (11) In the endoscope according to the above (10), the camera position adjustment mechanism is formed on the movable member. It is preferable that the fixing member has a click uneven portion formed on the fixing member, and a click convex portion that is provided on the fixing member and engages with the click uneven portion.

[0022] (12) In the endoscope of the present invention, it is preferable that the camera is equipped with an optical fiber.

[0023] (13) In the endoscope of the present invention, the outer diameter of the shaft is 1.1 to 7.0 mm, and the diameter of the camera channel is 0.7 to 3.0 mm; The shaft preferably has a forceps channel having a diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 mm. According to an endoscope having such a configuration, it becomes possible to use general-purpose forceps even though the endoscope has a thin shaft.

[0024] (14) The endoscope of the present invention can be suitably used for diagnosing and treating diseases in the bile duct, pancreatic duct, bronchi, or bladder. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the endoscope of the present invention, a camera having an expensive solid-state image pickup device can be reused. Furthermore, according to the endoscope of the present invention having a camera position adjustment mechanism, the tip position of the camera relative to the tip surface of the shaft can be finely adjusted between the first position and the second position. In addition, by positioning the tip of the camera at a first position using the camera position adjustment mechanism and then inserting the camera into the camera channel, it is possible to prevent the camera from being inserted into a delivery device or the body with the camera extending from the tip surface of the shaft. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of a first embodiment of an endoscope of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a partially enlarged view (detailed view of part II) showing the tip portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4A] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a slide member of a camera connector constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is in a proximal position. [Figure 4B] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a slide member of a camera connector constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is at a distal end position. [Figure 5A] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tip of a camera constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is located at a first position on the base end side relative to the tip surface of the shaft. [Figure 5B] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tip of a camera constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is located at a second position on the tip side from the tip surface of the shaft. [Figure 6] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing components of a camera position adjustment mechanism and a connector attachment restriction mechanism in the endoscope shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing components of a camera position adjustment mechanism and a connector attachment restriction mechanism in the endoscope shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 8A]2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a port side connector and a camera connector constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 are connected to each other. [Figure 8B] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which connection between a port side connector and a camera connector constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is restricted. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of a main part of a second embodiment of an endoscope according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 10A] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a movable member constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 9 is in a proximal position. [Figure 10B] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a movable member constituting the endoscope shown in FIG. 9 is at a distal end position. [Figure 11] 10 is a perspective view showing a fixed member and a movable member which constitute the endoscope shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] 10 is a perspective view showing a fixed member and a movable member which constitute the endoscope shown in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] First Embodiment An endoscope 100 of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 (FIGS. 8A and 8B) is used for diagnosing and treating diseases in the bile duct or pancreatic duct. The endoscope 100 includes a shaft 10 to be inserted into the body, a handle 20 attached to the proximal end side of the shaft 10, and a camera 30.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, a shaft 10 constituting an endoscope 100 has a camera channel 13, a water supply channel 14, and a forceps channel 17 formed therein.

[0029] The outer diameter of the shaft 10 is preferably 1.1 to 7.0 mm, and a suitable example is 3.6 mm. The diameter of the camera channel 13 is preferably 0.7 to 3.0 mm, and a suitable example is 1.1 mm. The diameter of the forceps channel 17 is preferably 0.3 to 3.0 mm, and a suitable example is 2.0 mm. The forceps channel 17 having a diameter of 2.0 mm makes it possible to use general-purpose forceps (1.8 mm diameter).

[0030] The handle 20 that constitutes the endoscope 100 comprises a grip 21 and two operating knobs 25, 26, and the handle 20 is provided with a camera channel port 23 that communicates with the camera channel 13 and a forceps channel port 27 that communicates with the forceps channel 17.

[0031] The camera 30 constituting the endoscope 100 has a camera head 31 equipped with a CMOS image sensor 311 and a cable tube 35 that contains a transmission cable for the CMOS image sensor 311, and the camera 30 has an optical fiber (not shown) built in so as to surround the CMOS image sensor 311. The outer diameter of the camera head 31 is preferably 0.6 to 2.9 mm, and a suitable example is 1.0 mm. The outer diameter of the cable tube 35 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the camera head 31.

[0032] The camera 30 is disposed in the camera channel 13 of the shaft 10, the proximal end portion of the cable tube 35 extends externally from the camera channel port 23 of the handle 20, and the proximal end of the cable tube is connected to the control device.

[0033] A camera connector 50 is attached to the cable tube 35 of the camera 30 . The camera connector 50 is attached to the camera channel port 23 of the handle 20 when the camera 30 is properly positioned in the camera channel 13 of the shaft 10 . That is, by attaching the camera connector 50 to the camera channel port 23 , the camera 30 is properly positioned in the camera channel 13 . The mounting position of the camera connector 50 is set to 300 to 3000 mm from the tip of the camera 30, and a suitable example is set to 2100 mm from the tip of the camera 30.

[0034] In the endoscope 100 of this embodiment, the camera 30 is separable from the handle 20 and the shaft 10 . That is, the camera connector 50 can be removed from the camera channel port 23 , and the camera 30 arranged in the camera channel 13 of the shaft 10 can be removed from the camera channel port 23 of the handle 20 together with the camera connector 50 .

[0035] In addition, the camera 30 that has been separated can be inserted, with the camera head 31 at the front, from the camera channel port 23 of the handle 20 into the interior of the handle 20 and the camera channel 13 of the shaft 10, and the camera connector 50 can be attached to the camera channel port 23, so that the camera 30 can be reassembled as a component of the endoscope 100.

[0036] The camera connector 50 has a camera position adjustment mechanism that moves the camera 30 back and forth relative to the camera channel 13 so that, when attached to the camera channel port 23, the tip of the camera 30 disposed in the camera channel 13 is displaced between a first position (the tip position of the camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5A) which is located on the base end side of the tip surface 15 of the shaft 10 where the camera channel 13 opens, and a second position (the tip position of the camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5B) which is located on the tip side of the tip surface 15.

[0037] Here, the distance from the first position to the second position (the moving distance of the tip of the camera 30 by the position adjustment mechanism) is preferably 2 to 100 mm, and a suitable example is 30 mm. Moreover, the distance from the tip surface 15 of the shaft 10 to the first position is preferably 1.5 to 20 mm, and the distance from the tip surface 15 to the second position is preferably 0.5 to 80 mm.

[0038] In the endoscope 100 of this embodiment, the camera position adjustment mechanism of the camera connector 50 is a mechanism that uses a feed screw to reciprocate the camera 30. Specifically, a connector case 51 which is attached to the camera channel port 23, and has a guide groove 512 formed on its inner peripheral surface and a guide hole 513 formed on its peripheral wall, the guide groove 512 extending along the axial direction; a shaft portion 521 extending into the inside of the connector case 51, a part of which extends towards the base end side of the connector case 51, with a male thread portion 522 formed at the base end portion, and a cable tube 35 of the camera 30 being adhesively fixed in a state of being inserted inside the shaft portion 521; and a guide portion 523 which is integrally formed with the shaft portion 521 so as to surround the tip portion of the shaft portion 521, has a convex rib portion 524 formed on its outer circumferential surface which is guided by a guide groove 512 of the connector case 51, and has a protrusion portion 525 formed on its outer circumferential side which is guided by a guide hole 513, and which is slidable relative to the connector case 51; a rotating knob 53 located on the base end side of the connector case 51, the axial movement of which is restricted, the rotating knob 53 having a female threaded portion 531 which screws into the male threaded portion 522 of the shaft portion 521 of the slide member 52, This mechanism moves the tip of camera 30 from a first position (the tip position of camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5A) to a second position (the tip position of camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5B) by rotating rotary knob 53 in one direction and sliding slide member 52 from the base end position to the tip position, and moves the tip of camera 30 from the second position to the first position by rotating rotary knob 53 in the other direction and sliding slide member 52 from the tip position to the base end position.

[0039] Here, the "base end position" is a position beyond which the slide member 52 cannot move toward the base end, as shown in FIG. 4A, and the "tip end position" is a position beyond which the slide member 52 cannot move toward the tip end, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0040] The camera position adjustment mechanism includes a connector case 51, a slide member 52, and a rotating knob 53. It is composed of:

[0041] The connector case 51 is a component of the camera connector 50 that is attached to the camera channel port 23 via a port-side connector, which will be described later, and is made of a cylindrical body having an arch-shaped portion. A guide groove 512 extending along the axial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connector case 51, and a guide hole 513 extending along the axial direction is formed in the peripheral wall of the arch-shaped portion.

[0042] The slide member 52 is made up of a shaft portion 521 and a guide portion 523 that is formed integrally with the shaft portion 521 so as to surround the tip portion of the shaft portion 521 .

[0043] The shaft portion 521 of the slide member 52 extends inside the connector case 51, and a part of the shaft portion 521 extends from an opening formed in the base end surface 511 of the connector case 51 towards the base end side. A male thread portion 522 is formed at the base end portion of the shaft portion 521 . As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cable tube 35 of the camera 30 is inserted into the inside of the shaft portion 521 and is adhesively fixed thereto.

[0044] The guide portion 523 of the slide member 52 has an arch-shaped portion that matches the shape of the connector case 51 , and is formed integrally with the shaft portion 521 so as to surround the tip portion of the shaft portion 521 . The guide portion 523 has an outer peripheral surface formed with a protruding ridge portion 524 that is guided by the guide groove 512 of the connector case 51 . Moreover, on the outer circumferential side of the arch-shaped portion of the guide portion 523, a protrusion portion 525 that is guided into the guide hole 513 of the connector case 51 is formed.

[0045] The rotary knob 53 is disposed on the base end side of the connector case 51 . On the inner circumferential side of the rotary knob 53, a female thread portion 531 that screws into the male thread portion 522 of the shaft portion 521 of the slide member 52 is formed. Axial movement of the rotary knob 53 relative to the connector case 51 is restricted, and by rotating the rotary knob 53, the sliding member 52 slides relative to the connector case 51. Furthermore, by rotating the rotary knob 53 and sliding the slide member 52 , the cable tube 35 adhesively fixed to the inside of the shaft portion 521 also moves in the axial direction relative to the connector case 51 .

[0046] According to the camera position adjustment mechanism configured as described above, by rotating rotary knob 53 in one direction and sliding slide member 52 from the base end position (position shown in FIG. 4A) to the tip position (position shown in FIG. 4B), the tip of camera 30 can be moved from the first position (the tip position of camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5A) to the second position (the tip position of camera 30 as shown in FIG. 5B), and by rotating rotary knob 53 in the other direction and sliding slide member 52 from the tip position to the base end position, the tip of camera 30 can be moved from the second position to the first position.

[0047] In the camera position adjustment mechanism as described above, when the camera connector 50 is attached to the camera channel port 23 when the slide member 52 is not in the base end position, there is a possibility that the tip of the camera 30 will extend from the opening of the camera channel 13 at the tip surface 15 of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 is attached with the tip of the camera 30 extending from the opening of the camera channel 13. When attempting to insert the camera 30 into the body, there is a risk that the tip of the camera 30 may damage internal body tissue, damage the inside of the channel of a delivery device (e.g., a parent endoscope such as a duodenoscope) used to guide the camera 30 (camera head 31) to the vicinity of the target site, or damage the camera 30 itself.

[0048] Therefore, in the endoscope 100 of this embodiment, a connector attachment restriction mechanism is provided that restricts the camera connector 50 from being attached to the camera channel port 23 when the slide member 52 is not in the base end position (when there is a risk that the tip of the camera 30 will extend from the opening of the camera channel 13).

[0049] The connector attachment restriction mechanism is configured to include a port side connector 60 attached to the camera channel port 23 so as to be interposed between the camera channel port 23 and the camera connector 50 .

[0050] A tip portion 61 of the port side connector 60 is inserted into the inside of the handle 20 through the camera channel port 23 . The base end portion 62 of the port side connector 60 includes an inner tube portion 621 that forms a passage for the shaft portion 521 of the slide member 52 (the cable tube 35 adhesively fixed to the inside of the shaft portion 521), and an outer tube portion 622 whose outer peripheral shape is formed to match the inner peripheral shape of the connector case 51.

[0051] Notches 623-626 are formed in the peripheral wall of outer tube portion 622 to avoid contact with convex strip portion 524 formed in guide portion 523 when slide member 52 slides, and notch 627 is formed in the peripheral wall of outer tube portion 622 to avoid contact with protrusion portion 525 formed in guide portion 523. In addition, a hemispherical protrusion 629 is formed on the outer periphery of peripheral wall portion 628 that is sandwiched between notches 624 and 625 and exhibits flexibility. On the other hand, a circular through hole 515 is formed in the peripheral wall of the connector case 51 , into which the protrusion 629 fits when the base end portion 62 of the port side connector 60 is inserted into the connector case 51 .

[0052] According to the connector attachment restriction mechanism configured as described above, when the slide member 52 is in the base end position and the base end portion 62 of the port side connector 60 is inserted into the connector case 51 in order to couple the port side connector 60 and the camera connector 50, the peripheral wall portion 628 is bent and the protrusion 629 is retracted inward so that the protrusion 629 does not hinder the insertion. Then, when the base end portion 62 of the port side connector 60 is inserted into the connector case 51, as shown in Fig. 8A, the bent peripheral wall portion 628 returns to its original position and the protrusion 629 is fitted into the through hole 515 of the connector case 51. As a result, the port side connector 60 and the camera connector 50 are coupled, and the camera connector 50 is attached to the camera channel port 23 via the port side connector 60.

[0053] When the slide member 52 is not in the base end position, even if an attempt is made to insert the base end portion 62 of the port side connector 60 into the inside of the connector case 51, the tip of the slide member 52 interferes with the peripheral wall portion 628 that is bent inward, as shown in FIG. 8B, and therefore the camera connector 50 cannot be connected to the port side connector 60, and the camera connector 50 cannot be attached to the camera channel port 23.

[0054] According to the endoscope 100 of this embodiment, after use, the camera 30 having an expensive solid-state imaging element can be separated from the handle and shaft and cleaned, and the camera 30 can be incorporated as a component part of the endoscope 100 and reused. In addition, the camera position adjustment mechanism and the connector mounting restriction mechanism adjust the tip surface of the shaft 10. With the camera 30 extended from the opening of the camera channel 13 at 15, the shaft 10 can be reliably prevented from being inserted into a delivery device or the body. Furthermore, the position of the tip of the camera 30 relative to the tip surface 15 of the shaft 10 can be finely adjusted by a camera position adjustment mechanism that uses a feed screw to reciprocate the camera 30 .

[0055] <Second embodiment> The endoscope 200 of this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that the specific mechanism of the camera position adjustment mechanism for displacing the tip of the camera 30 between the first position and the second position is different. In this embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 12, the same components as those of the first embodiment are given the same symbols as in Figures 1 to 8 (Figures 8A and 8B) and their description is omitted.

[0056] The camera position adjustment mechanism of the endoscope 200 in this embodiment is configured to include a fixed member 70 that is attached to the camera channel port 23, a movable member 80 that moves axially relative to this fixed member 70, and a structure (click convex portion 729 and click uneven portion 819) interposed between the two to provide a clicking sensation.

[0057] The tip portion of a fixing member 70 constituting the camera position adjustment mechanism is inserted into the inside of the handle 20 through the camera channel port 23. The base end portion of fixing member 70 is made up of inner tube portion 71 which forms a passage for cable tube 35, and cylindrical outer tube portion 72 having an arch-shaped portion, and notches 723-727 are formed in the peripheral wall of outer tube portion 72. In addition, a click protrusion 729 is formed on the inner peripheral side of peripheral wall portion 728 which is sandwiched between notches 724 and 725 and exhibits flexibility.

[0058] The movable member 80 that constitutes the camera position adjustment mechanism comprises a tip portion 81 whose outer circumferential shape is formed to match the inner circumferential shape of the outer tube portion 72 of the fixed member 70, and a base end portion 82 that is an operating knob. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a through hole is formed in movable member 80 along its central axis, and cable tube 35 of camera 30 is inserted through this through hole and adhesively fixed thereto. At the tip portion 81 of the movable member 80, a convex rib portion 814 is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof which is guided by the notches 723-726 when the movable member 80 is inserted inside the fixed member 70, and a protrusion portion 815 is formed on the outer peripheral side which is guided by the notch 727. In addition, a click protrusion 819 that engages with the click protrusion 729 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip portion 81 of the movable member 80, which faces the click protrusion 729 formed on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall portion 728 of the fixed member 70.

[0059] According to the camera position adjustment mechanism configured as described above, the tip of the camera 30 can be moved from the first position to the second position by pushing in the movable member 80 at the base end position and moving it to the tip position, and the tip of the camera 30 can be moved from the second position to the first position by pulling back the movable member 80 at the tip position and moving it to the base end position. In response to the movement of the movable member 80, a clicking sensation can be generated by the click convex portion 729 and the click uneven portion 819, thereby allowing the tip position of the camera 30 to be fine-tuned. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100 Endoscope 10 Shaft 13 Camera Channels 14 Water Channel 15 Shaft end surface 17 Forceps Channel 20 Handle 21 Grip 23 Camera Channel Port 25,26 Operation knob 27 Forceps Channel Port 30 Camera 31 Camera Head 35 Cable Tube 50 Camera connector 51 Connector case 511 Proximal surface 512 Guide groove 513 Guide hole 515 Through hole 52 Slide member 521 Shaft section 522 Male thread 523 Guide part 524 Convex strip 525 Protrusion 53 Rotary knob 531 Female thread 60 Port side connector 61 Tip part 62 Proximal part 621 Inner pipe section 622 Outer tube section 623~627 Notch 628 Peripheral wall part 629 Hemispherical protrusion 200 Endoscope 70 Fixing member 71 Inner pipe section 72 Outer pipe section 723~727 Notch 728 Peripheral wall part 729 Click protrusion 80 Movable parts 81 Tip part 814 Convex stripe 815 Protrusion 819 Click uneven part 82 Base end part (operation knob)

Claims

1. A shaft that is inserted into the body; A handle attached to a proximal end side of the shaft; a camera constituting an endoscope together with the shaft and the handle, the camera having a camera head equipped with an image pickup element and a cable tube; the camera is separable from the handle and the shaft; The shaft is formed with a camera channel in which the camera is disposed, The handle is provided with a camera channel port that communicates with the camera channel; a camera connector attached to the cable tube of the camera that is adapted to be attached to the camera channel port when the camera is properly positioned in the camera channel; The camera connector is characterized in that it has a camera position adjustment mechanism that reciprocates the camera so that, when the camera connector is attached to the camera channel port, the tip of the camera arranged in the camera channel is displaced between a first position that is on the base end side of the tip surface of the shaft where the camera channel opens, and a second position that is on the tip end side of the tip surface of the shaft. An endoscope that is guided through a channel in the parent endoscope to the vicinity of the target site.

2. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the first position to the second position is 2 to 100 mm.

3. 3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the camera position adjustment mechanism is a mechanism for reciprocating the camera by utilizing a feed screw.

4. The camera position adjustment mechanism includes a connector case that is attached to the camera channel port and has an inner circumferential surface on which a guide groove extending along an axial direction is formed; a slide member that is slidable relative to the connector case, the slide member comprising: a shaft portion that extends into the connector case, a portion of which extends toward the base end of the connector case, at least the base end portion of which is formed with a male thread, and into which the cable tube of the camera is inserted and fixed; and a guide portion that is integrally formed with the shaft portion so as to surround the tip end portion of the shaft portion, and has a protruding ridge portion that is guided by the guide groove formed on its outer circumferential surface; a rotary knob located on a base end side of the connector case, the rotary knob being restricted in its axial movement, the rotary knob having a female thread portion that screws into the male thread portion of the shaft portion of the slide member, rotating the rotary knob in one direction to slide the slide member from a base end position to a tip end position, thereby moving the tip end of the camera from the first position to the second position; The endoscope according to claim 3, characterized in that the mechanism moves the tip of the camera from the second position to the first position by rotating the rotating knob in the other direction and sliding the sliding member from the tip position to the base position.

5. 5. The endoscope according to claim 4, further comprising a connector attachment restriction mechanism that restricts the camera connector from being attached to the camera channel port when the slide member of the camera position adjustment mechanism is not in the base end position.

6. The connector mounting restriction mechanism is configured to restrict the connection between the camera channel port and the camera connector. a port side connector attached to the camera channel port so as to be interposed between the camera channel port and the camera; The port-side connector has an insertion passage for the cable tube formed therein, when the slide member is in the base end position, a base end portion of the port side connector can be inserted into the connector case to couple the port side connector and the camera connector, 6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein when the sliding member is not in the base end position, even if an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the connector case, the tip of the sliding member interferes and the insertion is prevented.

7. A circular through hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the connector case, a tip portion of the port side connector is inserted into the handle from the camera channel port; the base end portion of the port-side connector includes an inner tube portion that forms an insertion passage for the shaft portion of the slide member, and an outer tube portion whose outer circumferential shape is formed to match the inner circumferential shape of the connector case, a notch is formed in a peripheral wall of the outer tube portion to avoid contact with the protruding rib portion of the guide portion when the sliding member slides, and a hemispherical protrusion is formed on an outer periphery of a peripheral wall portion that is sandwiched between the notches and exhibits flexibility; when the slide member is in the base end position, when an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the connector case, the peripheral wall portion bends and the protrusion retreats inward so that the protrusion does not hinder the insertion, and when the base end portion of the port side connector is inserted into the connector case, the bent peripheral wall portion returns to its original position and the protrusion fits into the through hole of the connector case, 7. The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein when the sliding member is not in the base end position, even if an attempt is made to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the inside of the connector case, the tip of the sliding member interferes with the peripheral wall portion that is bent inwardly, making it impossible to insert the base end portion of the port side connector into the inside of the connector case.

8. the camera position adjustment mechanism includes a fixed member attached to the camera channel port, and a movable member fixed with the cable tube of the camera inserted therethrough and movable in an axial direction relative to the fixed member; by pushing the movable member at a base end position to move it to a tip end position, the tip end of the camera is moved from the first position to the second position; The distal end of the camera can be moved from the second position to the first position by pulling back the movable member from the distal end position to the proximal end position, 3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the camera position adjustment mechanism is a mechanism that gives a clicking sensation in response to the movement of the movable member.

9. The endoscope according to claim 8, characterized in that the camera position adjustment mechanism has a click uneven portion formed on the movable member and a click convex portion provided on the fixed member that engages with the click uneven portion.

10. 10. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the camera is equipped with an optical fiber.

11. The shaft is formed with a camera channel in which the camera is disposed, The outer diameter of the shaft is 1.1 to 7.0 mm, and the diameter of the camera channel is 0.7 to 3.0 mm; 11. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is provided with a forceps channel having a diameter of 0.3 to 3.0 mm.

12. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 11, for diagnosing and treating a disease in the bile duct, pancreatic duct, bronchi, or bladder.

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