Endoscope imaging device, endoscope, and endoscope distal end part

Abstract

This endoscope imaging device is to be provided at a distal end of an insertion part of an endoscope. The endoscope imaging device comprises: an endoscope distal end part that is connected to the distal end of the insertion part, and has a distal end surface facing the distal end side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion part and a protruding portion protruding from the distal end surface toward the distal end side; an objective optical system that is provided in the protruding portion, and has a field-of-view axis extending in the longitudinal direction and an angle of view of greater than 180°; and an illumination optical system that is provided outside the range of the field of view of the objective optical system and is capable of irradiating the distal end side with illumination light.

Description

Endoscope imaging device, endoscope, and endoscope tip

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an endoscopic imaging device, an endoscope, and an endoscope tip portion.

[0002] In recent years, with the aim of expanding the field of view of an endoscope, endoscopes with an optical field of view greater than 180° have been proposed. For example, an endoscope with an optical field of view greater than 180° is realized by using a fisheye optical system as the objective optical system of the endoscope (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Conventional endoscopes often include an illumination optical system for illuminating an object to be observed by the objective optical system. The illumination optical system is mainly provided on the distal end surface of the endoscope together with the objective optical system and is arranged around the objective optical system.

[0004] Patent No. 4819203

[0005] However, when an objective optical system having an optical field of view greater than 180° is used in an endoscope, the illumination optical system arranged around the objective optical system may be reflected within the field of view of the objective optical system, which may reduce visibility.

[0006] In consideration of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide an endoscopic imaging device, an endoscope, and an endoscopic tip portion that can prevent the illumination optical system from being reflected within the field of view of the objective optical system, even when an objective optical system having an optical field of view greater than 180° is used.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure proposes the following means: The endoscopic imaging device of the present disclosure is an endoscopic imaging device provided at the tip of an insertion section of an endoscope, and includes an endoscope tip section connected to the tip of the insertion section, the endoscope tip section having a tip surface facing the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section and a protrusion protruding from the tip surface toward the tip side, an objective optical system having a field of view axis extending in the longitudinal direction and a field of view angle greater than 180° and provided on the protrusion, and an illumination optical system provided outside the field of view range of the objective optical system and capable of irradiating illumination light toward the tip side.

[0008] The endoscope of the present disclosure includes the above-described endoscopic imaging device at the tip of the insertion section.

[0009] The endoscope tip portion of the present disclosure is an endoscope tip portion provided at the tip of an insertion portion of an endoscope, and includes a tip surface facing the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion, a protrusion protruding from the tip surface toward the tip side on which an objective optical system having a field of view axis extending in the longitudinal direction can be arranged, and an illumination opening portion provided on the tip surface as an opening in which an illumination optical system can be arranged, the illumination opening portion being provided outside the field of view range of the objective optical system.

[0010] The endoscopic imaging device, endoscope, and endoscopic tip portion disclosed herein can provide an endoscopic imaging device, endoscope, and endoscopic tip portion that can prevent the illumination optical system from being reflected within the field of view of the objective optical system, even when an objective optical system with an optical field of view greater than 180° is used.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an endoscope including an endoscopic imaging device according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the endoscopic imaging device; Fig. 3 is a side view schematically showing an objective optical system and an illumination optical system of the endoscopic imaging device; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of an endoscope tip cover provided in the endoscopic imaging device;

[0012] An endoscope 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an endoscope 100 including an endoscopic imaging device 10 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the endoscopic imaging device 10.

[0014] The endoscope 100 is a flexible endoscope, and includes an insertion section 110 that is inserted into the body from the tip, and an endoscope operation section 120 that is attached to the base end of the insertion section 110.

[0015] In the following description, in the longitudinal direction A of the insertion section 110, the side that is inserted into the patient's body is referred to as the "tip side (distal side) A1", and the side toward the endoscope operation section 120 is referred to as the "base side (proximal side) A2".

[0016] The insertion section 110 has an endoscopic imaging device (imaging unit) 10, a bending section 20, and a flexible section 30. The endoscopic imaging device 10, the bending section 20, and the flexible section 30 are arranged in this order from the tip of the insertion section 110.

[0017] A channel 123 for inserting an endoscopic treatment tool is provided inside the insertion section 110. A tip opening 14 of the channel 123 is provided in the endoscopic imaging device 10 provided at the tip of the insertion section 110.

[0018] The endoscopic imaging device 10 is an imaging unit that includes an objective optical system 12 that can capture an image of a region to be treated. The endoscopic imaging device 10 will be described in detail later.

[0019] The bending section 20 bends in accordance with the operator's operation of the endoscope operation section 120. The flexible section 30 is a flexible tubular section.

[0020] The endoscope operation section 120 is connected to the flexible section 30. The endoscope operation section 120 has a grip 121, an input section 122, a proximal end opening 123a of a channel 123, and a universal cord .

[0021] The grip 121 is a portion that is held by an operator. The input unit 122 receives an operation input for causing the bending portion 20 to perform a bending operation.

[0022] The universal cord 124 includes an imaging cable (not shown) connected to the objective optical system 12, which will be described later, and outputs to the outside the image captured by the endoscopic imaging device 10. The universal cord 124 is connected to a display device such as a liquid crystal display via an image processing device including a processor or the like.

[0023] The universal cord 124 also includes a light guide (not shown) connected to the illumination optical system 13 described later, a water supply tube connected to the water supply unit 15 described later, and an air supply and suction tube (not shown).

[0024] The air supply and suction tube included in the universal cord 124 joins with the channel 123 inside the endoscope 100 and is connected to the distal end opening 14 (described later) via the channel 123 .

[0025] The endoscopic imaging device 10 includes an endoscope tip cover 11 , an objective optical system 12 , an illumination optical system 13 , a tip opening 14 , and a water supply unit 15 .

[0026] The endoscope tip cover 11 is a cover member connected to the tip of the insertion section 110. The endoscope tip cover 11 is made of, for example, a resin material. The endoscope tip section may be formed by covering a main body that houses the objective optical system 12 and the illumination optical system 13 with the endoscope tip cover 11, or the endoscope tip cover 11 and the main body may be integrally molded as the endoscope tip section. Details of the endoscope tip cover 11 will be described later.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the objective optical system 12 and the illumination optical system 13 of the endoscopic imaging device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0028] The objective optical system 12 includes an imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and is capable of capturing an image of the area to be treated.

[0029] The objective optical system 12 has a field axis O extending in a longitudinal direction A and has a field angle greater than 180°. The objective optical system 12 is, for example, a fisheye optical system.

[0030] The illumination optical system 13 is an illumination device that is provided around the objective optical system 12 and is capable of irradiating illumination light onto the tip side A1.

[0031] The endoscopic imaging device 10 illuminates a region to be treated by an illumination optical system 13 , and captures an image of the treatment region illuminated by the illumination optical system 13 by an objective optical system 12 .

[0032] The surgeon operating the endoscope 100 observes the treatment target illuminated by the illumination optical system 13 through the objective optical system 12, and can therefore adequately observe the treatment target inside the patient's body.

[0033] 2, the endoscopic imaging device 10 includes three illumination optical systems 13. Specifically, the endoscopic imaging device 10 includes a first illumination optical system 13a, a second illumination optical system 13b, and a third illumination optical system 13c.

[0034] The number and arrangement of the illumination optical systems 13 included in the endoscopic imaging device 10 can be determined appropriately depending on the illumination performance of the illumination optical systems 13, the internal structure of the insertion section 110, and the like.

[0035] The distal end opening 14 is a distal end opening of the channel 123, and is an opening that communicates with a proximal end opening 123a of the channel 123. The surgeon can perform various treatments near the distal end opening 14 by inserting an endoscopic treatment tool into the channel 123 from the proximal end opening 123a.

[0036] For example, the surgeon can perform treatment using an endoscopic treatment tool such as a high-frequency knife, forceps, or stapler by extending or retracting the tool from the distal end opening 14. In addition, water and air may be supplied to the treatment target from the distal end opening 14, and liquids or the like may be aspirated.

[0037] The water supply unit 15 is a water supply device capable of injecting cleaning water for cleaning the objective optical system 12. The water supply unit 15 has a water supply port (not shown) for injecting the cleaning water. The water supply port of the water supply unit 15 is provided facing the objective optical system 12.

[0038] By supplying water from the water supply part 15 to the objective optical system 12, dirt adhering to the objective optical system 12 and the periphery of the objective optical system 12 can be washed away, and the obscuration of the field of view of the objective optical system 12 by the adhering dirt can be suppressed.

[0039] For example, by injecting cleaning water from the water supply section 15 toward the objective optical system 12 to wash away dirt, and then removing the cleaning water after cleaning the objective optical system 12 by sucking it out through the tip opening 14, the surgeon can observe the inside of the patient's body while ensuring a sufficient field of view for the objective optical system 12.

[0040] The tip opening 14 is connected to a pump device via an air supply / suction tube that branches off from the channel 123 and passes through a universal cord 124. The endoscope 100 can suck liquid or the like from the tip opening 14 by driving the pump device connected to the universal cord 124.

[0041] The endoscope tip cover 11 includes a protrusion 1, an illumination opening 2, a treatment instrument opening 3, and a water supply opening 4.

[0042] The protruding portion 1 is a portion that protrudes from a distal end surface 11s facing the distal end side A1 in the longitudinal direction A. The distal end surface 11s is a surface facing the distal end side A1, and covers at least a portion of the distal end of the insertion portion 110 from the distal end side A1.

[0043] The tip surface 11s is a plane extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. The tip surface 11s does not need to be strictly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, and does not need to be strictly flat.

[0044] The distal end surface 11s has a circular shape in a plan view from the distal end side A1. The distal end surface 11s is not limited to a circular shape, and may have an elliptical or polygonal shape in a plan view from the distal end side A1.

[0045] The endoscope tip cover 11 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is formed by a bottom surface portion including a tip surface 11s and a flange portion extending from the outer periphery of the bottom surface portion toward the base end side A2. The endoscope tip cover 11 does not need to be strictly cylindrical.

[0046] The endoscope tip cover 11 may have any shape as long as it can be connected to the tip of the insertion section 110 , and may have any suitable shape that corresponds to the shape of the tip of the insertion section 110 .

[0047] The protrusion 1 has, for example, a hollow truncated cone shape with a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction A. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, an objective optical system 12 is disposed in the hollow portion of the protrusion 1.

[0048] By arranging the objective optical system 12 on the protrusion 1 protruding from the distal end surface 11s, the lens on the distal end side A1 of the objective optical system 12 can be arranged protruding from the distal end surface 11s to the distal end side A1.

[0049] Therefore, even when an objective optical system 12 having a field of view greater than 180° is used, the tip surface 11s of the endoscope tip cover 11 can be prevented from being reflected in the field of view range of the objective optical system 12, and the wide field of view of the objective optical system 12 can be effectively utilized to observe the inside of the patient's body.

[0050] The illumination opening 2 is an opening that penetrates the distal end surface 11s in the longitudinal direction A, and is an opening in which the illumination optical system 13 is disposed. In this embodiment, the endoscope distal end cover 11 has three illumination openings 2.

[0051] 2, the illumination opening 2 is provided around the protrusion 1 in which the objective optical system 12 is provided. The endoscope tip cover 11 is provided with an appropriate number and arrangement of illumination openings 2 corresponding to the number and arrangement of the illumination optical systems 13 of the endoscopic imaging device 10.

[0052] Specifically, the endoscope tip cover 11 has a first illumination opening 2a corresponding to the first illumination optical system 13a, a second illumination opening 2b corresponding to the second illumination optical system 13b, and a third illumination opening 2c corresponding to the third illumination optical system 13c.

[0053] The treatment instrument opening 3 is an opening that penetrates the distal end surface 11s in the longitudinal direction A and is an opening that communicates with the distal end opening 14. The treatment instrument opening 3 can have an appropriate size and shape that correspond to the size and shape of the distal end opening 14.

[0054] When an endoscopic treatment tool is protruded or retracted from the distal end of the insertion section 110 , the endoscopic treatment tool inserted into the channel 123 passes through the distal end opening 14 and protrudes or retracts from the treatment tool opening 3 .

[0055] When water, air, and suction are performed from the distal end of the insertion section 110 , the water, air, and suction are performed via the treatment instrument opening 3 and the distal end opening 14 .

[0056] The water supply opening 4 is an opening that penetrates the tip surface 11s in the longitudinal direction A, and is an opening in which the water supply section 15 is disposed. The water supply opening 4 can have an appropriate size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the water supply section 15.

[0057] As described above, the objective optical system 12 has a field angle greater than 180°. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 , the field boundary F of the objective optical system 12 extends at an angle toward the proximal end A2 as it moves away from the field axis O.

[0058] The field boundary F of the objective optical system 12 is the boundary between an inside field region R1 and an outside field region R2 of the objective optical system 12.

[0059] The field-of-view region R1 of the objective optical system 12 indicates a region that can be imaged by the objective optical system 12. In other words, the field-of-view region R1 is a region within the field-of-view range of the objective optical system 12.

[0060] The out-of-field region R2 of the objective optical system 12 indicates a region that cannot be imaged by the objective optical system 12. In other words, the out-of-field region R2 is a region outside the field of view of the objective optical system 12.

[0061] The field of view boundary F is a boundary line in the side view shown in FIG. 3, but is actually a boundary surface along the side of a cone or truncated cone with the field of view axis O as its central axis.

[0062] 3, in the radial direction D of the insertion section 110, the side approaching the field of view axis O of the objective optical system 12 is defined as the inner side IN, and the side away from the field of view axis O is defined as the outer side OU. The field of view boundary F is a boundary surface that inclines toward the base end side A2 as it approaches the outer side OU.

[0063] 3, the illumination optical system 13 is provided in an area R2 outside the field of view of the objective optical system 12. Therefore, the illumination optical system 13 does not appear in the images and videos captured by the objective optical system 12.

[0064] The endoscope tip cover 11 has an inclined portion 11a. As shown in Fig. 3, the inclined portion 11a extends from the outer periphery of the tip surface 11s to the outer side OU and is inclined toward the base end side A2. Here, the outer periphery of the tip surface 11s refers to the edge of the outer side OU of the tip surface 11s. The inclined portion 11a is provided in the outside-of-field region R2.

[0065] 3 , there is a risk that the illumination optical system 13 and the objective optical system 12 may interfere with each other inside the endoscopic imaging device 10, or that the illumination light from the illumination optical system 13 may be blocked by the protruding portion 1, creating a shadow. Therefore, the illumination optical system 13 needs to be positioned a predetermined distance away from the objective optical system 12 in the radial direction D.

[0066] Furthermore, because it is necessary to secure space for arranging the illumination optical system 13 inside the endoscopic imaging device 10, it is necessary to arrange the illumination optical system 13 at a predetermined distance from the outer surface OU of the endoscope tip cover 11. The outer surface OU of the endoscope tip cover 11 refers to, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion of the endoscope tip cover 11.

[0067] When the illumination optical system 13 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surfaces of the objective optical system 12 and the endoscope tip cover 11, there is a possibility that the edge of the outer surface OU of the endoscope tip cover 11 will not fit completely within the out-of-field region R2 and will intrude into the in-field region R1. In this case, there is a risk that the edge of the outer surface OU of the endoscope tip cover 11 will be reflected in the images and videos captured by the objective optical system 12.

[0068] By providing an inclined portion 11a so that the end of the outer side OU of the endoscope tip cover 11 is positioned in the out-of-field area R2, it is possible to prevent the endoscope tip cover 11 from being reflected in the images and videos captured by the objective optical system 12.

[0069] Furthermore, the illumination optical system 13 is provided on the tip surface 11s, which is a plane perpendicular to the field of view axis O. Therefore, compared to when the illumination optical system 13 is provided on an inclined surface such as the protrusion 1 or the inclined portion 11a, it is possible to prevent the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system 13 from being blocked by the inclined surface, and it is possible to prevent the shadow of the inclined surface from appearing in the image and video captured by the objective optical system 12.

[0070] 3, the protrusion 1 has a convex portion 1a that blocks illumination light L emitted from the illumination optical system 13 from entering the objective optical system 12. The illumination light L shown in FIG. 3 indicates the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system 13 that is irradiated onto the innermost IN.

[0071] The convex portion 1 a is, for example, the corner portion closest to the tip side A1 on the surface of the outer side OU of the protrusion 1. By blocking the illumination light L with the convex portion 1 a, it is possible to suppress the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system 13 from entering the corner or side of the lens in the objective optical system 12 and causing flare.

[0072] The endoscopic imaging device 10 preferably includes two or more illumination optical systems 13. By arranging two or more illumination optical systems 13 on the distal end surface 11s, the contrast of shadows can be reduced, and visibility during observation through the objective optical system 12 can be improved.

[0073] The illumination optical systems 13 included in the endoscopic imaging device 10 are preferably arranged at equal distances from the objective optical system 12 in the radial direction D. They are also preferably arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction C of the field of view axis O.

[0074] The endoscopic imaging device 10 of this embodiment is an endoscopic imaging device provided at the tip of the insertion section 110 of the endoscope 100, and has a tip surface 11s facing the tip side A1 in the longitudinal direction A of the insertion section 110, and a protrusion 1 protruding from the tip surface 11s to the tip side A1, an endoscopic tip portion connected to the tip of the insertion section 110, an objective optical system 12 having a field of view axis O extending in the longitudinal direction A and a field of view angle greater than 180° and provided on the protrusion 1, and an illumination optical system 13 provided in the outside field of view region R2 of the objective optical system 12 and capable of irradiating illumination light to the tip side A1.

[0075] As a result, it is possible to provide an endoscopic imaging device 10, an endoscope 100, and an endoscopic tip portion that can prevent the illumination optical system 13 from being reflected in the field of view area R1 of the objective optical system 12, even when an objective optical system 12 having an optical field of view greater than 180° is used.

[0076] While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes design modifications within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components shown in the above-described embodiment and the modified examples shown below can be configured in any suitable combination.

[0077] (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the convex portion 1a that blocks the illumination light incident from the illumination optical system 13 to the objective optical system 12 is a corner portion on the tip side A1 of the protrusion 1, but the form of the convex portion is not limited to this.

[0078] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an endoscope tip cover 11A, which is a modified example of the endoscope tip cover 11. As shown in FIG.

[0079] The endoscope distal end cover 11A includes a protrusion 1, an illumination opening 2, a treatment instrument opening 3, a water supply opening 4, and a step portion 5.

[0080] 4, the step portion 5 has a shape that is partially convex from the slope of the protrusion 1. The step portion 5 is disposed at a position corresponding to the illumination opening portion 2.

[0081] Specifically, the step portion 5 has a first step portion 5a corresponding to the first illumination opening 2a, a second step portion 5b corresponding to the second illumination opening 2b, and a third step portion 5c corresponding to the third illumination opening 2c.

[0082] In addition, at the corners of the tip side A1 and outer side OU of the step portion 5, a convex portion 1Aa is formed to block the illumination light incident on the objective optical system 12 from the illumination optical system 13 arranged in the illumination opening 2 corresponding to each step portion 5.

[0083] The convex portion that blocks the illumination light incident on the objective optical system 12 may be provided at a position corresponding to at least each illumination optical system 13, such as the convex portion 1Aa formed on the step portion 5 shown in Figure 4.

[0084] (Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the inclined portion 11a extends from the outer periphery of the distal end surface 11s to the outside OU and has a shape inclined toward the base end side A2, but the form of the inclined portion is not limited to this.

[0085] The inclined portion may be formed in a stepped shape as long as the end portion of the outer side OU of the endoscope tip cover 11 is positioned in the out-of-field region R2.

[0086] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Endoscope 110 Insertion section 10 Endoscope imaging device 11 Endoscope distal end cover 11a Inclined section 11s Distal end surface 1 Projection section 1a Convex section 2 Illumination opening 12 Objective optical system 13 Illumination optical system O Field of view axis A Longitudinal direction A1 Distal end side A2 Base end side D Radial direction OU Outside IN Inside L Illumination light F Field of view boundary R1 Inner field of view area R2 Outer field of view area

Claims

1. An endoscopic imaging device provided at the tip of an insertion section of an endoscope, comprising: an endoscope tip section connected to the tip of the insertion section, the endoscope tip section having a tip surface facing the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion section and a protrusion protruding from the tip surface toward the tip side; an objective optical system provided on the protrusion, the objective optical system having a field of view axis extending in the longitudinal direction and a field of view angle greater than 180°; and an illumination optical system provided outside the field of view range of the objective optical system, capable of irradiating illumination light toward the tip side.

2. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided outside the field of view.

3. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope tip has an inclined portion that extends from the outer periphery of the tip surface radially outward of the insertion portion and is inclined toward the base end in the longitudinal direction, and the inclined portion is located outside the field of view.

4. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the illumination optical system is provided radially inward of the inclined portion.

5. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the endoscope has a convex portion that blocks the illumination light from entering the objective optical system.

6. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the convex portion is provided on the protrusion.

7. The endoscopic imaging device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said illumination optical systems.

8. An endoscope comprising an endoscopic imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 at the tip of the insertion section.

9. An endoscope tip portion provided at the tip of an insertion portion of an endoscope, comprising: a tip surface facing the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion; a protrusion protruding from the tip surface toward the tip side, on which an objective optical system having a field of view axis extending in the longitudinal direction can be disposed so as to protrude from the tip surface toward the tip side; and an illumination opening portion provided in the tip surface, which is an opening in which an illumination optical system can be disposed, and which is provided outside the field of view range of the objective optical system.

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