Patent Publication Number: US-2007106120-A1

Title: Endoscope

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation of PCT international application Ser. No. PCT/JP2005/012418 filed Jul. 5, 2005 which designates the United States, incorporated herein by reference, and which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-201088, filed Jul. 7, 2004, incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an endoscope, and more particularly to an endoscope having a characteristic structure of a distal end portion of an insertion portion.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventionally, endoscopes have been widely used in a field of medicine or the like. The endoscope has an elongated insertion portion which is inserted into a body cavity. The operator can observe an internal organ or the like inside the body cavity and perform various types of treatment using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel if necessary. At a distal end of the insertion portion, a bendable portion is provided. The operator can change an observation direction of an observation window provided at a distal end portion by operating an operation portion of the endoscope.  
      A viewing angle of a conventional endoscope is 140°, for example. The operator observes an interior of the body cavity by looking at an observation image corresponding to the viewing angle. When the operator desires to observe a portion outside a viewing range, the operator bend the bendable portion to shift the viewing range thereby observing the portion previously outside the viewing range.  
      When the operator observe the interior of the body cavity using the above mentioned endoscope, sometimes the operator needs to observe a wall of the body cavity at a relatively short distance. During such a short-distance observation, an illuminance distribution of illuminating light shows a decrease of illuminance at a central portion of an observed area. In view of the above, some propose an endoscope in which a third illuminating unit is newly provided between two illuminating units which are conventionally employed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-342105)  
      However, when the operator tries to observe a certain area at a relatively short distance using an endoscope having a wider viewing angle for a wider-range observation, inconvenience caused by the decrease of illuminance in the illuminance distribution at the central portion of the observed area as-mentioned above, i.e., deficiency of light intensity at the central portion becomes even more problematic.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An endoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject body; an observation optical member which is provided in a distal end portion of the insertion portion and serves for an observation of the subject body; at least two first illumination members each of which is arranged around the observation optical member and has an axis defined by a center of an illumination range forming a predetermined angle with an optical axis of the observation optical member in a radially outward direction of the insertion portion; and a second illumination member which is arranged around the observation optical member. An angle formed by an axis defined by a center of an illumination range of the second illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member is smaller than the predetermined angle formed by the axis defined by the center of the illumination range of the first illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member.  
      A distal end structure according to another aspect of the present invention is of an endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted inside a subject body. The distal end structure includes an observation optical member which is provided in a distal end portion of the insertion portion and serves for an observation of the subject body; at least two first illumination members each of which is arranged around the observation optical member and has an axis defined by a center of an illumination range forming a predetermined angle with an optical axis of the observation optical member in a radially outward direction of the insertion portion; and a second illumination member which is arranged around the observation optical member. An angle formed by an axis defined by a center of an illumination range of the second illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member is smaller than the predetermined angle formed by the axis defined by the center of the illumination range of the first illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member.  
      An endoscope according to still another aspect of the present invention includes an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject body; an observation optical member which is provided in a distal end portion of the insertion portion and serves for an observation of the subject body; a first illumination member which is provided in the distal end portion of the insertion portion and has an axis defined by a center of an illumination range forming a predetermined angle with an optical axis of the observation optical member in a radially outward direction of the insertion portion; and a second illumination member which is provided in the distal end portion of the insertion portion. An angle formed by an axis defined by a center of an illumination range of the second illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member is smaller than the predetermined angle formed by the axis defined by the center of the illumination range of the first illumination member and the optical axis of the observation optical member.  
      The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a cylindrical distal end portion at a side of a distal end thereof according to the embodiment of the present. invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a distal end portion  10  along line P-P of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a relation among an observed area whose image is captured via a lens for an observation window; and  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a distal end portion according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.  
      First, a structure of an endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an endoscope  1  includes an operation portion  2  which controls a bending operation and a piping system, an insertion portion  3  which is connected to the operation portion  2  at a proximal end side and inserted into a body cavity, and a universal chord  3   a  which extends from the operation portion  2  and has a connector portion  4  at a distal end. The connector portion  4  can be connected to a light source  5  and a video processor  6  via a predetermined connector. The video processor  6  is connected to a monitor  7 . The insertion portion  3  has a tube  8  which has flexibility, a bendable portion  9  which is provided at a distal end side of the tube  8 , and a distal end portion  10  which is provided at a distal end side of the bendable portion  9 . In the distal end portion  10 , an imaging element  22   c  for imaging an area inside the body cavity is incorporated.  
      The imaging element  22   c  provided in the distal end portion  10  captures an image of an area inside the body cavity, and image signals corresponding to the image are transmitted to the video processor  6  via the universal chord  3   a . The video processor  6  has a signal processing circuit (not shown) which processes the transmitted image signals, and an observation image of the area whose image is captured is displayed based on the processed signals on a display screen  7   a  of the monitor which is a display unit connected to the video processor  6 .  
      An operation knob is arranged in the operation portion  2  to remotely control the bending of the bendable portion  9 . When the operation knob is manipulated, an operation wire (not shown) penetrating the insertion portion  3  is pulled or loosened, which causes the bendable portion  9  to be bent in four directions.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the cylindrical distal end portion  10 .from the distal end side. On a distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10 , an observation optical member  22 , three illumination members  23   a ,  23   b , and  23   c , a treatment instrument insertion channel opening  24 , a water delivery nozzle  25  for washing, and a forward water delivery nozzle  26  which serves for washing off blood, mucus, or the like on an affected area of the subject or the like are arranged. Therefore, plural openings are provided on the distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10  so that the observation optical member  22 , three illumination members  23   a ,  23   b , and  23   c  (hereinafter three members may be collectively denoted by reference character  23 ), the treatment instrument insertion channel opening  24 , the water delivery nozzle  25 , and the forward water delivery nozzle  26 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , on the distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10 , three illumination members  23  are arranged around a center of an optical axis of the observation optical member  22  so that the illuminance is uniform within the observed area. Hence, the illuminance within the observed area can be well distributed even though there are a few illumination units, and at the same time the insertion portion  3  can be thinned down. The arrangement of these elements will be described later in detail.  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the distal end portion  10  along line P-P of  FIG. 2 . In the distal end portion  10 , an imaging unit or the like  32  corresponding to the observation optical member  22  and a distal end hard portion  31  which has a space inside so that a light guide or the like corresponding to the three illumination members  23  can be arranged inside the distal end portion  10  are arranged. Further, a cover  31   a  is placed so as to cover the distal end side of the distal end hard portion  31 . The imaging unit  32  is inserted into and held by the distal end hard portion  31  in such a manner that the observation optical member  22  which is provided at the distal end of the imaging unit  32  and has a wide viewing angle is arranged at the distal end portion  10 . The imaging unit  32  includes the observation optical member  22 , an observation optical system  22   a  which is provided at a proximal end side of the observation optical member  22  and includes plural lenses, a cover glass  22   b  which is provided at a proximal end side of the observation optical member  22   a , and an imaging element  22   c  which is a solid-state imaging sensor such as a CCD provided at a proximal end side of the cover glass  22   b . The imaging unit  32  further includes a board (not shown) on which various types of circuits are formed and which is connected to the imaging element  22   c . Still further, the board is connected to a signal cable (not shown). The signal cable penetrates through the insertion portion  3  and is connected to the video processor  6 . The imaging unit  32  is fixed to the distal end hard portion  31  with a filling member or the like not shown.  
      In the embodiment, each of the illumination members  23  includes an illumination lens  33   a  which is an optical member for illumination and an optical fiber bundle  33   b  which is a light guide. The illumination member  23   a  includes an illumination lens  33   aa  and an optical fiber bundle  33   ba  which is a light guide. Though not shown, the illumination member  23   b  includes an illumination lens  33   ab  and an optical fiber bundle  33   bb  which is a light guide. The illumination member  23   c  includes an illumination lens  33   ac  and an optical fiber bundle  33   bc  which is a light guide. Hereinafter, the illumination lenses  33   aa ,  33   ab , and  33   ac  may be collectively referred to as the illumination lens  33   a . The optical fiber bundles  33   ba ,  33   bb , and  33   bc  may be collectively referred to as the optical fiber bundle  33   b.    
      A distal end portion of the optical fiber bundle  33   b  is fixed inside a metal pipe  33   c , respectively, by bonding agent or the like. The distal end portion of the optical fiber bundle  33   b  and the illumination lens  33   a  are inserted and fixed inside a frame  33   d . The illumination member  23  is secured to the distal end hard portion  31  with a setscrew. A part of the metal pipe  33   d  and the optical fiber bundle  33   b  are covered by an outer cladding tube  33   e . The outer cladding tube  33   e  is wound round with a string  33   f  and thus fixed to the metal pipe  33   c.    
      The proximal end portion of the distal end hard portion  31  is fixed to a portion of a bending distal end piece  35 . The proximal end side of the distal end hard portion  31  and the bending distal end piece  35  are covered by an outer cladding tube  36 . The outer cladding tube  36  is wound round with a string  37  and thus fixed to the metal pipe  33   c.    
      The metal pipe  33   c  of each of the illumination members  23   a  and  23   b  is bent at a predetermined position P 1  in the middle, and accordingly, the optical fiber bundles  33   ba  and  33   bb  are bent following the bent shape of the metal pipe  33   c . Therefore, optical axes of the illumination lenses  33   aa  and  33   ab  which emit illumination light, or in other words, axes  33 LA and  331 B defined by centers of illumination ranges of the illumination members  23   a  and  23   b , respectively, are not parallel with an optical axis  32 LA which is an optical axis of the observation optical system  22   a  and also an optical axis of the observation optical member  22 . More specifically, the optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB are inclined with respect to the optical axis  32 LA by a predetermined angle θ 1  as the optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB extend toward a distal end side from a tip point of the imaging unit  32  in an observation direction of the optical axis  32 LA. The angle θ 1  formed between each of the optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB and the optical axis  32 LA is, for example, 8°.  
      In other words, the illumination lens  33   aa  of the illumination member  23   a  and the illumination lens  33   ba  of the illumination member  23   b  that form a first illumination member are each provided on an inclined portion  31   c  of the distal end surface  21 . Specifically, since the observation optical member  22  has a wide viewing angle, for example 170° or more, optical axes (axes defined by centers of illumination areas)  33 LA and  33 LB of the two illumination lenses  33   aa  and  33   ba  form the angle θ 1  with respect to the optical axis  32 LA as described above on the distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10 , so that a wide area of the observed area can be illuminated. Hence, a plane portion covering each of the planes perpendicular to the optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB, in other words, the inclined portion  31   c  of the distal end surface  21  is not parallel to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis  32 LA, and rather is inclined by the angle θ 1 . Thus, the illumination window is provided on the inclined portion of the distal end surface  21  so that the optical axis of the illumination member is directed a radially outward direction of the insertion portion  3 , so that the insertion portion  3  can be thinned down. In the embodiment, the angle formed by each of the optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB of the illumination members  23   a  and  23   b  and the optical axis  32 LA is the same angle θ 1 . However, the two angles may be different from each other.  
      An optical axis  33 LC of the illumination lens  33   ac  corresponding to the illumination member  23   c  which forms a second illumination member extends toward a distal end side in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis  32 LA. An angle formed by the optical axis  33 LC and the optical axis  32 LA is approximately  0 °.  
      The illumination member  23   c  is arranged at a position inside the distal end portion  10  as is set based on an endoscopic image. For example, the illumination member  23   c  is arranged near the treatment instrument insertion channel, and in a lower direction of the endoscopic image (in other words, lower direction of the imaging unit  32  corresponding to a lower side of the endoscopic image). This is because there is generally a sufficient space around the treatment instrument insertion channel, and the illumination member  23   c , i.e., the illumination lens  33   ac  and the optical fiber bundle  33   bc  can be arranged with a relatively high degree of freedom. When the illumination member  23   c  is arranged closer to the treatment instrument insertion channel than the illumination members  23   a  and  23   b , the illumination light emitted from the illumination member  23   c  can surely illuminate the treatment instrument penetrating through the treatment instrument insertion channel and protruding from the distal end portion  10  and an area to be treated inside the body cavity (in particular, an area relatively close to the distal end portion  10 ).  
      Further, the illumination member  23   c  is not on the same plane as a plane on which the observation optical member  22  is placed at the distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10 . In other words, the second illumination member  23   c  is located closer than the observation optical member  22  to the proximal end side in an axial direction of the insertion portion  3 . More specifically, the distal end surface of the illumination lens  33   a  is arranged at the proximal end side a predetermined distance away from the lens surface of the observation optical member  22  in the direction of the optical axis  32 LA of the observation optical member  22  so that light emitted from the illumination lens  33   a  does not come into the observation optical member  22 .  
      The above arrangement is applied since the observation optical member  22  having a wide viewing angle tends to receive surrounding light easily. In particular, when the observation optical member  22  is a meniscus lens, some portion protrudes from the distal end surface  21 , and such portion tends to receive surrounding light more easily. When the observation optical member  22  and the illumination lens  33   c  are on the same plane perpendicular to the optical axis  32 LA at the distal end surface  21 , the light emitted from the illumination lens  33   ac  comes into the observation optical member  22  and might cause flare on the observation image. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the illumination lens  33   c  is arranged at a depressed portion at the proximal end side where the cover  31   a  has a step so that the illumination lens  33   c  is placed at the proximal end side a predetermined distance dl away from the observation optical member  22 . The cover  31   a  has a tapered surface at a portion between the observation optical member  22  and the illumination lens  33   c , and the tapered surface forms a predetermined angle θ 2  with respect to a plane of the illumination lens  33   c . The predetermined angle θ 2  is, for example, 8°.  
      The meniscus lens employed in the observation optical member  22  of the embodiment is advantageous in that the angle of view is relatively uniform regardless of fluctuation in parts and assembly in comparison with a flat lens.  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a relation among the observed area whose image is captured by the observation optical member  22 , and an area illuminated by three illumination lenses  33   a . In  FIG. 4 , an observed area VR which is an imaged area is substantially octagonal. Here, the observed area VR may be rectangular, circular, or the like. Further, in the embodiment, the imaging element  22   c  has a rectangular light receiving portion at which the imaging element  22   c  receives light from the observed area via the observation optical member  22 , the observation optical system  22   a , and the cover glass  22   b . Among three illumination members  23 , two illumination members  23   a  and  23   c  are arranged respectively close to one of two sides of the light receiving portion of the imaging element  22   c , while the illumination member  23   b  is arranged close to a corner of the light receiving portion of the imaging element  22   c . Here, the illumination member  23   c  is arranged at a position in the distal end portion  10  as is set based on an image captured by the imaging element  22   c , in other words, the endoscopic image of the observed area VR. More specifically, the illumination member  23   c  is arranged in the distal end portion  10  at a position corresponding to a lower side of the endoscopic image of the observed area VR (in other words, a position close to the surroundings of the lower side to the imaging unit  32 ), for example. Therefore, even when there are only a few illumination members  23 , the entire observed area can be well illuminated. Further, since the two illumination members  23  are arranged close to two side, respectively, close to the center of the light receiving portion of the imaging element  22   c , the insertion portion  3  can be thinned down compared with that in an apparatus having two illumination members  23  arranged close to the corner.  
      The observed area VR which is an area to be observed, e.g., an inner wall of the body cavity, is illuminated by the illumination light from the three illumination members  23 . As described above, in the embodiment, at least one illumination member  23   c  among three illumination members emits illumination light to an illumination range R 3  along the optical axis  33 LC. Hence, a central position R 3   c  of the illumination range R 3  is closer to a center C of the observed area VR than central positions R 1   c  and R 2   c  of illumination ranges R 1  and R 2  illuminated with the illumination light from the other two illumination lenses  33   aa  and  33   ab . In other words, the direction of the optical axis  33 LC is set so that distance L 3  is shorter than distances L 1  and L 2 , where L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  represent distances from the center C of the observed area VR to the central positions R 1   c , R 2   c , and R 3   c , respectively.  
      Therefore, with the endoscope of the embodiment, a wide area of a desired observed area is illuminated while an area around the central portion of the observed area can be surely illuminated. Therefore, the illuminance distribution does not show decrease in illuminance at the central portion of the observed area even when the area is observed at a relatively short distance with an endoscope having a wide viewing angle, and preferably observability is obtained.  
      A modification of the embodiment will be described. In the embodiment described above, the optical axis  33 LC of the illumination member  23   c  is substantially parallel to the optical axis  32 LA of the observation optical member  22  with respect to the direction of extension of the optical axis toward the distal end. In the modification, the optical axis  33 LC forms a predetermined angle θ 3  with the optical axis  32 LA of the observation optical member  22 .  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a distal end portion according to the modification of the embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the distal end portion  10  along line P-P of  FIG. 2 . The same elements as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  4  are denoted by the same reference characters and the description thereof will not be repeated. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the optical axis  33 LC of the illumination member  23   c  forms the predetermined angle θ 3  with the optical axis  32 LA with respect to the direction of extension of the optical axis toward the distal end. The optical axes  33 LA and  33 LB of the other two illumination members  23   a  and  23   b  each form the angle θ 1  mentioned above with the optical axis  32 LA. The angle θ 3  is smaller than the angle θ 1 , and is for example  3 °, and similarly to the embodiment described above, the central position R 3   c  of the illumination range R 3  is set to be closer to the center C of the observed area VR than the central positions R 1   c  and R 2   c  of the illumination ranges R 1  and R 2  illuminated with the illumination light from the other two illumination members  23   a  and  23   b . Therefore, the angle θ 3  is set so that the distance L 3  is shorter than each of the distances L 1  and L 2 , where L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  represent the distances from the center C of the observed area VR to the respective central positions R 1   c , R 2   c , and R 3   c.    
      Therefore, also in the modification, the illuminance distribution does not show decrease in illuminance at the central portion of the observed area VR, in other words, there is no deficiency in light intensity at the central position even when the operator tries to observe the observed area at a relatively short distance, and therefore favorable observability can be obtained.  
      As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention and the modification thereof, a wide area of a desired observed area is illuminated while the portion around the central portion of the observed area can be surely illuminated, whereby the illuminance distribution does not show decrease in illuminance at the central portion of the observed area even when the area is observed at a relatively short distance with the use of-an endoscope having a wide viewing angle, and the endoscope with favorable observability can be obtained.  
      In the embodiment and the modification as described above, the illumination members  23   a ,  23   b , and  23   c  include the illumination lenses  33   aa ,  33   ab , and  33   a c, and the corresponding optical fiber bundles  33   ba ,  33   bb , and  33   bc , respectively. The present invention is not limited thereto, and an illuminating unit may be implemented with an LED or the like and provided near the proximal end side of each of the illumination lenses  33   aa ,  33   ab , and  33   ac , in place of the illumination members  23   a ,  23   b , and  23   c , and the insertion portion  3  may be provided with a power supply line to supply power to the illuminating unit. The power supply line includes a signal line to control the illumination by the illuminating unit. In other words, it is sufficient if the illuminating light is emitted from each position of the illumination lenses  33   aa ,  33   ab , and  33   ac  in directions of the optical axis  33 LA,  33 LB, and  33 LC, respectively. An illumination member including the illumination lens  33   aa ,  33   ab , and  33   ac  and the illuminating unit may be arranged near inside the openings for the illumination members  23   a ,  23   b , and  23   c  formed on the distal end surface  21  of the distal end portion  10  described above.  
      In the embodiment and the modification as described above, the three illumination members  23  are arranged near either the side or the corner of the light receiving portion of the imaging element  22   c . The present invention is not limited thereto. The imaging element  22   c  itself may have a casing-like shape which has a rectangular surface, and the three illumination members  23  may be arranged near either the side or the corner of the rectangular surface.  
      Further, in the embodiment and the modification as described above, the illumination member  23   c  in which the distance between the center C of the observed area VR and the central position of the illumination range is shortest is arranged at a position corresponding to the lower side of the endoscopic image of the observed area VR in the distal end portion  10 . The present invention is not limited thereto. As far as the distance L 3  between the central position R 3   c  of the illumination range R 3  and the center C is shorter than each of the distances L 1  and L 2  between the central positions R 1   c and R 2   c  of the illumination ranges R 1  and R 2  and the center C, the illumination member  23   c  may be placed at a position corresponding to an upper side, a right side, or a left side of the endoscopic image of the observed area VR in the distal end portion  10 . In brief, it is sufficient if the illumination member  23   c  is arranged so that the central position R 3   c  of the illumination range R 3  is formed near the center C of the observed area VR, and the illumination members  23   a  and  23   b  are arranged based on the position of the illumination member  23   c  so that the distance L 3  is shorter than each of the distances L 1  and L 2 .  
      Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.