JPH0451212A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the control of the quantity of the return light from a subject by a diaphragm means by providing an adapter with an objective optical system for introducing the return light from the subject to an insertion part and a diaphragm means for controlling the quantity of the return light and providing the adapter and insertion part with connecting means for transmitting an electric signal for driving the diaphragm means. CONSTITUTION:A diaphragm control circuit 44 detects the quantity of the incident return light from the subject, etc., on the photoelectric conversion surface of a photodetector 43 and outputs a control signal via a signal wire 27, connectors 26, 37 and a signal line 38 to a diaphragm driving circuit 39. The circuit 39 drives the diaphragm means 36 by the control signal from the circuit 44. The control signal from the circuit 44 decreases the quantity of the light passing the diaphragm means 36 if the return light from the subject, etc., is much.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope with an improved distal end of an insertion section or a distal optical adapter detachably attached to the distal end.

[Prior Art] In recent years, endoscopes (scopes or fiberscopes), which can inspect and examine internal organs in body cavities by inserting their elongated insertion portions into body cavities, have become widely used. ing. Moreover, it is used not only for medical purposes but also for industrial purposes to observe and inspect objects such as inside pipes of boilers, machines, chemical plants, etc., or inside machines.

Furthermore, various electronic endoscopes using solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (CCDs) as imaging means are also used.

Generally, the field of view observed with an endoscope is a dark place. Further, the observation distance from the objective optical system to the observation target region ranges from an extremely near point to a relatively long far point, and under normal usage conditions, the observation distance often changes. In the case of short distances, the illuminance of the area to be observed by the illumination light irradiated through the endoscope increases significantly, and is often too bright; conversely, when the area to be observed is far away,
The illuminance of the illumination light may drop to an extreme level, making observation impossible. When attempting to observe a patient with an endoscope, the brightness changes greatly under normal usage conditions. It is extremely important to set this brightness appropriately.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 64-643, the present applicant inserted a diaphragm means such as an electro-optic diaphragm element into the objective optical system of the endoscope to reduce the amount of light returned from the subject, which is the part to be observed. We are proposing something to control this.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, for example, in the above-mentioned endoscope, the aperture means is inserted into the objective optical system at the tip of the endoscope, so if the aperture means becomes an obstacle, The distal end of the endoscope, and in some cases the entire endoscope, must be disassembled and repaired. The same applies to the case where the aperture means is maintained.

Therefore, the number of work steps required for disassembly is increased, which is inefficient, and there remains the problem that the endoscope cannot be used during the disassembly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that reduces the period during which the endoscope cannot be used when repairing or maintaining the aperture means.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In an endoscope having an elongated insertion section and a distal end optical adapter detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion section, an objective optical system that guides return light from a subject to the insertion section; The tip optical adapter is provided with a diaphragm means for controlling the amount of the returned light, and the optical adapter and the insertion portion are provided with connection means for transmitting an electric signal for driving the diaphragm means.

[Operation] The amount of light returned from the subject is controlled by the aperture means provided in the tip optical adapter.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure (A) is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, Figure 1 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the main parts on the end side of the endoscope, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the end side of the endoscope,
Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the endoscope eyepiece, Figure 4 (A) and
Figure (B) is an explanatory diagram of the liquid crystal aperture.

As shown in FIG. 1(A), an endoscope device 1 includes an endoscope 2 having an elongated insertion section, a light source device 3 that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 2, and a light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 2. A distal optical adapter 31 is detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion section of No. 2.

The endoscope 2 includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 4, and a large-diameter operation section 5 is connected to the rear end of the insertion section 4, and an image of a subject is displayed at the rear end of the operation section 5. For example, an eyepiece section 6 for observation with the naked eye is provided in series.

A visible universal cord 7 extends laterally from the operation section 5, and an end portion of the universal cord 7 includes:
A light source connector 8 connected to the light source device 3 is provided. The light source connector 8 is configured to be detachably connected to the light source device 3.

The insertion section 4 is constructed by sequentially connecting a bendable bending section 10 and a hard distal end section 11 to the distal end of the visible tube section 9 on the operation section 5 side. The operating section 5 includes the bending section 1
Curving operation knob 1 for bending 0 in the vertical/horizontal direction, for example.
2 is provided.

By rotating the bending operation knob 12 by hand, for example, the bending portion 10 is bent.

As shown in FIG. 1(B) and FIG. 2, the distal end portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is a rigid, substantially cylindrical distal end provided with a through hole 13 for observation and a through hole 14 for illumination. The observation hole 13 is provided with an objective optical system 16, and the illumination hole 14 is provided with an illumination optical system 17.

An image guide fiber 18 is inserted into the tip component 14 and transmits return light from a subject, the input end surface of which is provided on the rear end surface of the objective optical system 16. The image guide fiber 18 reaches the eyepiece section 6 via the insertion section 4 and the operation section 5.

Further, a light guide fiber 19 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the tip component 14 and has an output end face on the rear end face of the illumination optical system 17 . The light guide fiber 19 is connected to the light source device 3 via the insertion section 4, the crosspiece section 5, the universal cord 7, and the light source connector 8.

A connecting ring 21 for attaching the tip optical adapter 31 is rotatably fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the center portion of the tip component 15 from the outside.

A male threaded portion 22 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting ring 21 on the tip side, and a male threaded portion 22 is formed on the rear side of the connecting ring 21.
A finger rest portion 23 is formed for rotating the device 1.

The tip optical adapter 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a recess 32 at its rear end into which the tip component 15 is inserted. A female threaded portion 33 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the rear end of the recessed portion 32 and is screwed into the male threaded portion 22 . Further, the tip optical adapter 31 is provided with an objective optical system 34 whose optical axis is aligned with the objective optical system 16 when attached to the tip component 15, and whose optical axis is aligned with the illumination optical system 17. An illumination optical system 35 is provided.

A diaphragm means 36 is inserted in the optical path of the objective optical system 34 to control the amount of light returned from the object.

Further, the illumination optical system 35 is constituted by, for example, a rod lens.

The light source connector 8 is provided with a cylindrical plug 24, and the plug 24 is inserted into and connected to a socket I.25 provided in the light source device w3. The light guide fiber 19 is attached to the plug 24.
is inserted through the plug 24, and the input end surface of the light guide fiber 19 is provided at the tip of the plug 24. Illumination light emitted from a lamp (not shown) provided in the light source device W3 is transmitted to the light guide fiber 1.
The light is condensed and irradiated onto the incident end face of No. 9.

Further, an electrical contact 26 serving as a connection means is provided on the distal end surface of the distal end portion 11, and the electrical contact 26 connects the distal optical adapter 31 when the distal optical adapter 31 is attached to the distal end portion 11. It is designed to be electrically connected to an electric contact 37 which is a connecting means provided in the. A signal line 27 inserted through the insertion portion 4 is connected to the electrical contact 26 on the distal end portion 11 side. The signal line 27
reaches the eyepiece section 6 via the insertion section 4 and the operation section 5. Further, the electrical contact 26 on the side of the tip 11 is made of, for example, conductive rubber, and is designed to make good mechanical contact with the electrical contact 37 of the tip optical adapter 31. The tip optical adapter 31
The electrical contact 37 on the side is connected to an aperture drive circuit 39 by a signal line 38 that is routed inside the tip optical adapter 31 . The aperture driving circuit H39 is further connected to the aperture means 36.

The tip optical adapter 31 further connects the objective optical system 16 and the objective optical system 3 by engagement means (not shown) provided on the tip portion 11 and the tip optical adapter 31.
4, an optical axis between the illumination optical system 17 and the illumination optical system 35, and the electric contact 26 and the electric contact 37.
It is attached to the distal end portion 11 so that the position coincides with that of the distal end portion 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the eyepiece section 6 includes an eyepiece optical system 41 facing the one image guide fiber, and a half prism 4 inserted into the optical path of the eyepiece optical system 41.
2 is connected to a light receiving element 43 such as a photodiode arranged at a position where the light separated by the half prism 42 is incident, and the light receiving element 43 is connected to the light receiving element 43.
The aperture control circuit 44 includes an aperture control section 45 constituted by an aperture control circuit 44 that controls the three aperture drive circuits by, for example, changes in current values.
Furthermore, the signal line 27 is connected.

The half prism 42 separates the returned light from the subject guided through the image guide fiber and makes it enter the light receiving element 43 . The light-receiving element 43 is configured such that, for example, the value of the current flowing through the light-receiving element 43 changes depending on the returned light from the subject that has been separated into spectra. The aperture control circuit 44 includes the light receiving element 43
The amount of light returned from the subject is detected by the change in the current value, and a control signal is output to the diaphragm drive circuit 39 via the signal line 27 so that the amount of light is appropriate.

Further, the return light from the subject that has passed through the half prism 42 is observed via the eyepiece optical system 41, for example, with the operator's naked eye.

FIG. 4(A) and FIG. 4(B) are explanatory diagrams of a liquid crystal aperture which is an example of the aperture means.

The liquid crystal diaphragm 51 includes polarizing plates 52 and 53 provided at both ends, glass plates 54 and 54 disposed on the inner surfaces of the polarizing plates 52 and 53, and a liquid crystal aperture 51 that is attached to the glass plates 54 and 54, for example. A transparent electrode 55,56, a spacer 57,57 forming a space between the glass plates 54,54, a liquid crystal 58 disposed in the space formed between the glass plates 54,54, and the liquid crystal 58. The structure is such that alignment films (not shown) provided at both ends and lead wires 60 connected to the transparent electrodes 55 and 56 are sealed with a sealing material suitable between each member. Further, the polarizing plates 52 and 53 are arranged so that the light shielding rate is maximized by the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 59 of the liquid crystal 58, which will be described later.

The liquid crystal 58 of the liquid crystal aperture 51 is provided with the transparent electrode 5.
5.56, drive voltages, for example, are applied from the three aperture drive circuits via the lead wires 60. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 59 of the liquid crystal 58 move in the axial direction from one transparent electrode 55 to the other transparent type [!56], as shown in FIG.
The orientation state is such that it is twisted by 90 degrees while going to . That is, the light incident through the front polarizing plate 52,
For example, the amplitude of light having an amplitude perpendicular to the plane of the paper becomes horizontal to the plane of the paper while reaching the polarizing plate 53 at the rear via the liquid crystal 58.

In addition, the front polarizing plate 52 has a characteristic of transmitting only light having a specific amplitude in one direction with respect to the incident surface among the light incident from the objective optical system 16, and blocking light having other amplitudes. Of the light transmitted through the liquid crystal 58, the rear polarizing plate 53 transmits only the light having an amplitude perpendicular to the light transmitted by the polarizing plate 52 with respect to the incident plane, and transmits other amplitudes. It has the property of blocking out light.

That is, the polarizing plate 52 transmits, for example, light having an amplitude horizontal to the plane of the paper, and in this case, the polarizing plate 53 transmits light having an amplitude perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

As a result, all of the light incident from the objective optical system 16 having an amplitude in a certain direction is transferred to the liquid crystal aperture 51.
It is designed to be transparent.

Next, when a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 55 and 56,
As shown in FIG. 4(B), the liquid crystal molecules 59 change their alignment state and become a homeotropic arrangement, so that the axial direction does not change while going from one transparent electrode 55 to the other transparent electrode 56. It has become. That is, even if the amplitude of light that has entered through the polarizing plate 52 in the front and has an amplitude perpendicular to the plane of the paper reaches the polarizing plate 53 in the rear via the liquid crystal 58, the amplitude will not be perpendicular to the plane of the paper. It is supposed to be.

Therefore, the direction of the amplitude of the light transmitted by the polarizing plate 52, for example, having an amplitude horizontal to the paper surface does not change even if it passes through the liquid crystal 58, and is blocked by the polarizing plate 53. ing. However, the transparent fi 56 has a missing central portion, for example, so that it does not act on the five liquid crystal molecules corresponding to that central portion.

As a result, the alignment state of the five liquid crystal molecules changes in the peripheral portion sandwiched between the transparent electrodes 55 and 56, the alignment state in the central portion remains unchanged, and only the central portion transmits light. ing. In other words, the overall amount of transmitted light is reduced.

The lead wires 60 and 60 of the liquid crystal aperture 51 are connected to the aperture drive circuit 39. That is, the liquid crystal aperture 51 is driven by the aperture drive circuit 39 via the lead wires 60 and 60. The driving methods for the liquid crystal 58 include a voltage control method (changing the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal with a voltage of a magnitude between the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal) and a frequency control method (changing the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal with a voltage that is larger or smaller than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal); Two types of liquid crystals are being considered: one that changes the optical characteristics of the liquid crystal by changing the height of the liquid crystal.

The operation of the endoscope configured as described above will be explained.

Illumination light supplied from the light source device 3 to one of the light guide fibers of the endoscope 2 is guided through the light guide fiber 19 and illuminates the tip optical adapter 31 via the illumination optical system 17. The light reaches an optical system 35, and the illumination optical system 35 irradiates a subject (not shown).

The return light from the subject etc. is transmitted to the tip optical adapter 3.
The light reaches the objective optical system 16 of the endoscope 2 via the objective optical system 34 and the aperture means 36 of the endoscope 2, and is imaged by the objective optical system 16 on the incident end surface of the image guide fiber 18.

Return light from an object, etc., which has been imaged on the incident end surface of the image guide fiber 18, is guided through the image guide fiber 18, reaches the observation optical system 41 of the eyepiece 6 of the endoscope 2, and passes through the observation optical system. 41 and the half prism 42, it is observed by the operator's naked eye, for example. Further, the returning light from the object, etc. is separated by the half prism 42 and enters the photoelectric conversion surface of the light receiving element 43.

The diaphragm control circuit 41 detects the amount of return light from a subject etc. that has entered the photoelectric conversion surface of the light receiving element 43, and connects the signal line 27, the connector 2637 and the signal line 3.
A control signal is output to the diaphragm drive circuit 39 via 8.

The diaphragm drive circuit 39 drives the diaphragm means 36 based on a control signal from the diaphragm control circuit 44 . The control signal from the aperture control circuit 44 is such that when there is a lot of light returning from the subject, etc., the amount of light passing through the aperture means 36 is reduced, that is, the amount of light is narrowed down, and when there is little light returning from the subject, the control signal is , the amount of light passing through the aperture means 36 is increased, that is, the aperture means 36 is opened. Therefore, when the aperture means 36 is stopped down, the depth of observation becomes deeper and a wide range of objects can be observed. Furthermore, when the aperture means 36 is opened, the depth of observation becomes shallow and only a narrow range of objects can be observed. Since the amount of light is limited, there is no risk of hindering observation.

Therefore, for example, even if the distance between the tip position of the endoscope 2 and the object changes, and the amount of light returned from the object changes, the return light from the object at the eyepiece is The object or the like can be observed at a constant brightness in the eyepiece section 6 without changing the amount of illumination light from the light source device f3.

Further, the connecting ring 21 provided on the distal end portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is rotated by rotating the finger hook portion 23 provided on the connecting ring 21. The male threaded portion 22 of the tip optical adapter 31
The distal end optical adapter 31 is screwed into the female threaded portion 33 of the endoscope 2, and the distal end optical adapter 31 is attached to the distal end portion 11 of the endoscope 2. At this time, the connector 26 to which the signal line 27 is connected and the connector 38 to which the signal line 38 is connected are electrically connected, and the optical axes of the objective optical system 16 and the objective optical system 34 are aligned. At the same time, the optical axes of the illumination optical system 17 and the illumination optical system 35 coincide.

That is, by providing the diaphragm means on the tip optical adapter, if the diaphragm device breaks down or when the diaphragm device is to be maintained, the spare end optical adapter can be used to make the endoscope function. This has the effect of reducing the period during which the endoscope cannot be used.

5 to 7 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the eyepiece adapter, Figure 7 (A) is a cross-sectional diagram of the side-viewing tip optical adapter, and Figure 7 (B) is the side of the fixed aperture. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a visual-type distal end optical adapter. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the endoscope of this embodiment, the half prism and aperture control section provided in the eyepiece section of the endoscope explained in the first embodiment are separated, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, An eyepiece adapter 6' is provided which is detachably connected to the eyepiece section 6. The eyepiece adapter 6' is attached to the eyepiece portion 6 by, for example, a screw (not shown).

The eyepiece adapter 6'' includes an eyepiece optical system 41 arranged so that its optical axis coincides with the eyepiece optical system 41 of the eyepiece section 6.
', a half prism 42 disposed on the optical axis of the eyepiece optical system, and an aperture control section 45 constituted by a light receiving element 43 and an aperture control circuit 44. Furthermore,
A signal line 2 is connected to the eyepiece section 6 and the eyepiece adapter 6'.
7 and the aperture control circuit 44 is provided.

Further, the distal optical adapter attached to the distal end portion 11 of the endoscope 2 is not limited to the distal optical adapter 31 explained in FIG. 1(B) and FIG. A)
A side viewing type optical tip adapter 31'' shown in FIG. 7 (B) may be installed, or a direct viewing type optical tip adapter 31 without an aperture as shown in FIG. 7(B) may be installed.

Further, a diaphragm means 36 provided inside the side-view type tip optical adapter 31'' shown in FIG. 7(A) is connected to the connector 46.
, so that it is directly driven by a control signal from the aperture control section 45 via the signal line 27, an electric contact (not shown) provided on the tip 11, and an electric contact 37 provided on the tip optical adapter 31''. It has become.

As mentioned above, by making the diaphragm control section detachable using the eyepiece adapter, if the diaphragm control section breaks down or when the diaphragm control section is to be maintained, the endoscope can be operated using the spare eyepiece adapter. This has the effect of reducing the period during which the endoscope cannot be used.

Incidentally, a fixed diaphragm may be provided in the tip optical adapter 31' shown in FIG. 7(B).

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the endoscope 2 of this embodiment, the aperture control section 45 described in FIGS. 1(A) and 3 of the first embodiment is provided in the operation section 5.

The diaphragm control unit 45 is also provided with a switch 4747, and this switch 47.47 causes the distal end optical adapter 31 to be installed in FIGS. The aperture means described in FIG. 7(A) of the embodiment is controlled to control the amount of return light from the subject.

Therefore, the observation depth can be adjusted according to the sense of the operator, and the object can be observed with brightness suitable for the situation of the object.

In other words, when the operator wants to mainly observe the object in the dark area, or when the operator wants to control the amount of light returned from a single object based on his or her senses, the configuration of the aperture control section is simple, and there is no problem with interference. This has the effect of reducing the incidence of

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the first to third embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The endoscope device 1 of this embodiment is an electronic endoscope device,
The endoscope 2 has an image sensor installed in the distal end 11, the light source device 3, and the image sensor of the endoscope 2 are driven, and the electrical signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor is converted into a standard video signal. A video processor 67 includes a video signal processing circuit 68 to be converted, an aperture control circuit 44 for controlling an aperture means installed in the tip optical adapter 31, etc., and a standard video signal from the video signal processing circuit 68. A monitor 69 displays images.

The distal end portion 11 of the inner mirror 2 is equipped with an image pickup device (not shown), for example, a COD (charge coupled device) in the first embodiment.
The light source connector 8 is arranged at the same position as the incident end surface of the image guide fiber described in FIG. A flexible universal cord 65 is extended,
A connector 66 is provided at the end of the universal cord 65.

The connector 66 is detachably connected to the video processor 67, and the connector 66 is connected to a signal line with an image pickup device provided at the tip of the endoscope 2 and a diaphragm means provided inside the tip optical adapter 31. A signal line 27 is connected to the terminal.

The operation of the endoscope configured as described above will be explained.

The video signal processing circuit 68 installed in the video processor 67 drives an image sensor installed in the endoscope 2, and converts an electrical signal from the image sensor into a standard video signal. Output to the monitor 69, the monitor 69:
The aperture control circuit 44, which displays the standard video signal, obtains a luminance signal representing the brightness of a subject, etc. of the standard video signal from the video signal processing circuit 68, and outputs the luminance signal to the signal line. 27, a control signal is outputted to the diaphragm driving means described in the first embodiment and the second actual planer example, or the diaphragm means described in the third embodiment, which is installed inside the tip optical adapter 31.

Note that the aperture control circuit 44 may be controlled by a switch, for example, as described in the third embodiment.

That is, even when the distal end optical adapter is attached to an electronic endoscope, the same effects as in the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the first to fourth embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The light source device 3 includes a light I/guide fiber 19 of the endoscope 2.
A light source 71 that supplies illumination light to the lens, an aperture means 73 that controls the illumination light from the light source 71 to have an appropriate amount of light, and an aperture control circuit 72 that drives and controls the aperture means 73 are provided. .

The input terminal of the aperture control circuit 73 is connected to a video processor 68.
As described in the fourth embodiment, the aperture means is connected to a control signal output terminal of a video signal processing circuit 68 installed in the diaphragm according to a control signal, for example, a luminance signal, from the video signal processing circuit 68. 73.

Also, FIG. 1 (B) of the first embodiment installed in the distal end optical adapter 31 attached to the distal end portion 11 of the endoscope li2.
The aperture means described in FIG. 2 is controlled by the switches 47 and 47 of the aperture control section 45 described in the third embodiment.

In other words, the amount of light returned from the subject is usually controlled by the amount of illumination light emitted from the light source, and if the illumination light from the light source is insufficient for observing the subject, the operator may focus on observing the subject in the dark areas. This has the advantage that the amount of light returned from the subject can be controlled when desired or according to the operator's own sense.

Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments.

Note that the endoscope apparatus includes the video processor described in the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment, and an image sensor, for example, incorporated in the eyepiece portion of the endoscope as described in the first to third embodiments. The provided external endoscope may be, for example, a television camera detachably connected thereto.

Note that the aperture means is not limited to a liquid crystal aperture, but may be an electrically driven mechanical aperture blade, for example.

Further, the field of view of the distal end optical adapter may be a perspective view for observing obliquely in the axial direction of the insertion portion.

Further, the means for attaching the distal end optical adapter to the distal end portion is not limited to a screw, but may also be attached by an engaging portion that engages with a bottle and the pin.

Furthermore, the objective optical system and illumination optical system of the tip optical adapter are not limited to lenses, and may include fiber bundles.

Furthermore, in order to protect the insertion section and tip optical adapter,
The protected area may be covered with a protective sheath made of stainless steel braid, for example.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when the aperture means breaks down or when the aperture means is to be maintained, the endoscope can be made to function using a spare tip optical adapter.
This has the effect that the unusable period of the endoscope can be reduced and the endoscope can be used efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- Figures (A> is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, Figure 1 (B) is a sectional view of the main parts on the end side of the endoscope, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the end side of the endoscope, and Figure 3 is the internal 4(A) and 4(B) are explanatory views of the liquid crystal aperture, and FIGS. 5 to 7 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. is a configuration diagram of the endoscope device, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the eyepiece adapter, FIG. 7 (A) is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the side-view type tip optical adapter, and FIG. 7 (B) is a side view of the fixed aperture. A cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the tip optical adapter 7 of the mold, FIG. 8 shows the constituent countries of the endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows the endoscope apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 11... Tip portion 31... Tip optical adapter 34... Objective optical system 36...・Second squeezing means
Fig. 39 Aperture drive vJ rotation shoulder 4 Fig. 3 44 ) Figure 9 Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope having an elongated insertion section and a distal end optical adapter detachably attached to the distal end of the insertion section, comprising: an objective optical system that guides return light from a subject to the insertion section; The endoscope is characterized in that the distal end optical adapter is provided with a diaphragm means for controlling the amount of light of the diaphragm, and the distal optical adapter and the insertion section are provided with connection means for transmitting an electric signal for driving the diaphragm means. .