An endoscope includes light emitting devices arranged in the distal end portion of its insertion unit, and at least one elongated heat-radiating member. One end of the radiating member is arranged in the vicinity of the light emitting devices and the other end is arranged in a predetermined position adjacent to the proximal end of the insertion unit. In observation using the endoscope, a decrease in the amount of illumination rays or the occurrence of image noise can be prevented, the decrease and the noise being caused due to heat generated by LED illumination lights arranged at the distal end of the insertion unit. Therefore, observation can be performed for a long time in good conditions.
1. An endoscope specifically comprising:
a distal-end adapter including light emitting devices constituting an illumination optical system, a substrate for the light emitting devices, a support member for supporting the substrate, a first heat-conducting member through which heat generated by the light emitting devices is conducted, and an objective optical system constituting an observation optical system, the light emitting devices being arranged in one surface of the distal-end adapter, the substrate having a first electric connecting unit for the light emitting devices which is arranged in the other surface of the distal-end adapter; and
an insertion unit having a distal end portion from which the distal-end adapter is detachable, the distal end portion including an image pickup device constituting the observation optical system, a second electric connecting unit which is electrically connected to the first electric connecting unit in the substrate, a second heat-conducting member through which the heat transferred through the first heat-conducting member is further conducted, and a heat-radiating member for radiating the heat conducted through the second heat-conducting member from the distal end portion in the direction toward the proximal end of the endoscope.
2. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-radiating member has a uniform cross section.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the heat-radiating member is set in consideration of the material and cross section thereof.
4. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein
the insertion unit is flexible and includes a bending portion, and
the heat-radiating member includes a bundle member formed by tying wires in a bundle, each wire having a diameter of 0.1 mm or smaller.
5. The endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein
the bundle member extends from the vicinity of the light emitting devices in the direction toward the proximal end of the endoscope, and
the bundle member is divided into segments in at least the bending portion.
6. The endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein each wire is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.
7. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein
the insertion unit is rigid, and
the heat-radiating member is a rod member.
8. The endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein the rod member is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.
9. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the objective optical system of the distal-end adapter is a direct view type.
10. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the objective optical system of the distal-end adapter is a side view type.
11. The endoscope according to claim 1 , further comprising:
electric-connection guiding means, arranged at the distal-end adapter and the distal end portion of the insertion unit, for electrically connecting the first and second electric connecting units in a predetermined relation.
12. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is in tight contact with the first heat-conducting member.
13. The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein one surface of the substrate includes a conductive pattern, and the light-emitting devices and one end of the first electric connecting unit are arranged in the conductive pattern.