JP2005131162A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope which can be comfortably used over a long period of time by reducing burdens on eyes during use. <P>SOLUTION: This endoscope is provided with: an endoscope 1 provided with an image pickup device for picking up the image of an object; a light source unit 2 for emitting illumination light for illuminating the object; a video display device 3 for making the image of the object obtained in the endoscope 1 into a video image and displaying it; and a battery for supplying power to the image pickup element, the light source unit 2 and the video display device 3. The video display device 3 is mounted on the endoscope 1. When the endoscope 1 is held in a hand and the handle part 10 is operated so as to rotate, the center of the video image E displayed on the screen of the video display device 3 is arranged on an axis L which is the center of the rotation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that is compact and suitable for carrying with a small image display device.

Endoscopic devices widely used in the medical field and industrial field are connected to a stationary television monitor via a cable at the portion corresponding to the eyepiece, and the image obtained by the endoscope is an image sensor such as a CCD. The image is converted into a signal, and the image converted into a signal is supplied to a television monitor at a remote position via a cable, and is imaged and displayed on the screen. There is something that was made.
In addition, a small television monitor is fixed to the portion corresponding to the eyepiece, and the image obtained by the endoscope is formed on the light receiving portion of an image sensor such as a CCD, and the formed image is converted into a signal. There is one in which a converted image is supplied to a television monitor and is converted into an image on the screen for display (for example, Patent Document 1 below). In this endoscope apparatus, a small battery is built in the light source device, so that not only power is supplied to the light source lamp but also power is supplied to each part that requires power on the endoscope side. It has become.
JP 2000-116599 A (FIGS. 1 to 2)

  When inserting the insertion part into the observation site, the operator rotates the insertion part by operating the endoscope held in the hand to rotate the part held in the hand while watching the image displayed on the screen. However, if the axis that is the center of rotation and the center of the image displayed on the screen of the television monitor are deviated at this time, the center of the image is shaken each time a rotation operation is performed. In general, the surgeon tries to place the viewpoint at the center of the image, so if the rotation operation is performed, the viewpoint will be moved so that the surgeon's fatigue increases, making it difficult to use for a long time. Become.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that reduces the burden on the eyes during use and can be used comfortably for a long time.

As means for solving the above problems, an endoscope apparatus having the following configuration is employed.
That is, the endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 is an endoscope including an imaging element that captures an image of a subject, a light source device that emits illumination light that illuminates the subject, and an image of the subject obtained by the endoscope. An endoscopic device comprising: a video display device that visualizes and displays; and a battery that supplies power to the imaging element, the light source device, and the video display device,
When the video display device is attached to the endoscope and the center of the video displayed on the screen of the video display device is operated to hold the endoscope in its hand and rotate its gripping part, It is arranged on the axis which becomes the center of the rotation.

  In the present invention, the center of the image displayed on the screen of the image display device is present on the axis that is the center of rotation when the grasping portion of the endoscope is operated to rotate. The center of the image with the viewpoint does not shake even if you perform various operations. Therefore, the viewpoint can be kept at one point, and the surgeon is tired.

  According to the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, even if the endoscope held in the hand is operated so as to rotate the gripping portion, the center of the image on which the viewpoint is placed does not move, and the viewpoint is kept at one point. Therefore, the burden on the eyes during use can be reduced, and the endoscope apparatus can be used easily for a long time.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The endoscope apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 visualizes and displays an endoscope 1, a light source device 2 that emits illumination light that illuminates the subject, and an image of the subject obtained by the endoscope 1. The video display device 3 is provided as a main component.
The endoscope 1 includes a grip portion 10 for gripping the endoscope 1, an insert portion 11 whose tip is inserted into an observation site, and an operation portion 12 for bending the tip of the insert portion 11. I have. The grip portion 10 is formed in a bar shape and can be gripped so as to be wrapped with the thumb and other fingers. The insertion portion 11 has a flexible elongated shape, and is provided so as to hang down from the grip portion 10 when the grip portion 10 is gripped with the thumb up, and the operation portion 12 holds the grip portion 10 down. It is provided adjacent to the grip portion 10 so that it can be operated with the thumb of the gripped hand. In addition, the endoscope 1 is provided with an imaging element 4 such as a CCD that receives an image (light) guided by an image guide 11b described later, and a condensing lens 4a that forms an image on a light receiving portion of the imaging element 4. It has been. Note that the image pickup device 4 may be provided at a position close to the video display device 3 as shown in the drawing, or may be provided at the distal end portion 16 described later.

  The grasping unit 10 includes a suction cap 13 for sucking a liquid such as a body fluid, a forceps insertion port 14 for inserting a treatment tool such as a forceps, and the inside of the endoscope 1 at the time of water leakage inspection of the endoscope 1. A vent 15 for sending air is provided. A suction device is connected to the suction base 13 via a tube (not shown), and body fluid and the like can be sucked through the suction base 13 by operating the suction device. An air supply device is connected to the vent base 15 via a tube (not shown), and by operating the air supply device, air is sent from the vent base 15 to the endoscope 1, and the endoscope 1. Internal water leak inspection can be performed. Further, the grip unit 10 is provided with an image recording switch 32b that records an image displayed on the image display device 3 on an image recording device 32 described later.

  The insertion portion 11 includes a hard distal end portion 16 positioned at the distal end, a bending portion 17 provided continuously behind the distal end portion 16, and a further continuous portion provided behind the bending portion 17 to the grip portion 10. And a flexible flexible part 18 connected thereto. The distal end portion 16 is provided with an objective lens 19 that forms an image of reflected light from a subject illuminated by illumination light, and an illumination window 16a that emits illumination light. The insertion unit 11 includes a light guide 11 a that guides illumination light from the light source device 2 to the distal end portion 16 and an image guide 11 b that guides the image formed on the objective lens 19 to the image sensor 4.

The operation section 12 is provided with a bending operation lever 20 for bending the bending section 17 in a desired direction via two wires 11c passed through the insertion section 11. The bending operation lever 20 is an L-shape composed of a distal end portion 20a operated by the belly of the thumb holding the gripping portion 10 and a proximal end portion 20b connected to one end of the distal end portion 20a. A base end portion 20b is pivotally supported by 12a and is supported so as to be swingable up and down.
The bending operation lever 20 can freely bend the bending portion 17 by pushing and pulling the tip portion 20a up and down with a thumb to apply tension to one of the wires 11c and thrust to the other wire 11c. It is like that.

The light source device 2 includes a light source lamp 21, a hand switch 22 for an operator to arbitrarily turn on / off the light source lamp 21, and a condensing lens 23 that collects illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 21. ing. Further, the light source device 2 is provided with a connector 2a to which a power supply cable 6 described later is detachably connected. The light source lamp 21, the hand switch 22 and the connector 2 a are connected in series by a power supply line 2 b built in the light source device 2.
Illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 21 is condensed by the condenser lens 23, guided to the light guide 11a, emitted from the illumination window 16a, and illuminates the body cavity.

  The video display device 3 is detachably mounted on the operation unit 12 when the endoscope 1 is gripped by the grip unit 10 with the thumb up. In the video display device 3, a display element 31 such as an LCD for displaying an observation image of the subject as an image, an image recording device 32 for recording the subject image, and an image of the subject imaged by the imaging device 4 are converted into signals. And a display element control circuit 34 that visualizes a signal output from the image sensor control circuit 33 and displays the image on the display element 31. The video display device 3 includes a replaceable battery 5 that supplies power to the light source device 2, the image sensor 4, and the video display device 3. The battery 5 is a secondary battery that can be repeatedly charged and used. The video display device 3 is provided with a start switch 35 for the display element 31.

  A bracket 1b is provided at the upper part of the endoscope 1, and a bracket 3a is also provided at the lower part of the video display device 3. The two brackets 1b and 3a are fastened by a screw 8 for fastening. The video display device 3 can tilt the screen toward the bending operation lever 20 by loosening the screw 8 and can be fixed by tightening the screw 8 at a desired position within the movable range. ing.

  The video display device 3 and the light source device 2 are connected via a power supply cable 6 including a power supply line 21a described later. The video display device 3 and the endoscope 1 are connected via a collective cable 7 including a power supply line 4b and a communication line S1, which will be described later. The power supply cable 6 and the collective cable 7 are both fixed to the video display device 3 side, and connectors 6a and 7a are provided at the ends, respectively. The connector 6a is detachably connected to the connector 2a of the light source device 2, and the connector 7a is detachably connected to the connector 1a of the endoscope 1.

  Next, a functional block diagram of the endoscope apparatus is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the endoscope apparatus described above detects the presence / absence of an input of a video signal (an image signaled in the imaging device 4) transmitted from the imaging device 4 to the video display device 3. Detection unit 41, a second detection unit 42 for detecting the ON / OFF state of the activation switch 35, and the light source device 2 and the display based on the detection results of the first detection unit 41 and the second detection unit 42. A power supply control circuit (control unit) 43 that cuts off the power supply to the element 31 or invalidates the operation of the start switch 35 is provided. Further, the endoscope apparatus is driven by a power supply control circuit 43 so that a power supply path from the battery 5 to the display element 31, the image recording apparatus 32, and the display element control circuit 34 (power supply lines 31a and 32a described later). , 34a), a power supply switch 45 for intermittently connecting a power supply path (a power supply line 21a described later) from the battery 5 to the light source device 2 by being driven by the power supply control circuit 43, A power supply switch 46 is provided that is driven by the power supply control circuit 43 to intermittently connect a power supply path (power supply lines 4b and 33a described later) from the battery 5 to the image sensor 4 and the image sensor control circuit 33.

A power supply line 4 b that supplies power to the image sensor 4 is provided between the image sensor 4 and the battery 5. A power supply line 21 a that supplies power to the light source lamp 21 is provided between the light source device 2 and the battery 5. Is provided. Similarly, a power supply line 41 a that supplies power to the first detection unit 41 is provided between the first detection unit 41 and the battery 5, and an image pickup device is provided between the image pickup device control circuit 33 and the battery 5. A power supply line 33 a for supplying power to the control circuit 33 is provided, and a power supply line 34 a for supplying power to the display element control circuit 34 is provided between the display element control circuit 34 and the battery 5. 5 is provided with a power supply line 31 a for supplying power to the display element 31. Further, a power supply line 32 a for supplying power to the image recording device 32 is provided between the image recording device 32 and the battery 5, and a second detection unit 42 is provided between the second detection unit 42 and the battery 5. A power supply line 42 a that supplies power to the power supply control circuit 43 and a battery 5 are provided between the power supply control circuit 43 and the battery 5.
The power supply switch 44 is provided in the middle of the power supply lines 31a, 32a, 34a, the power supply switch 45 is provided in the middle of the power supply line 21a, and the power supply switch 46 is provided in the middle of the power supply lines 21a, 33a.

Between the image sensor 4 and the image sensor control circuit 33, a signal line S1 for transmitting a video signal acquired by the image sensor 4 to the image sensor control circuit 33 is provided, and the image sensor control circuit 33 and the display element control circuit are provided. 34 is provided with a signal line S2 for transmitting a video signal input to the image sensor control circuit 33 to the display element control circuit 34. Between the display element control circuit 34 and the display element 31, a display line is provided. A signal line S3 for inputting a video signal input to the element control circuit 34 to the display element 31 is provided.
The first detection unit 41 is provided in the middle of the signal line S2.

  A signal line S4 for transmitting a signal output from the first detection unit 41 to the power supply control circuit 43 is provided between the power supply control circuit 43 and the first detection unit 41. A signal line S <b> 5 for transmitting a signal output from the second detection unit 42 to the power supply control circuit 43 is provided between the detection unit 42 and the detection unit 42. In addition, a signal line S6 is provided between the power supply control circuit 43 and the power supply switch 44 to transmit a signal output from the power supply control circuit 43 to the power supply switch 44 in order to intermittently supply power to the display element 31. In addition, a signal line S7 is provided between the power supply control circuit 43 and the power supply switch 45 to transmit the signal output from the power supply control circuit 43 to the power supply switch 45 in order to intermittently supply power to the light source lamp 21. It has been.

  Furthermore, a signal line S8 for transmitting a signal indicating the ON / OFF state of the start switch 35 is provided between the start switch 35 and the second detection unit 42, and the power supply control circuit 43 and the start switch 35 are connected to each other. In the meantime, a signal line S9 for transmitting a signal output from the power supply control circuit 43 to the start switch 35 in order to invalidate the operation of the start switch 35 is provided. A signal line S10 for transmitting a signal for starting or stopping the display element 31 is provided between the display element 31 and the start switch 35. Between the image pickup element control circuit 33 and the image recording device 32, A signal line S10 for transmitting the video signal to the image recording device 32 is provided.

Control of power consumption suppression implemented in the endoscope apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the endoscope apparatus is activated, the power supply control circuit 43 first closes the power supply switches 44, 45, and 46, and the imaging element 4, the imaging element control circuit 33, the display element control circuit 34, the display element 31, and the image. The power supply paths (feed lines 4b, 33a, 34a, 31a, 32a, 21a) for the recording device 32 and the light source device 2 are secured (step ST1).
Even when the power supply switch 46 is closed, the collective cable 7 may not be connected to the endoscope 1 in some cases. Therefore, the power supply control circuit 33 determines whether or not a video signal is input from the image sensor 4 to the video display device 3 based on the detection result of the first detection unit 41 (step ST2).

In Step ST2, when the first detection unit 41 outputs a signal indicating a detection result indicating that a video signal is input from the imaging element 4 to the video display device 3 (when the collective cable 7 is connected). However, there is a case where the power supply cable 6 is not connected to the light source device 2. Therefore, the power supply control circuit 43 determines whether or not the light source device 2 is driven (step ST3).
In step ST <b> 2, when the first detection unit 41 outputs a signal indicating a detection result that there is no video signal input from the image sensor 4 to the video display device 3 (when the collective cable 7 is not connected). The power supply control circuit 43 opens the power supply switches 44 and 45 to supply power to the display element control circuit 34, the display element 31, the image recording device 32, and the light source device 2 (power supply lines 34a, 31a, 32a, and 21a). (Step ST4), and the start switch 35 is disabled (step ST5).
Subsequently, the power supply control circuit 43 determines whether or not there is an external command to end the process (step ST6). If there is an end command, the above process is ended, and if there is no end command, the process returns to step ST2 and returns to the above step. Repeat the process.

In step ST3, when the light source device 2 is driven (when the power feeding cable 6 is connected), the power feeding control circuit 43 determines whether the operation of the start switch 35 is valid or invalid (step ST7).
In step ST3, when the light source device 2 is not driven (when the power feeding cable 6 is not connected), the power feeding control circuit 43 proceeds to the above step ST4.
In step ST7, even if the operation of the start switch 35 is valid, the start switch 35 may be turned off, that is, in an OFF state. Therefore, the power supply control circuit 43 determines whether the start switch 35 is in the ON state. Whether it is in the OFF state is determined based on the detection result of the second detector 42 (step ST8).
In step ST7, when the operation of the start switch 35 is invalid, the power supply control circuit 43 switches the operation of the start switch 35 to valid (step ST9), and then proceeds to step ST8.

In Step ST8, when the second detection unit 42 outputs a signal indicating the detection result that the activation switch 35 is in the ON state, the power supply control circuit 43 determines whether or not the power supply switches 44 and 45 are closed. Is determined (step ST10).
In step ST8, when the second detection unit 42 outputs a signal indicating the detection result that the start switch 35 is in the OFF state, the power supply control circuit 43 proceeds to the above step ST4.
In step ST10, when the power supply switches 44 and 45 are closed, the power supply control circuit 43 proceeds to step ST6.
In step ST10, when the power supply switches 44 and 45 are opened, the power supply control circuit 43 closes the power supply switches 44 and 45 to display the display element control circuit 34, the display element 31, the image recording device 32, and the light source device 2. After securing power supply paths (power supply lines 34a, 31a, 32a, 21a) to (step ST11), the process proceeds to step ST6, and when there is an end command, the above processing is terminated and there is no end command. In this case, the process returns to step ST2 and the above processing is repeated.

  In the endoscope apparatus described above, when no signal is input from the image sensor 4 to the video display device 3, power is not supplied to the display element 31 or power is not supplied to the light source device 2. In addition, by disabling the operation of the start switch 35 or not supplying power to the light source device 2, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed, so it is long even if a small battery is mounted to improve portability. Time use becomes possible.

As shown in FIG. 6, the endoscope apparatus has a center of gravity of the endoscope 1 to which the light source device 2 is attached when holding the endoscope 1 with the grip 10 held by hand and the thumb up. G1 is present in the hand holding the endoscope 1, and its center of gravity G1 and the center of gravity G2 of the battery 5 built in the video display device 3 are arranged in a substantially vertical direction on the virtual vertical line L. The weight distribution of each part of the endoscope 1 and the video display device 3 is adjusted so as to exist. The weight of the battery 5 is much heavier than the weight of the video display device 3 without the built-in battery 5, and the weight balance of the video display device 3 with the built-in battery 5 almost depends on the weight of the battery 5. In addition, the center of gravity of the video display device 3 with the battery 5 incorporated therein substantially coincides with the center of gravity of the battery 5 alone. Therefore, the center of gravity of the video display device 3 with the battery 5 built-in can be regarded as the same as the center of gravity G2 of the battery 5.
Further, the center of gravity G3 of the insertion portion 11 that hangs downward from the endoscope 1 is located below the hand that holds the endoscope 1 and is present on the vertical line L.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the endoscope apparatus described above holds the endoscope 1 by holding it with the hand and operates to rotate the gripping part 10. The center of the image E displayed on the screen of the display element 31 is arranged on the axis L that is the center of the image.

  In the endoscope apparatus configured as described above, when the endoscope apparatus is held as shown in FIG. 6, the center of gravity G1 of the endoscope 1 to which the light source device 2 is attached holds the endoscope 1. And the center of gravity G1 of the video display device 3 and the center of gravity G2 of the video display device 3 (equal to the center of gravity of the battery 5) are arranged side by side on the virtual line L along the vertical direction. Only a gravitational force F that pulls the endoscope 1 in the hand downward acts on a hand that grips one gripping portion 10, and no couple that twists the wrist acts. Gravity F that acts to pull the endoscope 1 downward is borne by the muscles of the upper arm, not the wrist force.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the endoscope apparatus is held with the back of the hand gripping the grip portion 10 facing upward, the video display device 3 is placed on the thumb side of the hand with the endoscope 1 at the center. The insertion part 11 is located on the little finger side. In both cases, gravity acts on the center of gravity G1, G2, G3 downward, and the left and right sides of the endoscope device (video display device) so that the virtual line L is substantially horizontal with the center of gravity G1 of the endoscope 1 as the center. Since the weight balance between the 3 side and the insertion portion 11 side is balanced, a couple force that twists the wrist does not act in this case as well.

  Therefore, when the endoscope 1 is held by hand, a couple that does not twist the wrist does not act on the hand, and an excessive burden is not applied to the wrist. The endoscope apparatus can be used easily.

  In the endoscope apparatus configured as described above, when the insertion unit 11 is inserted into the observation site, the endoscope 1 held in the hand is operated to rotate while watching the video E displayed on the screen. Even so, the center of the image E on which the surgeon has a viewpoint does not shake. Therefore, the surgeon can keep the viewpoint at one point and proceed with the work, and fatigue is less likely to accumulate.

Therefore, even if the endoscope 1 held in the hand is operated to rotate, the center of the image E with the viewpoint does not move and the operator can keep the viewpoint at one point. The burden on the eyes is reduced, and the endoscope apparatus can be used comfortably for a long time.
In the present embodiment, the center of the image E displayed on the screen of the display element 31 is aligned with the predetermined axis L, but the center of the screen of the display element 31 may be aligned. Since the video E is displayed at the approximate center of the screen, the axis L and the center of the video E substantially coincide.
In addition, since the center of rotation of the grasping unit 10 slightly changes depending on the skill and habit of each operator, the endoscope 1 is provided with means for detecting the center of rotation at any time and displayed based on the detection result. You may make it control so that the center of the image | video E displayed on the element 31 may always correspond to the center of rotation which changes at any time.

  The endoscope apparatus of the present invention can be suitably used not only for medical use as described above but also for industrial use.

It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the endoscope apparatus of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the endoscope apparatus from the direction different from FIG. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of an endoscope apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of an endoscope apparatus. Flow chart for explaining control of power consumption suppression performed in the endoscope apparatus It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the position of the gravity center of each part of an endoscope apparatus, and the axis line at the time of operating so that an endoscope may be rotated, and the center of the image | video displayed on a display element. Similarly, it is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the axis line at the time of operating so that an endoscope may rotate, and the center of the image | video displayed on a display element. -Chart. It is explanatory drawing which shows the position of the gravity center of each part of an apparatus when laying down and holding an endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Light source device 3 Image | video display apparatus 4 Image pick-up element 5 Battery 10 Grasp part 11 Insertion part 12 Operation part 20 Curving operation lever 21 Light source lamp 31 Display element 35 Starting switch 41 1st detection part 42 2nd detection part 43 Control unit 44, 45 Power supply switch G1, G2, G3 Center of gravity L Axis E Video

Claims (1)

An endoscope including an image sensor that captures an image of a subject;
A light source device that emits illumination light to illuminate the subject;
A video display device that visualizes and displays an image of the subject obtained by the endoscope;
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a battery that supplies power to the imaging element, the light source device, and the video display device,
When the video display device is attached to the endoscope and the center of the video displayed on the screen of the video display device is operated to hold the endoscope in its hand and rotate its gripping part, An endoscope apparatus characterized by being arranged on an axis that is the center of the rotation.

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