JP2006166940A - Lighting device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device for the endoscopes which is adaptable to the fluorescent observation and the narrow-band observation in addition to the observation in the visible light band. <P>SOLUTION: An LED unit 9 equipped with LEDs 11R, 11G, 11B2 and 11B1 emitting light at four colors is disposed at the distal end of an electronic endosope 2 and the emission with the LED 11R or the like is controlled under the control of an LED drive control circuit 19 of the LED unit 3 disposed outside. In the RGB mode for the visible light band, the LEDs 11R, 11G and 11B1 emit light sequentially, in the narrow-band mode, the LEDs 11G and 11B1 emit light sequentially or in the fluorescent mode, the LEDs 11R, 11G, 11B1 and 11B2 emit light sequentially. This accomplishes the fluorescent observation and the narrow-band observation in addition to the normal observation in the visible light band. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope illuminating device used for illumination for endoscopic examination using a light emitting element.

In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used for optical examinations and diagnosis in the medical field and others. In order to perform optical inspection (observation) with an endoscope, a light source device or an illumination device is required.
In general, a light source device that requires large electric power, such as a xenon lamp, is employed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-225953 as a first conventional example uses a light-emitting diode (abbreviated as LED) to reduce the size. An endoscope apparatus capable of realizing the above has been disclosed.
In this conventional example, an LED that emits light at red, green, and blue wavelengths in the visible light band is provided at the distal end of the endoscope insertion portion, and the surface sequential and simultaneous type are switched according to the state of imaging the subject. Thus, an image with less blur is stably obtained.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-112961 as a second conventional example discloses a visible light LED emitting red, green, and blue wavelengths for visible light and an infrared light emitting at a wavelength of infrared light. A light source device having a light LED is provided so that visible light observation and infrared light observation can be performed.
The first conventional example has a drawback that only an observation image in a normal visible light band can be obtained. On the other hand, according to the second conventional example, an observation image in a normal visible light band and an observation image by infrared light can be obtained.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-225953 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-112961

  However, the second conventional example also has a drawback that a fluorescence observation image and a narrow band observation image cannot be obtained. As described above, in the conventional example, an endoscope illuminating device using LEDs is disclosed, but there is a drawback that it cannot cope with fluorescence observation and narrow band observation.

(Object of invention)
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope illumination apparatus that can cope with normal observation in the visible light band, fluorescence observation, and narrow band observation.

An endoscope illumination apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope illumination apparatus that performs illumination for optical observation by an optical observation means provided in an endoscope.
A four-color light emitting diode that emits light in two different narrow-band first blue and second blue in the red and green wavelength bands and in the blue wavelength band;
Illumination control means for controlling light emission of the four-color light emitting diode and selectively performing illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation;
It is characterized by comprising.
With the above-described configuration, illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation can be selectively performed using a four-color light emitting diode, and the size can be easily reduced as compared with a lamp.

  According to the present invention, illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation can be selectively performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an endoscope apparatus including the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a light emission wavelength region and the like of the LED unit. 3 shows the timing operation of illumination and imaging in each observation mode, FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the image processing circuit in the narrow band mode and the fluorescence mode, and FIG. 5 shows an endoscope apparatus provided with the first modification. The structure is shown, The structure of the capsule type medical device provided with the 2nd modification of FIG. 6 is shown.
An endoscope apparatus 1 including the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 that is inserted into a body cavity for observation, and illumination means built in the electronic endoscope 2. An LED control unit 3 that performs drive control, a processor 4 that performs signal processing for constructing a normal observation image (normal image), a narrow-band observation image (narrow-band image), and a fluorescence observation image (fluorescence image), a normal image, and a narrow image The monitor 5 selectively displays a band image and a fluorescence image.

The electronic endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 7 that is inserted into a body cavity, and an LED unit 9 that forms a four-color light emitting diode as an illumination means is provided at an illumination window at a distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 7. It is provided.
This LED unit 9 is a four-color light emitting diode (abbreviated as LED) that emits light in a narrow band at wavelengths of red (R), green (G), long wavelength side blue (B1), and short wavelength side blue (B2). ) 11R, 11G, 11B1, 11B2 and an illumination lens 12 that condenses the light of each LED 11J (J = R, G, B1, B2).
FIG. 2 shows a wavelength region where each LED 11J constituting the LED unit 9 emits light. The LED 11R emits light with a central wavelength near 610 nm, the LED 11G has a central wavelength near 550 nm, the LED 11B1 has a central wavelength near 470 nm, and the LED 11B2 emits light with a central wavelength around 415 nm. Moreover, the half-value width of the wavelength which each LED11J emits is about 20-30 nm, and has the light emission characteristic of a narrow band.

The LED unit 9 is detachably connected to the LED control unit 3 outside the electronic endoscope 2 through a signal cable 14 inserted through the insertion portion 7 and an operation portion 13 provided at the rear end thereof. The LED control unit 3 controls the light emission of each LED 11J of the LED unit 9. The endoscope illuminating device of the present invention is configured by an LED unit 9 incorporated in the electronic endoscope 2 and an LED control unit 3 disposed outside the electronic endoscope 2 in this embodiment.
This LED control unit 3 is connected to a switch circuit 17 having four switches 17a to 17d connected to a power source 16, and a switch 17k (k = a to d), and a current control circuit (variably controlling an output current). By controlling the current control circuit unit 18 having a current regulating circuit) 18k, the switch 17k, and the current control circuit 18k, the LED 11J of the LED unit 9 is driven and controlled to emit light (light on) from the light-off state, or light emission And an LED drive control circuit 19 for controlling the amount.

As is clear from this circuit configuration, the LED drive control circuit 19 can independently control the light emission (lighting) / lighting-off of each LED 11J, and can also control the light emission amount of each LED 11J independently. .
In this embodiment, the light emission drive of each LED 11J is controlled by the LED control unit 3 so as to perform frame sequential illumination as will be described later.
Specifically, the normal image mode (RGB mode) for performing normal observation in the visible band by the operation of the mode switch 20 for selecting the observation mode provided in the operation unit 13 of the electronic endoscope 2, for example, the narrow-band image mode (NBI mode) and fluorescence image mode (fluorescence mode) can be selected. In response to the selection, the LED drive control circuit 19 controls the switch 17k and the current control circuit 18k via the control circuit 21 in the processor 4.

In the RGB mode, the NBI mode, and the fluorescence mode, the LED unit 9 emits light (illuminates) in a frame-sequential manner as shown in FIGS. 3 (A), 3 (B), and 3 (C).
A subject such as an affected tissue in the body cavity illuminated by the LED unit 9 is imaged by an imaging means as an optical observation means attached to an observation window provided adjacent to the illumination window. In this observation window, an objective lens system including an objective first lens 23 and a zoom lens 24 and an excitation light cut filter 25 are arranged, and a charge coupled device, for example, is used as an imaging device at an imaging position of an optical image by the objective lens system. (Abbreviated as CCD) 26 is arranged.
The excitation light cut filter 25 transmits light in the emission wavelength band of the LEDs 11R, 11G, and B1, as shown in FIG. 2, and blocks light in the emission wavelength band of the LED 11B2 used as excitation light when performing fluorescence observation. This is an optical filter that limits the band to be cut.

The CCD 26 is connected to a CCD drive circuit 28 and a preamplifier 29 in the processor 4 via a signal cable. The zoom lens 24 is arranged so as to be movable in the optical axis direction by a moving mechanism (not shown). For example, the zoom lens 24 is moved in the optical axis direction by operating the zoom switch 30 provided in the operation unit 13 to be enlarged. We can observe.
In addition, an ID generation circuit (simply abbreviated as “ID” in FIG. 1) 31 that generates identification information (abbreviated as “ID”) unique to each endoscope 2 is provided in the operation unit 13. Is input to the control circuit 21 of the processor 4.
The control circuit 21 performs drive control according to the characteristics of the CCD 26 built in the endoscope 2 according to the ID, and corresponds to the light emission characteristics of the LED unit 9 built in the endoscope 2. LED drive control by the LED drive control circuit 19 is controlled.

That is, as the ID, the characteristics of the CCD 26 and the characteristics of the LED unit 9 or information for emitting light in a standard state can be generated. By referring to the ID, the LED built in each endoscope 2 can be generated. Even if the characteristics of the unit 9 are different from or different from those of the standard one, it can be controlled so that appropriate illumination and imaging can be performed.
The ID generation circuit 31 may include a memory or the like that stores therein information relating to the light emission characteristics of each LED 11J in the LED unit 9 as an ID. Alternatively, the ID generation circuit 31 is configured to generate only the identification information, and the information on the light emission characteristics of each LED 11J in the LED unit 9 corresponding to the identification information is stored in the control circuit 21 or the LED drive control circuit 19, etc. It may be stored in a memory or the like.

The CCD 26 outputs a signal photoelectrically converted to a preamplifier 29 in accordance with a CCD drive signal supplied from a CCD drive circuit 28 in the processor 4. The signal amplified by the preamplifier 29 is input to the AGC circuit 32 and also input to the dimming circuit 33.
The signal amplified by the AGC circuit 32 is converted into a digital signal (image data) by the A / D converter 34, and then temporarily stored in the first memory 36a to the fourth memory 36d of the memory unit 36 via the multiplexer 35. Is done.
In this case, the image data is temporarily stored in each of the first memory 36a to the fourth memory 36d or a part of the memory under the control of the control circuit 21 corresponding to the observation mode.
Further, the image data temporarily stored in each of the first memory 36a to the fourth memory 36d or a part of the memory is subjected to processing such as color conversion by the image processing circuit 37 and then output to the D / A converter 38. Is done. The D / A converter 38 converts input digital image data into an analog image signal (video signal), and then outputs the analog image signal (video signal) to the monitor 5, and an internal view corresponding to the observation mode is displayed on the display surface of the monitor 5. A mirror image is displayed.

The dimming circuit 33 integrates the signal input from the preamplifier 29 at a predetermined cycle to generate a dimming signal whose average of one frame corresponds to the brightness, and this dimming signal has an appropriate brightness. And the difference signal is output to the LED drive control circuit 19 as a dimming signal. The LED drive control circuit 19 controls the current value by the current control circuit unit 18 so that the dimming signal matches the reference level.
The operation of the CCD drive circuit 28, the AGC circuit 32, the multiplexer 35, the first memory 36a to the fourth memory 36d, and the image processing circuit 37 is controlled by the control circuit 21.
Further, the electronic endoscope 2 is provided with an air / water supply conduit, a suction conduit, a forward water supply conduit for performing forward water supply, a jet conduit for jetting, and the like (not shown).
In the present embodiment, the LED 11J used for illumination differs according to the selection by the mode switch 20, as shown in FIG.

The image processing circuit 37 performs normal image processing such as γ correction and edge enhancement in the RGB mode. In contrast, in the NBI mode, color conversion processing is performed in addition to normal image processing such as γ correction and edge enhancement in the RGB mode.
For example, in the NBI mode, as shown in FIG. 4A, the second memory 36b and the third memory 36c in the memory unit 36 are used, and image data captured under the illumination lights of G and B1, respectively. Written.
These image data G and B1 are read at the same time, and in the image processing circuit 37, as shown in FIG. 4A, the changeover switch is inputted so that the image data of G, B1 and B1 are input to the RGB channels. 41a, 41b and 41c are turned on.
In this way, the image obtained by the NBI mode is color-converted from the color image as it is, and is displayed as a color image with better visibility.

Further, in the fluorescence mode, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 4B is provided, and a determination unit that determines a pixel having a high possibility of a lesion by the fluorescence mode is provided, and an image portion near the determined pixel is displayed. The display is superimposed on the RGB image.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the R, G, and B1 image data are respectively delayed by the delay circuit 43 and then input to the adders 44a, 44b, and 44c. The delay circuit 43 has a delay amount corresponding to several lines of the number of horizontal pixels, for example.
The fluorescence image data is delayed through the delay circuit 43 and then input to the adders 44a, 44b, and 44c through the three-circuit switch 45.
Further, the G and fluorescence image data are input to the determination circuit 46, and it is determined whether, for example, the level difference between the pixels of both images is equal to or greater than a set threshold value. When it is determined that the pixel level of the fluorescence image data is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the timer circuit 47 is intermittently activated within several horizontal line periods to intermittently turn on the switch 45, and the fluorescence image data is R, G. , B1 are added to the image data and output from the image processing circuit 37.

The operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, after the electronic endoscope 2 is connected to the LED control unit 3 and the processor 4, the power switch (not shown) is turned on, and the operator places the insertion portion 7 of the electronic endoscope 2 in the body cavity of the patient. Insert into. In the initial state where the power switch is turned on, the LED control unit 3 and the processor 4 are set to operate in a normal RGB mode.
The surgeon can observe in the normal RGB mode. In this RGB mode, the LED unit 9 emits light in the order of R, G, and B1 in the order of R, G, and B1, as shown in FIG. The first memory 36a, the second memory 36b, and the third memory 36c are sequentially stored. These image data are read and synchronized at the same time, are converted into RGB color signals via the image processing circuit 37 and the D / A converter 38, and are displayed on the monitor 5.
By this RGB mode, the operator can obtain an endoscopic image in a normal visible band and can perform a normal endoscopic examination (endoscopic observation).

For example, when it is desired to observe the state of blood vessel running on the surface layer of the living tissue in more detail, the mode switch 20 may be operated to set the NBI mode. When the NBI mode is selected by the mode switch 20, the control circuit 21 sends a control signal for performing light emission driving in the NBI mode to the LED drive control circuit 19, and the LED drive control circuit 19 includes the switch circuit 17 and the current control circuit unit. 18 is controlled to cause the LED unit 9 to emit light in the NBI mode.
In this case, the LED unit 9 emits light alternately at G and B1, as shown in FIG. The image data obtained in this case is alternately stored in, for example, the second memory 36b and the third memory 36c in the memory unit 36.
The image data written in the second memory 36b and the third memory 36c are simultaneously read out, and further color-converted into a color image with good visibility by the image processing circuit 37, and then the D / A converter 38. After that, RGB color signals are obtained and displayed on the monitor 5.

In this case, since it is an image picked up by illumination light of B1 having a narrow band and a short wavelength and G closely related to the structure, an image reflecting information such as the running state and contour of the blood vessel on the surface is obtained. It is done. That is, when R is included, since information from the deep side is included, the surface layer portion and the deep layer side are mixed, and the information on the surface layer tends to become unclear, but the short wavelength B1 and structure without including R Since G concerning this is used for illumination, an image reflecting the surface layer portion more remarkably is obtained.
Further, if the color image in this case is displayed using the corresponding G and B display color channels as they are, the display color is low in discriminating power due to human visual characteristics. In this embodiment, the R display channel is used. By performing color conversion so as to use, a color image with good visibility is displayed. Therefore, the running state of the blood vessel of the surface tissue can be observed with good visibility.
Also, if you want to display the site if there is a site that may be a lesion, such as cancer tissue, set it to the fluorescence mode using the fluorescence image information. Good.

When the fluorescent mode is selected by the mode switch 20, the control circuit 21 sends a fluorescent mode instruction signal to the LED drive control circuit 19, and the LED drive control circuit 19 controls the switch circuit 17 and the current control circuit unit 18, The LED unit 9 is caused to emit light in the fluorescence mode.
In this case, the LED unit 9 emits light sequentially in the order of R, G, B1, and B2, as shown in FIG. The image data obtained in this case is sequentially stored in, for example, the first memory 36a, the second memory 36b, the third memory 36c, and the fourth memory 36d in the memory unit 36.
That is, as in the RGB mode, image data captured under R, G, B1 is stored in the first memory 36a, the second memory 36b, and the third memory 36c of the memory unit 36.

Further, the B2 illumination light is used as excitation light to irradiate the subject side, and the fluorescence emitted at that time is imaged by the CCD 26. For this reason, the excitation light cut filter 25 disposed in front of the CCD 26 cuts light in the B2 wavelength region. And the image imaged by CCD is stored in the 4th memory 36d, for example.
Then, the image data of the first memory 36a, the second memory 36b, and the third memory 36c imaged under R, G, and B1 are simultaneously read out and displayed as a color image as in the RGB mode.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the image data of the second memory 36b imaged under G illumination and the image data of the fourth memory 36d imaged as fluorescent image data are an image processing circuit. In 37, the determination circuit 46 compares the signal levels of both pixels that image the same part.

The determination circuit 46 determines that there is a possibility of a lesion when a difference equal to or greater than the threshold value set in both signal levels is detected, and activates the timer circuit 47. The monitor 5 displays the fluorescent image superimposed on the RGB image around the determined pixel. In addition, since the fluorescence intensity is attenuated in the cancer tissue as compared with the normal tissue, the possibility of a lesion can be determined using this characteristic.
By superimposing and displaying the fluorescent image in this way, the surgeon can know a portion that may be a lesion and can effectively use it as an auxiliary means for determining a lesion.
In addition to such display, a fluorescent image and an RGB image may be displayed side by side.

According to this embodiment having such an action, the LED unit 9 that emits light in four colors is provided at the distal end portion 8 of the electronic endoscope 2, so that a color image for normal observation can be obtained and a narrow band is obtained. It is also possible to obtain an NBI image and a fluorescence image by the illumination light.
Moreover, since the LED unit 9 can be formed by the LEDs 11R, 11G, 11B2, and 11B1, it can be sufficiently downsized. Therefore, the LED unit 9 can be provided at the tip 8 having a small diameter.

Further, in this embodiment, it is possible to use the LED control unit 3 that requires a sufficiently small power as compared with the case where a lamp is used. For this reason, the LED control unit 3 can be reduced in size and weight.
FIG. 5 shows an endoscope apparatus 1B according to a first modification. An endoscope apparatus 1B according to this modification includes an electronic endoscope 2B, an illumination apparatus (light source apparatus) 3B that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2B, a processor 4, and a monitor 5. .
In this modification, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the LED unit 9 provided in the electronic endoscope 2 is provided together with the LED control unit 3 in the housing of the illumination device 3B.
The electronic endoscope 2B in this modification does not have the LED unit 9 in the electronic endoscope 2 of FIG. 1, and a light guide 51 is inserted as illumination light transmission means for transmitting illumination light. The connector 52 at the end of the light guide 51 extended from is detachably connected to the lighting device 3B.

Illumination light is supplied to the end face of the light guide 51 by the LED unit 9 provided in the illuminating device 3B, and the supplied illumination light is transmitted by the light guide 51 and attached to the illumination window of the tip 8. Illumination light is emitted from the distal end surface of the guide 51 to illuminate the tissue to be examined in the body cavity.
In this modification, the ID generation circuit 31 provided in the electronic endoscope 2 is provided in the illumination device 3B in which the LED unit 9 is built, and the LED drive control circuit 19 is determined by this ID. The light emission drive of each LED 11J is controlled so that the variation of the LED unit 9 is corrected. In other words, the drive current value of the LED 11J is controlled so as to correct the variation or the solid difference so that the light emission amount becomes a reference.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this modification, the illumination device 3B has a structure in which the connector 52 of the light guide 51 is detachably connected in the same manner as the existing endoscope light source device, and the LED unit 9 is connected to the incident end face of the connected light guide. Illumination light can be supplied.

That is, according to this modification, it can be used instead of the existing endoscope light source device. The other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows a capsule endoscope apparatus 61 according to a second modification. The capsule endoscope device 61 includes a capsule endoscope 62 that has a capsule shape so that a patient can swallow it, and a signal corresponding to a signal that is placed outside the body and captured by the capsule endoscope 62. A signal processing device 63 that performs processing, and a monitor 64 that displays the image that is signal-processed by the signal processing device 63 and captured by the capsule endoscope 62 are configured.
In the capsule endoscope 62, one opening end of the capsule-shaped storage case 65 is sealed with a substantially hemispherical transparent cover 66. An objective optical system 67 is disposed near the center of the inside of the transparent cover 66, and the objective optical system 67 forms an image on the CCD 68 disposed at the imaging position via the excitation light cut filter 25.

In addition, LED units 9 are arranged via fixing rings 69 at, for example, four places around the objective optical system 67. The LED unit 9 is controlled for light emission drive by the battery & LED drive control unit 70. The battery & LED drive control unit 70 has substantially the same configuration as the LED control unit 3 of FIG. 1 except that it is driven by electric power from a battery.
In FIG. 6, two LEDs 11R and 11B2 are shown, but LEDs 11G and 11B1 (not shown) are arranged above and below the plane perpendicular to the paper surface.
Further, the CCD 68 is connected to the video signal processing circuit 71 and is driven by a driving circuit inside the video signal processing circuit 71. A signal component of the imaged signal is extracted by the video signal processing circuit 71 and A After the / D conversion, signal processing such as compression processing is performed.
The output signal of the video signal processing circuit 71 passes through the battery & LED drive control unit 70 and is sent to the wireless unit 72. The wireless unit 72 modulates the signal input from the video signal processing circuit 71 with a high-frequency signal, and radiates the signal from the antenna 72 a to the outside of the capsule endoscope 62 with radio waves.

The radio wave radiated from the antenna 72 a of the wireless unit 72 is received by the antenna 73 provided in the signal processing device 63 and sent to the wireless unit 74. The radio unit 74 demodulates the input high frequency signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the signal processing circuit 75.
The signal processing circuit 75 includes the multiplexer 35, the memory unit 36, the image processing circuit 37, and the D / A converter 38 in FIG. The multiplexer 35, the memory unit 36, and the image processing circuit 37 are controlled by the control circuit 21 in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment.
A mode switch 20 is provided on the front panel or the like of the signal processing device 63, and the mode switch 20 can be operated to instruct selection of the RGB mode, the NBI mode, and the fluorescence observation mode.

The selection instruction signal is input to the control circuit 21, and the control circuit 21 sends a mode instruction signal to the wireless unit 74. The radio unit 74 modulates the mode instruction signal and radiates it as a radio wave from the antenna 73 to the surroundings.
The radio unit 72 of the capsule endoscope 62 demodulates the radio wave received by the antenna 72 a, generates a mode instruction signal, and sends it to the battery & LED drive control unit 70. In the battery & LED drive control unit 70, various commands (commands) are stored in advance in association with command codes in an internal memory or the like, and a code of a signal demodulated by the wireless unit 72 is input. For example, the corresponding command is read from the memory using the code as an address signal.

If the read command is a command in any of the RGB mode, the NBI mode, and the fluorescence observation mode, the battery & LED drive control unit 70 controls the light emission of the LED unit 9 and the imaging of the CCD 68 in response to the command.
Then, the capsule endoscope 62 emits light and images in the designated observation mode.
In the present modification, the signal processing device 63 is provided with an imaging start / stop instruction switch 76, and the imaging switch 76 can be operated to start or stop imaging.
For example, when an operator or the like gives an instruction to start imaging, an activation start instruction signal is transmitted to the capsule endoscope 62 as in the case of the mode instruction signal. When the capsule endoscope 62 is demodulated and is determined as a command for starting imaging from the demodulated signal, the capsule endoscope 62 starts imaging.
According to this modification, a normal color image can be obtained even in the case of a capsule endoscope, and an NBI image and a fluorescence image can be obtained under narrow-band illumination.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows an endoscope apparatus 1C including Example 2 of the present invention. This endoscope apparatus 1C constructs an electronic endoscope 2C, an LED control unit 3C that performs drive control of the LED unit 9 incorporated in the electronic endoscope 2C, and a normal observation image and a narrow-band observation image. A processor 4C that performs signal processing and a monitor 5 that selectively displays a normal observation image or a narrow-band observation image.
In this embodiment, the endoscope apparatus has the function of performing normal observation and narrow-band observation as described above.
For this reason, the electronic endoscope 2C according to the present embodiment includes an optical filter 25B having a characteristic of passing the entire light emitting region of the LED unit 9 instead of using the excitation light cut filter 25 in the electronic endoscope 2 according to the first embodiment. Used.

In this case, the transmission characteristic of the optical filter 25B is set so as to transmit all the emission wavelength bands of the LED 11J as shown in FIG. The light emission characteristics of each LED 11J are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Further, the mode switch 20 is a switch for selecting a normal mode (RGB mode) and a narrow band mode (NBI mode). Then, according to the selection of the mode switch 20, the LED unit 9 emits light in the RGB mode or the NBI mode, and performs a corresponding imaging process.
The LED control unit 3C has the same configuration as that of the illumination device 3 of the first embodiment, but the control for driving the LED unit 9 in the RGB mode is slightly different.

In the case of the RGB mode, as shown in FIG. 9, the two LEDs 11B1 and 11B2 that emit light in the blue wavelength band are controlled to emit light simultaneously.
In this embodiment, the processor 4C has a configuration in which the memory unit 36 includes first to third memories 36a to 36c so as to be compatible with the RGB mode and the NBI mode.
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
The present embodiment is almost the same as the operation in the RGB mode and the NBI mode in the case of the first embodiment. However, in particular, the amount of light tends to be lowered by causing the LEDs 11B1 and 11B2 to emit light simultaneously in the RGB mode. The amount of illumination light in blue can be improved.
Also in this embodiment, a color observation image in a normal visible region is obtained and an observation image in a narrow band is obtained. In addition, a compact endoscope apparatus 1C can be realized.

Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 shows an endoscope apparatus 1D provided with Example 3 of the present invention.
The endoscope apparatus 1D includes a simultaneous electronic endoscope 2D, an LED control unit 3D that performs drive control of the LED unit 9 incorporated in the electronic endoscope 2D, and a normal mode (RGB mode). The processor 4D performs signal processing for constructing an image and an NBI image, and a monitor 5 that selectively displays a normal image or an NBI image.
In this embodiment, the endoscope apparatus has a function of obtaining a normal image and an NBI image as described above, and performs simultaneous illumination and imaging. That is, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the RGB mode or the NBI mode is performed in a frame sequential manner, but in the present embodiment, it is performed in a simultaneous manner.

For this reason, the electronic endoscope 2D according to the present embodiment is provided with a color separation filter 81 that optically performs color separation on a pixel basis immediately before the imaging surface of the CCD 26 in the electronic endoscope 2 according to the first embodiment. is there. In addition, since fluorescence observation is not performed in the present embodiment, the excitation light cut filter 25 in the first embodiment is not provided.
In FIG. 11, a complementary color separation filter 81 provided on the imaging surface of the CCD 26 is attached to each pixel.
The complementary color separation filter 81 includes four color chips of magenta (Mg), green (G), cyan (Cy), and yellow (Ye) in front of each pixel. G are alternately arranged, and in the vertical direction, Mg, Cy, Mg, Ye and G, Ye, G, Cy are arranged in the order of arrangement.

In the case of the CCD 26 using the complementary color filter 81, two columns of pixels adjacent in the vertical direction are added and sequentially read out. At this time, the columns of pixels are shifted and read in the odd and even fields. Then, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cr and Cb are generated by the Y / C separation / synchronization circuit 83 on the rear stage side.
The LED control unit 3D has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the operation of light emission drive is different as shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 shows the operation of light emission (lighting) of the LED unit 9 when the NBI mode is changed and set to the RGB mode after the endoscopic examination in the RGB mode, for example.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the processor 4 </ b> D in this embodiment drives the CCD 26 by the CCD drive circuit 28. The signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 26 is amplified by the preamplifier 29, and then the signal components are extracted in units of pixels by the correlated double sampling circuit (abbreviated as CDS circuit) 82, and then the Y / C separation / simultaneous operation is performed. Is input to the control circuit 83 and the dimming circuit 84.
This Y / C separation / synchronization circuit 83 generates a luminance signal Y as an input signal and a line-sequential color difference signal, and then passes through a low-pass filter (not shown) to obtain a luminance signal Y in a predetermined band and a line-sequential color difference signal. To. Further, for the line-sequential color difference signals, the color difference signals Cr (= 2R−G) and Cb (= 2B−G) synchronized using a delay line (not shown), etc. are sent to the matrix circuit 85 together with the luminance signal Y. Output.

When the normal mode is switched to the NBI mode by the operation of the mode switch 20, the control circuit 21 widens the pass band of the low-pass filter that passes the color difference signals Cr and Cb in the Y / C separation / simulation circuit 83. Change to increase the resolution. The matrix circuit 85 converts the input luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cr and Cb into color signals R, G, and B, and the converted color signals R, G, and B are converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 86. After being converted to a signal, it is stored in the memory unit 36.
The matrix circuit 85 converts the input luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cr and Cb into R, G, and B color signals having no color mixture.
In addition, since the memory part 36 is a case where it does not have fluorescence mode, it is the structure which does not have the 4th memory 36d in Example 1. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the image processing circuit 37 operates in the NBI mode in substantially the same manner as in the RGB mode (because the illumination in the NBI mode is also performed by R. ). Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
The effect | action by a present Example is demonstrated with reference to FIG.
When the power is turned on and each unit is in an operating state, an RGB mode operation is performed under the control of the control circuit 21, for example, in an initial state at time t = 0.
In this case, all the LEDs 11J in the LED unit 9 emit light simultaneously. The signal picked up by the CCD 26 is converted into RGB signals by the Y / C separation / synchronization circuit 83 and the matrix circuit 85, and further converted into digital image data by the A / D conversion unit 86, and then the memory. The first memory 36a to the third memory 36c of the unit 36 are simultaneously stored.

The RGB image data simultaneously read from the first memory 36 a to the third memory 36 c of the memory unit 36 is subjected to γ correction and edge enhancement by the image processing circuit 37, and then converted into an analog video signal and is output from the monitor 5. Displayed in color.
On the other hand, when the surgeon selects the NBI mode with the mode switch 20 at time t1, the control circuit 21 receives the instruction signal and sends a control signal to the LED drive control circuit 19, and the LED unit 9 in the NBI mode. Control to drive. In addition, the control circuit 21 controls each unit in the processor 4D to operate in the NBI mode.
As shown in FIG. 12, in this NBI mode, the LED drive control circuit 19 causes the LEDs 11R, 11G, and 11B1 in the LED unit 9 to emit light simultaneously, and does not cause the LED 11B2 to emit light, for example.

Then, the signals picked up with these three LEDs 11R, 11G, and 11B1 emitting light at the same time are separated into RGB signals through the color separation / simulation circuit 83 and the matrix circuit 85, and further by the A / D conversion unit 86. After being converted into digital image data, it is simultaneously stored in the first memory 36a to the third memory 36c of the memory unit 36.
The RGB image data simultaneously read from the first memory 36 a to the third memory 36 c of the memory unit 36 is subjected to γ correction and edge enhancement by the image processing circuit 37, and then converted into an analog video signal and is output from the monitor 5. Displayed in color.
Further, when the RGB mode is selected by the mode switch 20 at time t2, the operation is the same as that at time t = 0.
According to the present embodiment, even in the simultaneous mode, the observation can be performed in the normal mode and also in the NBI mode.

As a modification of the present embodiment, in the NBI mode, the LEDs 11G and 11B1 of the LED unit 9 are caused to emit light at the same time to obtain an NBI image that is substantially the same as in the first or second embodiment. May be.
Alternatively, the mode switch 20 may select the NBI mode (LEDs 11R, 11G, and 11B1 emit light simultaneously) and the second NBI mode (LEDs 11G and 11B1 emit light simultaneously) shown in FIG. In the second NBI mode, the image processing circuit 37 may perform color conversion processing as shown in FIG. Further, as the third NBI mode, the LEDs 11G, 11B2, and 11B1 may emit light to obtain an NBI image. This may be applied to the second embodiment. Moreover, in Example 1 or Example 2, you may make it perform the light emission control which replaced B1 and B2.
It should be noted that embodiments configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Appendix]
1. In Claim 2, the said four-color light emitting diode is provided in the front-end | tip part of an elongate insertion part.
2. In Claim 2, the said four-color light emitting diode is provided in the inside of a capsule-shaped endoscope.
3. In Claim 1, the said 4 color light emitting diode and the said illumination control means are separate bodies. 4). In Claim 1, the said 4 color light emitting diode and the said illumination control means are arrange | positioned in a common housing | casing.
5. 2. The illumination control means according to claim 1, wherein the green and the blue on the short wavelength side of the first blue and the second blue are emitted sequentially or simultaneously for the narrow band observation.

6). In Claim 1, the said illumination control means is made to light-emit the said red, green, 1st blue, and 2nd blue for visible light band observation.
7). 2. The illumination control means according to claim 1, wherein the first blue and the second blue are emitted as excitation light for the fluorescence observation.
8). In Supplementary Note 4, illumination light emitted by the four-color light emitting diode is supplied to illumination light transmission means inserted through the endoscope.
9. 3. The information storage device according to claim 1, further comprising information storing means relating to light emission characteristics of the four-color light emitting diode.
10. In Claim 1, the red and green are also narrow wavelength bands.

11. In Claim 1, the said illumination control means carries out the variable control of each light emission intensity in a 4 color light emitting diode independently.

12 An endoscope inserted into a body cavity and provided with an optical imaging means;
For optical imaging by the imaging means, illumination light is generated that emits light in two different narrow-band first blue and second blue in the red and green wavelength bands and in the blue wavelength band. A four-color light emitting diode;
Illumination control means for controlling light emission of the four-color light emitting diode and selectively performing illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation;
An endoscope apparatus characterized by comprising:
13. The supplementary note 12 further includes a signal processing device that performs signal processing on the imaging unit.
14 Appendix 12 includes an instruction switch that selectively performs illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation.

  By providing an LED unit that emits light in a narrow band of four colors arranged inside an endoscope and the like, and a control means for controlling the light emission of each LED, normal observation can be performed, and narrow band observation or fluorescence Observation can be performed easily.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus including Example 1 of the present invention. The characteristic view which shows the light emission wavelength range etc. of an LED unit. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the illumination and imaging timing operation | movement in each observation mode. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the image processing circuit at the time of narrow band mode and fluorescence mode. The block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus provided with the 1st modification. The block diagram which shows the structure of the capsule type endoscope apparatus provided with the 2nd modification. The block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus provided with Example 2 of this invention. The characteristic view which shows the light emission wavelength range etc. of an LED unit. Explanatory drawing which shows the timing operation | movement of illumination and imaging at the time of RGB mode and NBI mode. The block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus provided with Example 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the filter arrangement | sequence etc. in a color separation filter. Explanatory drawing in which LED of four colors at the time of RGB mode and NBI mode shows light emission drive.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... LED control unit 4 ... Processor 5 ... Monitor 7 ... Insertion part 8 ... Tip part 9 ... LED unit 11R, 11G, 11B1, 11B2 ... LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Illumination lens 13 ... Operation part 14 ... Signal cable 16 ... Power supply 17 ... Switch circuit 18 ... Current control circuit part 19 ... LED drive control circuit 20 ... Mode switch 21 ... Control circuit 24 ... Zoom lens 25 ... Excitation light cut filter 26 ... CCD
28 ... CCD drive circuit 31 ... ID generation circuit 33 ... light control circuit 36 ... memory unit 37 ... image processing circuit agent attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (3)

In an endoscope illumination device that performs illumination for optical observation by optical observation means provided in an endoscope,
A four-color light emitting diode that emits light in two different narrow-band first blue and second blue in the red and green wavelength bands and in the blue wavelength band;
Illumination control means for controlling light emission of the four-color light emitting diode and selectively performing illumination for visible light band observation and illumination for fluorescence or narrow band observation;
An endoscopic illumination device comprising:   The endoscope illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the four-color light-emitting diodes are provided inside an endoscope.   The illumination control means performs control to cause the red, green, and first blue or second blue to emit light sequentially or simultaneously, and performs control to cause the green and first blue or second blue to emit light sequentially or simultaneously. The endoscope illuminating device according to claim 1.

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