JP2592482B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that outputs illumination light corresponding to a field sequential endoscope, an endoscope with a built-in color filter, and an optical endoscope. About.

[Related Art] In recent years, an optical endoscope (also referred to as a fiberscope) that transmits an optical image formed by an objective lens at a distal end portion of an insertion portion to a hand side by an image guide formed of a fiber bundle. Instead, the optical image formed by the objective lens is photoelectrically converted by a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD), converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the hand side. In addition, an electric endoscope (hereinafter, also referred to as an electronic endoscope or an electronic scope) that can be displayed on a color monitor via a video processor has been realized.

The above-mentioned electronic scope is currently used for the upper or lower digestive tract and has a diameter of about 10φ. However, for example, an endoscope for bronchi usually requires an endoscope of about 5φ or less, and in order to realize an electronic scope for bronchi (small diameter), an imaging element having a small number of pixels must be used. Absent.

When the number of pixels is small, the color imaging method using a color mosaic filter in order to prevent a decrease in resolution, red, blue, and illuminate in a plane-sequential manner with light of each wavelength of green,
A plane-sequential color imaging method in which plane-sequential imaging is performed under the illumination, and these are combined and displayed in color is advantageous. On the other hand, when the diameter is large, the number of pixels is large, and sufficient resolution is obtained, a mosaic type color imaging method using a mosaic filter may be adopted.

In the case of the electronic scope, in addition to the light source device used in the fiber scope, a video processor that performs signal processing to generate a video signal that can be displayed on a color monitor is used.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-243625, there has been proposed a system which can display an image on a color monitor screen by connecting an imaging adapter to a fiber scope.

In this conventional example, when an imaging adapter is connected, it is possible to form an electronic scope for performing color imaging in a frame sequential mode, and when connected to a control device (integrating a video processor and a light source device), a video by a frame sequential imaging is performed. Color display can be performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional example, since the video processor and the light source device are integrated, there is a disadvantage that the utilization efficiency of the light source device is reduced.

That is, the light source device in the above-described embodiment constitutes a plane-sequential type illumination means, and can be used only for a plane-sequential endoscope. In this plane-sequential illumination means, for example, if means for inserting and removing a rotary color filter from an optical path is provided,
It can be used with a fiberscope, and the light source device can be used effectively.

On the other hand, when the light source device can be used with any of a fiberscope and a frame sequential endoscope, it is desirable that whether or not to move the rotary filter can be easily set according to the connected endoscope.

In addition, if the light source device can be used in any of the endoscopes, a flexible system configuration can be realized. However, it is necessary to easily operate the light source device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of constructing a flexible system and having good operability.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] Setting means for setting a mode corresponding to both the electronic scope and the optical scope, storage means for storing control information corresponding to the various scopes, and the setting A control means for performing control corresponding to the various scopes based on the control information stored in the storage means by setting of the means.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 10 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a light source device according to one embodiment, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope system including the light source device, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a rotary filter that can be inserted and removed from an optical path, and FIG. Is a front view showing a rotary type filter turret, FIG. 5 is a front view of a panel, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a mode switch and an LED for displaying an endoscope mode, and FIGS. 7 to 10 are mode switches. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents processed by the light source device in response to the pressing of the light source device.

As shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope system 1 according to one embodiment
Is a field sequential electronic scope 2A, a simultaneous type (with built-in color filter) electronic scope 2B, a fiber scope 2C, a rigid scope (rigid scope) 2D, and these scopes 2I (I =
A, B, C, D), a light source device 3 for supplying illumination light, a frame sequential video processor 4A for performing signal processing on the frame sequential electronic scope 2A, and a signal processing for the simultaneous type electronic scope 2B. It has a simultaneous video processor 4B, a color monitor 5 for displaying predetermined video signals output from the video processors 4A and 4B in color or the like, and a monitor photographing device 6 for photographing a monitor screen.

When the above-described system 1 is equipped with a frame sequential video converter 8A or a simultaneous video converter 8B on the eyepiece 7C or 7D of the fiber scope 2C or the rigid scope 2D, a frame sequential video processor 4A or a simultaneous video Signal processing can be performed by the processor 4B. Also,
Eyepiece 7C of fiberscope 2C or rigid scope 2D
Alternatively, an endoscope camera 9 can be attached to 7D to take a picture. Further, the light source device 3 includes:
A foot switch 10 is connected so that a release operation at the time of photographing can be performed.

Light source connectors 12A, 12B, and 12C of the respective scopes 2A, 2B, and 2C can be connected to the light source connector receiver 11 of the light source device 3 (a light guide cable (not shown) for the rigid scope 2D). The signal connector 13A of the frame sequential video processor 4A has a signal connector 14A of the frame sequential electronic scope 2A and a signal of the frame sequential video converter 8A. Connector 15A. In addition, simultaneous video processor 4
B signal connector receptacle 13B has a simultaneous electronic scope 2B
And the signal connector 15B of the simultaneous video converter 8B.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the light source device 3 according to one embodiment.

The white light of the xenon lamp 22, which is turned on by the switching regulator 21, passes through a filter turret 24, which is switched in a rotary manner by a motor 23, and then the lens
Collected at 25. The amount of light passing therethrough is controlled by a stop 26 arranged on the condensed optical path, and after passing through a shutter 27 that is opened and closed, the light is converted into a parallel light flux by a lens 28 facing the lens 25 and rotated by a motor 29. Driven RGB rotation filter 3
The light passes through 1 and is condensed by the condenser lens 32 and supplies irradiation light to the incident end face of the light guide fiber 33 connected to the connector receiver 11.

The rotary filter 31 and the motor 29
In this state, RGB illumination light passing through the rotation filter 31, that is, field-sequential illumination light is output when inserted (interposed), and white light is output when extracted.

 FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for inserting and removing the rotary filter 31.

The rotating filter 31 has three fan-shaped openings provided in the circumferential direction of the rotating frame 41 and has red, green, and blue color transmission filters 42R, 42G, and 42B.
The rotating frame 41 is rotated by the motor 29 fixed on the upper part of the stand 43. The stand 43 is movable on a sliding surface 44, and a screw hole 45 provided in the stand 43 is penetrated by a moving screw rod 45. Both ends of the screw rod 45 are rotatable by bearings 46, 46. This screw rod 45
Is fixed to the rotation shaft of the insertion / extraction motor 34.

By rotating the motor 34 in, for example, the direction of arrow E, the stand 43 is moved in the direction of arrow F, and the rotary filter 31 can be retracted from the optical path O.
In this retracted state, white light is output because the light does not pass through the rotary filter 31. This white light is emitted from the simultaneous electronic scope 2B or the optical scope (that is, the fiber scope 2C or the rigid scope 2D) or the optical scope equipped with the simultaneous video converter 8B (these are also referred to as the simultaneous scope). It will be suitable for the case.

By the way, two micro switches 47 and 48 are attached to the sliding surface 44 as positioning means for the stand 43. Thus, when the motor 34 is rotated, the stand 43 is positioned at a position where the micro switches 47 and 48 are turned off. For example, in FIG.
At the position where the lever 47 is pressed by the stand 43 and turned off, the rotation of the motor 34 is stopped. In this state, the state where the rotary filter 31 is interposed in the optical path is maintained.

In this state, plane-sequential light is output that is compatible with a plane-sequential electronic scope 2A or an optical scope equipped with a plane-sequential video converter 8A (these are referred to as a plane-sequential scope).

As shown in FIG. 4, the filter turret 24 is provided with three circular openings in a circumferential direction on a turret plate 51 which is rotated by a motor 23 in a rotary manner.
A filter 52, a transparent portion 53, an infrared cut filter 54, a xenon lamp 55 as an emergency light, and a second filter 56 that can be replaced by a user are attached.

The opening through which the second filter 56 can be attached has a notch for attachment and detachment so that it can be inserted and removed from the outer peripheral side of the turret plate 51.
57 are provided. Note that the first filter 52, the transparent portion 53, and the second filter 56 can be arbitrarily selected when an optical scope or a simultaneous scope is used.

The infrared cut filter 54 is interposed in the optical path when using a plane-sequential scope.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 61 is provided, and the CPU 61 performs various controls. The CPU 61 is connected via a data bus and an address bus to a ROM 62 in which program contents for various controls are written and a RAM 63 for storing various information when used.

The RAM 63 retains previously written information even when the power source of the light source device 3 is turned off by the backup battery 64. The backed up information is stored in the memory areas 63A, 63B, 63C corresponding to the three endoscope modes. For example, the memory areas 63A, 63B, and 63C are provided with areas for storing information previously selected by the user with respect to each of the endoscope modes of the frame sequential scope, the simultaneous scope, and the optical scope.

Further, the CPU 61 includes a panel switch controller 65.
, A control corresponding to a switch operation of a panel display switch 67 provided on the panel 66 can be performed. Further, the CPU 61 includes a communication interface unit 6
8. A control signal can be transmitted / received to / from the photographing camera via the communication buffer 69. For example, when the endoscope camera 9 is mounted on the optical scope, the contact of the mounting section is turned on so that the mounting of the camera 9 can be recognized. In addition, the release operation and the like can be known.

As shown in FIG. 5, the panel 66 includes a photographing panel.
71, panel 72 for the amount of light for examination, panel 73 for the endoscope mode,
Test mode panel 74 and pump / filter panel
75 are provided.

The photographing panel 71 is provided with an LED 76 that is turned on in accordance with the photographing sensitivity. Further, the LED of the sensitivity constant whose sensitivity constant is freely selected and set by the switches 77a and 78b is turned on. In addition, the automatic / manual switch 79
Automatic and manual mode switching can be performed each time the button is pressed. With this switch 79, the LEDs 81a and 81b on the selected side
Lights up.

The panel for light quantity for illuminating 72 is provided with an LED 82 which is lit according to the dimming level. Thus, the level of the illuminating light can be freely selected and set by the illuminating light amount setting switches 83a and 83b, and the LED corresponding to the set level is turned on. The automatic / manual changeover switch 84 can automatically or manually set the amount of illuminating light. In the endoscope mode panel 73, each time the switch 86 is pressed, the mode switch 86 can be used to cyclically switch between an optical scope (in this case, for example, a fiber scope), a plane-sequential scope, and a simultaneous scope. And the scope mode display LEDs 87a, 87b, 87c are turned on corresponding to the selected scope.

Note that the test mode display LED 89 is turned on by pressing the test mode switch 88.

Further, in the pump / filter panel 75, the on / off and suction states of the pump can be selected, and the LED corresponding to the selected one is turned on. The first and second filters 52 and 56 can be selectively used by the filter selection switches 91 and 92, and the LED on the selected side is turned on.

By the way, when the mode switch 86 is pressed, the sixth
As shown in the figure, the LED 87a for the fiber scope, the LED 87b for the frame sequential type, and the LED 87c for the simultaneous type are turned on.

When the mode switch 86 is pressed, the “H” level due to the resistor R connected to the power supply terminal V _CC becomes the “L” level, and this “L” level is output to the CP via the switch interface 94.
Transmitted to U61, the CPU 61 turns on one of the LEDs 87a to 87c via the LED controller 95 and the LED driver 96.

In this case, the CPU 61 outputs signal data corresponding to the next mode to the LED controller 95 via the I / O port 97, depending on which mode is currently selected. The LEDs 87a to 87c to be turned on via the LED driver 96 are determined by this output signal.

The CPU 61 sets the LED 87 in response to the pressing of the mode switch 86.
i (i = a, b, or c) is turned on, and various controls corresponding to the mode switch 86 selected via the I / O port 97 are performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 61 includes a switching regulator control circuit 101, a filter turret control circuit 102, an aperture control circuit 103, a shutter drive circuit 104, a filter control circuit 105, an EE signal amplifier 106 via an I / O port 97. Control.

The switching regulator control circuit 101 causes the xenon lamp 22 to intermittently emit flash light when the mode of the field sequential scope is selected, and the xenon lamp when the mode of the optical scope and the simultaneous scope is selected. Outputs a control signal to turn on 22 continuously.
In the mode of the frame sequential scope, the switching regulator control circuit 101 outputs to the switching regulator 21 a control signal for causing the ignition switch to emit a flash light larger than in continuous lighting. The timing of the flash emission is determined by the output signal of the filter control circuit 105, based on the red, green, and blue color transmission filters 42R, 42G, and 42B.
Is performed in the optical path.

When the mode of the frame sequential scope is selected by a signal from the CPU 61, the filter turret control circuit 102 controls the motor 23 so that the infrared cut filter 54 is interposed in the optical path. On the other hand, in the mode of the optical scope or the simultaneous scope, the first and second filters 52 and 56 are used.
The selection of the transparent portion 53 is made possible.

The aperture control circuit 103 receives a control signal determined by the CPU 61 when the illuminating light amount setting switches 83a and 83b on the panel 66 are operated, and variably sets the aperture amount of the aperture 26 according to the control signal. .

The shutter drive circuit 104 is operated at the time of photographing, and a release operation by the camera is performed by a communication buffer.
69, the opening and closing of the shutter 27 is driven by the release signal transmitted to the CPU 61 via the communication interface 68.

The filter control circuit 105 controls the driving of the insertion / extraction motor 34 in the mode of the field sequential scope to interpose the rotary filter 31 in the optical path. On the other hand, in the mode of the optical scope or the simultaneous scope, the insertion / removal motor 34 is controlled so that the rotary filter 31 is retracted from the optical path.

The EE signal amplifier 106 receives an EE signal at the time of performing EE photometry by a gain switching signal applied to the control terminal via the I / O port 97.
The gain for the signal is switched. The photometric EE signal from the camera or the video processor is amplified by the amplifier 106, and the output level is used to control the aperture control circuit 103.
Is automatically set to an appropriate level. In this case, the level of the EE signal from the simultaneous scope is 1 / compared to the level of the EE signal from the frame sequential scope or camera.
Since it is 40, gain switching is performed to match the level when EE control is performed.

The CPU 61 can transmit a freeze signal to the video processors 4A and 4B via the I / O port 97, and can display a still image by, for example, the freeze operation of the foot switch 10.

By the way, in the case of the system 1 shown in FIG. 2, the processing according to the flow shown in FIG.

The CPU 61 scans any one of the switches on the panel 66 to see if the switch is operated. Thus, it is determined whether the mode switch 86 is on or off. If the mode switch 86 is off, the process returns to the scan of the switch. If the mode switch 86 is turned on, the current mode is the mode of the optical scope (denoted as OES). From the determination as to whether or not the switch is turned on, processing for shifting to the next mode is performed. That is, when it is determined that the optical scope is used, the processing shown in FIG.
Otherwise, change the mode display to the next simultaneous scope (denoted CCU). (That is, LED87b
Is turned off, and the LED 87c is turned on. Then, the communication interface unit 68 or the like scans whether the camera is connected, and determines whether the camera is connected. When it is determined that the camera is connected, the corresponding information, such as the information set to the previously set (or selected) use state, is read out from the RAM 63 backed up by the battery 64 regarding the photographing and the illuminating light amount, and The state is set to the use state and displayed on the panel 66, and the processing in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the camera is not connected, the EE gain from the simultaneous scope is set to Hi (for example, 100 times), the mode of the illuminating light is automatically set, and the backup RA is set.
Information on the previously set dimming level is read from M63, set to its use state, and displayed on panel 66. At the same time, the panel display related to photographing is turned off, and the processing by operating the mode switch 86 ends.

On the other hand, in the processing process shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the simultaneous scope. If it is determined that the current mode is not the scope, the process proceeds to FIG. 9 to determine that the current mode is the scope. In this case, the next mode of the scope, that is, the mode of the field sequential scope (denoted as VP) is set. Then, insert the RGB rotation filter 31 into the optical path, start pulse lighting, and furthermore, filter turret
Make 24 an infrared cut. Further, the gain of the EE signal from the video processor 4A is set to L ₀ (for example, 2.5 times), and the aperture mode is set to automatic. Further, information corresponding to the dimming level is read out from the RAM 63 backed up by the backup battery 64, set to its use state, displayed on the panel 66, and further turned off the display relating to the photographing and the filter turret 24 to turn off the switch. The processing by pressing is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the current mode is the simultaneous scope, the next mode, that is, the mode display of the optical scope is performed as shown in FIG. 9 by operating the switch.
Then, the rotary filter 31 is removed from the optical path, the pulse lighting is stopped, and the continuous lighting is performed. Further, the backup information is read from the RAM 63, and the filter turret 24 is set to the previously selected state. Further, the settings relating to photographing and the amount of illuminating light are read out from the RAM 63, and the settings are selected and set previously. Further, a scan is performed via the communication means to determine whether or not the camera is connected. If the camera is not connected, the process is terminated. If it is determined that the camera is connected, the process proceeds to the process in FIG.

That is, whether or not the photographing mode is automatic (manual)
If it is determined to be automatic, the gain of the EE signal from the camera is set to L ₀ (for example, 2.5 times), the shooting mode and the shooting sensitivity are transmitted to the camera, and the camera is set to be ready for shooting. finish. If it is determined that the photographing mode is manual, the gain of the EE signal from the camera is set to Hi.
(For example, 100 times), the photographing mode and the photographing sensitivity are transmitted to the camera, and the processing by pressing the mode switch ends.

According to this one embodiment, the user simply switches the mode switch 86
By operating to set the connected endoscope mode, it is possible to set the illumination light state or the like corresponding to the endoscope. Also,
After switching the endoscope mode, the information on the environment of the endoscope mode which has been used before is backed up, so that the environment state can be automatically set without resetting, which is convenient.

In addition, various systems can be configured using the light source device 3 according to the control method of this embodiment, and an economical endoscope device with high utilization efficiency can be constructed.

The control for turning on the LEDs 87a to 87c can also be performed by an output through a ternary counter through a chattering preventing means through a switch operation.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an output means of illumination light suitable for various endoscopes to be connected, an endoscope mode switch corresponding to various endoscopes, and this mode switch The control means is adapted to perform control suitable for the endoscope corresponding to the determination means, so that the operator simply presses the mode switch to set the connected endoscope mode. , Can be set to a use state suitable for the connected endoscope.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 10 relate to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a light source device according to one embodiment, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope system including the light source device, 3 is a front view showing a rotary filter that can be inserted and removed from the optical path, FIG. 4 is a front view showing a rotary filter turret, FIG. 5 is a front view of a panel, FIG. 6 is a mode switch, and an endoscope. FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 are configuration diagrams showing the mode display LED, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents processed by the light source device in response to the pressing of the mode switch. 1. Endoscope system 2A: Surface-sequential electronic scope 2B: Simultaneous electronic scope 2C: Fiber scope 2D: Rigid scope 3: Light source device 4A: Surface-sequential video processor 4B: Simultaneous Video processor 5 Color monitor 6 Monitor photographing device 24 Motor 31 Rotary filter 63 RAM 66 Panel 86 Mode switches 87a, 87b, 87c LEDs

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A setting unit for setting a mode corresponding to both an electronic scope and an optical scope; a storage unit for storing control information corresponding to the various scopes; Control means for performing control corresponding to the various scopes based on control information stored in the means.