JP4495513B2 - Fluorescence endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluorescence endoscope apparatus that inserts a probe through a forceps channel of an endoscope, irradiates a test portion with excitation light through the probe, and measures fluorescence.

  It is well known that when a biological tissue is irradiated with light in the blue to ultraviolet band as excitation light, fluorescence having a spectrum longer than the wavelength of the excitation light is emitted from the biological tissue. Autofluorescence "). In addition, the intensity of autofluorescence (particularly the intensity of the green light region) is lower in those that are generated from living tissue (tumor, cancer) than those that are generated from normal tissue. It is also known that a lesion where a tumor has occurred is displayed darker than a normal site consisting of only normal tissue. This is considered to be because blood flow becomes worse when cellular tissue is enlarged by a malignant tumor.

  Based on this knowledge, a light probe (hereinafter simply referred to as “probe”) is introduced into the body cavity of the subject through the forceps channel of the endoscope, and the tip is pressed against the portion to be examined (inner wall of the body cavity). There has been proposed a fluorescence endoscope apparatus that emits excitation light in a state in which the light is emitted, guides fluorescence generated by the excitation light outside the body cavity through the probe, and performs spectroscopic measurement of the fluorescence. When an examination is performed using such a fluorescence endoscope apparatus, an endoscopic observation image (endoscopy) is used so that it is possible to know which part of the inner wall of the body cavity has been subjected to fluorescence spectroscopy measurement in order to record the examination result. The image obtained through the mirror) must be preserved. In this case, it is conceivable to store the endoscope image in a state where the probe is pressed against the test part. However, since it is behind the probe itself, there is a problem that the entire test part cannot be seen well.

Therefore, conventionally, after fluorescence spectroscopic measurement, the probe was pulled out from the forceps channel without moving the endoscope, and the measurement object was marked (colored, attached to a tag, etc.) with a treatment tool inserted into the forceps channel instead. Above, the endoscopic image after this treatment tool was pulled out from the forceps channel was photographed and stored (printout, video signal freeze, etc.).
JP 2003-180614 A

  However, according to the above method, it is necessary to perform a complicated operation of completely removing the probe from the forceps channel and reinserting the treatment tool for marking between the completion of the fluorescence spectroscopic measurement and the marking. Therefore, there is a high probability of losing sight of the measurement target due to factors such as the position of the endoscope tip being displaced unexpectedly. Moreover, when marking by coloring, there is a problem that the colored paint flows before the endoscope image is stored, and when marking by attaching a tag, the tag must be recovered. There is a problem to say.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a fluorescence endoscope apparatus capable of displaying a mark indicating a measurement target location on an endoscopic image without physically marking the target location of the fluorescence spectroscopy measurement itself. Let's take a challenge.

The fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to the present invention devised to solve the above-described problems is a fluorescence endoscopic apparatus that irradiates a living tissue of a test portion in a body cavity with excitation light and spectroscopically measures the fluorescence emitted by the living tissue. An endoscope apparatus having an objective optical system and an illumination window at a distal end thereof, and an endoscope having a body cavity insertion portion in which a hollow channel passing through a proximal end and a distal end thereof is incorporated, and the objective optical system. Except for a predetermined period after an imaging device that sequentially captures an image of the formed test part, converts it into a video signal and outputs it, an operation member operated by an operator, and the operation member is operated, Illuminating means for irradiating the test portion with visible light through the illumination window, an optical probe that is inserted into the channel and that emits light introduced from the proximal end thereof from the distal end, and living tissue only within the predetermined period Excites the fluorescent light An excitation light source excitation light in a wavelength band introduced into the proximal end of the optical probe, provided at a tip of the optical probe, and a fluorescent member which emits fluorescence by receiving the excitation light, spectrally measuring the fluorescence spectroscopy that Except for the measurement means and the one output within the predetermined period, the first storage means for sequentially and temporarily storing the video signals output by the imaging device, and the video signal output by the imaging apparatus within the predetermined period Second storage means, a bright spot position detection means for specifying the position of a bright spot in an image indicated by the video signal stored in the second storage means, and a video signal stored in the first storage means the image indicating that the image combining means for adding a mark indicating a position corresponding to a position where said bright spot position detection means for identifying, and a monitor for displaying an image obtained by said image image synthesizing means comprises a Features To.

  If comprised in this way, before an operation member is operated, an illumination means will irradiate a to-be-tested part with illumination light through the illumination window formed in the front-end | tip of the insertion part in the body cavity of an endoscope. To do. The test object illuminated by the illumination light is imaged by the objective optical system and the image sensor, and the video signal output from the image sensor is temporarily stored in the first storage means. At this time, since the video signal is not stored in the second storage means, the bright spot position detection means does not specify the position of the bright spot. Therefore, the image synthesis means stores the bright spot position in the first storage means. The image indicated by the video signal being displayed is displayed on the monitor as it is. Then, when the operator operates the operation member after inserting the probe into the channel of the body cavity insertion portion of the endoscope, the illumination unit interrupts irradiation of the illumination light only during a predetermined period after the operation, and the excitation light source Excitation light is introduced into the proximal end of the probe, the video signal output from the image sensor is stored in the second storage means, and the spectroscopic measurement means splits the fluorescence emitted from the living tissue of the test part excited by the excitation light. taking measurement. At this time, since the video stored in the second storage means is caused by the excitation light emitted from the tip of the probe, it shows an image in which only the tip of the probe is a bright spot. Accordingly, the bright spot position specifying means detects the position of the bright spot in the image indicated by the video signal stored in the second storage means, and notifies the image composition means of the position of the bright spot. Thereafter, the image composition means adds a mark indicating the position corresponding to the position of the bright spot specified by the bright spot position specifying means to the image indicated by the image signal read from the first storage means, and displays it on the monitor. To display. Therefore, even after the operator pulls the tip of the probe into the tip of the endoscope body cavity insertion portion, the position displayed on the monitor on the screen is the position where the probe tip is located, that is, The target part of the fluorescence spectroscopic measurement is shown. Therefore, the surgeon can know at a glance the fluorescent spectroscopic measurement target portion from which the spectroscopic measurement result obtained by the spectroscopic measurement means is based.

  As described above, according to the fluorescence endoscope apparatus of the present invention, the target portion of the fluorescence spectroscopic measurement itself is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion in the body cavity of the endoscope without performing physical marking. The mark indicating the measurement target location can be displayed on the image captured by the objective optical system and the imaging device and displayed on the monitor.

  Next, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an endoscope system that is an embodiment of a fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system includes an endoscope 10, a light probe P, a light source processor device 20, a fluorescence spectrometer 30, a printer 50, and a monitor 60.
<Endoscope>
The endoscope 10 is a normal electronic endoscope itself. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 10 has an elongated body cavity insertion portion 10a that is formed to be inserted into the body cavity, and the distal end of the body cavity insertion portion 10a. An operation unit 10b having an angle knob or the like for bending the portion, a light guide flexible tube 10e for connecting the operation unit 10b and the light source processor device 20, and a base end of the light guide flexible tube 10e A provided connector 10d is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an illumination window and a photographing window into which a light distribution lens 11 and an objective lens 12 are fitted are formed on the distal end surface of the body cavity insertion portion 10a. An imaging element (a color CCD, corresponding to an imaging device) 13 that captures an image of a subject formed by an objective lens (objective optical system) 12 is incorporated in the body cavity insertion portion 10a.

  A signal cable for transmitting an image signal output from the image sensor 13 (RGB image signals read from each pixel of R [red], G [green], and B [blue] along each scanning line) A signal cable 18 including three signal lines for transmission) is passed through the body cavity insertion portion 10a, the operation portion 10b, and the light guide flexible tube 10e, and is provided on the end face of the connector 10d. It is connected to the connector 10g. In parallel with the signal cable 18, a light guide fiber bundle (hereinafter simply referred to as “light guide”) 16 is passed through the body cavity insertion portion 10 a, the operation portion 10 b, and the light guide flexible tube 10 e. . The distal end of the light guide 16 faces the light distribution lens 11 in the distal end portion of the body cavity insertion portion 10a, and the proximal end thereof is inserted into a metal pipe 19 protruding from the end face of the connector 10d and fixed. Yes.

In addition, a hollow forceps channel 10e opened in the distal end surface is built in the body cavity insertion portion 10a, and the proximal end of the forceps channel 10e is connected to a forceps port 10f protruding from the side surface of the operation portion 10b. Communicate. Therefore, forceps (such as a light probe P described later) are inserted into the forceps channel 10e from the forceps port 10f from the outside of the operation portion 10b, and the tip of the forceps protrudes from the tip surface of the body cavity insertion portion 10a. it can.
<Light probe>
The light probe P is a slight modification of that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-180614. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the light probe P from the side, and FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the light probe P has a first optical fiber F1 for guiding excitation light for exciting the living tissue to generate autofluorescence, and a first optical fiber for guiding fluorescence emitted from the living tissue. A number of the two optical fibers F2 are provided.

  And as shown in FIG. 3, both optical fiber F1, F2 is bundled as a composite bundle with a circular cross section in the area | region of the majority from the front-end | tip. These optical fibers F1, F2, and tubes covering them constitute a composite part P0. Specifically, in the composite part P0, a large number of second optical fibers F2 are filled in a region around the central axis of the tube T, and a large number of first optical fibers F1 are filled outside thereof.

A ring-shaped member PR is fitted to the tip of the composite portion P0 of the light probe P. 4A is a perspective view showing the ring-shaped member PR, and FIG. 4B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tip of the composite portion P0 to which the ring-shaped member PR is fitted. As shown in each of these drawings, the ring-shaped member PR is composed of a member such as fluorescent acrylic formed in a flat cylindrical shape, and a reflection film M is deposited on the end surface on the tip side. . The outer diameter of the ring-shaped member PR is the same as the outer diameter of the composite part P0, and the inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the bundle of the first optical fibers F1 in the composite part P0. Therefore, the outermost peripheral fiber in the first optical fiber F1 does not reach the distal end of the composite part P0, and is interrupted when it comes into contact with the end face on the proximal end side of the ring-shaped member PR. Therefore, the ring-shaped member PR emits fluorescence when illuminated from the end face on the base end side through the outermost periphery of the first optical fiber F1 by the excitation light .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the first optical fiber F1 and the second optical fiber F2 are branched from each other on the base end side and bundled, and each is covered with a tube. Here, the branch including the bundle of the first optical fibers F1 is referred to as “first branch portion P1”, and the branch including the bundle of the second optical fibers F2 is referred to as “second branch portion P2”. To do.

The probe P is used in a state where the composite portion P0 is inserted into the forceps channel 10e of the endoscope 10 and the proximal ends of the branch portions P1 and P2 are inserted into the diagnostic auxiliary device 3, respectively. The
<Fluorescence spectrometer>
The fluorescence spectrometer 30 is an apparatus that introduces excitation light into the first branch part P1 of the light probe P and spectroscopically measures the fluorescence emitted from the second branch part P2. The front panel of the casing of the fluorescence spectrometer 30 is formed with a pair of sockets into which the branch portions P1 and P2 of the light probe P are inserted and held, respectively.

  And the condensing lens 31 and the excitation light source 32 are arrange | positioned in order on the extension line of the central axis of the 1st branch part P1 hold | maintained at one socket. The excitation light source 32 is connected to the drive circuit 33. The drive circuit 33 supplies a drive current to the excitation light source 32 in accordance with control from the light source processor device 20 (system control circuit 26) described later.

  The excitation light source 32 is a light bulb or semiconductor laser (not shown) that emits light including excitation light in a specific wavelength band (for example, ultraviolet wavelength band) when a power source current is supplied by the drive circuit 33, and light emitted from the light bulb. Are provided with a reflector or lens (not shown) for making the light into parallel light, and an excitation light transmission filter (not shown) that transmits only the excitation light of the specific wavelength band from this light. Therefore, the excitation light source 32 emits the excitation light toward the condenser lens 31 as parallel light along the optical axis of the condenser lens 31.

  The condensing lens 31 is a base of a bundle of optical fibers (first optical fibers F1) in the first branching section P1 inserted into the socket for the excitation light incident from the excitation light source 32 side along the optical axis. The light is collected and incident on the end face. The drive circuit 33, the excitation light source 32, and the condenser lens 31 correspond to the excitation light source.

  As a result, the excitation light is guided through the first optical fiber F1 in the optical probe P, and a part thereof causes the ring-shaped member PR to emit light as described above, and the rest from the front end surface of the composite part P0. It is injected. Therefore, when the tip of the composite part P0 is pressed against the living body, the living tissue is excited by the excitation light and emits fluorescence. A part of this fluorescence is directly incident on the distal end surface of the second optical fiber F2 in the composite portion, and is guided to the base end of the second branching portion P2 through the second optical fiber F2.

  A collimating lens 34, a diffusion plate 35, an excitation light cut filter 36, and a spectroscope 37 are arranged in this order on the extension line of the central axis of the second branch P2 held in the other socket in the fluorescence spectrometer 30. Has been. A signal processing analyzer 38 is connected to the spectrometer 37.

  The collimating lens 34 is a lens that converts fluorescence emitted from the base end face of the bundle of optical fibers (second optical fiber F2) in the second branching portion P2 into parallel light. The diffusion plate 35 diffuses the fluorescence emitted from the collimating lens 34 to make the spectral spectrum uniform over the entire area of the optical path cross section. The excitation light cut filter 36 is an optical filter that blocks light in the same wavelength band as the excitation light, and removes excitation light mixed in the fluorescence emitted from the diffusion plate 35.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing the transmission wavelength region of the excitation light cut filter 36 in comparison with the wavelength band of the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source 32. As is apparent from this graph, the wavelength band of the excitation light is in the ultraviolet range, and the excitation light cut filter 36 blocks components in the same wavelength band as the excitation light and at the same time has a longer wavelength than the wavelength band of the excitation light. Permeates the ingredients. Therefore, the excitation light cut filter 36 can transmit only the fluorescence generated by the excitation light.

The spectroscope 37 measures the intensity of several wavelengths of light detected by an optical sensor installed on its light receiving surface (hereinafter referred to as “spectral measurement”), and the measurement result is electronic information (spectral spectrum signal). As a device that outputs as The signal processing analyzer 38 analyzes the spectral signal input by the spectroscope 37, thereby converting the spectral data into image data of a spectral spectrum graph having a wavelength on the horizontal axis and an intensity on the vertical axis. It inputs into the light source processor apparatus 20 (video signal processing circuit 27) mentioned later. The collimating lens 34, the diffusion plate 35, the excitation light cut filter 36, the spectroscope 37, and the signal processing analyzer 38 correspond to spectroscopic measurement means.
<Light source processor device>
The light source processor device 20 introduces white light to the end face of the light guide 16 of the endoscope 10 and outputs an image signal received from the drive circuit 15 through the electrical connector 10g and the electrical socket 20b (described later) of the endoscope 10. This is a device that generates a video signal by performing image processing and outputs it to the monitor 60.

  The front panel of the housing of the light source processor device 20 is provided with a socket 20a which is a cylinder into which the pipe 19 of the endoscope 10 is inserted from the outer surface side. The through hole formed in the socket 20a communicates with the internal space of the light source processor device 20. In the inner space of the light source processor device 20, light is collected in order along the extension line of the central axis of the socket 20a (that is, the central axis of the light guide fiber bundle 16 in the pipe 19 inserted into the socket 20a). A lens 21, a shutter 22, and a lamp 24 are arranged.

  The condensing lens 21 is a lens that condenses parallel light incident from the lamp 24 side along the optical axis on the base end surface of the light guide fiber bundle 16 in the pipe 19 inserted into the socket 20a.

  The lamp 24 is supplied with a power supply current from the lamp power supply 25 and emits white light including ultraviolet light (not shown), and a lens or reflector (illustrated) for making the white light emitted from the light bulb parallel light. Abbreviation). As a result, the lamp 24 emits white light toward the condenser lens 21 as parallel light along the optical axis of the condenser lens 21.

  As shown in the front view of FIG. 7, the shutter 22 interposed between the lamp 24 and the condenser lens 21 has a substantially fan shape larger than the cross section of the optical path of white light incident on the condenser lens 21. It is a blade and is selectively inserted into the white light path by a motor 28 disposed outside the white light path to block the white light.

  The front panel of the housing of the light source processor device 20 has an electrical socket 20b made up of a number of electrodes each conducting with each terminal constituting the electrical connector 31 when the pipe 19 is inserted into the socket 20a, and an external operation. An operation panel 23 having a plurality of switches (in FIG. 2, only the measurement start switch 23a, the display selection switch 23b, and the freeze switch 23c are shown) is provided. The switches 23a to 23c on the operation panel 23 are connected to the system control circuit 26, respectively. As a result, operation signals generated by operations on the switches 23a to 23c on the operation panel 23 are input to the system control circuit 26, respectively.

  The system control circuit 26 controls the synchronization of the light source processor device 20 and the fluorescence spectrometer 30 by generating a timing signal (vertical synchronization signal indicating the start timing of each frame) inside the system control circuit 26.

  The system control circuit 26 is connected to the motor 28 and the lamp power supply 25 described above, and outputs signals for controlling them. Specifically, after the main power supply is turned on, the system control circuit 26 causes the lamp power supply control circuit 25 to emit white light from the lamp 24, and the shutter 33 is set to white light unless the measurement start switch 23a is turned on. Keep away from the light path. Thereby, white light is always introduced into the light guide 16 of the endoscope. The system control circuit 26, the lamp power supply control circuit 25, the lamp 24, the shutter 22, the condenser lens 21, the light guide 16, and the light distribution lens 11 correspond to illumination means.

  The white light irradiated to the subject through the light guide 16 and the light distribution lens 11 is reflected by the surface of the test part, and the objective lens 12 forms an image of the test part on the imaging surface of the image sensor 13. It is converted into a video signal that is updated for each frame (a video signal in which each frame is composed of two fields according to the interlace method).

  Further, when the measurement start switch 23a as the operation member is turned on while the white light is being introduced into the light guide 16, the system control circuit 26 turns on the measurement start switch 23a as shown in FIG. White light by temporarily intruding the shutter 22 into the optical path of white light for a period corresponding to the second field in the next frame of the frame including the time point (a predetermined period after the operation member is operated). Is blocked from entering the light guide 16. The system control circuit 26 activates the excitation light by activating the drive circuit 33 of the fluorescence spectrometer 30 only while the shutter 22 enters the optical path of white light (period corresponding to the second field). The light is emitted from the light source 32 and is incident on the base end face of the first branch portion P1 (first optical fiber F1) of the light probe P. The excitation light incident on the base end face of the first optical fiber F1 is irradiated to the test part and radiates fluorescence from the living tissue of the test part. As a result, as described above, a part of the fluorescence enters the second optical fiber F2 from the front end surface of the composite part P0, and is guided into the fluorescence spectrometer 30 through the second optical fiber F2. Spectroscopic measurement is performed by the spectroscope 37, and image data of the spectroscopic spectrum graph is output from the signal processing analyzer 38.

  At this time, a part of the excitation light guided by the first optical fiber F1 is incident on the ring-shaped member PR and emits fluorescence from the ring-shaped member PR. These excitation light and fluorescence are diverged in all directions except the front where the light is blocked by the reflecting member M. A part of the diverging light directly enters the objective lens 12 of the endoscope 10 to form an image of the ring-shaped member PR on the imaging surface of the imaging element 13. At this time, if white light is emitted from the light distribution lens 11, the composition as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained when the tip of the composite portion P 0 of the optical probe P is viewed from the objective lens 12. Actually, the measurement start switch 23a is turned on, and only the period corresponding to the second field in the next frame of the frame including the time point when the measurement start switch 23a is turned on is applied to the optical path of the white light of the shutter 22. Since the entrance of white light to the light guide 16 is blocked by the intrusion and light is emitted only from the ring-shaped member PR, the image formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 13 is only the ring member PR in FIG. Will emerge from the darkness. Then, the imaging device 13 outputs a video signal acquired by imaging the ring-shaped member PR as a video signal of the second field in the frame.

  The system control circuit 26 returns to the state where the white light is continuously introduced into the light guide 16 after the shutter 22 has once entered the optical path of the white light.

  Further, the system control circuit 26 is connected to the video signal processing circuit 27. The timing signal is also input to the video signal processing circuit 27, and the operation of the shutter 22, the display changeover switch 23b, and the freeze switch 23c. Notify the status of.

  The video signal processing circuit 27 is also connected to each electrode constituting the electrical socket 20b. Therefore, the RGB video signals output from the imaging device 13 in the endoscope 10 are input to the video signal processing circuit 27 through the electrical connector 10g and the electrical socket 20b. The video signal processing circuit 27 is connected to a printer 50 and a monitor 60. The video signal processing circuit 27 processes each video signal input from the image pickup device 13 of the endoscope 10 to superimpose an image formed by superimposing a character indicating a fluorescent spectroscopic measurement target portion on a color image. The image is displayed on the monitor 60 and output from the printer 50.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the video signal processing circuit 27. As shown in FIG. 9, in the video signal processing circuit 27, the video signal output from the image sensor 13 is input to the previous-stage video signal processing circuit 271. This pre-stage video signal processing circuit 271 is connected to the RGB memory 272. The RGB memory 272 includes a first field normal color image storage for storing video signals (R, G, and B video signals) corresponding to the first field of each frame processed by the preceding video signal processing circuit 271. The area 272a is divided into a second field normal color image storage area 272b for storing a video signal corresponding to the second field of each field and an excitation bright spot storage area 272c. The first field normal color image storage area 272a and the second field normal color image storage area 272b are connected to the scan converter 273, and the excitation light bright spot storage area 272c is connected to the bright spot position detection circuit 274, respectively. The bright spot position detection circuit 274 is connected to the scan converter 273 and to the system control circuit 26 described above. The scan converter 273 is further connected to a signal processing analyzer 38 and a post-stage video signal processing circuit 275. The post-stage video signal processing circuit 275 is further connected to the capture circuit 276 and the monitor 60 described above. The capture circuit 276 is further connected to the printer 50.

  Hereinafter, the function of each block constituting the video signal processing circuit 27 will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS.

  The pre-stage video signal processing circuit 271 is a circuit for performing predetermined processing in units of fields on the RGB video signal signals sent from the image sensor 13. The processing performed by the pre-stage video signal processing circuit 271 on each video signal includes high-frequency component removal, amplification, blanking, clamping, white balance, gamma correction, and analog-digital conversion. The pre-stage video signal processing circuit 271 outputs the first field of each frame based on the timing signal notified by the system control circuit 26 until the system control circuit 26 notifies that the shutter 22 blocks white light. The corresponding video signal is stored in the first field normal color image storage area 272a after the above processing, and the video signal corresponding to the second field of each frame is stored in the second field normal color image area 272b after the above processing. That is, the first field normal color image storage area 272a and the second field normal color image area 272b correspond to the first storage means. When the system control circuit 26 notifies that the shutter 22 blocks the white light, the pre-stage video signal processing circuit 271 stores the video signal corresponding to the second field input immediately after that for the excitation light luminance storage. Store in area 272c. That is, the excitation light luminance storage area 272c corresponds to the second storage means. Note that the video signals stored in the storage areas 272a to 272c are held until overwritten by a new video signal.

  The bright spot position detection circuit 274 extracts a brightness value for each pixel by performing a matrix operation on the brightness signal read from the excitation light bright spot storage area 272c, and converts it to a monochrome image signal consisting of only the brightness value. To do. Then, the monochrome image signal is scanned for each line to extract pixels having a luminance value equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. If there is one pixel extracted by executing this extraction process for all lines, the bright spot position detection circuit 247 determines the coordinates of the pixel (from the origin in the horizontal and vertical directions to the pixel in question). The number of pixels) is calculated. If there are a plurality of extracted pixels, the luminance position detection circuit 247 calculates the coordinates of the center of those pixel groups in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The luminance position detection circuit 274 continues to calculate such coordinates until the display changeover switch 23b is operated after the system control circuit 26 is notified that the shutter 22 blocks white light. The coordinate value thus entered is continuously input to the scan converter 273. That is, the bright spot position detection circuit 274 corresponds to a bright spot position detection unit.

  Based on the timing signal input from the system control circuit 26, the scan converter 273 has a first field normal color image storage area 272a and a second field normal color image storage area 272b for each period corresponding to each frame. Are read out as a first-field video signal and a second-field video signal, respectively (as a result, the shutter 22 is closed, so that the video signal is stored in the excitation bright spot storage area 272c. In the second field normal color video signal area 272b, the same video signal is read twice to compensate for the lack of the video signal). In addition, while the coordinate value is input from the bright spot position detection circuit 274, the scan converter 273 is a character (X mark in FIG. 12) indicating the spectroscopic measurement position at the position indicated by the coordinate value in each video signal. Superimpose. Further, the scan converter 273 receives the signal from the signal processing analyzer 38 of the fluorescence spectrometer 30 for each video signal (a video signal in which a character indicating a spectroscopic measurement location is superimposed in some cases). The combined spectral data graph image data and character data input from a character generation circuit (not shown) (image data for displaying character information such as subject specific information) are further combined, By outputting the video signals in order (in order of the first field and the second field), a video signal for displaying a screen having a layout as shown in FIG. 12 is passed to the subsequent video signal processing circuit 275. That is, the scan converter 273 corresponds to an image composition unit.

  The post-stage video signal processing circuit 275 performs processing such as digital-analog conversion, encoding, impedance matching, etc. on the input video signal, and outputs the result to the monitors 60 and 276. As a result, on the monitor 60, an image captured by the image sensor 13 and a screen showing character information (on the image until the display changeover switch is turned on after the measurement start switch 23a is turned on) A screen showing an image, character information, and a spectral spectrum graph) in which a character indicating a fluorescence measurement location is superimposed is displayed.

The capture circuit 276 converts the video signal for one frame inputted when the freeze switch 23 c is turned on into still image data (bitmap data or the like) and outputs the image data to the printer 50. As a result, an output sheet obtained by printing the image data on the sheet is output from the printer 50.
<Usage example>
The surgeon who uses the endoscope system configured as described above first turns on the main power to the light source processor device 20 and the fluorescence spectrometer 30. Then, white light is always emitted from the distal end (light distribution lens 11) of the body cavity insertion portion 10a of the endoscope 10, and an image captured through the objective lens 12 is displayed on the monitor 60 together with character information about the subject. Is displayed. Therefore, the surgeon operates the endoscope 10 while viewing the image displayed on the monitor 60, inserts the body cavity insertion portion 10a into the body cavity of the subject, and guides it to the subject. Go.

  Then, when the portion to be examined is captured in the image, the operator inserts the composite portion P0 of the probe P into the forceps channel 10e of the endoscope 10 and presses the distal end surface against the measurement target portion. Thereafter, the operator turns on the measurement start switch 272a. Then, at the timing of imaging the second field in the next frame after the start timing of the measurement start switch 272a, the shutter 22 is closed and the irradiation of white light is interrupted, and at the same time, the fluorescence spectrometer 30 introduced Excitation light is emitted from the distal end surface of the composite portion P0 of the probe P. Then, the fluorescence generated from the biological tissue at the measurement target location by the excitation light is guided to the fluorescence spectrometer 30 through the probe P. Then, based on this fluorescence, the spectroscope 37 and the signal processing analyzer 38 generate image data of the spectroscopic spectrum graph and input it to the video signal processing circuit 27 (scan converter 273).

  On the other hand, the ring-shaped member PR at the tip of the composite part P0 illuminated by a part of the excitation light is imaged by the imaging element 13. Then, based on the video signal, the base position detection circuit 274 calculates a coordinate value indicating the position of the image of the ring-shaped member PR in the image and inputs the coordinate value to the scan converter 273.

  As a result, the scan converter 273 and the post-stage video signal processing circuit 275 display on the monitor 50 an image in which the character indicating the fluorescence measurement location is superimposed on the image together with the character information and the spectral spectrum graph. Is done. However, the image at this time is a state in which the tip of the probe P0 is pressed against the measurement target portion.

  Therefore, the operator pulls the probe P into the body cavity insertion portion 10a without moving the distal end of the body cavity insertion portion 10a of the endoscope 10. At this point, since the white light irradiation has been resumed, the probe P0 cannot be seen from the image on the monitor 60. However, in the meantime, the spectral processing analysis unit 38 and the bright spot position detection circuit 274 are superimposed on the image on the monitor 60 because the video signal and the coordinate value of the spectral spectrum graph are input to the scan converter 273, respectively. The character is still displayed without moving, and the spectral spectrum graph continues to be displayed as it is.

  Therefore, the surgeon turns on the freeze switch 23c. Then, the video signal output from the subsequent-stage video signal processing circuit 275 at that time is converted into a still image signal by the capture circuit 276, and the screen displayed on the monitor 60 at that time is output from the printer 50.

  Thereafter, the surgeon turns on the display changeover switch 23b. Then, the bright spot position detection circuit 274 is reset and the character disappears from the image on the monitor 60.

Schematic which shows the internal structure of the endoscope system by embodiment of this invention. Side view showing the appearance of the endoscope Side view showing the appearance of the probe Cross section of the probe along the line III-III in FIG. Perspective view (A) and longitudinal sectional view (B) of the ring-shaped member Graph showing transmission wavelength spectrum of excitation light transmission filter and transmission wavelength band of excitation light cut filter Front view of shutter Sequence diagram showing storage timing of video signal in each storage area of light and memory introduced into light guide Block diagram showing the configuration of the video signal processing circuit The figure which shows the composition of the probe tip seen from the objective lens The figure which shows the image | video which an image pick-up element images at the time of fluorescence emission Figure showing the screen on the monitor

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope 11 Light distribution lens 12 Objective lens 13 Image pick-up element 16 Light guide 20 Light source processor apparatus 22 Shutter 23 Operation panel 25 Lamp 26 System control circuit 27 Image | video signal processing circuit 30 Fluorescence spectroscopy measuring apparatus 32 Excitation light source 37 Spectroscope 38 Signal Processing analyzer 272 Memory 273 Scan converter 274 Bright spot position detection circuit P probe

Claims (5)

A fluorescence endoscope apparatus for irradiating a living tissue of a test part in a body cavity with excitation light and performing spectroscopic measurement of fluorescence emitted from the living tissue excited by the excitation light,
An endoscope having an intra-body-cavity insertion portion that includes an objective optical system and an illumination window at its distal end and has a hollow channel that passes through its proximal end and distal end;
An imaging device that sequentially captures an image of the test portion formed by the objective optical system, converts the image into a video signal, and outputs the video signal;
An operation member operated by an operator;
Except for a predetermined period after the operation member is operated, illumination means for irradiating the test part with visible light through the illumination window;
An optical probe that is inserted into the channel and emits light introduced from its proximal end from its distal end;
An excitation light source that introduces excitation light in a wavelength band that excites the biological tissue and emits the fluorescence only within the predetermined period, to the proximal end of the optical probe;
A fluorescent member that is provided at the tip of the optical probe and emits fluorescence in response to the excitation light;
A spectrometric means for spectroscopically measuring the fluorescence;
First storage means for sequentially and temporarily storing video signals output by the imaging device, except for those output within the predetermined period;
Second storage means for storing a video signal output by the imaging device within the predetermined period;
Bright spot position detecting means for specifying the position of a bright spot in an image indicated by the video signal stored in the second storage means;
Image combining means for adding a mark indicating a position corresponding to the position specified by the bright spot position detecting means to the image indicated by the video signal stored in the first storage means;
Fluorescence endoscope apparatus characterized by comprising a monitor for displaying an image obtained by said image image synthesizing means. The spectroscopic measurement means spectroscopically measures the fluorescence guided from the distal end to the proximal end of the optical probe,
The fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image synthesizing unit combines the spectral measurement result obtained by the spectroscopic measurement unit with the image. The fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an excitation light cut filter for blocking light having the same wavelength as the excitation light is inserted between a proximal end of the optical probe and the spectrometer. The fluorescence endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ring-shaped member as the fluorescent member that emits fluorescence upon receiving the excitation light is fitted to a tip of the optical probe. 2. The fluorescence endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a base end of the optical probe is branched into a first branch portion into which the excitation light is introduced and a second branch portion from which the fluorescence is emitted. apparatus.