JPH03123526A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a smaller diameter of a scope tip so arranged as to allow a stereoscopic viewing by a method wherein a V-shaped recess is formed at a tip face of a scope and images of the same part to be observed are made incident from directions differing from each other with two faces formed to be introduced to an image pickup means. CONSTITUTION:Scope tip faces 15a and 15b are recessed inward in a V shape at a scope tip face 1a and lens systems 17a and 17b comprising an objective lens or the like which makes images of the same part to be observed incident to focus in directions differing from each other are arranged on the tip faces. Mirrors 19a and 19b are arranged on an optical path of the images of the part to be observed incident and focused with these lens systems to introduced the images of the part to be observed to CCDs 21a and 21b provided in the side wall of the scope tip. With such an arrangement. The scope tip faces each comprises of one plane, which eliminates the need for arranging lenses in a scope diameter-wise direction to focus the images of the part to be observed incident from the plane and separated in two. Thus, the scope diameter can be made smaller than the length twice as much as the diameter of the lens thereby achieving a smaller diameter of the scope tip so arranged to allow a stereoscopic viewing.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an endoscope device capable of stereoscopically viewing an observation site,
In particular, it relates to improvements to the distal end of the scope.

(Prior art) An endoscope device capable of stereoscopic vision is known (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1983-
94216).

In this endoscope device, as shown in FIG. 4, the image of the observation region 3 (hereinafter referred to as the observation region image) is separated into right eye and left eye images by the first refraction prism 32. , and the respective observation site images for the right eye and left eye converged by these lenses 35L and 35R are guided to the second refraction prism 36 so that their optical axes approach each other. The solid-state image sensor (hereinafter referred to as
(referred to as CCD) 37. and.

The electronic shutters 38L and 38R disposed on the right and left optical paths Li and Ri are alternately opened and closed according to commands from the L/R switching unit 42, and in conjunction with this opening and closing operation, the C
Under the control of CU (camera control unit) 40,
Images of the right eye and left eye observation parts based on the image signals obtained by the CCD 37 are displayed alternately on the display 27, and the shutters of the two goggles with electronic shutters are switched and controlled in conjunction with the opening/closing operation. By guiding each of the observed region images to the right and left eyes of a human being (Il observer), it is possible to view the observed region 3 stereoscopically.

That is, in this endoscope device capable of stereoscopic viewing, the images of each observed region are separated in the radial direction of the scope 31 by the first refraction prism 32 inside the distal end of the scope 31, and are arranged in parallel in the radial direction. The configuration was such that the light was guided to the CCD via lenses 35L and 35R.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in order to arrange the lenses 35L and 35R in parallel in the scope radial direction in this way, the scope diameter needs to be longer than "lens diameter x 2", and the scope As is well known, this has become a difficult point in endoscope systems, where reducing the diameter of the scope is one of the greatest goals for improving performance.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope device that has a configuration that allows stereoscopic vision and can reduce the diameter of the distal end of a scope.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope device according to the present invention includes a scope distal end surface that is recessed inward in a figure 7 shape, and an optical system member that allows images of the same observed region to enter from different directions from each of two surfaces formed by a depression of the shape of a shape, and guides them to the imaging means, and the optical system members alternately conduct images based on the image signals obtained by the imaging means. The gist is to view the displayed images for the right eye and the image for the left eye.

(Function) According to the present invention, which takes the above measures, the following effects are achieved. In other words, if a figure-7-shaped depression is formed on the distal end of the scope, and images of the same observation area are made to enter the imaging means from two different sides from two surfaces formed by this depression and are guided to the imaging means, the distal end of the scope will be It is made of a flat surface, and there is no need to install lenses in parallel in the radial direction of the scope to converge the observed region images that are incident from this plane and are separated into two images. Since it can be made small, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the distal end of the scope, which has a configuration that allows stereoscopic viewing.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an electronic endoscope apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The electronic endoscope device consists of a device main body, a scope, and the like. As shown in Fig. 2, this scope is inserted into a subject's body cavity, and includes a scope guide section 1 in which a forceps channel (not shown), an air supply tube, a water supply tube, etc. are installed, and a scope guide section 1 at the proximal end of the scope guide section 1. and a hand-held operating section 13 that is connected and communicated with the tubes. and,
This hand operation unit 13 includes an air supply/water supply switch 3. Various switches such as a suction switch 5, a forceps port 9 which is the entrance of the forceps channel, an angle knob 7, a universal cord 11, etc. are provided.

Scope tip 1a of a scope having such a configuration
In this case, the distal end surfaces 15a and 15b of the scope are recessed inward in a figure 7 shape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the scope tip surfaces 15a and 15b have the same ii! a lens system 17a consisting of an objective lens etc. that makes the images of the detected area enter from different directions and converges;
17b is provided. In addition, these lens systems 17
On the optical path of the observed region image incident and converged from a and 17b, there is a CCD 2 installed inside the side wall of the scope tip 1a.
Mirrors 19a and 19b that guide the observation site images to 1a and 21b
is installed.

In this configuration, the 7-shaped scope distal end surface 15a
, 15b may be set so that the angle of convergence required to obtain a three-dimensional effect can be obtained based on the average distance to the observation site 3.

The image signals of the observed region images obtained by the CDDs 21a and 21b are transmitted to the main body of the apparatus (not shown) via the signal line 22, and then sent to the memories 25a and 25b as shown in FIG. 3.

Then, in accordance with a readout switching command from the synchronization signal generating section 23, image signals are read out alternately from the memory 25a and the memory 25b, and are alternately displayed on the display 27 as observation site images for the right eye and for the left eye. Ru. In addition, in synchronization with this switching, the shutters of the two goggles with electronic shutters are switched and controlled, and the images of each observed region are guided to the observer's right and left eyes, making it possible to view the observed region 3 in 3D. It is said that

Therefore, in this embodiment, the lens system 17 is attached to the V-shaped scope tip surfaces 15a and 15b formed by recessing.
a and 17b, the distal end surface is flat and the lens systems are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the scope,
The radial space of the scope can be reduced and the scope can be made smaller in diameter.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the endoscope device according to the present invention, a V-shaped depression is formed on the distal end surface of the scope, and the same observation site image is obtained from each of the two surfaces formed by this depression. If the configuration is such that the beams enter from different directions and are guided to the imaging means, the distal end of the scope has one plane, and lenses are installed in the radial direction of the scope to converge the images of the observed area that are incident from this plane and are separated into two images. There is no need to install them in parallel,
Since the diameter of the scope can be made smaller than the length of "lens diameter x 2", it is possible to reduce the diameter of the distal end of the scope, which is configured to allow stereoscopic vision.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the main parts showing one embodiment of the distal end of a scope according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the overall schematic configuration of a scope to which the present invention can be applied, and Fig. 3 is an imaging and switching display. , a schematic block diagram for performing stereoscopic vision, and FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional endoscope device capable of stereoscopic vision. 1a - Scope tip 15a, 15b... Scope tip surface 1'7a, 17b - Lens system 19a, 19b - Mirror 21 a, 2 l b - CCD

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An optical system that allows images of the same observation area to be incident from different directions from each of the two surfaces formed by the distal end of the scope, which is recessed inward in a V-shape, and the V-shaped recess, and guided to the imaging means. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a member for viewing right-eye images and left-eye images that are alternately displayed based on image signals obtained by the imaging means.