JP3283131B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus having a dimming function for automatically controlling the amount of light during endoscopic observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to clearly display an endoscope image of a subject on a monitor, it is necessary to illuminate the subject with an appropriate amount of light. If the amount of light is insufficient, the amount of reflected light is also insufficient, so that the displayed image also lacks sharpness. If the amount of light is excessive, halation occurs and the image quality eventually deteriorates.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-105882 defines the characteristic of the change in light amount depending on the state of the diaphragm, and automatically changes the state (position) of the diaphragm so that the detected reflected light amount becomes the target light amount. There has been proposed an endoscope light source device having an aperture setting means.

However, in the automatic light control described in the above publication, the amount of reflected light when the object is irradiated with light is read, and the aperture is controlled so that the amount of reflected light is set to a desired desired amount. However, even when the same amount of light is irradiated from the same distance, the amount of reflected light from the subject may differ due to a difference in the reflection coefficient or color information of the subject. In this state, if automatic dimming is performed so that the amount of reflected light becomes a constant value,
In some cases, the optimum amount of light is not obtained, and the subject's original color cannot be reproduced because the subject is too bright or too dark.

In a normal electronic endoscope apparatus, when observing the inside of a body cavity, the observation is performed by using automatic light adjustment by a predetermined light metering method such as an average light meter or a peak light meter so as to obtain an optimum brightness. .

However, in order to obtain a clear image, it is necessary for the operator to switch between the dimming level, the average photometry, and the peak photometry depending on conditions such as the region to be observed and the type of endoscope. Further, the color tone must be adjusted depending on the observation site.

It is difficult and difficult to adjust the brightness level depending on the type of endoscope or to adjust the conditions of the observation site in consideration of various factors such as a wall surface, a lumen or a color. .

On the other hand, when inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope into the subject, the insertion position and the insertion direction are checked while looking at the screen, so as not to give any pain to the patient, Checking if it has arrived.

For example, when the electronic endoscope is inserted into the stomach and passes through the esophagus, if automatic dimming is performed at this time, the image may be difficult to see due to the dimming operation. Also, when inserting into the large intestine, when the insertion operation is being performed, it may be difficult to see because the automatic light control is working.

[0010] although automatic light is required to obtain a sharp image, when performing esophageal passage and the insertion operation or the like, since the movement of the insert when the endoscope is severe, the screen becomes hard to see, insertion work There is a disadvantage that it becomes difficult to remove.

[0011]

As described above, it is desired that the endoscope apparatus has good reproduction of the original color of the subject without being affected by the reflection coefficient of the subject during endoscopic observation. .

Further, in order to obtain a better image, it is necessary to consider a plurality of conditions such as the type of the endoscope, the observation site, and the contents of the procedure. Only by changing the combination of these plural conditions, it is necessary to adjust the photometric method, the color correction or the illumination light amount, and the adjustment work becomes complicated.

[0013] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been described in an endoscope observation under automatic light control.
Differences of types such conditions the observed region and procedures or endoscopic
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of eliminating complicated adjustments accompanying the above or improving the color reproducibility of a subject.

[0014]

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
An endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; an imaging unit for capturing an endoscope image of the subject; a signal processing unit for processing an imaging signal from the imaging unit; and irradiating the subject. an illumination light generation means for emitting illumination light, and an automatic dimming signal generating means for generating a dimming signal for automatic dimming using an imaging signal processed by the signal processing unit, the automatic <br/> tone A light amount adjusting unit that adjusts an amount of illumination light to irradiate the subject based on an optical signal; and an automatic light control signal generation unit.
Conditions that determine how to set the automatic dimming
And information on the subject and a procedure to be performed on the subject
Instruction means for designating information on the type of
Information on the subject and the subject specified from a column
According to the information on the type of procedure to be performed on the body,
Change and set the conditions for automatic dimming in the optical signal generation means
Automatic light control condition setting means.
I do.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a front view of input keys of a video processor.

An endoscope device 25 shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic endoscope 1 having a CCD 2 disposed as an image pickup means at the tip, a light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 1, and an endoscope. A video processor 4 for performing various processes on the output of one CCD 2
And a monitor 5 that receives the output of the video processor 4 and displays an image. Note that, instead of the electronic endoscope 1, an optical fiber endoscope and an external camera having the CCD 2 may be provided.

At the tip of the insertion portion 1a of the electronic endoscope 1,
The objective optical system 6 and the CCD 2 are arranged. This C
The CD 2 is driven by a CCD driver 7 in the video processor 4. Image signal the CCD2 is photoelectrically converting an object image is sent to the video signal processing circuit 8 in the video processor 4, the monitor 5 is converted into a standard video signal
It is projected as the image above. The video signal processing circuit 8 transmits a brightness signal (brightness signal) obtained from an image signal of the CCD 2 to an automatic light control circuit 9 as an automatic light control signal generating means. The automatic light control circuit 9 generates a signal for automatically adjusting the amount of illumination light emitted from the light source device 3 based on the brightness signal, and outputs the signal to the light source device 3. The automatic light control circuit 9
The automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11 to which an input key 10 as an instruction unit is connected changes and sets the conditions for automatic dimming.

A light guide 12 having an emission end disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion 1a is inserted through the endoscope 1, and the incident end of the light guide 12 is connected to the light source device 3. I have. The light source device 3 includes a lamp 13 that emits illumination light, a condenser lens 14 that condenses the light emitted by the lamp 13 on an incident end of the light guide 12,
A diaphragm blade 15 constituting a light amount adjusting means disposed on the optical path of the focusing lens 3 and the condenser lens 14; and an aperture driving circuit 16 constituting a light amount adjusting means for drivingly controlling the aperture amount of the diaphragm blade 15. I have. In the aperture driving circuit 16 , the driving of the aperture blade 15 is controlled by the automatic dimming circuit 9.

FIG. 2 shows an input key 10 of the video processor 4.
Is shown. The input key 10 has a switch capable of setting a reflection coefficient of illumination light and color information thereof as information of a subject. The switches for setting the reflection coefficient include an automatic / manual switch 18 for switching between automatic and manual settings, and an up / down switch 19 for changing the increase / decrease of the reflection coefficient for each step during manual operation.
And an LED display unit 20 that indicates the value of the reflection coefficient. On the other hand, as a switch for color setting, an automatic / manual switch 21 for switching between automatic and manual settings,
It has an up / down switch 22 for changing the white / black system of the color information for each step at the time of manual operation, and an LED display unit 23 for indicating the color information, that is, the degree of white or black system in the figure.

By pressing the predetermined switch from the input key 10, the conditions of the reflection coefficient and the color information as the subject information can be inputted to the automatic light control condition setting circuit 11. Based on the input information, the automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11 corrects the original automatic dimming condition so that, for example, the light amount increases if the number of reflection systems is high, and the light amount decreases if the reflection coefficient is low. The signal is sent to the circuit 9 as a comparison voltage difference with the reflected light, for example. In the automatic light control circuit 9, feedback control is performed so that the voltage conversion value of the reflected light amount and the comparison voltage value of the corrected setting condition become equal, and, for example, the voltage difference between the two is controlled by the aperture driving circuit 1 of the light source device 3.
6 is supplied to the diaphragm blade 15 as a drive signal. As a result, the diaphragm blades 15 are driven, and the amount of illumination applied to the subject 17 is adjusted to the optimal amount.

When manual is selected by the switch 18 of the input key 10, the reflection coefficient set by the up / down switch 19 becomes a setting condition. The same applies to the case where manual is selected by the switch 21.

In the above-mentioned configuration, when the subject information is inputted by the key 10, the automatic dimming circuit 9 changes the automatic dimming condition in accordance with the setting of the automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11. The combined light amount can be obtained, and the original color of the subject can be projected.

In the automatic light control condition setting circuit 11,
When subject information is not input, an average reflectance may be automatically adopted. Then, since only the control target value needs to be changed, the circuit configuration used conventionally can be used without any change.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

An endoscope apparatus 26 shown in FIG. 3 includes an endoscope 1A in which an ultrasonic sensor 27 is disposed, instead of the endoscope 1 and the video processor 4 of the first embodiment, and a video processor 4
A. This video processor 4A has the configuration shown in FIG.
A reflection coefficient detection circuit 28 is provided in place of the automatic light adjustment condition setting circuit 11 and the key 10 is omitted.
The reflection coefficient detection circuit 28 includes the video signal processing circuit 8
And the automatic light control circuit 9 and are electrically connected. In addition, the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The ultrasonic sensor 27 is disposed at the tip of the insertion portion 1a of the electronic endoscope 1A. The ultrasonic sensor 27 emits ultrasonic waves to the subject 17 and receives reflected waves thereof. Has become. The ultrasonic sensor 2
The reflected wave signal received by 7 measures the distance between the electronic endoscope 1A and the subject 17 by the distance detection circuit 29 in the video processor 4.

The subject distance information detected by the distance detection circuit 29 and the brightness information from the video signal processing circuit 8 are input to a reflection coefficient detection circuit 28. The reflection coefficient detection circuit 28 calculates the reflection coefficient of the subject from the input two pieces of information, sets an automatic dimming condition, and sends the condition to the automatic dimming circuit 9. The configuration and operation after the automatic dimming circuit 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the reflection coefficient can be set in consideration of not only the brightness information obtained from the video signal but also the distance to the subject, and the reflection coefficient is automatically set in consideration of the reflection coefficient. Since the image can be observed under the optimal light quantity, the original color of the subject can be projected.

FIGS. 4 to 8 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a selection input panel for making settings corresponding to an observation site. 6, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a selection input panel for making settings corresponding to a procedure, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a selection input panel shown by a sample of a color tone change, and FIG. 8 is shown by a sample of a state of a subject. It is an explanatory view of a selection input panel.

The endoscope device 30 shown in FIG. 4 has a light source device 3B and a video processor 4B instead of the light source device 3 and the video processor 4 of the first embodiment. The video processor 4B has a scope determination circuit 31 for determining the type of endoscope, and a color correction circuit 32 at a stage subsequent to the video signal processing circuit 8.

The video processor 4B has an automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11B and an input key 36 in place of the automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11 and the input keys 10 of FIG. The automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11B changes the color correction condition of the color correction circuit 32 according to the setting from the input key 36 and the discrimination information from the scope discrimination circuit 31. The automatic light control circuit 9 controls the aperture driving circuit 1 of the light source device 3B based on the output of the video signal processing circuit 8 in accordance with the setting conditions of the automatic light control condition setting circuit 11B.
6 for automatic light control.

Further, the light source device 3B includes a lamp 13
, A xenon (Xe) lamp 33 is provided.
The amount of light emitted from the lamp 33 is determined by the automatic light control condition setting circuit 1.
It is controlled by the lighting circuit 34 according to the conditions set by 1B.

In addition, the same components and operations as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the above configuration, the Xe lamp 3 of the light source device 3B
The light emitted from 3 is reduced to an appropriate amount by a diaphragm blade 15, then condensed by a condenser lens 14, enters the light guide 12, and is disposed at the distal end of the insertion section 1 a of the endoscope 1. The light is emitted from the emission end and irradiates the subject 17.
The reflected light from the subject 17 is received by the CCD 2, amplified by the buffer 35, and then supplied to the video signal processing circuit 8.

The video signal processing circuit 8 converts the image pickup signal from the CCD 2 into a signal for monitor output, further separates a luminance signal, and inputs the separated luminance signal to the automatic light control circuit 9.

The input key 36 is provided on the front panel of the video processor 4B. The input conditions include, for example, the following. That is,
The front panel has a selection input panel for an observation site as shown in FIG. 5 and a procedure selection input panel as shown in FIG.

The selection signal from the observation part selection input panel shown in FIG. 5 or the procedure selection input panel shown in FIG.
It is input to the automatic light control condition setting circuit 11B.

The scope determining circuit 31 changes the shape of the scope connector, for example, according to the scope type, and determines the scope type from the shape of the connector at the time of connection. Alternatively, a discriminating information means such as a resistor and a plurality of contacts may be provided in the scope connector section, and the discrimination may be made based on a difference in the information means. The scope discriminating circuit 31 also inputs a signal of the scope type to the automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11B.

In the automatic dimming condition setting circuit 11B, the following condition settings are changed according to the combination of the scope type, the difference in the observation site, and the procedure condition. That is, the condition is a photometric method (for example, peak photometry /
(Average photometry / minimum photometry), reference voltage value for comparing dimming levels, setting of output level of lighting circuit 34 for controlling light amount of Xe lamp 33, color of video signal output in color correction circuit 32 These are correction conditions, and these conditions are selected, and control is performed according to the selected conditions.

In the control of the aperture blades 15 in the light source device 3B, the aperture drive circuit 16 operates the aperture blades 15 with the target of the optimum light amount value corresponding to the condition selected by the automatic light adjustment condition setting circuit 11B. Control is performed to obtain the optimal light intensity.

As a selection input of the input key 36, FIG.
As shown in (2), a panel switch formed on a monitor that displays a sample of a subject whose color tone has been changed in several stages may be provided, and this panel switch may be selected to give an input.

As shown in FIG. 8, the state of the subject ( tube
A panel switch similar to the above, in which a cavity , a wall surface, a continuous projection, and a projection are displayed, may be used as a selection input.

Next, several specific examples of the setting conditions will be described below. For example, if there is a bright area with a small area such as a stomach corner or a lumen in general observation, the photometry is switched to peak photometry. On a flat surface such as the stomach wall, the average photometry is set. When the image is darkened by spraying a drug such as indigo carmine, the diaphragm blade 15 is driven to increase the light amount. When observing a whitish part such as a bronchus, the light level is reduced and the red level is increased. When a small-diameter endoscope is used as a type of endoscope, the amount of light may be insufficient, so the amount of light is increased. The dimming level is reduced to make it easier to see the guide light of laser irradiation.

FIGS. 9 and 10 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a selection input key corresponding to the field of a rigid endoscope.

This embodiment is an example of a configuration applied to a rigid endoscope. The endoscope device 40 shown in FIG. 9 has a rigid endoscope 41 and an external camera 43 connected to the eyepiece 42 of the rigid endoscope 41 instead of the electronic endoscope 1 shown in FIG. ing.

The illumination observation light for the rigid endoscope 41 is guided to the distal end through the light guide 44 and irradiates the subject 17. The reflected light image from the subject 17 is formed by an optical system (not shown) of the eyepiece 42 through a relay lens system (not shown) of the rigid endoscope 41. The image formed by the optical system of the eyepiece section 42 is formed by the objective optical system 45 of the external camera 43 and enters the CCD 46. CCD4
6 is driven by the CCD driver 7,
The photoelectrically converted signal is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 8.

In the present embodiment, since the scope type cannot be recognized as in the third embodiment, the scope type is input using the input key. In addition, the same components and operations as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As an example of the input key 36, a part shown in FIG. 10 which is an observation part in the field of a rigid endoscope is given as an example.

In this embodiment, the operator simply connects the endoscope to the video processor and inputs the conditions such as the observation site, the procedure, etc., and the dimming method, dimming level, emitted light quantity, and color tone are automatically adjusted. It is possible to set appropriate observation conditions without skill.

FIGS. 11 to 16 relate to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus.
Is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the ring coil and the detection coil of the endoscope, FIG. 13 is an external view of a magnet, FIG. 14 is an external view of a ring coil, FIG. 15 is an external view of a mouthpiece, FIG.
1 is an external view of a sliding tube.

The endoscope apparatus 50 of this embodiment has a moving amount detecting means for detecting the moving amount of the electronic endoscope 51 in the body, and when the moving amount is larger than a specified value, the automatic light control operation is performed. Is stopped, and when the moving amount again becomes equal to or less than the specified value, observation is performed by operating the automatic light control operation. In addition, the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The CCD 2 is provided at the tip of the insertion section 52 of the electronic endoscope 51. The image pickup signal of the subject by the CCD 2 is sent to the video signal processing circuit 8 of the video processor 4C, converted into a signal for monitor output, and displayed on the monitor 5 as an image.

The brightness signal from the video signal processing circuit 8 is sent to the automatic light control circuit 9, and the automatic light control circuit 9 sends a signal to the aperture drive circuit 16 so as to have a specified brightness. The diaphragm blade 15 is driven to obtain an optimal light amount.

On the other hand, the detection of the amount of movement of the endoscope 51 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ring-shaped magnets 53 shown in FIG. 14 arranged at equal intervals are used in the insertion portion 52 of the endoscope 51. These magnets 53 are driven by a coil driver (not shown) of the video processor 4C to emit electromagnetic waves.

A mouthpiece 54 shown in FIG. 15 for preventing the patient from biting the endoscope has a ring-shaped detection coil 55 shown in FIG.
Is arranged. A signal from the detection coil 55 generated by the movement of the magnets 53 arranged in plural is input to a scope movement amount determination circuit 56 of the video processor 4C. The scope movement amount determination circuit 56 detects a movement amount based on a signal detected by the detection coil 55. If the movement amount is equal to or greater than the specified value when the endoscope is inserted, the scope movement amount determination circuit 56 sends a signal to the automatic light control circuit 9 to stop driving the aperture for changing the light amount.

When the insertion section 52 is inserted up to the site to be observed and the moving amount of the scope is determined to be equal to or less than the specified value by the scope moving amount determining circuit 56, a start signal is sent to the automatic light adjusting circuit 9 again, and the automatic adjusting circuit Light operation is started.

The detection coil 55 can be applied not only to a mouthpiece as shown in FIG. 15 but also to an electronic endoscope for a lower digestive tract by being provided in a sliding tube 57 for the lower digestive tract shown in FIG.

Further, separately from the control of the automatic light control based on the movement amount, by determining how many (times) the magnets 53 have passed since the time of insertion, the insertion length of the endoscope insertion portion 52 can be determined. This information can be displayed on the monitor 5. Such information can be powerful information at the time of insertion for the operator.

In the present embodiment, at the time of insertion, unnecessary automatic dimming operation is automatically detected and stopped, so that flickering of an image at the time of insertion can be automatically prevented. Also, since the insertion length can be confirmed on the monitor at the same time, it can be used as information at the time of insertion.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the endoscope observation under the automatic light control, the complexity of the adjustment due to the difference in the condition such as the observation site, the procedure, and the type of the endoscope is eliminated. Alternatively, there is an effect that the color reproducibility of the subject can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of an input key of the video processor;

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment.

4 to 8 relate to a third embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a selection input panel for making settings corresponding to an observation site.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a selection input panel for making settings corresponding to a procedure.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a selection input panel shown by color tone change samples.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a selection input panel shown by a sample in a state of a subject.

9 and 10 relate to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a selection input key corresponding to the field of a rigid endoscope.

11 to 16 relate to a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a ring coil and a detection coil of the endoscope.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a magnet.

FIG. 14 is an external view of a ring coil.

FIG. 15 is an external view of a mouthpiece.

FIG. 16 is an external view of a sliding tube.

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 Endoscope device 1 Endoscope 2 CCD 3 Light source device 13 Lamp 15 Aperture blade 16 Aperture drive circuit 4 Video processor 8 New image processing circuit 9 Automatic light adjustment circuit 10 Input key 11 ... Automatic dimming condition setting circuit 5 ... Monitor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-60548 (JP, A) JP-A-1-210916 (JP, A) JP-A-63-271217 (JP, A) (58) Investigation Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An endoscope having an insertion portion inserted into a subject; an imaging unit for capturing an endoscope image of the subject; a signal processing unit for processing an imaging signal from the imaging unit; an illumination light generation means for emitting illumination light to be irradiated to the object, and an automatic dimming signal generating means for generating a dimming signal for automatic dimming using an imaging signal processed by the signal processing unit, the automatic Light amount adjusting means for adjusting the amount of illumination light illuminating the subject based on the dimming signal; and information on the subject as conditions for defining how to set automatic dimming in the automatic dimming signal generating means. and an instruction unit for the information to finger <br/> constant about the type of procedure to be applied to the object, information及about the object designated by said instruction means
And information on the type of procedure to be performed on the subject ,
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an automatic light control condition setting unit configured to change and set an automatic light control condition in the automatic light control signal generation unit.