JP5412060B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system, and more particularly to an endoscope system capable of generating data that facilitates abnormality determination of members related to air supply or water supply.

  In an endoscope system, there has been proposed an apparatus that supplies air or water by supplying a fluid to the vicinity of an object to be observed using a pump.

Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope system including a pressure sensor that communicates a pump and a distal end portion of a scope and detects a pressure of a fluid passage through which fluid from the pump passes.
JP 04-161135 A

  However, the pressure on the fluid passage detected by the pressure sensor of Patent Document 1 is only used for output control of the pump, and cannot be used for abnormality determination of members related to air supply or water supply such as a pump.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope that can generate data that can be used to determine abnormality of a member related to air supply or water supply based on information on pressure on a fluid passage used for air supply or water supply. It is to provide a mirror system.

  An endoscope system according to the present invention communicates a pump used to perform at least one of air supply and water supply from the distal end portion of a scope, and the pump and the distal end portion of the scope, and supplies air and water from the pump. A pressure sensor that detects information about the pressure of the fluid passage through which the fluid used for at least one passes, and information about the pressure that is output from the pressure sensor are acquired twice or more, and information about the pressure is information about the usage state of the pump. And a control unit that generates data associated with each other.

  By obtaining the pressure of the fluid passage two or more times, it is possible to obtain the transition of the pressure of the fluid passage. Based on the transition of the pressure, it is possible to determine the abnormality of the member related to air supply or water supply. In addition, since the data is associated with information related to pressure, information acquisition date and time and scope identification information, it is possible to specify the time when the abnormality occurred and the scope used.

  Preferably, the information on the use state includes date and time when information on pressure is acquired, and scope identification information.

  Preferably, the control unit transmits data to an external device different from the endoscope system via a network.

  By transmitting the data to the external device, it is possible to perform abnormality determination based on the data transmitted to the external device without going to the place where the endoscope system is installed.

  More preferably, one of the control unit and the external device determines abnormality of a member related to at least one of air supply and water supply based on the data.

  More preferably, the abnormality determination is performed based on a comparison between pressure information and a pressure range assumed at normal time based on use state information.

  When the actual pressure value (information related to pressure) is higher than the pressure range assumed at normal time, clogging of the nozzle provided at the distal end of the scope can be considered as the cause of the abnormality. On the other hand, when the actual pressure value is lower than the pressure range assumed at the normal time, an abnormality of the pump can be considered as the cause of the abnormality. Further, when the actual pressure value is within the pressure range assumed at the normal time, it can be considered that the members related to air supply or water supply are operating normally.

  Preferably, the data includes information related to pressure and a flow rate of the fluid passage calculated based on the output level of the pump in association with the information related to pressure.

  More preferably, the data is output to a monitor provided in the endoscope system.

  Thereby, the user of the endoscope system can check the pressure of the fluid passage and the flow rate per unit time of the fluid flowing in the fluid passage as necessary.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate data that can be used for determining abnormality of a member related to air supply or water supply based on information on pressure on a fluid passage used for air supply or water supply. Can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the endoscope system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a scope 10, a processor 30, and a monitor 50 (see FIG. 1). The scope 10 includes an objective optical system 13, an imaging unit 14 including an imaging device such as a CCD, an image control unit 15, and a fluid passage 16 that communicates the pump 34 with the distal end portion of the scope 10. The processor 30 includes a video signal processing unit 31, a control unit 32, an operation unit 33, a pump 34, a pressure sensor 35, a memory 36, and a communication unit 38. The control unit 32 includes a first CPU 32a that controls each unit of the processor 30, a second CPU 32b that controls the operation of the pump 34, a DAC (D / A converter) 32c, and an ADC (A / D converter) 32d (see FIG. 2). .

  Light emitted from a light source unit (not shown) provided in the processor 30 or the like is irradiated from the distal end portion of the scope 10 toward the object to be observed through an optical fiber cable (not shown). Reflected light from the object to be observed is incident on the image sensor of the imaging unit 14 via the objective optical system 13, and an optical image of the object to be observed is formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor. The imaging device photoelectrically converts the incident optical image of the observed object and outputs an image signal based on the optical image. The image signal is subjected to preceding image processing such as YC separation by the image control unit 15, and subsequent image processing for generating an image (video signal) that can be displayed on the monitor 50 by the video signal control circuit 31. In addition, the form which performs the image processing of a front | former stage and a back | latter stage by the processor 30 side may be sufficient.

  A monitor 50 is connected to the processor 30. The monitor 50 is a display unit that displays an image that has been subjected to image processing by the processor 30 and that conforms to a predetermined video signal standard. In addition to the monitor 50, the processor 30 may be connected to an external storage device that records image data processed by the processor 30, a printer that outputs (prints out) an image, and the like.

  Also, a PC 70 connected to the processor 30 via the Internet or the like is provided. The PC 70 is a computer installed in the office of a service worker who repairs the endoscope system 1 or the like, and relates to air supply or water supply based on the pressure state of the fluid passage 16 as will be described later. The member abnormality is determined. The communication unit 38 of the processor 30 is a terminal (for example, a LAN terminal) for performing network connection, but the form for performing the network connection may be other forms such as a wireless LAN. Further, the means for performing network connection is not limited to the Internet, and may be another means such as an intranet.

  The operation unit 33 is used for instructing air supply or water supply from the pump 34, setting the output level of the air supply or water supply, and switching on / off the communication state with the PC 70 via the communication unit 38.

  When an air supply or water supply instruction is given by the user via the operation unit 33, the control unit 32 controls the pump 34 to perform air supply or water supply at an output level set by the user. As the output level, for example, output levels (first to third output levels Lv1 to Lv3) divided into three stages are selectable, and the flow rate in air supply or water supply is set according to each level.

  When an air supply or water supply instruction is given, a signal related to the output level set via the operation unit 33 is output from the first CPU 32a to the second CPU 32b, and a control signal related to the air supply or water supply amount corresponding to the output level is output to the second CPU 32b. The control signal is converted into an analog signal by the DAC 32c, and a voltage corresponding to the control signal is applied to the pump 34. The pump 34 pumps up the fluid at a flow rate corresponding to the applied voltage. The fluid pumped up by the pump 34 passes through the fluid passage 16 and is emitted from the distal end portion of the scope 10 to the vicinity of the object to be observed, whereby air or water is supplied.

  The pressure sensor 35 is a sensor that detects the pressure of the fluid passage 16, and outputs information related to pressure (for example, a voltage value output from the pressure sensor 35) to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 extracts (samples) an output value (voltage value) from the pressure sensor 35 every first time t1 (for example, 0.1 second). The output value from the pressure sensor 35 is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 32d and temporarily recorded in the RAM of the second CPU 32b. Specifically, the output value from the pressure sensor 35 or the pressure corresponding to the output value is the air / water supply output level set by the user, the flow rate per unit time calculated from the pressure and the output level, and It is associated with the date and time (information acquisition date and time) when information related to pressure is acquired. The associated data is temporarily recorded in the RAM of the second CPU 32b as the first data.

  In addition, information (flag) that specifies that air or water is supplied by driving the pump 34 is associated with the output value from the pressure sensor 35 or the pressure corresponding to the output value, and is stored in the first data. Is desirable. Alternatively, the output value from the pressure sensor 35 may be extracted only during a period in which the pump 34 is driven to supply air or water. The reason why such a configuration is adopted is to easily determine whether the pressure of the fluid passage 16 is low due to an abnormality of the pump 34 or the like, or whether the pressure is low due to air supply and water supply. It is.

  The second CPU 32b outputs the temporarily recorded information to the first CPU 32a every second time t2 (t2> t1, for example, several tens of seconds). The first CPU 32a associates the first data with the identification information of the scope 10 including the model name and serial number of the scope 10 and the identification information of the processor 30 including the model name and serial number of the processor 30 in the second data. Recorded in the memory 36 as data. The second data is preferably generated in a versatile format such as CSV (Comma Separated Values) so that the second data can be decoded by the PC 70 connected to the endoscope system 1 via a network.

  Further, information included in the second data recorded in the memory 36 is displayed on the monitor 50 based on a user instruction via the operation unit 33. Thereby, the user of the endoscope system 1 can check the pressure of the fluid passage 16 and the flow rate per unit time of the fluid flowing through the fluid passage 16 as necessary.

  The reason why the first data is output from the second CPU 32b to the first CPU 32a every second time t2 is to reduce the load by reducing the number of processing times of the first CPU 32a that controls each part of the processor 30, such as the video signal processing part 31. is there. During the second time t2, since the first data is temporarily recorded in the RAM of the second CPU 32b, the extracted pressure information exceeds a certain amount, and the size of the first data is set in the RAM of the second CPU 32b. The time required until the possibility of exceeding the capacity of the area for storing the first data occurs is set.

  The second data recorded in the memory 36 is transmitted via the first CPU 32a and the communication unit 38 to the PC 70 provided at a location away from the endoscope system 1 in a state where network communication is possible. The PC 70 is installed with software for determining abnormality of a member related to air supply or water supply based on the second data, and performs the abnormality determination after receiving the second data. The transmission of the second data to the PC 70 may be a form in which the second data is transmitted directly when the second data is generated without going through the memory 36.

  In the present embodiment, the form in which the abnormality determination is automatically performed by the software installed in the PC 70 has been described. However, the PC 70 user browses the second data and performs the abnormality determination. May be.

  Specifically, the pressure in the second data (actual pressure value) is compared with the pressure range of the fluid passage 16 assumed during normal operation in the combination of the scope and processor used (assumed pressure range, see FIG. 3). Then, abnormality determination is performed. In a state where air supply or water supply is performed, if a state where the actual pressure value is higher than the assumed pressure range continues for the third time t3 or more, an abnormality (clogging) of the nozzle provided at the tip of the fluid passage 16 occurs. And so on. In this case, it is highly possible that the user of the endoscope system 1 can solve the problem by cleaning the nozzle. In the state in which air supply or water supply is performed, when the state where the actual pressure value is lower than the assumed pressure range continues for the third time t3 or more, the pump 34 is faulty, the piping of the fluid passage 16 is abnormal, and the pump 34 is provided. Inadequate water bottles (not shown) (faulting) can be considered. In this case, there is a high possibility that repair by a service worker or the like of the endoscope system 1 is necessary. In other cases, that is, in a state where air supply or water supply is performed, if the actual pressure value changes within the assumed pressure range, it is determined that the air supply or water supply is normally performed. .

  When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality occurrence information is transmitted from the PC 70 to the endoscope system 1 and a warning indicating the abnormality is displayed on the monitor 50. The warning may be performed not only by displaying on the monitor 50 but also by changing the light emission color or light emission pattern of the LED or the like that displays guidance by voice output or the operation of the pump 34.

  Next, a procedure for determining abnormality of members related to air supply or water supply in the PC 70 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 4, steps S11 to S13 are processing performed by the endoscope system 1, and steps S14 and after are processing performed by the PC 70. In step S <b> 11, when the user of the endoscope system 1 operates the operation unit 33, the endoscope system 1 becomes communicable with the PC 70 via the communication unit 38. Note that the process of generating the second data and recording it in the memory 36 is started when the power of the endoscope system 1 is turned on. Details of the procedure for generating the second data and recording it in the memory 36 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 12, the user of the endoscope system 1 operates the operation unit 33 to give an air supply or water supply instruction, and the control unit 32 supplies air or water via the pump 34. In order to make it easy to specify the abnormality occurrence condition, it is desirable for the user to change the air supply or water supply conditions such as the output level of the pump 34 to perform the air supply or water supply operation. In step S <b> 13, the first CPU 32 a reads the second data recorded in the memory 36 and transmits it to the PC 70 via the communication unit 38.

  In step S14, the PC 70 performs abnormality determination of members related to air supply or water supply, and thus the actual pressure value in the transmitted second data is larger than the assumed pressure range in the state where air supply or water supply is performed. It is determined whether or not has continued for the third time t3 or more. The reason that such a state lasts for a certain period of time (the third time t3 or more) is to avoid misjudgment due to instantaneous pressure fluctuations that may occur even during normal operation.

  When this condition is not satisfied (S14: No), the process proceeds to step S16. If such a condition is satisfied (S14: Yes), in step S15, the PC 70 determines that an abnormality that can be solved by cleaning the nozzle by the user of the endoscope system 1, such as nozzle clogging. Then, the PC 70 transmits such information to the first CPU 32a via the communication unit 38. The first CPU 32a displays on the monitor 50 a warning indicating occurrence of an abnormality such as nozzle clogging and a solution. Thereby, the user of the endoscope system 1 can grasp the abnormal state of the endoscope system 1. Further, the above-mentioned warning display is also given to the service worker by a monitor (not shown) of the PC 70 or the like. Thereby, the service worker can also grasp the abnormal state of the endoscope system 1. Thereafter, the abnormality determination ends.

  In step S16, the PC 70 determines whether or not a state where the actual pressure value in the second data is smaller than the assumed pressure range continues for the third time t3 or longer in a state where air supply or water supply is performed. If this condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S18. If such a condition is satisfied, in step S17, the PC 70 determines that a repair by the service worker is necessary, such as a failure of the pump 34. Then, the PC 70 transmits such information to the first CPU 32a via the communication unit 38. The first CPU 32a displays on the monitor 50 a warning indicating that an abnormality such as a failure of the pump 34 has occurred and that repair is necessary. Thereby, the user of the endoscope system 1 can grasp the abnormal state of the endoscope system 1. Further, the above-mentioned warning display is also given to the service worker by a monitor (not shown) of the PC 70 or the like. Thereby, the service provider can also grasp the abnormal state of the endoscope system 1. Thereafter, the abnormality determination ends.

  In step S18, the PC 70 determines that there is no abnormality in the members related to air supply or water supply, and transmits information to that effect to the first CPU 32a via the communication unit 38. The first CPU 32a displays on the monitor 50 that members related to air supply or water supply are operating normally. Thereby, the user of the endoscope system 1 can grasp the normal state of the members related to air supply or water supply. Further, the above-mentioned normal display is also given to the service worker by a monitor (not shown) of the PC 70 or the like. Thereby, the service worker can also grasp the normal state of the members related to air supply or water supply in the endoscope system 1. Thereafter, the abnormality determination ends.

  Next, a procedure for generating the second data and recording it in the memory 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power supply of the endoscope system 1 is turned on, the pressure sensor 35 starts detecting the pressure of the fluid passage 16. Note that the process of generating the second data and recording it in the memory 36 is performed before and after the period for supplying air or water for abnormality determination, that is, only during the period instructed by the user using the operation unit 33. May be.

  After the start, in step S31, the second CPU 32b initializes the elapsed time t and starts measuring the elapsed time t (t = 0). In step S32, the second CPU 32b extracts information on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 35 every first time t1 via the ADC 32d. A unit in the fluid passage 16 calculated from the extracted pressure information (the output value from the pressure sensor 35 or the pressure corresponding to the output value) based on the output level of the air or water supply and the pressure and output level using the graph of FIG. First data in which the flow rate per hour and the information acquisition date and time are associated is generated and temporarily recorded in the RAM of the second CPU 32b.

  In step S33, whether or not the elapsed time t has become equal to or greater than the second time t2, that is, the number of times the pressure information is extracted exceeds a certain number, and the free space in the area for storing the first data in the RAM of the second CPU 32b is insufficient. It is determined whether or not there is a possibility. When the elapsed time t is not equal to or longer than the second time t2 (S33: No), the process returns to step S32. When the elapsed time t is equal to or longer than the second time t2 (S33: Yes), in step S34, the first data is transmitted from the RAM of the second CPU 32b to the first CPU 32a. In step S <b> 35, the first CPU 32 a generates second data that associates the identification information of the scope 10 and the identification information of the processor 30 with the first data, and records the second data in the memory 36.

  At this time, the existing second data already recorded in the memory 36 may be deleted. However, the new second data is added to the existing second data as new second data. Also good. In this case, the second data is generated while sequentially erasing the data with the oldest information acquisition date in the second data so that the size of the second data does not exceed the capacity of the area for storing the second data in the memory 36. Is done.

  In step S36, the first data temporarily recorded in the RAM of the second CPU 32b is deleted, and the process returns to step S31. By repeating steps S31 to S36, the second data including new pressure information is updated every second time t2.

  In the present embodiment, the pressure information of the fluid passage 16 used for air supply or water supply using the pump 34 is recorded in a state associated with information on the use state of the pump 34 such as information acquisition date and time, so that the pressure transition is recorded. Based on this, it becomes possible to perform abnormality determination of members related to air supply or water supply. Since the content of the second data can be confirmed not only in the endoscope system 1 but also in a device (for example, PC 70) that can receive data transmitted from the endoscope system 1, the location where the endoscope system 1 is installed Thus, it is possible to save time and effort for the service worker to go to make an abnormality determination. It is also possible to confirm the process of occurrence of abnormality from the pressure transition.

  In addition, the assumption has been made that the assumed pressure range is recorded in advance in the PC 70 and the abnormality determination of the member related to the air supply or water supply is performed by the PC 70. However, the abnormality determination of the member related to the air supply or water supply is performed internally. It may be performed in the mirror system 1. In this case, the assumed pressure range is recorded in the memory 36 or the like, and the control unit 32 of the processor 30 compares the pressure information (actual pressure value) in the second data with the assumed pressure range recorded in the memory 36 or the like. Then, abnormality determination is performed.

  The second data generated by the first CPU 32a may be output (printed out) to a printer (not shown) connected to the processor 30. In this case, by comparing the actual pressure value included in the printed out information with the assumed pressure range, it is also possible to perform abnormality determination on members related to air supply or water supply.

It is a lineblock diagram of an endoscope system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of a control part, and its peripheral part. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the pressure of a fluid channel | path and the flow volume per unit time when the member relevant to air supply or water supply operates normally for every output level of a pump. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs abnormality determination of the member relevant to air supply or water supply in PC. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which produces | generates 2nd data and records on memory.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope system 10 Scope 13 Objective optical system 14 Imaging part 15 Image control part 16 Fluid path 30 Processor 31 Video signal processing part 32 Control part 32a, 32b 1st, 2nd CPU
32c DAC
32d ADC
33 Operation part 34 Pump 35 Pressure sensor 36 Memory 38 Communication part 50 Monitor 70 PC

Claims (7)

A pump used to supply air and / or water from the distal end of the scope;
A pressure sensor for communicating information about a pressure of a fluid passage through which the fluid used for at least one of the air supply and the water supply passes from the pump;
The information about the pressure output from the pressure sensor is acquired twice or more, and the flow rate of the fluid passage calculated based on the information about the pressure and the output level of the pump is related to the information about the pressure. a first data to be included in the state, the first data, and a controlling unit for generating a second data associated with the information about the use state of said pump other than information included in the first data Endoscope system.   The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the use state includes date and time when the information regarding the pressure is acquired, and identification information of the scope.   The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits the second data to an external device different from the endoscope system via a network.   4. The internal control unit according to claim 3, wherein either one of the control unit and the external device performs abnormality determination on a member related to at least one of the air supply and the water supply based on the second data. Endoscopic system. The abnormality determination is performed based on a comparison between a pressure in the second data and a pressure range assumed in a normal state based on information on the use state in the second data. Endoscope system.   The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the second data is output to a monitor provided in the endoscope system. The control unit further includes a first CPU and a second CPU,
The second CPU temporarily stores the first data in the memory of the second CPU every first time, and the second CPU sends the first data to the first CPU every second time larger than the first time. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein one data is output, and the first CPU generates second data every second time.

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