JP6374278B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system, and more particularly to an endoscope system that performs wireless power feeding to an endoscope.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endoscope systems that include an endoscope that captures a subject inside a subject and a processor that generates an observation image of the subject captured by the endoscope are widely used in the medical field, the industrial field, and the like. It is used.

  Such an endoscope is generally connected to the processor with a cable. However, the cable is disconnected, or the cable connecting the endoscope and the processor is entangled with other cables. It is stressful for the person. As a solution to this problem, there is a wireless endoscope that eliminates the cable connecting the endoscope and the processor.

  In order to realize such a wireless endoscope, it is necessary to use a battery instead of the power supply line provided in the cable. Since the current battery energy density cannot withstand long-time procedures, the wireless endoscope needs to have a structure in which the battery can be replaced during the procedure, or a configuration that can always supply power wirelessly.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can wirelessly supply power to an ultrasonic probe so that the ultrasonic probe can be operated continuously for a long time.

JP 2012-161561 A

  However, in an endoscope system that performs wireless power feeding, a receiving coil installed in a wireless endoscope is in various positions and orientations depending on a procedure with respect to a transmitting coil that is fixedly installed. Therefore, it is not always possible to ensure a proper charge state. In other words, depending on the position and orientation of the wireless endoscope that determines the reception status of the wireless power feeding, there is a possibility that an appropriate charging state cannot be ensured and a continuous procedure cannot be performed.

  Further, when the wireless power supply reception state is good, the remaining battery level of the battery increases. However, when such a wireless power supply reception state continues to be good, it is useless to continue the wireless power supply unilaterally. There is a problem that it is not economical because it consumes a lot of energy.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of optimally adjusting the power feeding capability of wireless power feeding according to the reception status of wireless power feeding and the state of a battery.

An endoscope system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a wireless endoscope body including a wireless information transmission unit and a wireless power reception unit, a wireless information reception unit, a wireless power transmission unit, and a wireless power feeding control unit. The wireless power receiving unit includes a received power detection unit that detects a received power value, and a remaining battery level detection unit that detects a remaining battery level value, and the wireless information transmission unit includes: The detected received power value and the remaining battery level value are transmitted to the wireless power feeding control unit via the wireless information receiving unit, and the wireless power feeding control unit transmits the received power value and the remaining battery level value. And changing the transmission power capacity from the wireless power transmission unit based on the battery power level, and determining whether or not to stop power transmission based on the remaining battery level value. When the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value of 1, by the wireless power feeding control unit Power transmission is stopped, and when the battery remaining amount value is smaller than a first predetermined value and the received power value is smaller than a predetermined power value, the capacity of the transmission power by the wireless power feeding control unit is increased. When the received power value is smaller than the predetermined power value after a predetermined time has elapsed after increasing the transmission power capacity, the elapsed power supply time is measured and the remaining usable time is notified .

  According to the endoscope system of the present invention, the power feeding capability of wireless power feeding can be optimally adjusted according to the reception status of wireless power feeding and the state of the battery.

It is a figure showing the whole endoscope system composition concerning one embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of each apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a flow of wireless power supply management by the endoscope system 1;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an endoscope system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an endoscope system according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing a detailed configuration of each apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 includes a wireless endoscope 2, a plurality of medical devices mounted on the trolley 3, and a power supply device 4 that wirelessly supplies power to the wireless endoscope 2. It is configured.

  The trolley 3 includes, as a plurality of medical devices, a processor 5 that performs predetermined image processing on imaging signals from the wireless endoscope 2 and generates an endoscope image signal, and an endoscope image generated by the processor 5. A monitor 6 that displays the signal as an endoscopic image, a recorder 7 that records the endoscopic image signal generated by the processor 5 as a moving image or a still image, and an endoscopic image signal generated by the processor 5 A printer 8 for printing as a mirror image and an insufflation apparatus 9 for supplying carbon dioxide gas into the patient's abdomen and the like are mounted.

  The power feeding device 4 includes a power feeding transmission coil 11 and a power feeding control system 12 such as a personal computer that controls the power feeding transmission coil 11. In the power feeding device 4, the power feeding transmission coil 11 and the power feeding control system 12 are configured separately, but the power feeding transmission coil 11 and the power feeding control system 12 are integrated without being limited to this. It may be a device.

  The processor 5 can be equipped with a camera connector type receiver 13 for receiving an imaging signal transmitted from the wireless endoscope 2 by radio. As shown in FIG. 2, the camera connector type receiver 13 includes an antenna 14, a wireless unit 15, and a connector I / F 16.

  The wireless endoscope 2 includes an insertion portion 21 and an operation portion 22 provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion 21. A light guide (not shown) for transmitting illumination light to the distal end of the insertion portion 21 is inserted into the insertion portion 21 and the operation portion 22. An image pickup device 23 such as a CCD or a CMOS for picking up an image of a subject is provided at the distal end portion 21 a of the insertion portion 21.

  The operation unit 22 as a wireless endoscope body includes a light source 24, a control unit 25, a radio unit 26, an antenna 27, a power receiving coil 28, a power conversion unit 29, and a battery unit 30. Configured.

  Further, the power supply control system 12 of the power supply apparatus 4 includes a power supply unit 31, an antenna 32, a wireless unit 33, a control unit 34, and a wireless power supply control unit 35. The power supply unit 31 is supplied with power from, for example, an external outlet, and supplies power to each circuit in the power supply control system 12.

  The light source 24 emits illumination light under the control of the control unit 25. This illumination light is incident on the incident end of the light guide and is emitted to the subject from the emission end provided on the distal end surface of the insertion portion 21. The image sensor 23 captures an image of a subject illuminated with illumination light based on the drive signal from the controller 25 and outputs the image signal to the controller 25.

  The control unit 25 outputs an imaging signal from the imaging element 23 to the wireless unit 26. The wireless unit 26 wirelessly transmits this imaging signal to the camera connector type receiver 13 via the antenna 27.

  The wirelessly transmitted imaging signal is received by the antenna 14 of the camera connector type receiver 13. The wireless unit 15 supplies the imaging signal received by the antenna 14 to the processor 5 via the connector I / F 16. As described above, the processor 5 generates an endoscope image signal from the imaging signal and outputs the endoscope image signal to the monitor 6, the recorder 7, and the printer 8.

  The control unit 25 monitors the battery unit 30, periodically calculates the remaining battery level, and issues a command for starting power feeding when the remaining battery level value becomes smaller than a predetermined value. This command is transmitted from the antenna 27 to the power feeding device 4 under the control of the wireless unit 26. The wireless unit 33 as a wireless information receiving unit outputs a command received by the antenna 32 of the power supply control system 12 to the wireless power supply control unit 35 via the control unit 34.

  When receiving a command for starting power supply, the wireless power supply control unit 35 causes a current to flow through the power supply transmission coil 11 and starts wireless power supply. The feeding transmission coil 11 generates a magnetic flux when a current flows under the control of the wireless feeding control unit 35. As a result, a magnetic flux is also generated in the power receiving coil 28, and a current also flows in the power receiving coil 28. The power converter 29 converts the current generated in the power receiving coil 28 into electrical energy and supplies power to the battery unit 30.

  Note that the wireless power feeding of the present embodiment is described as an electromagnetic induction method, but is not limited thereto, and may be another method (for example, an electromagnetic resonance method or a radio wave method).

  The control unit 25 periodically calculates the received power amount currently received by monitoring the power conversion unit 29. The control unit 25 monitors the battery unit 30 to periodically calculate the current remaining battery level of the battery unit 30. Then, the control unit 25 manages wireless power feeding based on the calculated received power value and battery remaining amount value. This wireless power supply management will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the control unit 25 as a wireless power receiving unit configures a received power detection unit that detects a received power value and a remaining battery level detection unit that detects a remaining battery level value. Further, the wireless unit 26 as a wireless information transmission unit transmits the received power value and the battery remaining value detected by the control unit 25 to the wireless power supply control unit 35 via the wireless unit 33.

  Then, the wireless power supply control unit 35 changes the capacity of the transmission power from the power transmission coil 11 constituting the wireless power transmission unit based on the transmitted received power value and the remaining battery value, and the remaining battery value. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not to stop power transmission.

  Here, management of wireless power feeding of the endoscope system 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a flow of management of wireless power feeding by the endoscope system 1. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 3 starts when the power of the wireless endoscope 2 is turned on and ends when the power is turned off.

  First, when the use of the wireless endoscope 2 is started, the control unit 25 calculates the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 periodically (for example, at intervals of several minutes) (step S1). Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 calculated in step S1 is equal to or greater than a specified value A (step S2).

  When the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is not equal to or greater than the specified value A (step S2: NO), the control unit 25 issues an ON command for the wireless power feeding system (step S3). The ON command of this wireless power feeding system is transmitted to the power feeding device 4 via the wireless unit 26 and the antenna 27. The wireless power supply system ON command transmitted to the power supply apparatus 4 is input to the wireless power supply control unit 35 via the antenna 32, the wireless unit 33, and the control unit 34.

  When the ON command of the wireless power supply system is input, the wireless power supply control unit 35 starts wireless power supply with the standard capacity (first capacity) (step S4).

  The control unit 25 monitors the power conversion unit 29 to calculate the received power amount periodically (for example, at intervals of several minutes) (step S5). Next, the control part 25 calculates the battery remaining amount of the battery part 30 regularly (for example, every several minutes) (step S6).

  The control unit 25 determines whether or not the received power value calculated in step S5 is equal to or greater than the specified value X (step S7). The specified value X is a value that increases the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 even when the wireless endoscope 2 is used.

  If the received power value is greater than or equal to the specified value X (step S7: YES), the control unit 25 returns to step S2. And the control part 25 determines whether the battery remaining amount value of the battery part 30 calculated by step S6 is more than the regulation value A in step S2.

  When the control unit 25 determines in step S2 that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is equal to or greater than the specified value A (step S2: YES), the control unit 25 issues an OFF command for the wireless power feeding system (step S8), and then proceeds to step S1. Return and repeat the same process. The OFF command of the wireless power feeding system is transmitted to the power feeding device 4 via the wireless unit 26 and the antenna 27. The wireless power feeding system OFF command transmitted to the power feeding device 4 is input to the wireless power feeding control unit 35 via the antenna 32, the wireless unit 33, and the control unit 34. When the power supply apparatus 4 receives the OFF command of the wireless power supply system, the power supply apparatus 4 ends the wireless power supply.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the received power value is smaller than the specified value X (step S7: NO), the control unit 25 issues a control command for increasing the power supply capacity (step S9). That is, when the received power value is smaller than the specified value X, the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 decreases when the wireless endoscope 2 is used, and thus a control command for increasing the power supply capacity is issued. The

  The control command for increasing the power supply capacity is transmitted to the power supply apparatus 4 via the wireless unit 26 and the antenna 27. The control command for increasing the power supply capacity transmitted to the power supply apparatus 4 is input to the wireless power supply control unit 35 via the antenna 32, the wireless unit 33, and the control unit 34.

  When receiving the control command for increasing the power supply capacity, the wireless power supply control unit 35 starts the wireless power supply with a large capacity (second capacity larger than the standard capacity) (step S10).

  The control unit 25 monitors the power supply conversion unit 29 to calculate the received power amount periodically (for example, at intervals of several minutes) (step S11). Next, the control part 25 calculates the battery remaining amount of the battery part 30 regularly (for example, every several minutes) (step S12).

  The control unit 25 determines whether or not the received power value calculated in step S11 is equal to or greater than the specified value X (step S13). When the received power value is greater than or equal to the specified value X (step S13: YES), the control unit determines whether or not the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is greater than or equal to the specified value B (step S14). The specified value B is a value smaller than the specified value A in step S2 (specified value A> specified value B).

  When the control unit 25 determines that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is greater than or equal to the specified value B (step S14: YES), the control unit 25 returns to step S3 and issues an ON command for the wireless power supply system, thereby Start wireless power feeding. On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is smaller than the specified value B (step S14: NO), the control unit 25 returns to step S9 and continues the wireless power supply with a large capacity.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the received power value is smaller than the specified value X (step S13: NO), the control unit 25 measures the elapsed power feeding time (step S15), and the remaining part of the wireless endoscope 2 is measured. The available time is notified (step S16). The remaining usable time notification may be displayed on the monitor 6 by transmitting information on the remaining usable time to the processor 5 via the camera connector type receiver 13.

  Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the battery remaining amount value of the battery unit 30 is equal to or greater than the specified value C (step S17). The specified value C is a value smaller than the specified value B in step S14 (specified value A> specified value B> specified value C).

  If the control unit 25 determines that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is equal to or greater than the specified value C (step S17: YES), the control unit 25 returns to step S9 and continues the wireless power supply with a large capacity. On the other hand, when it is determined that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is smaller than the specified value C (step S17: NO), the control unit 25 issues an error notification (step S18). This error notification may be displayed on the monitor 6 by transmitting the error notification information to the processor 5 via the camera connector type receiver 13.

  Thus, even when wireless power feeding is performed with a large capacity, the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is reduced (the received power value is smaller than the specified value X), and the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is If the wireless endoscope 2 is continuously used in a state where the value is smaller than the prescribed value C (the smallest value among the prescribed values), there is a possibility that the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 becomes zero.

  Therefore, when the operator recognizes the error notification, the operator temporarily stops using the wireless endoscope 2, or the position of the power receiving coil 28 of the wireless endoscope 2 and the wireless power receiving state are improved so that the wireless power receiving state is improved. Change the orientation.

  In general, the reception state of wireless power feeding becomes better as the distance between the power feeding / transmitting coil 11 and the power feeding / receiving coil 28 becomes shorter. Further, the wireless power feeding reception state can be improved by arranging the power feeding and transmitting coil 11 so that the surface of the power feeding and receiving coil 11 faces the surface of the power feeding and receiving coil. Therefore, when the surgeon recognizes the error notification, the surgeon moves the position of the power receiving coil 28 of the wireless endoscope 2 closer to the power transmitting coil 11 or the surface of the power receiving coil 28 of the wireless endoscope 2 is the power transmitting coil. The direction of the power receiving coil 28 may be changed so as to face the surface 11 and the wireless power receiving state may be improved.

  As described above, the endoscope system 1 is configured to suppress useless energy consumption by turning off wireless power feeding when the remaining battery level of the battery unit 30 is equal to or greater than the specified value A. In addition, when the remaining battery level value of the battery unit 30 is smaller than the specified value A, the endoscope system 1 changes the capacity of the wireless power feeding according to the received power value and the remaining battery level value of the battery unit 30. ing.

  As a result, according to the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment, the power feeding capability of the wireless power feeding can be optimally adjusted according to the reception status of the wireless power feeding and the state of the battery.

  It should be noted that the steps in the flowcharts in this specification may be executed in a different order for each execution by changing the execution order and performing a plurality of steps at the same time, as long as the steps are not contrary to the nature.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope system, 2 ... Wireless endoscope, 3 ... Trolley, 4 ... Power feeding apparatus, 5 ... Processor, 6 ... Monitor, 7 ... Recorder, 8 ... Printer, 9 ... Insufflation apparatus, 10 ... Feeding transmission coil DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Feed control system, 13 ... Camera connector type receiver, 14 ... Antenna, 15 ... Radio | wireless part, 16 ... Connector I / F, 21 ... Insertion part, 21a ... Tip part, 22 ... Operation part, 23 ... Image sensor , 24 ... light source, 25 ... control unit, 26 ... radio unit, 27 ... antenna, 28 ... power receiving coil, 29 ... power conversion unit, 30 ... battery unit, 31 ... power source unit, 32 ... antenna, 33 ... radio unit, 34 ... control unit, 35 ... wireless power supply control unit.

Claims (3)

A wireless endoscope body having a wireless information transmitter and a wireless power receiver;
A power supply device including a wireless information reception unit, a wireless power transmission unit, and a wireless power supply control unit;
The wireless power receiving unit includes a received power detection unit that detects a received power value, and a remaining battery level detection unit that detects a remaining battery level value,
The wireless information transmitting unit transmits the detected received power value and the remaining battery level value to the wireless power supply control unit via the wireless information receiving unit,
The wireless power supply control unit changes the transmission power capacity from the wireless power transmission unit based on the received power value and the battery remaining value, and determines whether or not to stop power transmission based on the battery remaining value. judges,
The wireless power reception unit stops the power transmission by the wireless power supply control unit when the battery remaining amount value is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and the battery remaining amount value is smaller than the first predetermined value. And when the received power value is smaller than a predetermined power value, the capacity of the transmission power by the wireless power feeding control unit is increased, and the capacity of the transmission power is increased, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the received power value An endoscope system characterized in that when the power is smaller than a predetermined power value, the elapsed time of power feeding is measured and the remaining usable time is notified . The wireless power receiving unit, when the remaining battery level value is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value and the received power value is equal to or greater than the predetermined power value, the transmission power increased by the wireless power supply control unit. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the capacity is restored . The wireless power reception unit issues an error notification when the remaining battery level is smaller than a third predetermined value and the received power value is smaller than the predetermined power value. The endoscope system according to 2.

Images