JPS63269111A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the execution of a retest even if a trouble is generated in a hard copying device after ending a test or developing a film by providing the titled device with an image backup storing means for storing an image to be hard-copied by the hard copying device as the format of a video signal interlocking the releasing operation of the hard copying device. CONSTITUTION:When a release switch for executing hard copying is operated, a video signal outputted from a video process circuit 21 is inputted to a video printer 8 and printed out, and synchronously with the printing operation, the video signal from the circuit 21 is inputted to a recorder 23 and recorded. Interlocking with the hard copying operation based upon the printer 8, the video signal from the circuit 21 is stored in the recorder 23 as backup operation, so that even if a normal hard copy can no obtained because of the generation of a failure or the like in the video printer 8, the hard copy can be obtained by reading out a picture stored in the recorder 23. Consequently, troubles such as the repeat of the test can be removed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope storage device provided with storage means for backing up images to be hard-copied.

[Prior Art] In recent years, endoscopes have become widely used, which allow observation of affected areas in body cavities and other areas by inserting an elongated insertion section, and therapeutic treatment using treatment tools as necessary. Ta.

Endoscopes are also used in the industrial field to inspect the inside of plants, jet engines, and the like.

By the way, in the case of medical endoscopy, for example, in the case of gastrointestinal examination, a certain period of time is required for pretreatment, such as restricting food intake from the previous day. In addition, although there are individual differences in the test, it is painful. Therefore, redoing the test and prolonging the test time must be avoided in order to reduce the burden on the patient. On the other hand, for endoscopy, test records, medical records attached, kelp?
Hard copies of endoscopic images are made for lenses and for various other uses. These may be instant photographs, silver halide films, or in the case of electronic endoscopes, video printers.

In any case, it is necessary to take pictures during the inspection quickly for the reasons mentioned above, and even with a video printer, for example, a series of pictures is taken without checking the finished product while taking pictures.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In conventional apparatuses, malfunctions of the hard copy apparatus may be noticed immediately after inspection or after film development. In such cases, the test must be repeated, which places an additional burden on the patient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope device that does not require redoing the test even if there is a malfunction in the hard copy device after the test or film development. .

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In the present invention, in an endoscope apparatus equipped with a hard copy device for taking a hard copy, a means for generating a video signal and a backup recording means for recording the video signal for backup purposes are provided. provided, in conjunction with the operation of taking the hard copy,
By recording the video signal on the recording means, even if the hard copy device does not operate normally, a hard copy can be obtained by reading out the recorded information from the recording means without re-inspecting.

[Example 1 Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 shows the structure of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the structure of a video processing circuit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope device 1 of the first embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 13 having an elongated insertion section 2 that can be inserted into a body cavity, and a light source section 4 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 13. and a video processor or camera control unit (hereinafter referred to as CCU) 6 having a signal processing section 5, an observation monitor 7 that displays the video signal that has passed through the signal processing section 5 in color, and a video processor or camera control unit (hereinafter referred to as CCU) 6 that has a signal processing section 5, and an observation monitor 7 that displays the video signal that has passed through the signal processing section 5 in color. It consists of a printer 8.

In the electronic endoscope 13, a light guide 11 formed of a fiber bundle is inserted into the insertion section 2, and the white light from the light source lamp 13 of the light source section 4 is collected at the input end of the light guide 11 by a condenser lens 14. Irradiated with light. The illumination light transmitted by the light guide 11 is expanded by the light distribution lens 15 from the output end on the distal end side of the insertion portion and is emitted toward the subject. The object illuminated by the illumination light transmitted by the light guide 11 is imaged by the objective lens 16 on the imaging surface of the CCD 17 as a solid state element. The optical image formed on the image carrying surface of the CCD 17 is photoelectrically converted. Furthermore, this image plane has red, green,
Blue color transmission filters 18 are attached in a mosaic arrangement. A COD drive signal output from a COD drive circuit (not shown) is applied to the CCD 17, and the photoelectrically converted COD output signal is input to the video processing circuit 21 via the signal cable 19.

After the video signal is processed by the video processing circuit 21,
After being converted into a composite video signal or an RGB color signal, the signal is passed through the control circuit 22 to be displayed in color on the color monitor 7, or to be produced as a color hard copy image on the video printer 8. The video signal from the video processing circuit 21 is also input to the recording device 23, and the video signal is recorded in synchronization with a release operation for making a hard copy.

The video signal recorded in this recording device 23 is transmitted to the control circuit 2
By applying a read command signal RC through the V1T11 circuit 22, the signal is sent to the video printer 8 through an output line 24 leading to the V1T11 circuit 22, via a switch (not shown) in the control circuit 22, and can be printed out. .

In other words, the observation monitor 7 is set to I! When the operator wishes to obtain a hard copy while observing the image, the operator operates the release switch for making a hard copy, and the video signal output from the video processing circuit 21 is input to the video printer 8 via the control circuit 22. It will be printed out. Further, in synchronization with which operation, the video signal of the video processing circuit 21 is input to the recording device 23, and the video signal is recorded. Further, the information recorded on the record bag 23 can be input to the video printer 8 via the control circuit 22, and can also be printed out. Therefore, when printing out the output signal of the video processing circuit 21 with the video printer 8, it takes about one minute, so if you check the completion during the endoscopy, you will be unable to complete the printout, but in this first embodiment, the Device 23
Since the hard copy image printed out by the video printer 8 is recorded for backup purposes, even if there is a malfunction such as a malfunction of the printer 8 when printing out the output signal of the video process circuit 21, the image will be saved later. The data can be read out from the recording device W123 and printed out.

Note that the video process circuit 2 is connected by the video printer 8.
If you operate the release switch to make a hard copy of the video displayed on the observation monitor 7 while printing out the image being inspected after step 1, in this case, the image on the observation monitor 7 will be printed out. The video signal corresponding to the image of the moving image being displayed is recorded on the recording device 123°.

The video processing circuit 21 has a configuration shown in FIG. 2, for example.

The output signal of the CGD 17 passes through a brightness signal processing circuit 31 to generate a brightness signal Y. The color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are also inputted to the color signal reproduction circuit 32 and generated in time series for each horizontal line, white balance compensated by the white balance circuit 33, and one is directly input to the analog switch 34. , the other is delayed by one horizontal line by the one-day delay line 35 and input to the analog switch 36,
Color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are obtained by switching signals from a timing generator (not shown).

The luminance signal Y and color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are NTSG.
The signal is input to an encoder 37 and an NTSG composite video signal is generated. This composite video signal is input to the I1m circuit 22 and recording device 33.

According to the first embodiment configured in this way, the video signal outputted from the video processing circuit 21 in conjunction with the operation of making a hard copy using the video printer 8 is transmitted to the recording device f23.
Since the video printer 8 is backed up and stored, even if the video printer 8 is malfunctioning or otherwise fails to produce a normal hard copy, the recording device can still be used. A hard copy can be obtained by reading out the stored video stored in 23.

Therefore, the problem of having to perform the inspection again can be eliminated.

In addition, even when a hard copy is being made with the video printer 8, the video can be stored in the recording device 2123 by a release operation, and the necessary video data can be obtained in a short time without requiring a holding time.

Incidentally, as the recording device 23, a VTR1 magneto-optical disk device, a magnetic recording device, etc. can be used.

When reading from the recording device 23, the search function of the control circuit 22 is designed to allow desired recorded information to be read.

Further, the recording device 123 is desired to have a recording capacity for at least one examination (for example, 20 to 40 images).

Also, recording equipment! 23 is limited in its capacity (
For example, the oldest information may be updated and recorded (for example, for several tests).

Figure 3 shows an endoscope system according to the second embodiment of the present invention! ff41 is shown.

This endoscope device 41 includes a fiber scope 42 and a film camera 43 connected to this fiber scope 42.
and a television camera 44, a light source section 45 that supplies illumination light to the fiber scope 42, and a signal processing section 46.
It consists of a CU 47, an observation monitor 48 that displays images signal-processed by the CCU 47, and a monitor photographing device 49.

In the fiber scope 42, a light guide 52 is inserted into an elongated insertion part 51, and the white light from a lamp 53 of a light source part 45 is focused and irradiated onto the input end of the light guide 52 by a condenser lens 54. .

Further, a concave lens 55 is disposed in front of the output end of the light guide 52 to expand the illumination light emitted from the output end of the light guide 52.

The object illuminated by the illumination light emitted through the concave lens 55 is guided to an image guide 57 by an objective lens 56.
The image is formed on the incident end face of the The image guide 57 is composed of a fiber bundle, and transmits an optical image formed on the input end surface to the eyepiece side end surface. A beam splitter 58 is disposed opposite to this end face, and the light incident on this beam splitter 58 is split into light that is transmitted and light that is reflected.

After passing through the beam splitter 58, the light passes through the eyepiece 59 and is input into the imaging lens 61 in the film camera 43 connected to this eyepiece.The shutter 63 is opened by the release switch 62, and the film 64 This allows you to take photos by exposing it to light.

Further, when the release switch 62 is turned on, a release signal is inputted to a control circuit 66 via a release signal line 65, and this control circuit 66 causes the recording device 72 to store the video signal to be photographed on the film 64.

On the other hand, the light reflected by the beam splitter 58 is transmitted to the C0D68 by the imaging lens 67 in the television camera 44.
focuses the image on the imaging plane. Note that a mosaic filter 69 is also disposed on this imaging surface, and separates each pixel into color pixels to generate color pixels.

The output signal of the C0D 68 is input to the video processing circuit 71 to generate a video signal, and this video signal is input to the observation monitor 48 via the control circuit 66 and displayed in color. This video signal is also input to the recording device 72, and when a release signal is input through the control circuit 66,
Record the input video signal.

When the monitor photographing bag 2?49 displays the recorded video information of the recording device 72 on the observation monitor 48 via the video switch in the control circuit 66, when the release operation is performed, the image information is displayed on the observation monitor 48. The displayed color image can be photographed, and even if photographing fails with a film camera 43, the failed image can be read out from a recording device 72 and photographed with a monitor photographing device 49.

The effects of this second embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the endoscopic image sent by the image guide 57 is photographed on film, it is possible to display it once on the monitor 48 and then use a monitor photographing bag @ 49 that displays it on the film R. Since higher image quality can be obtained by attaching the film camera 43 to the camera, it is used in this manner. However, when photographing a film, it is impossible to know whether it has been properly photographed until it is developed, so after the inspection is completed, the film is immediately developed in an automatic developing machine or the like, and the presence or absence of defects is checked. In the case of a defect, the control circuit 66 is used to read out the contents recorded in the recording device 72, and the monitor photographing device 49 photographs what is displayed on the monitor 48. Endoscopy takes about 10 minutes per patient, but development takes about 20 minutes, so at least two recording devices are required.
A recording capacity ω for the inspection is required. In addition, when an instant photograph is used as a film camera, the recording capacity is sufficient for at least one examination.

FIG. 4 shows an endoscope device 71 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The third embodiment is a simultaneous type that captures color images under white illumination in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, a frame-sequential color image transfer system is used.

In the electronic endoscope 3 shown in FIG. 1, the CCD 17 disposed on the focal plane of the objective lens 16 on the distal end side of the insertion section 2 is provided with no mosaic filter 18 at the end of the electronic endoscope 13'. In the CCU 6 shown in FIG. 1, the white light from the light source lamp 13 passes through a rotary filter 73 that is rotationally driven by a motor 72, and then is directed to the CCU 6' where it is condensed and irradiated onto the light guide 11 by the condenser lens 14.

The rotating filter 73 is composed of red, green, and blue color transmitting filters arranged in a fan shape in the circumferential direction of a rotating frame, and the illumination light that has passed through this rotating filter 73 has each wavelength of red, green, and blue. become the light of This red, green.

The object illuminated with blue illumination light is imaged on the CCD 17, and a video signal output from the CCD 17 is input to a frame-sequential video processing circuit 21'.

The rest of the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is indicated by the same reference numerals.

This third embodiment also has substantially the same effects as the first embodiment.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the recording medium may be a known electrical, magnetic, optical, or chemical medium such as a magnetic disk including a still video 70 mm, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a magnetic tape.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the means for taking a hard copy, there is provided a backup storage means for storing an image for hard copy using a backup storage means in conjunction with the operation for taking a hard copy. Therefore, even if a hard copy cannot be made normally during an examination, a hard copy can be made by reading out the image information stored in the backup storage means.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video process circuit, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. 1... Endoscope device 3... Electronic endoscope 4...
・Light source section 6...Camera control unit (CCU) 7...
・Observation monitor 8...Video printer 11-・
・Light guide 16...Objective lens 17...C
CD 21...Video process circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An endoscope device capable of capturing endoscopic images with a hard copy device for photographing, etc., comprising: video signal output means for outputting the endoscopic image as a video signal; An endoscope apparatus comprising: image backup storage means for storing an image to be hard-copied by the hard-copy apparatus in the form of the video signal in conjunction with a release operation.