JP2000166867A - Endoscope imager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope imager that is characterized by high utilization efficiency of illumination light and low cost, and permits observation of a fast-moving object to be observed such as vocal cords. SOLUTION: The imager is structured so as to perform imaging with a CCD 18, by detecting periodic movements of vocal cords from voice associated with the movements of the vocal chords with a microphone 10, in a control section 22 in a holding section 6 and making an LED 16 make a pulsating luminescence in synchronism with a frequency which is slightly different from the frequency of the voice by arranging a lighting system 13, having the LED 16 capable of steady and pulsational luminescence and an imaging system 14 having the CCD 18 at the leading end of an electronic endoscope 2A, and the CCD 18, and the light of a luminescing means is used for lighting for imaging with high utilization efficiency, and obtaining observed images of the fast-moving vocal cords at a low cost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope imaging apparatus suitable for observing a periodically moving part such as a vocal cord in a body cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes having an elongated insertion portion have been widely used in medical and industrial fields for examining organs in body cavities or inside plants. In addition, a television camera-mounted endoscope in which a television camera having a built-in imaging means is mounted on an electronic endoscope having an imaging means or an optical endoscope has come into wide use. In the case of an optical endoscope, the endoscope is inspected by combining the endoscope and the light source device, but in the case of including an imaging unit, a signal processing device for further performing signal processing on the imaging unit is provided. ,
It is used as an endoscope imaging device in combination with a monitor that displays a video signal generated by the signal processing device.

[0003] When an object to be observed in a body cavity moves or vibrates periodically, such as a vocal cord, faster than an imaging cycle, it may be difficult to observe the object.
For this reason, for example, there is a stroboscopic device for vocal cord observation manufactured by KAY. In this apparatus, it is apparent that the vocal cords can be observed by detecting the voice signal of the vocal cords with a microphone and controlling the light emission of the light source in a stroboscopic manner in synchronization with the frequency of the audio signal.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art, since the strobing light is transmitted from the light source to the stroboscope by a long light guide cable of about 3 m, the light use efficiency of the light emitting means is high, but the strobing light is high. However, the xenon light source is attenuated by a long light guide cable, and a xenon light source that emits light with high power is required, which causes a rise in price. Further, in the above-described conventional example, since the means for controlling the pulse emission is configured in combination with an expensive computer device, the device is very expensive.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-66357 discloses an endoscope imaging apparatus of a frame sequential system. In this conventional example, a sound wave is detected by a microphone, and illumination light of a plurality of colors synchronized with the detected sound wave waveform is transmitted by a light guide of an electronic endoscope to illuminate a vocal cord, thereby reducing color shift. A still or slow motion color image is obtained.

In this conventional example, the illumination light from the light source device outside the electronic endoscope is transmitted by the light guide in the electronic endoscope, and the illumination light is emitted from the tip of the light guide. Therefore, the attenuation of the illumination light by the long light guide in the electronic endoscope is large.

Further, in this conventional example, light is intermittently transmitted by a disk-shaped chopper provided with a notch, and the light source is always turned on. The use efficiency is very low, a light source that emits light with high power is required, and the heat generated at that time is also very large.
Therefore, this device requires a large and expensive light source device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an endoscope imaging apparatus which can observe an object to be observed such as a vocal cord which moves at a high speed at a low cost with high utilization efficiency of illumination light. It is intended to be.

[0009]

In an endoscope imaging apparatus for obtaining an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detecting means for detecting a periodic motion of an observation target; Provided in the endoscope, a light emitting unit that emits light in a pulse, and a control unit that controls the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting unit in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detection unit, By using much of the light emitted by the light emitting means for illumination, and by providing the endoscope with the light emitting means,
Even when a transmission means for transmitting illumination light is provided, the transmission loss is reduced so that an observation image of an observation object such as a vocal cord that moves at high speed can be obtained even with a low-cost, small-quantity light-emitting means.

In an endoscope imaging apparatus for obtaining an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a movement detecting means for detecting a periodic movement of an observation object, The light emitting means is provided with a light emitting means capable of steady light emission and pulse light emission, and a control means for controlling the pulse light emission of the light emitting means in conjunction with the output signal of the motion detecting means. By using much of the light emitted by the illumination for illumination, and by providing the endoscope with a light emitting means, an observation image of the observation target object can be obtained by steady emission for an observation object with slow movement, and at a high speed. Even in the case of an observation object such as a moving vocal cord or a case where a transmission means for transmitting the illumination light is provided, the transmission loss is reduced so that an observation image can be obtained with a low-cost light-emitting means with a small amount of light. .

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. Shows the internal configuration of the unit,
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of the control unit, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the light emitting means in the vocal cord observation state.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope image pickup apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has an electronic endoscope 2A having a built-in image pickup means, and this electronic endoscope 2A is detachably connected. , A video processor 3 that performs signal processing, and a color monitor 4 that is connected to the video processor 3 and that displays a video signal output from the video processor 3.

The electronic endoscope 2A has a rigid and elongated insertion section 5 and a grip section (operation section) 6 provided at the rear end of the insertion section 5.
And a flexible cable portion 7 extending from the grip portion 6.
And a connector 8 provided at the proximal end of the cable section 7 and detachably connected to the video processor 3. The electric connector section 9 is provided on the grip section 6 of the electronic endoscope 2A. And a microphone (hereinafter abbreviated as a microphone) 10 as a sensor for acoustically detecting a periodic movement.
The rear end of the cable 11 extending from the cable is detachably connected.

The microphone 10 is a bone conduction type microphone for detecting sound by bone conduction employed in a stethoscope, for example, and has a low detection sensitivity with respect to a voice signal transmitted through ordinary air.

The insertion section 5 is formed of an outer tube such as a stainless steel tube, and has an illumination system 13 and an imaging system 14 at its distal end 12. Specifically, the distal end of the cylindrical outer tube is notched obliquely and the distal end surface is inserted into the insertion section 5.
At an angle smaller than the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

An illumination lens 15 is attached to an illumination window provided on the front end surface, and an illumination system 13 is provided inside the illumination lens 15.
A light-emitting diode (abbreviated as LED) 16 including a white light-emitting diode that emits white light or a plurality of light-emitting diodes that simultaneously emit light in red, green, and blue colors is disposed as a light-emitting means, The light emitted by the LED 16 is emitted diagonally forward and orthogonal by the illumination lens 15 and emitted to illuminate the obliquely forward observation object.

The illuminated observation object is, for example, a charge-coupled device as an imaging device arranged at an image forming position by an objective lens 17 attached to an imaging window (observation window) provided adjacent to the illumination window on the distal end surface. Element (hereinafter abbreviated as CCD) 18
To form an image. A color separation filter 19 such as a mosaic filter is arranged on the imaging surface of the CCD 18. The color separation is performed for each pixel, for example, into R, G, and B, and the color-separated image is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 18.

The LED 16 is connected via a drive line 21 to a control unit 22 provided in the holding unit 6. The microphone 10 is also connected to the control unit 22 via the electric connector unit 9. The control unit 22 controls the microphone 10 as described later.
Is controlled so that the LED 16 emits light in a pulsed manner via the drive line 21 in accordance with the detection signal.

The control section 21 is connected to a power supply circuit 24 in the video processor 3 via a power supply line 23, and the power supply circuit 24 supplies power required for operation.

The CCD 18 also forms a signal processing system 27 in the video processor 3 via a signal line 25.
The power supply circuit 24 is connected to the drive circuit 28 and the preamplifier 29 (the power supply circuit 24 also supplies power necessary for the operation to the CCD 18 and each circuit such as the CCD drive circuit 28 in the video processor 3).

The CCD drive circuit 28 is connected to a timing generator (abbreviated as TG in FIG. 1) 31, applies a CCD drive signal to the CCD 18 in synchronization with a timing signal from the timing generator 31, and generates a photoelectrically converted signal charge. Is read. The read signal is input to a preamplifier 29, and after being amplified, the color separation circuit 3
2, the color signals are separated into, for example, R, G, and B color signals, and further converted from analog signals into digital signals by the A / D conversion circuit 33, and stored in the memories 34a, 34b, and 3 respectively.
4c.

The digital color signals stored in the memories 34a, 34b and 34c are simultaneously read out at a predetermined frame cycle, input to the post-processing circuit 35, and subjected to post-processing such as contour emphasis. The digital signal is converted into an analog color signal by the / A conversion circuit 36 and output to the color monitor 4 together with the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit 37. The synchronization signal generation circuit 37 is also connected to the timing generator 31, and the timing generator 3
A synchronization signal is generated in synchronization with the timing signal from the control signal No. 1.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control unit 22. Microphone 1
The voice input from 0 is converted into a voice signal of an electric signal, and is amplified by the amplifier 40 in the control unit 22. FIG. 3A shows the amplified audio signal. 2A to 2F show the signals of FIGS. 3A to 3F.

This audio signal is input to an audio frequency extraction unit 41 composed of a band-pass filter or the like, and the frequency of the audio signal, for example, from 100 Hz to 5 Hz as shown in FIG.
A basic audio signal waveform of about 00 Hz is extracted. The output signal of the audio frequency extracting unit 41 is input to the waveform shaping circuit 42, and is shaped into a rectangular wave whose waveform is shaped as shown in FIG.

The output signal of the waveform shaping circuit 42 is a frequency / voltage converting circuit (F in FIG. 2) for converting a frequency to a voltage.
/ V) 43 and converted to a voltage proportional to the frequency. The output signal of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is input to the voltage shift circuit 44, and a voltage having a value slightly shifted from the voltage value generated by the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is generated.

The output signal of the voltage shift circuit 44 is input to a voltage / frequency conversion circuit (abbreviated as V / F in FIG. 2) 45 for converting a voltage to a frequency, and is proportional to the voltage as shown in FIG. The frequency is converted into, for example, a square wave signal. The output signal of the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45 is input to the pulse width adjustment circuit 46, and has a short pulse width synchronized with the rising edge of the rectangular wave signal shown in FIG. Luminescence signal is generated.

The pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is constituted by, for example, a one-shot multivibrator, and the pulse width output from the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is set by selecting a resistance value for determining the time constant directly or through a multiplexer or the like. The pulse width setting unit 46a is connected, and can be variably adjusted by operating the pulse width setting unit 46a.

The pulse width setting section 46a may be provided in the control section 22. However, the pulse width setting section 46a may be provided in a place which is easy to operate from the outside of the control section 22, for example, as shown in FIG.
The surgeon may be able to set the pulse width.

The output signal of the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is:
An output signal from the DC power supply 47 for steady light emission is applied to the contacts a and b of the switching circuit 48, and is applied to the LED 16 via the drive circuit 49 connected to the common contact c.

The switching circuit 48 includes an audio frequency extracting section 41
When there is no output signal from the audio frequency extraction unit 41, the contact b is selected, and a constant light emission signal for constantly emitting light is applied to the LED 16 as shown in FIG. When there is an output signal of 41, the contact a is selected, and the pulsed light emission signal shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the microphone 10 as the motion detecting means for detecting the periodic motion of the observation object and the electronic endoscope 2A having the rigid insertion portion 5
LED 16 as a light emitting means capable of steady light emission and pulsed light emission, and a pulsed LED 16 (in addition to a function of switching between steady light emission and pulse light emission) in conjunction with an output signal of microphone 10. And a control unit 22 that controls the timing of light emission.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described below. In the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the observation is performed without the microphone 10 attached near the vocal cords as the observation target, the microphone 10 does not detect the audio signal, and the audio frequency extraction unit 41 is also used. An audio signal is not extracted, and its output becomes, for example, almost zero.

More specifically, the audio frequency extraction unit 41 includes, for example, a retriggerable (retrigger type) one-shot multivibrator, and detects the pulse width of the output pulse of the one-shot multivibrator. The period is set to be longer than the period of the lowest frequency (for example, a frequency lower than 100 Hz).

Therefore, when no audio frequency signal is input, the output of the one-shot multivibrator is at "L" level, and the audio frequency extraction unit 41 applies the "L" level signal to the switching circuit 48, and 48 is contact b
Is selected, and a DC voltage is supplied from the DC power supply 47 via the drive circuit 49 as a constant light emission signal to the LED 16.
Is applied to That is, in this state, the LED 16 constantly emits light (steady light emission), and observation can be performed by the electronic endoscope 2A having the ordinary oblique rigid insertion portion 5.

In order to observe the condition of the vocal cords, the microphone 10
Is attached near the neck streak on the outside of the vocal cords via an attaching means such as a suction cup, and is set so that the signal of the microphone 10 is input to the control unit 22. The operator causes the patient to periodically move the vocal cords. For example, an instruction to generate a sound such as “Ah” is issued so as to vibrate.

When the patient emits the sound, the sound is detected by the microphone 10, amplified by the amplifier 40 in the control unit 22, and the sound signal shown in FIG. Then, the audio frequency extraction unit 41 extracts an audio signal having a waveform as shown in FIG.

The audio frequency extracting unit 41 uses the audio signal.
Output of the one-shot multivibrator is always "H"
Level, and the switching circuit 48 is switched so that the contact a is turned on.

FIG. 3B of the audio frequency extracting unit 41.
The output signal shown in FIG.
After the waveform is shaped as shown in FIG.
And converted into a voltage proportional to the frequency.

Further, the voltage is slightly shifted in value by the voltage shift circuit 44, and then input to the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45, for example, to output a signal shown in FIG. In this case, the voltage shift circuit 44 shifts the voltage by a small negative voltage.

The output signal of the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45 is input to a pulse width adjustment circuit 46, and a signal having a pulse width shown in FIG. 3 (E) is output to a drive circuit 49 via a contact a of a switching circuit 48. . Therefore, the LED 16 is shown in FIG.
The signal shown in (E) is applied as a pulsed light emission drive signal, and light is emitted in a pulsed manner by the pulsed light emission drive signal. FIG. 4 shows the periodic movement of the vocal cords and the state of pulsed light emission.

In accordance with the periodic opening / closing state of the vocal cords, the vibration frequency of the vocal cords extracted by the audio frequency extracting section 41 becomes a sinusoidal waveform shown in FIG.
Hz, a signal of a slightly different frequency (FIG. 3
(See (D)) in the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45,
In synchronization with the signal of this frequency, the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 outputs a signal having a waveform shown in FIG. Assuming that this frequency is, for example, 99 Hz, the LED 16 emits light with the emission timing relatively shifted at 1 Hz which is a difference from 100 Hz.

For example, if light is emitted in the state where the vocal cords are most opened first, then 1/1 of the timing when the vocal cords are most opened next.
A pulsed light emission in which the opening state of the vocal cords changes at 1 Hz is performed in such a manner that the light is pulsed at a timing 1/100 second behind 00 seconds, and an image of this pulsed light emission state is formed on the CCD 18. You.

Then, after one frame period of 1/30 second, a CCD drive signal from the CCD drive circuit 28 is applied, and the signal charges accumulated in the CCD 18 are read out and temporarily stored in the memories 34a, 34b, 34c. The image stored in the memories 34a, 34b, 34c one frame before is displayed on the monitor 4.

According to the present embodiment, which operates as described above, with a simple configuration, the vocal fold as the object to be observed corresponds to the vibration frequency of the vocal cord, and a pulse L near the vibration frequency is obtained.
Since the ED 16 emits light to illuminate the vocal cords via the illumination lens 15, the light emitted by the LED 16 can be efficiently illuminated on the observation target.

That is, the light use efficiency is higher than that of the conventional example in which the light is constantly emitted and the object to be observed is irradiated only at a part of the timing, and the light from the pulse light emitting means for pulse emission emits a long light guide. Thus, light loss is smaller than in the case of transmitting and irradiating an observation target, and effective illumination can be performed.

Further, the pulse width can be variably set by the pulse width setting section 46a. Therefore, when the amount of illumination is insufficient, the pulse width is increased to increase the blur amount but reduce the amount of light emission even with the light emitting means. Available. In addition, in the case of an observation object having a slow periodic movement, the observation image can be obtained by performing steady light emission.

Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the electronic endoscope 2A having the rigid insertion portion 5, it is apparent that the present invention can be similarly applied to an electronic endoscope having a flexible insertion portion. is there. In the case of softness, the vocal cords can be observed without using the oblique type.

(Second Embodiment) Although the LED 16 is used as the light emitting means in FIG. 1, a lamp may be used instead. When the insertion section 5 is short and the light transmission loss in the light guide when the light guide is inserted into the insertion section 5 is small, the rigid endoscope 2B according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. Can also be adopted.

The rigid endoscope 2B is a rigid endoscope 2 shown in FIG.
In A, the LED 51 is not provided, and a lamp 51 as a pulsed light emitting means is housed in the grip 6, and an output signal of the control unit 22 is input to the lamp 51.

The light of the lamp 51 is incident on the rear end of the light guide 53 inserted into the insertion portion 5 via the condenser lens 52, and the illumination light transmitted by the light guide 53 is transmitted from the front end to the illumination lens 15 Then, the light is irradiated to the observation object side. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

The operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The light emitted from the lamp 51 has a smaller loss due to transmission by the light guide 53 than in the first embodiment. However, if the length of the light guide 53 is, for example, about several tens cm, it can be used sufficiently for vocal fold observation. And the loss in that case can be considerably reduced.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
Has been adopted.

The camera head-mounted endoscope 2C includes, for example, a fiber scope 55 as a flexible endoscope, an adapter 57 detachably attached to an eyepiece 56 of the fiber scope 55, and a detachable attachment to the adapter 57. And a camera head 58 mounted on the camera.

The fiber scope 55 includes a flexible (soft) insertion portion 61, an operation portion 62 at the rear end of the insertion portion 61,
It comprises an eyepiece 55 at the rear end of the operation unit 62. Also,
A light guide 63 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 61, and an illumination system 64 including a prism and an illumination lens is disposed at the tip thereof, and a light guide base near the operation portion 62 is provided at the rear end of the light guide 63. 65.

One end of a light guide cable 66 is detachably connected to the light guide base 65, and the other end of the light guide cable 66 is detachably connected to a light guide connection portion 67 provided on the camera head 58, for example, by press-fitting. You.

A light source unit 68 is provided in the camera head 58. The light source unit 68 is composed of a lamp 69 and a condenser lens 70. The lamp 69 is controlled to emit light by the control unit 22 in the camera head 58. Is done. This control unit 22
Has a configuration similar to that of FIG. 2, for example. The camera head 58 is provided with a sound collection unit 71. This sound collector 71
Is constituted by a microphone, for example, and the detection signal is
Is input to

The light of the lamp 69 is transmitted to the light guide cable 66 and the light guide 63 in the fiber scope 55.
Through the illumination system 64 to illuminate the observation object side such as the vocal cords.

At the tip of the insertion portion 61, an observing observation system 7 composed of an objective lens and a prism is provided adjacent to the illumination system 64.
2 are provided. The distal end face of the image guide 73 is arranged at the image forming position of the observation system 72, and the image formed on the distal end face is transmitted to the rear end face by the image guide 73.

The rear end of the image guide 73 is arranged near the front end of the eyepiece 56, and can be magnified by the eyepiece 74. The adapter 57 attached to the eyepiece 56 has a lens system and an optical filter.

The image transmitted to the rear end of the image guide 73 is formed on the CCD 77 via the optical system of the adapter 57 and the image forming lens 76 of the camera head 58. This CCD
A color separation filter 78 such as a mosaic filter is arranged in front of the imaging surface 77. A camera cable 79 extending from the camera head 58 has a connector connected to the video processor 3 shown in FIG.

The CCD 77 is connected to one end of a signal line 80 in a camera cable 79, and the other end of the signal line 80 is
Is connected to a CCD drive circuit 28 and a preamplifier 29 in the video processor 3.

In the present embodiment, the light from the light source 68 provided on the camera head 58 is transmitted by the light guide cable 66 in the second embodiment, but the light cable 66 is relatively short. If a cable is used, transmission loss of light in the light guide cable 66 can be reduced. Therefore, substantially the same effects as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

As a modification of this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a connector 9 may be provided on the camera head 58, and the microphone 10 of the first embodiment may be input to the control unit 22 via the connector 9.

When the fiber scope 55 has a channel 85 as in the endoscope 2C 'of the modification shown in FIG. 8, a microphone 86 is attached to the end of the channel 85, and the output signal of the microphone 86 is output. A configuration for inputting to the control unit 22 may be adopted. In this case, the microphone 86 is not of the bone conduction type, and a normal voice detection microphone may be used.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The camera head mounted endoscope 2D shown in FIG. 9 includes a fiber scope 81 and a camera head 82 which is detachably mounted on the eyepiece 56 of the fiber scope 81.

The fiber scope 81 is the same as the fiber scope 55 shown in FIG. 6, except that the rear end of the light guide 63 is fixed near the front end of the eyepiece 56, and a coupling lens 83 is arranged facing the rear end.

The camera head 82 has a light source section 68 like the camera head 58 of FIG. 6, and the light of a lamp 69 constituting the light source section 68 is condensed by a condensing lens 70 and a coupling lens facing the lens 70. Light guide 6 via 83
3 at the rear end.

As in the case of FIG. 6, an imaging lens 76 is arranged in the camera head 82 so as to face the eyepiece 74 of the eyepiece 56, and forms an image on the CCD 77. In this embodiment, an optical filter 83 such as an infrared cut filter is disposed between the lens 74 and the lens 76. The control unit 22 in the camera head 82 is detachably connected to the external microphone 10 by the connector 9. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment described in FIG. 6, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment is different from the embodiment of FIG.
The labor for connecting the light guide cable 66 can be omitted, and the light from the light source unit 68 provided in the camera head 82 can be transmitted by a shorter illumination light transmission unit and radiated toward the observation target site. Others have the same functions and effects as the third embodiment of FIG.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An endoscope imaging device 91 shown in FIG. 10 includes an electronic endoscope 2E,
The electronic endoscope 2E is detachably connected and includes a video processor 3 that performs signal processing and a color monitor 4 that is connected to the video processor 3 and that displays a video signal output from the video processor 3. .

This electronic endoscope 2E is the same as the electronic endoscope 2 shown in FIG.
A, the control unit 9 having a configuration partially different from the control unit 22
2 is adopted. Further, a timing signal of one frame period from the timing generator 31 is input to the control unit 92 via the signal line 90, and the control unit 92 generates a signal for sequentially changing the phase and emitting light in synchronization with the timing signal. I do.

FIG. 11 shows the structure of the control unit 92. The control section 92 employs a sample / hold circuit 93 for sampling / holding (output signal from the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43) instead of the voltage shift circuit 44 in FIG. And a phase change circuit 94 for changing the phase of the signal.

This phase changing circuit 94 is composed of a plurality of cascade-connected delay elements (abbreviated as delay time D in FIG. 11) 95 for delaying the output signal of pulse width adjusting circuit 46.
A multiplexer 96 for selecting a delay amount and outputting a delayed signal to the switching circuit 48; and a decoder (or counter) 97 for controlling the selection of the multiplexer 96.

The sample / hold circuit 94 samples during the short "H" period of the timing signal,
The value is held during the "L" period of almost one frame period after the falling. This timing signal is supplied to a multiplexer 9 via a decoder (or counter) 97.
6 are cyclically controlled as contacts a, b, c,..., E, a, b, c,.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. The operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operation from the microphone 10 to the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 has been described in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

In this embodiment, the output signal from the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is held by the sample / hold circuit 93 for one frame period. The output signal of the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is also held by the multiplexer 96 for one frame period.

Therefore, when the vocal cords vibrate as shown in FIG. 12, the output signal of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 has a value proportional to the frequency, and the value is held for one frame period. Further, the output signal of the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is held at the contact point a by the multiplexer 96 for one frame period, for example.

Therefore, the drive signal applied to the LED 16 emits light in a pulsed manner in synchronization with the vibration waveform of the vocal cords, and when one frame period elapses, for example, the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 4
3, the driving signal applied to the LED 16 with the phase shifted by the delay time D is further changed for one frame period because the multiplexer 96 is switched so that the contact point b is turned on. Light is emitted in pulses in synchronization with the waveform.

In this embodiment, light is emitted in a pulsed manner for each one frame period in synchronization with the vibration waveform of the vocal cords. Therefore, a captured image with less blur can be obtained. In addition,
Instead of the control unit 92 shown in FIG. 11, a simplified configuration like the control unit 101 of the modification shown in FIG. 13 may be used.

The control unit 101 shown in FIG. 13 uses the output signal of the waveform shaping circuit 42 in FIG.
6 is input. In this configuration, the phase changing circuit 94 operates in the same manner as in FIG.

In FIG. 11, the sample / hold circuit 94 holds the light emission cycle for one cycle, but in FIG. 13, the light emission cycle is not held and the light is emitted in synchronization with the output of the waveform shaping circuit 42. I have. Therefore, even if the period of the audio frequency changes during one period, the operation is performed so that the light emission timing changes in synchronization with the period.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, for example, in the fifth embodiment, the imaging cycle can be further changed.

In the endoscope imaging apparatus 111 of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, for example, in the endoscope imaging apparatus 91 shown in FIG. A selection switch 112 for selection is provided, and a selection signal of the selection switch 112 is input to the timing generator 31 of the video processor 3 via a signal line 113.

The selection switch 112 includes a plurality of cycle setting switches (1/30 second as a normal imaging cycle Ta, and 1/15 second as a longer imaging cycle Tb, for example)
1 / 7.5 seconds), and when the operator selects and sets a desired imaging cycle, a corresponding selection signal is input to the timing generator 31.

When the timing generator 31 selects an imaging cycle Tb other than the normal imaging cycle Ta according to the selection signal, the timing generator 31 outputs a timing signal changed to the selected imaging cycle Tb. Specifically, the CCD drive circuit 2
8 outputs a timing signal for driving at the imaging cycle Tb, and in synchronization with the timing signal, performs a conversion operation of the A / D conversion circuit 33 and a write control to the memories 34a, 34b, and 34c. After reading from the memories 34a, 34b, and 34c, the reading is performed, for example, in the same manner as in the normal imaging cycle Ta.

As a result, a slow motion video is displayed on the monitor 4 in the case of the imaging cycle Tb. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the fifth embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, since the imaging cycle can be lengthened (the means for changing the imaging cycle is provided), even when a small light emitting means is employed, the CCD as the imaging element can be used.
16 can increase the level of the output signal, and a high S / N, that is, an image with good image quality can be obtained. Further, by increasing the imaging cycle, it is possible to shorten the pulse width and obtain an image with less blur.

In the above-described embodiment, the periodic movement of the observation target is detected by the microphone 10 or the like. However, for example, infrared light (for example, not included in the wavelength range to be imaged) using a single fiber is used. Illuminates the observation object at all times, and detects reflected light from the observation object via another single fiber or by a sensor such as a photodiode having sensitivity to infrared light, and outputs the sensor output to the control unit 22. May be input to the amplifier 40. In this case, a single fiber and a sensor may be provided at the distal end portion 12 of the insertion section 5 of the endoscope 2A.

Further, the light emission timing of the light emitting means is set in accordance with the output signal of the detecting means for detecting the periodic movement (based on the output signal). Is also good. It should be noted that embodiments and the like configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Supplementary Notes] In an endoscope imaging apparatus that inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like to obtain an observation image, a movement detection unit that detects a periodic movement of an observation target, and a pulse provided in the endoscope, An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: a light emitting unit that emits light in a controlled manner; and a control unit that controls timing of pulsed light emission of the light emitting unit in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detecting unit.

2. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and obtains an observation image, a motion detection unit that detects a periodic motion of an observation target is provided in the endoscope, Light-emitting means capable of light emission and pulsed light emission,
An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls pulsed light emission of the light emitting unit in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detecting unit.

3. In Supplementary Note 1 or 2, the motion detection means includes a microphone that detects a sound and detects a periodic movement of the observation target that emits the sound. 4. In Addition 1 or 2, the light emitting means includes a light emitting diode. 5. In Addition 1 or 2, the light emitting means has a lamp.

6. In Supplementary Note 2, the control means controls switching between steady light emission and pulsed light emission based on an output signal of the motion detection means. 7. In the supplementary note 1 or 2, the control means controls the light emitting means to emit light in a pulsed manner in synchronization with a frequency slightly different from the frequency of the periodic movement of the observation object, based on an output signal of the movement detecting means. . 8. In Addition 1 or 2, the control means synchronizes with the frequency of the periodic movement of the observation object by the output signal of the movement detection means, and gradually changes the phase in units of a predetermined period longer than the movement period. The light emitting means is controlled to emit light in pulses at different timings.

9. In Addition 1 or 2, the control means has means for adjusting a pulse width for pulsed light emission of the light emitting means. 10. In Supplementary Note 1 or 2, the endoscope is an electronic endoscope provided with an imaging element on a distal end side of an insertion section. 11. In the supplementary note 1 or 2, the endoscope includes an optical endoscope having an image transmission unit that transmits an optical image to the eyepiece side;
A television camera-mounted endoscope having a television camera mounted on the eyepiece and having an image sensor disposed therein.

12. In Supplementary Note 1 or 2, the movement detection means is attached to a distal end side of the insertion portion. 13. Appendix 10 or 11, further comprising an imaging cycle changing unit that changes an imaging cycle of the imaging device.

14. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that obtains an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detection unit that detects a periodic motion of an observation target, and is capable of steady light emission and pulsed light emission A light emitting means, a control means for controlling a pulsed light emission of the light emitting means in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detecting means, and an observation object provided in the endoscope and illuminated by the light emission of the light emitting means An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; and an imaging signal output increasing unit that increases a level of an output signal output from the imaging unit at least in the case of pulsed light emission. . 15. In Appendix 14, the imaging signal output increasing means is an imaging cycle changing means for changing an imaging cycle of the imaging means.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 14 and 15) In the conventional example, unless a light-emitting means that emits a large amount of light is adopted, the level of the output signal output from the imaging means is low and the S / N ratio is low.
However, there was a disadvantage that the image was low. For this reason, in order to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus capable of obtaining an image having a good S / N ratio even with a small light emitting unit, the configurations of appendices 14 and 15 are provided. (Effects of Supplementary Notes 14 and 15) With the configuration of Supplementary Notes 14 and 15, an image having a high S / N can be obtained by lengthening the imaging cycle.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an endoscope imaging apparatus for obtaining an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a periodic movement of an observation object can be obtained. Motion detecting means for detecting, light emitting means provided in the endoscope and emitting light in a pulse, and control means for controlling timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detecting means Therefore, by using much of the light emitted by the light emitting means for illumination, and by providing the endoscope with the light emitting means, the transmission loss can be reduced even when there is a transmission means for transmitting the illumination light. Thus, an observation image of an observation target such as a vocal cord that moves at high speed can be obtained even with a low-cost, small-quantity light-emitting unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the light emitting means in a vocal cord observation state.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope in a modified example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to another modification.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the light emitting means in a vocal cord observation state.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit according to a modification.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope imaging device 2A ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Video processor 4 ... Color monitor 5 ... Insertion part 6 ... Grasping part (operation part) 10 ... Microphone 13 ... Illumination system 14 ... Imaging system 15 ... Illumination lens 16 ... LED 17: Objective lens 18: CCD 22: Control unit 27: Signal processing system 31: Timing generator 41: Audio frequency extraction unit 42: Waveform shaping circuit 43: Frequency / voltage conversion circuit 44: Voltage shift circuit 45: Voltage / frequency conversion Circuit 46 ... Pulse width adjustment circuit 46a ... Pulse width setting unit 47 ... DC power supply 48 ... Switching circuit 49 ... Drive circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H040 AA00 BA00 CA03 CA06 CA12 DA02 DA18 DA21 DA51 EA00 GA02 GA05 GA11 4C061 AA13 AA29 BB03 CC06 DD03 JJ17 LL02 MM05 NN01 NN05 QQ02 QQ06 QQ09 RR03 RR12 RR24 RR24 SS

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope imaging apparatus for obtaining an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, comprising: motion detection means for detecting a periodic motion of an observation target; And light emitting means for emitting light in a pulsed manner, and control means for controlling the timing of pulsed light emission of the light emitting means in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detecting means. Endoscope imaging device. 2. An endoscope imaging apparatus for obtaining an observation image by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, comprising: a motion detection means for detecting a periodic motion of an observation target; And light emitting means capable of steady light emission and pulsed light emission, and control means for controlling pulsed light emission of the light emitting means in conjunction with an output signal of the motion detection means. Endoscope imaging device.