JP2000245692A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device capable of freely setting image display constitution. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a synthesis circuit 300, a display device A106 and an externally mounted PC 200 and image data from a scope 101 and character data inputted by an input device 102 are synthesized in the synthesis circuit 300 and displayed. Synthesized image constitution can be arbitrarily set by an operator and is stored in an image constitution storage circuit 124. Also, the image data from the outside can be inputted as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus provided with image display means for displaying a target tissue image picked up by an image pickup means and character data such as patient data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional endoscope apparatus, an image of a body to be observed captured by a CCD, which is a solid-state image sensor, can be displayed on an image monitor. Displayed in the center. The image display portion of the mask pattern on such a mask screen shows a circular or elliptical shape, and the periphery of the mask pattern is masked except for the image display portion. The mask section displays various character data such as an image date, an imaging condition, patient data, and a doctor's name input by an operator using a keyboard or the like.

A conventionally used mask pattern generating circuit is connected to a ROM in which image data of a circular masking pattern is written in advance in an MPU which is a control unit of an apparatus and an image display. . A fixed circular masking pattern corresponding to each type of scope connected to the endoscope apparatus is read out, and held as one image data combined with an image signal of the scope. On the other hand, character information generated by a character generator that generates character data is also temporarily stored as image data in a storage unit such as a RAM.

The image display data replaced with the electrical data is obtained by mixing the output of the two image data by a data mixer circuit and finally outputting the image data to the image display means as one image data.

[0005] As another method, in contrast to the above-described method of generating an electric mask pattern, a method of masking an image with a scope using only a simple optical aperture structure has been used in the past. With this method, the image can be reliably masked with a simple configuration.

In recent years, PCs in the field of medical equipment
For example, a configuration in which the MPU portion in each device so far is replaced with an external PC to provide higher speed, versatility and expandability is widely used.

[0007]

However, in the endoscope apparatus according to the prior art as described above, when it is desired to compare two images, for example, before and after an operation in the same examination, the image before the operation is required. Had to be output once as a photograph, and then after the operation, the photograph had to be compared with the image on the monitor. As a result, there is a problem that the operator needs extra work such as outputting to a photograph and the inspection time becomes longer. In addition, the comparison between image displays on different image display media, such as a comparison between a photograph and a monitor image, has never been satisfactory as diagnostic information.

Further, it is only possible to cope with a predetermined mask pattern corresponding to the kind of a scope or the like connected in advance.

In the endoscope apparatus according to the prior art, an endoscope image and attribute data (patient ID, patient name, hospital name, time, number of recorded images, etc.) are displayed on a screen. However, switching such as displaying / hiding arbitrary attribute data cannot be performed. For this reason, the display patterns of the patient ID, name, age, gender, date and time information, and the like are very limited depending on the device, and there is a problem in that it is not possible to arbitrarily select items to be displayed.

[0010] The attribute data normally displayed varies depending on the needs of the operator. For example, when attribute data overlaps an endoscope image, there is a case where the endoscope image is prioritized over the attribute data. In addition, for example, there is a case where it is normally displayed, but in some cases, it is not desirable to record certain specified attribute data, and the attribute data is different depending on an operator's need. was there.

Further, when observing an enlarged image of an arbitrary portion on the captured image, there is only a display for enlarging the entire portion other than the mask. The available magnification was limited to a limited range.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an endoscope for inserting into a body cavity to capture a target tissue, and an imaging means for capturing an image of the target tissue. An image display means for displaying a captured target tissue image on an image monitor, a first area display for displaying a target tissue image captured by the image capturing means in an arbitrary area of the image monitor Means, a second area display means capable of independently displaying an arbitrary area in the display of the first area display means, and a display image by at least one of the first area display means and the second area display means. Still image display means for displaying a still image, and character data display means for displaying arbitrary character data in place of the image display by the second area display means are provided. With a endoscope apparatus and resolution means.

[0013] Further, the image display means includes an image arranging means capable of arbitrarily changing display positions of a display image by the first area display means and a display image by the second area display means; 2. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image area outside masking means for masking an area other than both the display image by the area display means and the display image by the second area display means. The solution.

The image display means displays at least two of the display image of the first area display means, the display image of the second area display means, and the character data display of the character data display means at the same time. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a selectable display selection means.

The character data display means includes character data storage means for storing any of the character data, and a character font, a character size, and a character arrangement according to the display setting of the second area display means. Character display setting means,
The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided as a solution.

The image display means includes display setting condition storage means for storing display setting conditions of the first area display means, the second area display means, the still image display means, and the character data display means. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided as a solution.

According to the above-mentioned solution, an arbitrary image display desired by the operator can be provided, and character data can be displayed by effectively utilizing the display screen, thereby improving operability and improving advanced operation. It is possible to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of providing various diagnostic information.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
As its configuration, a scope 101 is provided as an endoscope for inserting into a body cavity to capture a target tissue, and a CCD (not shown) is provided as an imaging means. The display unit A106 and the display unit B10 serve as image display means for displaying the target tissue captured by the scope 101.
7 is provided.

An image of the observed part obtained by a CCD element (not shown) provided at the tip of the scope 101 is A / A.
Digitally converted by the D converter 108, the memory control circuit 1
Line memory 1 in synchronization with the frame-sequential synchronization signal
09 is written. The data is sent to the main screen processing circuit 110 in response to a write / read control signal output from a main screen write / read control circuit (not shown), subjected to image processing, and then written into the main screen frame memory 112.

In the present embodiment, the screen displayed by the first area display means is used as a parent screen, and the screen displayed by the second area display means is used as a sub-screen for description.

The hold image of the signal subjected to the parent screen image processing from the parent screen frame memory 112 is sent to the child screen processing circuit 111 in accordance with a write / read control signal output from a child screen write / read control circuit (not shown). The real image from the main screen line memory 109 is also sent to the small screen processing circuit 111 in synchronization with the same control signal.

Next, in response to a control signal from the MPU 100, a real image or a hold image is selected for the child screen. For example, if the real image is a hold image, the image is subjected to image processing and then written to the small-screen frame memory 115.

If the hold image is character screen information input from the character input device 102 such as a keyboard, the hold image is sent to the character processing circuit 118 via, for example, character information transfer means (not shown). It is sent to the small screen frame memory 115.
In the character processing circuit 118 described above, the input character information is extracted and sent to the character processing circuit 118 via the character data storage circuit 117.

On the other hand, the image position pointing device 1
03, 104, for example, information input by a trackball or the like is sent to the image position detection circuits 125, 126 and processed by the MPU 100. Here, MPU1
00, an image display selection portion and an image display selection portion are extracted, and the non-display portion is masked and displayed by an arbitrary color image by the masking control circuit 123 in the subsequent stage based on the image display information.

Also, only a part of the main screen is cut out in the image configuration, and enlargement, reduction, and other various image processing are performed.
Display on the sub screen. The PC 200 according to the embodiment is connected exclusively for such image processing.

In the endoscope device according to the prior art,
In contrast to the masking area where the fixed image is uniquely arranged based on the masking information read in advance in the ROM or the like and the fixed mask is merely displayed, in the example of the embodiment according to the present invention, first, The mask position and the like are determined after the operator has arbitrarily configured a display map of the observed image from the CCD on the image.

Here, conventionally, the processing capability of the MPU 100 is limited, and it takes time to process the above process. However, the processing capability and performance of the PC 200 have been dramatically improved. Until obstruction due to time loss does not occur under observation.

Further, a character (for example, loyalty ID or name) input from the character input device 102 by the operator or the operation assistant is transmitted to the synthesizing circuit 300 as a character image by the character position control circuit 120 controlled by the MPU 100. Can be

As a configuration for generating a character, a character generation circuit 119 and a character position control circuit 1
20, a character circuit 114 is provided. Also,
A character font 122 in which character font data is written is connected to the character processing circuit 118. On the other hand, when a character is not displayed, data is sent via the through circuit 113.

After the above-described parent screen image, child screen image, character image, and masking image are mixed by the synthesizing circuit 300, the D / A converters 128, 12
9 is converted into an analog signal by a display circuit A9 for monitoring via a buffer circuit (not shown).
6. Output to the display B107.

At this time, the image data is recorded in the recording device 105 at the request of the operator or automatically. As a means for recording the image data signal converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 127, the recording device 105 may be, for example, a recording method using a generally used VTR or a photographic output. Further, the digital output can be directly output without passing through the D / A converter 127, and this digital output signal can be recorded as image data which can be displayed on a digital recording VTR, DVD, or computer, for example.

Here, the processing when the image configuration is arbitrarily selected will be specifically described. In normal operation,
When the endoscope apparatus is started up, a standard image configuration set in advance by design intention or an image configuration arbitrarily set by the operator of the previous use is displayed. In a standard image configuration, the positions of the parent screen and the child screen are fixed, and the character data display is distributed and arranged in a portion that does not overlap the parent screen and the child screen.

On the other hand, when selecting an arbitrary screen configuration, the operator enters a character input dedicated screen mode via the character input device 102 and inputs patient information, for example, patient name, ID, and the like. The input character information is stored in a character display sub-screen by a hold function as a still image generating means, and is displayed as necessary, for example, when taking a picture.

If the character information is not displayed on the screen, the character information set once is replaced with the VBI after the blanking of the synchronization signal.
(Vertical Blanking Interv
al), and can be displayed on the image as needed.

Further, the held character information is sent to a character processing circuit 118 dedicated to the construction of an arbitrary screen. Here, when the operator sets the character display portion to the automatic setting mode, the location and area of the portion determined as the non-display region of the observed part image by the masking control circuit 123 are calculated in the PC 200, and the range is previously described. The information obtained by changing the size and display format of the character so that the character information can be displayed is sent to the synthesizing circuit 300.

That is, from the image signal for each line, a main screen display section and a sub-screen display section on the time axis, and a blanking time which is neither of them are extracted. By performing this for all lines, the start and end of the video display start line, the image display section in one line,
Further, a pattern (rectangular type) that allows the masking portion to be used to the maximum is calculated from a combination of the four points of the parent screen display start / end time and the child screen start / end time.

A pattern is extracted from the calculation result and the input character information (for example, the number of characters, types, etc.) so as to obtain an optimum display. The operator preliminarily inputs all the data on the character input-dedicated sub-screen, and selects character information to be displayed during inspection and in a photograph or the like of the recording device 105 from among them. The character information selected by the operator in this manner is sent to the above-described synthesizing circuit 300 while the operator checks and operates an operation panel (not shown) provided in the endoscope apparatus body, for example.

On the other hand, in the mode in which the operator can also set the character display portion, the operator can set the font such as the character display position and size by inputting an instruction using the screen position indicating devices 103 and 104 described with reference to FIG. Is performed. The same operation as described above is executed from the font setting information, and a pattern is extracted from the result and the input character information (for example, the number and types of characters) so that an appropriate display is obtained.

The above is a case where one screen is displayed on a plurality of monitors at the same time.
4 and two or more sets of image position detection devices 125 and 126 are provided, it is possible to realize a necessary screen configuration for each monitor. Further, display and non-display of comment data on an external input device such as a monitor or a VTR can be selectively performed for each device, and an image as desired can be displayed on the output side.

The setting conditions such as the above-described image arrangement, configuration, font, and the like are stored in the image configuration storage circuit 124, and can be read out and reproduced freely by the operator in the next operation.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining one example of operation control of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the initial setting stage, operating conditions of the endoscope apparatus, display conditions of image quality, setting of a scope portion, and the like are performed. At this stage, the conditions for the basic image of the operator's endoscopic examination are set. Next, the patient data of the patient undergoing the endoscopic examination is input. By inputting this patient data, it is possible to judge the correspondence between the endoscopic image and the patient without error, and furthermore, by displaying the medical condition data of the region of interest, the treatment guideline, and past medical history, etc. The amount of information is improved.

Next, the screen configuration of the display screen is selected.
This screen configuration can be arbitrarily set as required by the operator. For the selection of this arbitrary screen configuration, automatic or manual setting can be selected.

When ALL automatic is selected here, character data, a hold image, a real-time image, and an external input image arbitrarily selected according to the screen configuration of the display screen previously set by the operator are displayed. The character data is appropriately displayed according to the size of the display area.

On the other hand, if the screen configuration is selected manually, the necessary information and the region of interest change depending on the patient, for example, even if the operator does not change. In response to the change in the appropriate screen configuration due to this change, the screen configuration can be selected as needed by the operator.

First, the main screen and the sub-screen are manually set. With this setting, an area to be displayed as a parent screen and an area to be displayed as a child screen in the endoscope image displayed on the screen are specified. After this setting, an operation for specifying the arrangement of character data to be displayed on the screen is performed. This operation is performed via a switch (not shown) provided on, for example, an operation panel of the endoscope apparatus body. Here, there are two methods for arranging character data, namely, automatic character arrangement and manual character arrangement.

When the automatic character arrangement is selected, the character font is appropriately set according to a setting algorithm preset in the apparatus according to the size, shape, position, or the like of the area in which the character data is displayed. When the character position manual is selected, the character font is set arbitrarily by the operator irrespective of the setting algorithm preset in the apparatus.

The image display by the operator can be realized by the above operation procedure.

In the above description, when character display is automatically performed, it is assumed that the image is displayed in a masked area on the image display. However, it is not always necessary that the character display is a mask area. Needless to say, the operator can manually arrange the character at any part, that is, the superimposition on the main screen and the child screen.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining one example of image display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the example of the screen display according to the present invention shown here, FIG. 3A is an example of a screen display of an endoscope apparatus according to a conventional technique, in which a main screen 140 is displayed substantially at the center and a child screen is displayed. This is an example in which a screen 142 is displayed at each of the four corners of the screen. Also, a character display area 142 is set, and this figure shows, as an example, a case where the character display area 142 is distributed and displayed in three places as shown in the drawing.

FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c) show
When performing an examination using the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the operator is required to use, for example, FIG.
A case where a selector point in the figure is selected from a screen display as shown in FIG. Note that the selector point refers to a range in which a selection operation can be performed on the display screen, and a screen operation according to the present invention can be performed on an arbitrary area within the selector point.

FIG. 3C shows a screen configuration when the selector point of the parent screen 140 and the child screen 141 shown in FIG. 3B are enlarged and displayed. It should be noted that the entire image display from which the selector point and the child screen 141 are selected is configured as a virtual platform frame. In the virtual platform frame, the display image area is divided into several sections on the display data, and each section unit is set as the smallest selectable unit.
An image display range selectable as a selector point is defined as an aggregate of sections in the minimum unit of the virtual platform frame.

The character display area 142 located outside the selector point shown in FIG.
(C) The non-display area 140 other than the selected observed image portion of the parent screen 140 for displaying the image of FIG. A maximum rectangular area defined by connecting a total of four points of the first image scanning line and the scanning end timing of each image scanning line is obtained by calculation, and the image display of FIG. 3C is realized. FIG.
In (b), the character display areas 142 that have been dispersedly displayed at the four corners of the screen are combined into a new character display area 1.
43 in one place.

FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E show
5 shows an example of an image configuration when the operator selects another image display area.

As shown in FIG. 3D, the observation area 150 of the parent screen 140 is selected as a selector point from the entire virtual platform frame, and the child screen 141 is simultaneously selected. In such a selection, the selector point selected by the operator as shown in FIG. 3 (e) indicates that the respective image regions are also selected by the operator or by display centering on the region of interest of the examination. A screen configuration can be realized.

Further, the image display constructed in FIGS. 3A to 3C is displayed on, for example, first monitor display means, and the image display in FIGS. 3D and 3E is performed. It can also be displayed by another second monitor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining image display control of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In order to display a real-time image display as a moving image as a HOLD image as a still image, in the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image output 3
An image display control 330 is provided to perform step 06. The image display control 330 includes the external image signal 301 and the endoscope image signal 30 as the base image signals.
2 is input as needed by the operator. The external image signal 301 and the endoscope image signal 302 are used as signals for controlling the display of the HOLD signal 303,
An image reduction signal 304 and a display control signal 305 are used. These signals for various controls are generated by an input operation performed by an operator from an operation panel of an endoscope device (not shown).

The external image signal 301 is directly input to the image display control 330, and signal control with the endoscope image signal 302 is performed by the display control signal 305. The selection of the HOLD image, the display and non-display of the external input image, and the control and setting of the display position of each image are performed by the display control signal 305. The display control signal 305 corresponds to the image display control 330
Is entered directly into.

The endoscope image signal 302 corresponds to the MAIN screen 3
10, an image memory 307 for storing image display data to be displayed on the display 10, and a signal changeover switch 340.
Is sent to the image memory 309 which holds image display data to be displayed on the SUB screen 320 via the. Control for writing or reading image data to or from the image memories 307 and 308 is performed by the memory controls 308 and 311 respectively.

In the example of FIG. 4, the HOLD image is SUB
Because of the configuration displayed on the screen 320, the HOLD signal 303 and the image reduction signal 304 are input to the memory control 311. Also, the image reduction signal 304
Is the reduced image interpolation 3 connected to the next stage of the image memory 309
12 is also connected, and performs image quality correction such as smoothing of an image upon receiving the image reduction signal 304.

The HOLD signal 303 also controls the switching of the signal changeover switch 340, and the HOLD signal of the image is controlled.
At the time of D, the A side in the figure is selected, and in the other cases, the B side in the figure is selected. When the A side is selected at the time of HOLD, the image signal from the image memory 307 is branched to an image display control 330 and an image memory 309. As a result, two image signals of a moving image and a still image are simultaneously input to the image display control. Will be done. As a result, a real-time image and a HOLD image can be arbitrarily displayed on the image output 306 by the operator.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining one example of image display of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 (f) -1 to 5 (f) -3 show an example of a screen operation displayed by the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Things.
First, (f) -1 shows a case where a real image 501 such as a part to be examined is displayed on the image monitor 500. Here, the operator performs a freeze operation as shown in (f) -2 to obtain a still image at an arbitrary timing of the moving image.
In this state, the real image 501 is the frozen image 502
Is displayed in a superimposed manner. The arrangement of the display can be arbitrarily changed, and the size can be similarly changed. Here, the content of the frozen image is checked, and if satisfied, a HOLD operation is performed.

FIG. 5F-3 shows an example of the image display after the HOLD operation. Here, a real image 501 is displayed, and at the same time, a HOLD image 502 is also displayed. Thereby, the reduced HOLD image can be confirmed again.

FIG. 5G shows that the HOLD image 502 can be freely arranged in the display area of the real image 501 by an arbitrary operation of the operator.

FIG. 5H shows a real image 501, a HOLD image 502, and an external input 503 on an image monitor 500.
Are displayed simultaneously. Of course, the arrangement and size of each image and switching of display / non-display can be arbitrarily set by the operator without being limited to the arrangement as shown in this figure.

As described above, in the present invention, unlike the prior art, a mask image preset for each type of the scope 101 is not required, and an image display configuration required by the operator can be constructed. On the other hand, the arrangement of the characters can be arbitrarily set by the operator as described above.
In addition, if only the parent screen and the child screen are arranged, the optimum character display position can be automatically set. Therefore, an image and a character can be effectively displayed within a limited image display.

As a result, the operator can freely compose an image configuration with a simpler operation than before, and the image arrangement can be registered, so that the efficiency can be improved.

According to the present invention, the screen once input is held as a hold image, so that it can be displayed anytime and anywhere. If you change the screen size further,
Automatically display the font size optimally on the child screen. Furthermore,
A function that records the small screen display format and is displayed as the preset mode at the next start-up. If the small screen is moved and superimposed on character information, the part that is vacant from the position of the small screen and the position of the main screen Has the function to move the character to

Therefore, the screen can be effectively used without any masked portions as in the prior art. The MPU 1 can set a combination of three or more main screens and sub-screens.
By providing two or more 00s, a display system or a recording system can be output as required.

Further, a circuit for storing the freeze image as a HOLD image in the main body memory is provided, and the operator can arbitrarily store the image, and can call this image at any time.

As a result, the operator can temporarily save and recall the image with a simple operation, and the operation time can be reduced as compared with the conventional technique. Further, since the images to be compared are on the same monitor, two images can be compared under the same conditions, and a correct judgment can be made.
When recording, it is possible to arbitrarily select one image or two images simultaneously for real and HOLD. Also, by simultaneously displaying the input signals from the external recording device, three images of a real image, a HOLD image, and an external signal image can be compared.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, but not for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0078]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image composition by an operator arbitrarily, and it is possible to display character data or the like by effectively utilizing a display screen, thereby improving operability and improving advanced operation. It is possible to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of providing various diagnostic information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation control of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of image display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining image display control of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining one example of image display of the endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 scope 200 PC 300 synthesis circuit 101 arbitrary waveform generator 108 A / D converter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasushi Shimura 1385-1, Shimoishigami, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Nasu Plant (72) Inventor Isao Komiyama 1385-1, Shimoishigami, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture Stock Company 4C061 AA00 BB00 CC06 DD00 JJ11 JJ17 LL01 NN05 SS11 VV04 WW01 WW03 WW04 WW10 WW18 XX02 YY01 5C054 CC07 ED07 EH07 FE16 HA12

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope for inserting a body cavity to capture a target tissue, an imaging unit for capturing the target tissue, and an image display unit for displaying the captured target tissue image on an image monitor. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a first area display means for displaying a target tissue image imaged by the imaging means in an arbitrary area of the image monitor; and an arbitrary area in the display of the first area display means. Second area display means that can be displayed independently, at least one of the first area display means and the still image display means for displaying a display image by one of the second area display means as a still image, and the second area display Character data display means for displaying arbitrary character data in place of the image display by the means. 2. The image display means, comprising: an image arranging means capable of arbitrarily changing display positions of a display image by the first area display means and a display image by the second area display means; 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image area outside masking means for masking an area other than both the display image by the area display means and the display image by the second area display means. 3. The image display means displays at least two or more of a display image by the first area display means, a display image by the second area display means, and character data display by character data display means at the same time. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selectable display selection unit. 4. The character data display means includes: a character data storage means for storing any of the character data; and a character font, a character size, and a character arrangement corresponding to a display setting of the second area display means. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: character display setting means. 5. A display setting condition storage means for storing display setting conditions of the first area display means, the second area display means, the still image display means and the character data display means, respectively. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: