JP2000245693A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easily handleable endscope device enabling excellent diagnosing by displaying clear endoscopic images without moire fringes on a monitor screen at the time of using an externally mounted television camera for an endoscope in combination with an existing fiber scope. SOLUTION: In order to make the moire fringes appearing in the endoscopic image 97 displayed on the screen 7a of a monitor 7 inconspicuous, a solid-state image pickup element 34 is set to the state of being inclined counterclockwise at an angle θ with respect to the scope horizontal direction reference plane 100 of the fiber scope 2, in this case θ=12.5 deg.±7.5 deg., that is within the range of the angle θ or 5 degrees to 20 degrees, and is fixed inside the TV camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a fiberscope provided with an image guide formed by bundling optical fibers, and an external television camera for an endoscope detachably attached to an eyepiece of the fiberscope. The present invention relates to an endoscope device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe an organ in the body cavity, and if necessary,
2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber endoscope (hereinafter, also referred to as a fiberscope) capable of performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel is widely used. In addition, piping and piping for boilers, gas turbine engines, chemical plants, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art Industrial endoscopes are widely used for observing and inspecting internal scratches and corrosion of an automobile engine body and the like.

The fiber scope uses an image fiber as an image transmitting means, so that a user can visually observe a portion to be observed with an eyepiece. Further, an external television camera for an endoscope (hereinafter abbreviated as a TV camera) equipped with a solid-state imaging device is mounted on the eyepiece, and the transmitted optical image is captured by the solid-state imaging device of the TV camera.
It is also common to generate an image signal after converting the image signal into an image signal, and display and observe an image of the observed region on a TV monitor.

When an endoscope image of a fiberscope using the image fiber as an image optical system is picked up by a TV camera having a solid-state image sensor and displayed on a TV monitor, an image of the image fiber of the fiber endoscope is displayed on a screen. Moire fringes may be generated in the endoscope image on the TV monitor due to interference between the array and the image pickup device, color separation filter or TV horizontal scanning line on the TV camera side. If moire fringes are conspicuously generated in the endoscope image, good observation cannot be performed.

In order to eliminate moiré fringes, there is a method of forming an image fiber image by defocusing a solid-state image sensor (so-called defocusing). However, the focus can be adjusted from a near point to a far point. In addition, there is a disadvantage that it is very difficult to adjust the focus of the endoscope or the focus of the TV camera so as to eliminate only disturbing moiré while ensuring sufficient focus for observation.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-254444 discloses that one of the three arrangement directions of the optical fiber bundle is aligned with one of the vertical reference line and the horizontal reference line of the mask member. There is disclosed an endoscope which is relatively tilted so as not to overlap with each other to prevent generation of moire fringes without using an optical low-pass filter.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-289225 discloses that, when connecting to an endoscope apparatus using a fiber bundle as a transmission optical system, it is possible to remove moire appropriate for each type. In addition, there is disclosed an external television camera device for an endoscope which can prevent a reduction in resolution when connected to an endoscope device using a relay lens system as a transmission optical system.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-70899 discloses that the electrical length of a signal cable is unified to one type, and in use, the difference in influence due to the signal cable is eliminated and adjustment is hardly required. An endoscope apparatus capable of obtaining a high quality image has been disclosed.

[0009]

However, in the endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-254444, the arrangement direction of the optical fiber bundle and the horizontal reference line of the mask member are relatively inclined so as not to overlap. Unless a new dedicated fiberscope is made, moiré fringes cannot be removed. That is, when combined with various existing fiberscopes, moire fringes cannot be removed.

Also, in the external television camera apparatus for an endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-289225, a combination of both the operation of the optical low-pass filter and moving the imaging optical system in the direction of the optical axis to bring it into a defocus state. Therefore, there is a problem that the resolution at the time of removing moiré due to defocus is lower than that at the time of the best focus adjustment. In addition, since the focus adjustment means is required for defocusing, there is a problem that not only an installation space is required but also the cost is high.

Further, in the endoscope apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-70899, a signal cable is arranged along a spiral groove of a spiral tube in a universal cord, and the spiral tube is arranged in the universal cord. Therefore, the outer diameter of the universal cord becomes large, the weight of the universal cord part becomes heavy and the operability is reduced, and if the universal cord itself extending from the operation part is formed into a curled cord, the universal cord There was a problem that the handling was poor and the operator was difficult to handle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. When an external television camera for an endoscope is used in combination with an existing fiberscope, a clear endoscope having no moire fringes on a monitor screen is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-handle endoscope apparatus that displays an image and enables a good diagnosis.

[0013]

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
An image of an optical fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged neatly in the horizontal and vertical directions with a predetermined surface as a reference surface, and an array pattern is formed on the base end surface that is substantially parallel to the horizontal reference surface of the fiberscope. A fiberscope provided as a guide and attached to the eyepiece of this fiberscope,
A solid-state imaging device formed by arranging a large number of pixels in a regular array in the horizontal and vertical directions at regular intervals with respect to a horizontal reference line, which captures an optical image transmitted by the image guide and converts it into an image signal. An external television camera for an endoscope provided as a system, and an image signal photoelectrically converted by a solid-state imaging device of the external television camera for an endoscope is generated into a video signal to be displayed on a television monitor screen, and the television signal is generated on a television monitor. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a camera control unit that outputs an image; and when the external television camera for the endoscope is mounted on an eyepiece of the fiberscope, a solid state of the external television camera for the endoscope. The horizontal reference line of the image sensor
The horizontal reference line of the external television camera for an endoscope so as to have a positional relationship of being inclined from the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope to the plus side or the minus side within an angle range of 4 to 44 degrees. , The horizontal reference line of the solid-state imaging device is arranged at an angle.

Further, the positional relationship between the horizontal direction of the endoscope image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor screen and the horizontal reference line of the television monitor is defined as the horizontal reference line of the solid-state image sensor. Like the positional relationship with the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope, the positional relationship is set to be inclined within a predetermined angle range.

Further, an optical low-pass filter is arranged between the eyepiece and the solid-state image sensor.

According to this configuration, when the external television camera for an endoscope is combined with an existing fiberscope in which the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope and the stacking direction of the optical fibers of the image guide are substantially the same, Since the horizontal reference line of the solid-state imaging device is previously tilted within the angle range of 4 to 44 degrees with respect to the horizontal reference line of the external television camera for an endoscope, the optical fibers of the image guide are stacked. When the direction and the stacking direction of the pixels of the solid-state imaging device are misaligned without overlapping, the occurrence of moire fringes due to interference is reduced.

The angle of inclination of the endoscope image of the observed part displayed on the screen of the television monitor with respect to the horizontal direction is defined as the angle with which the solid-state imaging device is inclined with respect to the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope. By making the same setting, it is possible to easily recognize the directionality of the observed part by looking at the endoscope image displayed on the monitor screen.

Furthermore, when an external television camera for an endoscope provided with an optical low-pass filter is used in combination with an existing fiberscope, the occurrence of moiré fringes, which cannot be eliminated only by arranging the solid-state image pickup device at an inclination, occurs. Disappears.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 relate to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external TV camera for an endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a camera head. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view in a state where the camera head is attached to the eyepiece, FIG. 4 is an external view showing a positional relationship between the camera head and a cable coil, and FIG. 5 is an image of an imaging optical system in the camera head and an optical system in the eyepiece. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the state, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for comparison with the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows the positional relationship between the fiber scope and the conventional TV camera and the image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor at that time. Illustration to explain,
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an arrangement positional relationship between the fiber scope and the TV camera in the present embodiment and an image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor at that time.

FIG. 2A is a view showing the overall configuration of an external television camera for an endoscope, and FIG.
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a positional relationship between an image guide and a mask member in a fiberscope, and FIG.
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an arrangement positional relationship of an optical low-pass filter, FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an arrangement positional relationship of a solid-state imaging device, and FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating an observed portion displayed on a television monitor. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an endoscope image, FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an arrangement positional relationship between an image guide and a mask member in a fiberscope, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an inclined state of a solid-state imaging device, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing an endoscope image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope device 1 according to the present embodiment has an insertion portion 21 inserted into a body cavity and
1, an operation portion 22 also serving as a grip portion located on the base end side, and a universal cord 2 extending from a side portion of the operation portion 22.
3, a fiberscope 2 in which an image guide (not shown), which is an image transmission means formed by bundling a plurality of optical fibers in the insertion section 21 and the operation section 22, is inserted. A camera head 31 having a built-in solid-state imaging device that is detachable from the eyepiece 24 located at the base end and captures an optical image transmitted to the eyepiece 24 by an image guide and photoelectrically converts the optical image into an image signal is provided. An external TV camera for an endoscope (hereinafter abbreviated as a TV camera) 3, an insertion section 41 inserted into a body cavity, and an operation section 42 serving also as a grip section located on the base end side of the insertion section 41, An electronic endoscope having a universal cord 43 extending from a side portion of the operation portion 42 and having, for example, a solid-state image pickup device (not shown) built as an observation optical system at the distal end side of the insertion portion 41 (video To the illumination optical system provided in the fiber scope 2 and the electronic endoscope 4 via endoscope connectors 25 and 44 provided at the base ends of the universal cords 23 and 43. A light source device 5 for supplying illumination light for illuminating a part to be observed, and a solid-state imaging device incorporated in the camera head 31 of the TV camera 3 or a distal end side of an insertion portion 41 of the electronic endoscope 4. A camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 6 for generating an image signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state imaging device into a video signal and outputting the video signal to a TV monitor (hereinafter simply referred to as a monitor) 7 to be described later; And a monitor 7 which receives the video signal thus displayed and displays an endoscopic image of the observed region.

The insertion portion 21 of the fiber scope 2 and the insertion portion 41 of the electronic endoscope 4 are sequentially provided with rigid distal end portions 29, 49 and curved portions 28, 48 formed by connecting a plurality of curved pieces from the distal end side. And flexible tube portions 27 and 47 having flexibility
The bending portions 28 and 48 are bent in four directions of up, down, left and right and two directions of up and down by appropriately operating a bending operation knob (not shown) provided on the operation portions 22 and 42. Each of the distal end hard portions 29 and 49 can be oriented in a desired direction.

The fiberscope 2 and the electronic endoscope 4 may have different thicknesses depending on the purpose of diagnosis and the part to be diagnosed.
There are a plurality of types having different insertion part lengths and the like.

The TV camera 3 includes the camera head 3
A cable connector 32 is provided at the base end of the cable connector 32 extending from a side peripheral portion of the CCU 6. A camera connector 33 detachable from a CCU connector 61 provided on the CCU 6 is provided. And the camera head 31
The image signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state imaging device (shown by reference numeral 34 in FIG. 2) is
3. The data is transmitted to the CCU 6 via the CCU connector 61.

On the other hand, an image signal photoelectrically converted by a solid-state image pickup device (not shown) provided in the insertion section 41 of the electronic endoscope 4 is supplied to an electric connector provided on the side of the endoscope connector. 45 is provided with a detachable video connector 81 at one end, and is transmitted to the CCU 6 via a signal cable 8 having a camera connector 82 detachably attached to the CCU connector 61 at the other end.

That is, in the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the TV camera 3 is connected to the fiber scope 2 as well as the endoscope image of the observed part taken by the electronic endoscope 4, and the fiber By displaying an optical image of the observed part captured by the scope 2 on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 as an endoscope image, observation and diagnosis can be performed simultaneously by many people.

At this time, there is one CCU 6 for the TV camera 3 and the electronic endoscope 4, and this one CCU
6 to display a normal endoscope image, a length of a signal cable (not shown) extending from the solid-state imaging device of the electronic endoscope 4 to the camera connector 82, and a length of the solid-state image of the TV camera 3. The length of the signal cable (reference numeral 35 in FIG. 2) extending from the image pickup device 34 to the camera connector 33 is set to substantially the same length. When the signal cable 8 is used, since the electronic endoscope 4 has no eyepiece, the television camera 3 becomes unnecessary. Other operations are the same as those of the fiberscope 2.

The configuration of the TV camera 3 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, both ends of the cable flexible tube 32 are integrally fixed to the camera head 31 and the camera connector 33, respectively, via buckling prevention portions 51 for preventing buckling.

A solid-state image sensor 34 is built in the camera head 31, and an elongated signal cable 35 extends from the solid-state image sensor 34. The length of the signal cable 35 is determined by changing the length of the solid-state imaging device of the electronic endoscope 4 from the insertion unit 41 to the operation unit 42 to prevent the image signal from deteriorating before being transmitted to the CCU 6.
The length of the signal cable extending to the camera connector 82 through the universal cord 43 and the signal cable 8 is set to be substantially the same as the length of the signal cable. On the other hand, the length of the cable coiled tube 32 through which the signal cable 35 is inserted is set to about １ ／ of the length of the signal cable 35.
The length is set slightly shorter.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the signal cable 35 is
2, after being inserted into the cable flexible tube 32 from one opening 32a side (reference numeral 35a) and projecting once from the other opening 32b side,
A folded portion 35d is formed outside the vicinity of the other opening 32b of the cable flexible tube 32, and is inserted again into the cable flexible tube 32 from the other opening 32b side (reference numeral 35b) and protrudes from the one opening 32a side. A folded portion 35e is formed outside the vicinity of the one opening 32a, and is inserted again into the cable flexible tube 32 from the one opening 32a side (reference numeral 35c) and protrudes from the other opening 32b, and is provided in the camera connector 33. A signal cable 35 is electrically and mechanically connected to a predetermined connector pin 36. That is, the signal cable 35 is arranged so as to reciprocate one and a half times in the cable coil 32.

A signal cable slack portion 35f is provided inside the camera connector 33. By providing the signal cable slack portion 35f, the signal cable 35 can be repaired a plurality of times. I have.

Reference numeral 37 denotes an electric cable inserted into the cable coil 32 in addition to the signal cable 35. One end of the electric cable 37 is connected to a predetermined connector pin 3 provided on the camera connector 33.
6 is electrically and mechanically connected, and the other end is electrically and mechanically connected to each of four remote switches 85 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a ferrite core which is a tubular member and is a member for reducing unnecessary radiation noise. The signal cable 35 is provided in a through hole of the ferrite core 52.
Is inserted therein. As a result, the noise mixed in the signal cable 35 is absorbed by the ferrite core 52, and the image signal from which the noise has been removed is transmitted to the CCU 6.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 3, the camera head 31 of the TV camera 3 is made of, for example, metal and has a substantially convex cross section and a through hole 53a formed on the central axis. A head cover 54 formed of a non-conductive resin member externally fitted to the base main body 53; and a mount portion 55 having one end fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the head cover 54 in a water-tight manner. When the mount section 55 is attached and fixed to the eyepiece section 24 of the fiber scope 2, the horizontal reference plane of the fiber scope 2 and the horizontal reference plane of the TV camera 3 substantially match. ing.

When the mount 55 is mounted and fixed to the eyepiece 24, a plurality of contact pins 56 fixed to the mount 55 in a watertight manner and the contact receiving portion 24a of the eyepiece 24 are electrically connected. The LED 57 is illuminated by contact with. That is, when the LED 57 is turned on, it is possible to easily visually recognize that the TV camera 3 is securely attached to the fiberscope 2 from the outside.

The mount portion 55 has the through hole 53a.
A cover glass 62 is fixed to the eyepiece side of the through hole in a watertight manner. The laser light cut filter 63 is detachably fixed to the mount portion 55 with an adhesive having a low adhesive strength so as to be located on the surface of the cover glass 62 on the eyepiece portion 24 side.

Thus, when a laser probe is inserted into a treatment tool insertion channel (not shown) of the fiber scope 2 and a laser beam of various wavelengths is irradiated to perform diagnosis and treatment, adverse effects due to the laser irradiation light are eliminated. An endoscopic image of the observed part is displayed on a monitor screen to enable observation. When the laser probe is not used, the laser light cut filter 63 is detached and used.

On the other hand, the through hole 53a of the base body 53
A lens frame 64a provided with an observation optical system 64 composed of a plurality of optical lenses facing the cover glass 62 is fixed to the front end of the lens frame 64a.

An optical low-pass filter 65, an infrared light cut filter 66, and a relay lens 67, which are formed by joining three filters having different cutting directions in order from the eyepiece side, are arranged behind the optical axis of the observation optical system 64. , Solid-state imaging device 3
4, an imaging unit 69 in which the drive circuit board 68 and the signal cable 35 are integrally formed.

The imaging unit 69 is fixed to the base end side of the through hole 53a of the base body 53 via an adjusting member 71 capable of adjusting the eccentricity and inclination with respect to the observation optical system 64.

The adjusting member 71 has two centering members 72 for performing eccentricity adjustment, six adjusting screws 73 for adjusting the inclination, and guides the centering member 72, while the adjusting screw 73 is The guide member 74 is provided.

The adjusting screw 73 is provided at a position corresponding to the adjusting screw 73 of the base body 53 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the guide member 74 and the shield cylinder 75 covering the outer peripheral side of the base end of the base body 53. A through hole 76 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter is formed. These through holes 76
The holes for adjusting the eccentricity and inclination of the imaging unit 69 with respect to the observation optical system 64 in a state where the shield tube 75 is provided, and these through holes 76 are provided after the adjustment of the eccentricity and inclination is completed. And a shield tape 77 such as a copper foil tape.

By providing these through holes 76, the eccentricity and inclination of the imaging unit 69 with respect to the observation optical system 64 can be adjusted to a predetermined state after the shield tube 75 is provided. Like shield tube 75
In addition to eliminating the misalignment and tilt caused by the application of an external force or the like to the signal cable 35 when the signal cable 35 is covered, the process of readjustment is eliminated. As a result, the quality can be improved as compared with the conventional assembling method, and the assembling can be performed at a low cost. By closing the through-holes 76 with the shield tape after the adjustment, the provision of these through-holes 76 prevents the shielding performance from being deteriorated.

A conductive spring 78 such as a metal plate spring is provided on the side and upper surfaces of the shield cylinder 75 so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of the head cover 54. This conductive spring 78
Are electrically connected to a shield film 79 such as a metal flex or metal blade provided on the inner surface of the head cover 54 or an aluminum-deposited shield member to be deposited.

Thus, radiation noise is radiated from the inside of the camera head 31 to the outside, and external noise is prevented from entering the inside of the camera head 31 from the outside.

Further, one end of the cable flexible tube 32 is fixed to the shield film 79 of the head cover 54 by covering a soft resin in a watertight manner. As a result, the shield film 79, the camera connector 33, and the cable flexible tube 32 are electrically connected to each other and have the same potential as the GND of the solid-state imaging device.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bend preventing portion 51 on the camera head 31 side is rotatable within a range of about 90 degrees as shown by an arrow, and has two positions shown by a solid line and a position shown by a two-dot chain line. It is structured to be fixed at a location by a stopper / fixing member 84. This is the operation of the surgeon
This is for improving operability.

That is, a universal cord 23 is provided on the fiber scope 2 with respect to the central axis of the eyepiece 24.
There is a structure extending to the OWN side and a structure extending to the RIGHT side. And the TV camera 3
The universal cord 23 is used in combination with either the structure extending to the DOWN side or the structure extending to the RIGHT side.

For this reason, the folding stopper 51 is constructed so as to be rotatable and fixed within a range of about 90 degrees, so that the universal cord 23 and the cable flexible tube 32 can be combined with either type of fiberscope 2. The operability is improved by matching the extending directions.

A plurality of remote switches 53 are provided on the upper surface of the camera head 31 at a position where no interference occurs when the folding stopper 51 is rotated, for performing freeze, release, dimming, switching of screen size, and the like. . On the outer surface of the remote switch 85, a number indicating the number of each switch is formed in a convex or concave shape, and a fluorescent paint is applied to the surface. For this reason, the position and type of the switch can be easily identified even in a dark endoscopy room.

The configuration of the main part of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 90 shown in FIG. 5 denotes a plurality of optical fibers 91, which are inserted inside the fiberscope 2.
, And 91 are bundled and configured.

As shown in the figure, when the TV camera 3 is attached and fixed to the eyepiece 24 of the fiberscope 2, the image guide 90 of the fiberscope 2 and the eyepiece 2
An eyepiece group 92 provided on the camera head 4, a lens group 93 provided on the camera head 31, an optical low-pass filter 65, and the solid-state imaging device 34 are arranged at a predetermined interval on one optical axis. .

The image guide 90 has a plurality of ultrafine and flexible glass optical fibers 91,... An optical fiber 9 in which a plurality of books are arranged and arranged.
Since the optical fibers 91,..., 91 are stacked in close contact with each other, shifted by に pitch one after another, the optical fibers 91,. It is a so-called bale-stacked arrangement arranged regularly at intervals.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the optical fibers 91,..., 91 of the fiber scope 2 are oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a fiber scope horizontal reference plane (abbreviated as a scope horizontal reference plane) 100. The array pattern is also formed in the directions of 60 degrees and 120 degrees with respect to the horizontal reference plane 100 of the scope. That is, an array pattern having three directions with respect to the scope horizontal reference plane 100 is formed on both end faces.

The fiber scope 2 in which the image guide 90 formed in the above-described configuration is interpolated has been developed variously before (more than 10 years ago), and many types of fiber scopes 2 already exist. It is used. Reference numeral 94 in the figure is an UP index indicating an upward direction when the operator is using the fiberscope 2.
The UP index 94 has, for example, an inverted triangular shape in which one is a vertical line and the other is asymmetric with respect to a vertical axis oblique to the vertical line. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a mask member 95 is integrally provided at the eyepiece side end of the image guide 90, and this mask member 95 is monitored together with the UP index 94 as shown in FIG. 7 screen 7a
Displayed above.

Conventionally, the TV camera 3 for picking up an optical image transmitted through the image guide 90 of the fiberscope 2 is provided with an eyepiece 2 of the fiberscope 2.
4 and fixed. As shown in FIG. 6B, provided on the camera head 31 of the TV camera 3 is an optical low-pass filter 65 having a light directionality for cutting light in three directions indicated by arrows a, b, and c. , Arrow b
Are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scope horizontal reference plane 100.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the solid-state image sensor 34 has pixels 34a,... The solid-state image sensor 34 is arranged in a horizontal direction in parallel with the horizontal reference plane 100 of the scope.

That is, the optical low-pass filter 65 and the solid-state imaging device 34 are fixed in the TV camera 3 substantially parallel to the scope horizontal reference plane 100 of the fiber scope 2.

However, when the optical image transmitted through the image guide 90 is captured by the solid-state image sensor 34 through the optical low-pass filter 65, it is displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 as shown in FIG. Due to the regularity of the image guide 90 and the regularity of the solid-state imaging device 34, the interference fringes of both are present on an endoscopic image 97 showing a lesion 96 of an organ in a body cavity such as a polyp, which is a region to be observed. Certain moiré fringes 98 may have occurred.

The moiré fringes 98 are, in particular, optical fibers 91,
, 91 are aligned with the scope horizontal direction reference plane 100 of the fiberscope 2 with respect to the image guide 90, and the pixels 3 of the solid-state imaging device 34
When the arrangement directions of 4a,..., And 34a were substantially coincident, they were strongly generated and obstructed observation.

Therefore, in order to reduce the moire fringes 98 generated on the endoscope image 97, the fiber scope 2 is used.
The arrangement positional relationship of the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state imaging device 34 with respect to the scope horizontal reference plane 100 was varied by rotating the solid-state imaging device 34. Then, depending on the angle, that is, the arrangement position of the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state imaging device 34 with respect to the scope horizontal reference plane 100 of the fiberscope 2 is inclined, so that the moire fringes 98 can be seen. It was confirmed that the state changed.

Therefore, moiré fringes 9 appearing on the monitor screen are displayed.
8 was examined to make the angle 8 inconspicuous. The moire fringes 98 appear due to factors such as the diameter of the optical fibers 91,..., 91 constituting the image guide 90, the magnification of the eyepiece 24, and the size of the pixels 34 a,. There are some differences.

However, in any combination, FIG.
As shown in (b), the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state imaging device 34 is set to the plus side or from the positional relationship between the scope horizontal reference surface 100 of the fiberscope 2 and the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state imaging device 34. It was confirmed that moiré fringes 98 were reduced by arranging them at an angle of 4 to 44 degrees toward the minus side. When the variation θ is set within the range of 5 to 20 degrees in consideration of the variation, the arrangement direction of the pixels 34 a,..., 34 a of the solid-state imaging device 34 is fixed to the vertical line. The angle θ, which is the angle θ, is arranged and fixed within a range of ± 7.5 degrees around 12.5 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the direction in which the solid-state image sensor 34 is tilted (the direction in which the solid-state image sensor 34 is rotated) is defined with respect to the horizontal direction reference plane 100 of the fiberscope 2. When the line 101 is rotated counterclockwise, there is an advantage that the user is less bothered when focusing on the UP index 94 displayed on the monitor screen. This is because the shape of the UP index 94 is asymmetric.

Furthermore, the inclination of the endoscope image 97 displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 is originally smaller, so that the less unpleasant, the less the inclination angle of the endoscope image 97 is 44 degrees. For the display below, for example, it is possible to recognize the UP direction as the UP direction. That is, when the endoscope image 97 with the tilt angle set to 44 degrees or less is displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7, the endoscope image 97 is displayed.
It was confirmed that the patient felt a little uncomfortable in the initial state of observing but did not hinder the diagnosis.

For this reason, in this embodiment, in order to make the moiré fringes 98 appearing in the endoscope image 97 displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 inconspicuous, the solid-state image sensor 34 shown in FIG. With respect to the scope horizontal reference plane 100 of the fiber scope 2 at an angle θ, where θ = 1
2.5 ° ± 7.5 °, that is, the angle θ is tilted counterclockwise in the range of 5 ° to 20 ° and fixed inside the TV camera 3.

The operation of the TV camera 3 configured as described above will be described. First, when an observation / diagnosis is performed by displaying an endoscope image of a part to be observed existing in a body cavity or a lumen on the monitor 7 using the fiberscope 2, the eyepiece 24 of the fiberscope 2 is used. The camera head 31 of the TV camera 3 is mounted and fixed. Fiberscope 2
Is connected to the light source device 5, and the camera connector 33 of the TV camera 3 is connected to the CCU 6. At this time, the CCU 6 and the monitor 7 are connected on the back side,
Further, the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 are connected as needed.

Next, the power of the light source device 5, the CCU 6, and the monitor 7 are turned on, and it is confirmed whether or not a normal image is displayed on the monitor 7. After the confirmation, the illumination light is emitted from the tip of the fiberscope 2 and the insertion portion 21 of the fiberscope 2 is inserted to the target portion. At this time, air supply, water supply, suction, and the like are performed as necessary.

The optical image of the observed part captured by the fiber scope 2 is transmitted to the image guide 90,
The light passes through the observation optical system 64 of the TV camera 3 and forms an image on the solid-state imaging device 34.

Next, the solid-state imaging device 34 photoelectrically converts the formed optical image into an image signal, and transmits the photoelectrically converted image signal to the CCU 6 via the signal cable 35. The CCU 6 generates a video signal from the transmitted image signal and outputs it to the monitor 7.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, on the screen 7a of the monitor 7, the inclination angle θ between the scope horizontal reference plane 100 of the fiber scope 2 and the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state image sensor 34 is determined. A tilted endoscope image with no moiré fringes generated by the same angle θ is displayed.
Observation and diagnosis are performed while viewing the endoscope image 97 of the observed part.

The screen 7a of the monitor 7 has an endoscope view of the observed part inclined by the same angle θ as the inclination angle θ between the scope horizontal reference plane 100 of the fiberscope 2 and the horizontal reference line 101 of the solid-state image sensor 34. Although the mirror image 97 is displayed, there is no problem in diagnosis because the tilt angle is within 20 °.

As described above, when a television camera is formed by being used in combination with a variety of fiberscopes already manufactured, the horizontal reference line of the solid-state image pickup device is set to 12.5 ° ± 7.5 in the camera head. °, angle 5 degrees to 2
When the optical image captured by the fiberscope is captured by a television camera and displayed on a monitor screen, the optical low-pass filter is disposed when the optical image captured by the fiberscope is fixed by being tilted counterclockwise in a range of 0 degrees. Despite the absence, it is possible to obtain a clear endoscope image in which moiré fringes hardly occur in the displayed endoscope image.

Also, since the inclination of the observed part displayed on the monitor screen in the UP direction is not more than 20 °, it is possible to prevent the endoscope image to be observed from causing discomfort / diagnosis. Can be.

Further, since the signal cable to be inserted through the cable flexible tube is folded back in the axial direction, and the same signal cable is inserted three times into the remaining space in the same circular cross section, the thickness of the cable flexible tube is increased. A signal cable longer than the cable tube can be stably stored in the cable tube of the TV camera without making the diameter.

Further, since the folded portion of the signal cable is formed in the camera connector and the camera head which have a larger empty space compared to the inside of the cable coil, stress on the folded portion is reduced, and the quality of the signal cable is maintained. Can be achieved.

Further, by providing the ferrite core and the shield member, the radiation noise going to the outside is small, and the influence of the external noise entering the inside can be prevented.

Thus, the operator can display a good endoscope image on the monitor screen regardless of the fiberscope or the electronic endoscope without deteriorating the stability of the operation, and perform the examination and inspection. Take action.

As shown in FIG. 8, the optical low-pass filter 65 shown in FIG. 8B is inclined at the same angle θ as that of the solid-state imaging device 34 shown in FIG. By arranging the imaging unit 69 by disposing it between the image guide 90 and the solid-state imaging device 34 shown in the drawing, the imaging unit 69 is displayed on the endoscope image 97 displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 as shown in FIG. The appearance of moire fringes can be more effectively prevented.

Further, depending on the type of the solid-state imaging device 34A shown in FIG. 9C, the optical low-pass filter 65 is made to substantially coincide with the reference plane 100 in the horizontal direction of the scope of the fiberscope 2 as shown in FIG. By arranging the image pickup unit 69 between the image guide 90 and the solid-state image sensor 34 shown in FIG. 7A, the image is displayed on the screen 7a of the monitor 7 as shown in FIG. Moire fringes appearing on the endoscope image 97 can be effectively prevented.

Further, for example, a plurality of electronic endoscopes 4 are provided as the endoscope apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 10, and the length of the insertion portion 41 is reduced as shown in FIG. When the first electronic endoscope 4A is short and the second electronic endoscope 4B has a long insertion portion 41 as shown in FIG. 10B, solid-state imaging of the first electronic endoscope 4A is performed. A signal cable 99a extending from the element 98a and the second electronic endoscope 4
A signal cable 99 extending from the B solid-state imaging device 98b
b is connected to the same CCU6.

At this time, in order to prevent the deterioration of the image signal due to the difference in the length of the signal cable 99a and the signal cable 99b, the interpolation is performed between the first electronic endoscope 4A and the second electronic endoscope 4B. Signal cables 99a, 99b
Are set to substantially the same length.

For this reason, in the first electronic endoscope 4A having the short insertion portion 41, the signal cable 99a inserted through the universal cord 43 is folded back in the axial direction, similarly to the embodiment of the TV camera 3 described above. It is stored. Also,
Between the universal cord 43 and the endoscope connector 44, a connecting portion 105 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the universal cord 43 is provided. Then, the folded portion 9 of the signal cable 99a is provided in the connecting portion 105.
9c. This eliminates the need to provide extra cable lengths for repair.

On the other hand, in the second electronic endoscope 4B, the insertion section 41 is the longest endoscope, and the signal cable 99b
Are inserted and arranged without forming a folded portion.

As described above, even in an endoscope apparatus in which an electronic endoscope having a different insertion section length is used by connecting it to one CCU, similar to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to obtain a satisfactory endoscope having no problems such as image deterioration. An endoscopic image can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the switch box 11
0, and a plurality of remote switches 85
And a flexible rubber cable tube 111 extends from the upper surface of the switch box 110.
Further, a buckling portion 112 made of a soft tube is provided at an end of the cable flexible tube 111 to prevent the cable flexible tube 111 from buckling.

The cable flexible tube 111 is provided with
12 can be freely bent in a desired direction. For this reason, Fiberscope 2
The operability is impaired by freely bending the universal cord 23 extending from the operation unit 22 of the irrespective of whether it is on the DOWN side, the RIGHT side, or another direction. Has been prevented.

The remote switch 85 is covered with a transparent cover 85a other than the numbered portion, and a light emitting means such as an LED (not shown) is embedded in the cover 85a. For this reason, the position and type of the remote switch can be reliably determined even in a dim endoscopy room.

Also, as shown in FIG.
As the folded portion of No. 5, a first folded portion 113a is provided inside the camera connector 33, and a second folded portion 113b is provided in the middle of the cable flexible tube 111. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As described above, by making the cable flexible tube extending from the switch box portion of a soft rubber, the cable flexible tube can be bent in accordance with other cables and the like to obtain good operability.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, by providing focus adjusting means instead of or in addition to the optical low-pass filter, moire fringes can be completely eliminated by defocusing. A configuration that eliminates them may be used. Further, the method of stacking the optical fibers of the image guide is not limited to the bale stacking, but may be the same as the pixels of the solid-state imaging device, and may be stacked in the vertical and horizontal directions at the same pitch. Further, the type of the solid-state imaging device may be a so-called simultaneous type using a color chip or a plane-sequential type using a black and white chip. The method of storing the signal cable, the structure of the cable coil, the configuration of the remote switch, and the like may be any of the configurations of the embodiments, and can be freely modified as a matter of course.

That is, the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention as described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A plurality of optical fibers are arranged neatly in the horizontal and vertical directions with a predetermined surface as a reference surface, and an array pattern substantially parallel to the horizontal reference surface of the fiberscope is formed on the base end surface. A fiberscope equipped with an optical fiber bundle as an image guide, and a number of pixels attached to an eyepiece of the fiberscope, which captures an optical image transmitted by the image guide and converts it into an image signal. An external television camera for an endoscope equipped with a solid-state imaging device formed as an imaging optical system that is arranged in a regular and horizontal manner at regular intervals with respect to a reference line, and a solid-state camera of this external television camera for an endoscope An endoscope apparatus comprising: a camera control unit that generates an image signal photoelectrically converted by an imaging device into a video signal to be displayed on a television monitor screen and outputs the video signal to a television monitor In the above, when the external television camera for endoscope is mounted on the eyepiece of the fiberscope, the horizontal reference line of the solid-state imaging device of the external television camera for endoscope is aligned with the horizontal direction of the fiberscope. A solid-state imaging device with respect to a horizontal reference line of the external television camera for an endoscope so as to have a positional relationship inclined from 4 degrees to 44 degrees with respect to the reference plane on the plus side or the minus side. An endoscope device in which the horizontal reference line is inclined.

(2) The positional relationship between the horizontal direction of the endoscopic image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor screen and the horizontal reference line of the television monitor is determined by the horizontal reference line of the solid-state image sensor. The endoscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus is set to have a positional relationship inclined in a predetermined angle range, similarly to the positional relationship between the fiberscope and the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope.

(3) Supplementary note 1 or 2 in which an optical low-pass filter is arranged between the eyepiece and the solid-state imaging device
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.

(4) The set angle of the inclined positional relationship between the horizontal reference line of the solid-state imaging device and the horizontal reference plane of the scope of the fiberscope is set to the plus side with respect to the horizontal reference plane of the scope of the fiberscope. Or the endoscope apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the angle is in the range of 5 to 20 degrees on the negative side.

As a result, the angle range can be changed from 4 degrees to 44 degrees.
Moire fringes are less likely to occur, and the appearance does not feel uncomfortable, as compared with the case where the setting is made between degrees.

(5) The arrangement of the plurality of optical fibers is in a bale-stacked shape, and the end face has a direction parallel to the scope horizontal reference plane and a distance of 60 degrees from the scope horizontal reference plane.
2. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein an array pattern having three directions of a direction of 120 degrees and a direction of 120 degrees is formed.

(6) In an endoscope apparatus having a signal cable for transmitting and receiving signals by electrically connecting a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an optical image and a camera control unit, the signal cable is connected to a cable snake. An endoscope device that is folded back in the axial direction and housed in a tube.

(7) In the signal cable, the solid-state imaging device is arranged in an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device is arranged on the distal end side of the insertion portion or in a camera head attached and fixed to an eyepiece of a fiberscope. 7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope apparatus is provided in an external television camera for an endoscope.

(8) The total length of the signal cable is at least three times the total length of the cable coil, and the signal cable has a folded portion near the outside of the end face thereof. The endoscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 6 or 7, wherein the endoscope device is stored as a sheet.

(9) In a plurality of types of endoscopes or television cameras having different insertion section lengths, the total length of the signal cable is determined by a predetermined length required for transmission and reception between the camera control unit and the solid-state imaging device. The endoscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 6 or 7, set in the range.

As described above, in the endoscope apparatus having the configuration of Appendix 6 to Appendix 9, it is possible to prevent the cable snare tube, the operation unit, the video connector, and the like from being enlarged, and to reduce the workability of the operator without reducing the workability. When equipped with a signal cable set to a length and used in combination with one camera control unit, the solid-state imaging device operates normally and there is no problem such as image deterioration.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an external television camera for an endoscope is used in combination with an existing fiberscope, a clear endoscope image free from moire fringes on a monitor screen. Can be provided, and an easy-to-handle endoscope apparatus that enables a good diagnosis can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 7 relate to one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external television camera for an endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view in a state where a camera head is mounted on an eyepiece;

FIG. 4 is an external view showing a positional relationship between a camera head and a cable flexible tube.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an imaging state of an imaging optical system in a camera head and an optical system in an eyepiece;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for comparison with the present embodiment, illustrating the positional relationship between a fiberscope and a conventional TV camera, and an image of a part to be observed displayed on a television monitor at that time.

FIG. 7 shows a fiberscope and a TV according to the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an arrangement positional relationship with a camera and an image of an observed part displayed on a television monitor at that time.

FIG. 8 is a view of another configuration for explaining an arrangement positional relationship between a fiberscope and a TV camera and an image of a portion to be observed displayed on a television monitor at that time.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another configuration for explaining the arrangement positional relationship between the fiberscope and the TV camera and an image of the observed part displayed on the television monitor at that time.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a difference between two electronic endoscopes constituting the endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of the camera head of the TV camera.

FIG. 12 is a view of the camera head of FIG. 11 when viewed from an arrow B side.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a folded portion of a signal cable inserted into the TV camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Fiberscope 34: Solid-state image sensor 34a: Pixel 90: Image guide 91: Optical fiber 100: Scope horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope 101: Horizontal reference line of the solid-state image sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of optical fibers are arranged neatly in the horizontal and vertical directions with a predetermined surface as a reference surface, and an array pattern substantially parallel to a horizontal reference surface of a fiberscope is formed on a base end surface. A fiberscope provided with an optical fiber bundle as an image guide, and a plurality of pixels mounted on an eyepiece of the fiberscope, which captures an optical image transmitted by the image guide and converts it into an image signal. An external TV camera for an endoscope equipped with solid-state imaging devices formed as an imaging optical system that are arranged in a horizontal and vertical direction at regular intervals with respect to lines, and a solid-state image of the external TV camera for the endoscope An endoscope apparatus including a camera control unit that generates an image signal photoelectrically converted by the element into a video signal to be displayed on a television monitor screen and outputs the video signal to a television monitor. When the external television camera for an endoscope is attached to the eyepiece of the fiberscope, the horizontal reference line of the solid-state imaging device of the external television camera for the endoscope is aligned with the horizontal direction of the fiberscope. A solid-state imaging device with respect to a horizontal reference line of the external television camera for an endoscope so as to have a positional relationship inclined from 4 degrees to 44 degrees with respect to a reference plane on a plus side or a minus side; An endoscope apparatus characterized in that the horizontal reference line is inclined. 2. The positional relationship between the horizontal direction of an endoscopic image of a site to be observed displayed on the television monitor screen and a horizontal reference line of the television monitor is defined by a horizontal reference line of a solid-state imaging device. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship is set to be inclined within a predetermined angle range, similarly to the positional relationship with the horizontal reference plane of the fiberscope. 3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical low-pass filter is disposed between the eyepiece and the solid-state imaging device.