JP2002034897A - Diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a diagnostic system capable of tactilely recognizing by an operator and improving a function of diagnosis by raising a utilization efficiency of information. SOLUTION: The diagnosing system comprises a contact section with a specimen 43, an organism information sensing means 44 for sensing a pressure of the contact section conning into contact with the specimen, a contact section of an observer 48, and a stimulus generator 47 disposed at the contact section with the observer to generate a pressure or a mechanical stimulus for the observer based on an output of the information sensing means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diagnostic system provided with means for reproducing information on a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. In a conventional endoscope, it is difficult to visually recognize irregularities on an object.
By using a stereo endoscope provided with two objective optical systems as disclosed in JP-A-216403,
Devices that can be made dimensionally have been proposed.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned stereo endoscope, the shape can be confirmed three-dimensionally.
The information could not be used effectively because of the lack of tactile perception. For example, if the target portion has irregularities, it is not possible to tactilely recognize how much the irregularity of the target portion is actually.

[0004] This problem also exists in cases other than the endoscope.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a diagnostic system that allows an operator to tactilely perceive, improve the efficiency of use of information, and improve the diagnostic function.

[0006]

According to a first diagnostic system of the present invention, a contact portion with a subject, a biological information detecting means for detecting a pressure of a portion where the contact portion contacts the subject, and an observation system. A contact part with the observer and a stimulus generator provided at the contact part with the observer and generating a pressure or a mechanical stimulus to the observer based on the output of the biological information detecting means. It is characterized by having done.

A second diagnostic system according to the present invention is provided at a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a subject, a contact portion with an observer, and a contact portion with the observer. And a temperature change unit that generates heat based on the temperature.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 1, a diagnostic system 1 of the present invention includes a detecting means 2 for detecting information on a living body or information inside a machine, and performs signal processing on an output signal of the detecting means 2. A signal processing unit 3 and an object information reproducing unit 4 that operates based on the output of the signal processing unit 3 and reproduces information of the object are provided. By grasping the information in advance, the information of the living body or the device can be recognized more efficiently.

FIGS. 2 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an information processing device and a monitor, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a mouse.

As shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope system 11 as a first embodiment of a diagnostic system includes a stereo electronic scope 12, a light source device 13 for supplying illumination light to the electronic scope 12, and an electronic scope 12. An information processing device that processes a signal to an imaging unit and displays the signal on a monitor.
It comprises a monitor 14 and a mouse 15 whose upper and lower parts 15a are moved up and down by an output signal of the information processing device & monitor 14.

The stereo electronic scope 12 includes an elongated insertion portion 17, a wide operation portion 18 formed at the rear end of the insertion portion 17, and a universal cable 19 extending from the operation portion 18. By connecting the connector 20 provided at the end of the universal cable 19 to the light source device 13, illumination light is supplied from the light source device 13 to the incident end face of a light guide (not shown). From this connector 20, the signal cable 2
1 is extended so that it can be connected to the information processing device & monitor 14.

The insertion portion 17 has a rigid distal end portion 22, a bendable bending portion 23, and a flexible portion 24 formed in this order from the distal end side. The operation section 18 is provided with an angle operation knob 25. By operating the knob 25, the bending section 23 can be bent in the up / down / left / right directions.

The illumination light supplied from the light source device 13 is transmitted by a light guide, and is further emitted forward from an end surface in the distal end portion 22 through an illumination lens 26. The object illuminated by the illumination light is focused on CCDs (not shown) arranged on respective focal planes by objective lenses 27a and 27b separately attached to the distal end portion 22, and is photoelectrically converted. Is input to the information processing device & monitor 14 shown in FIG.

Each image signal input to the information processing device & monitor 14 is converted by an A / D converter (not shown) and input to first and second image memories 31a and 31b, respectively, where each image data is stored. You. Each image memory 3
The image data 1a and 31b are read out and input to the stereoscopic image forming unit 32. The stereoscopic image forming unit 32 performs signal processing for displaying as a stereoscopic image and generates a video signal for displaying the stereoscopic image. Then, a stereoscopic image is displayed on the monitor 33.

The first and second image memories 31a, 31
The image data b is also input to the calculation unit 34, and the amount of unevenness of the image is calculated from the image data. On the other hand, mouse 15
Detects the amount of movement of the mouse 15 by the movement amount detection unit 35 and outputs the detected signal to the mouse signal input unit 36. The mouse 1 input to the mouse signal input unit 36
The moving position of 5 is output to the stereoscopic image forming unit 32, and the position of the mouse 15 is displayed on the screen of the monitor 33 with the cursor 37 (see FIG. 2).

The position of the mouse 15 is determined by the operation unit 34.
The calculation unit 34 outputs the amount of unevenness of the endoscope image portion of the portion where the mouse 15 is located to the displacement amount generating means 38. This displacement amount generating means 38 is
The upper and lower portions 15a are moved up and down in accordance with the output of No. 4, so that the unevenness at the position designated by the cursor 37 can be reproduced. The upper and lower portions 15a are configured to be driven up and down by a shape memory alloy or the pressure of air.

According to this first embodiment, the surgeon can
When the hand 39 is placed on the upper and lower portions 15a of the mouse 15 and the cursor 37 is moved to a desired position in the endoscopic image as shown in FIG. The upper and lower portions 15a move up and down by the amount of unevenness obtained by the calculation. Therefore, when the surgeon moves the mouse 15 on the endoscope image, the surge amount of the endoscope image in the moving portion on the image can be transmitted to the finger (hand) by the up and down movement of the upper and lower portions 15a. Can be recognized.

Therefore, the operator can know not only a three-dimensional image on the monitor 33 but also a tactile sense, so that a more accurate diagnosis can be made. The amount of unevenness at the cursor position is calculated by the calculation unit 34, and the upper and lower
When a is moved up and down by an amount corresponding to the unevenness, a setting means for setting the amount of up and down movement to an arbitrary multiple of the unevenness amount calculated by the arithmetic unit 34 may be provided.

FIG. 5 shows a biological information notification device 41 according to a second embodiment of the present invention in use. The device 41 includes an endoscope 42, a biological information detecting unit 44 for detecting biological information of a patient 43 observed by the endoscope 42, and a living body for performing signal processing on the biological information detected by the detecting unit 44. An information signal processing device 45, a driving device 46 for performing a process driven by the processing device 45, and a stimulus generating portion 47 driven by the driving device 46 are provided.
It is attached to the operator 48 who observes by the, and transmits a stimulus to the operator 48 so that biological information of the patient 43 can be reproduced.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the notification device 41. The biological information detecting unit 44 attached to the patient 43 has a biological information detecting element 51 attached to a rubber band, for example.
The detection element 51 is for detecting biological information such as the heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen concentration (O2) of the patient 43, and a detection signal is input to the biological information signal processing device 45.

The biological information signal processor 45 performs signal processing to calculate, for example, a heart rate, an oxygen concentration (oxygen content), a blood pressure, and the like.
Each value is displayed by b and 45c. The processing unit 45 displays each value on each of the display units 45a, 45b, and 45c, outputs a signal to the drive unit 46, and drives the stimulus generation unit 47 via the drive unit 46. In the stimulus generation section 47, a stimulus generation element 52 composed of a piezoelectric element or the like is provided on a mounting band section 53.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a method of driving the stimulus generating element 52. FIG. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the heartbeat (upper waveform) and the stimulus generating element 52 (lower diagram). As shown in FIG.
The stimulus generating element 52 is driven in accordance with the heartbeat (the heart rate can be confirmed by stimulation). FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the driving amounts when the blood pressure is high (a) and when the blood pressure is low (b). When the blood pressure is high, the drive amount of the stimulus generation element 52 becomes large as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the blood pressure is low, the driving amount becomes small as shown in FIG. 8B (the blood pressure can be confirmed by the amount of stimulation).

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the oxygen concentration and the driving amount of the stimulus generating element 52. In the case of FIG. 9A where the oxygen concentration is low, oxygen is in short supply, and the stimulus generation element 52 is driven from the expanded state. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 9B where the oxygen concentration is low, the stimulus generating element 52 is driven from a state where it is not extended (this can be confirmed by a stimulus that tightens the operator 43).

FIG. 10 shows a detailed configuration of the notification device 41. The oxygen concentration is detected by the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62. The light emitting element 61 is driven by a light emitting element driving unit 63, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 61 is detected by the light receiving element 62 as the amount of transmitted light of the living body, and the light receiving element processing unit 64
Is output to In this case, when the oxygen concentration is high, the attenuation of light increases, and the oxygen concentration is detected from the amount of attenuation (for example, a pulse oximeter manufactured by Minolta).

The light is processed by the light receiving element processing section 64 and displayed on the oxygen concentration signal output section 65.
The voltage is output to the voltage generating means 66 in the
6, the voltage constantly applied to the stimulus generating element 52 is changed by this signal.

In the heartbeat detection, a heartbeat is detected by a heartbeat detection element 67 composed of a piezoelectric element or the like.
The heartbeat signal output unit 69 displays the heartbeat signal, and in synchronization with the heartbeat signal, drives the pulse generation means 70 to apply a voltage to the stimulus generation element 52 in a pulsed manner. ing.

The blood pressure is detected by pressing the blood pressure detecting element 72 by the compression element 71. The compression element 71 is driven by the compression element driving unit 73, and the voltage detected by the blood pressure detection element 72 is detected by the voltage detection unit 74 and is input to the blood pressure signal calculation unit 75 together with the output of the compression element driving unit 73. You. This blood pressure signal calculation unit 75
The blood pressure is calculated by calculation from the driving amount of the compression element driving unit 73 and the output of the voltage detection unit 74, and output to the blood pressure signal output unit 76.

The blood pressure signal is displayed by the blood pressure signal output unit 76 and the blood pressure signal is output to the pulse voltage control means 76.
The voltage level of the 0 pulse output is controlled. The control unit 7
8 is an operation amount of the stimulus generation element 52, a voltage generation unit 66,
Selection and control of a combination of driving of the pulse generation means 70 and the pulse voltage control means 77 (only one combination, two combinations, three or the like) are performed.

Incidentally, a respiratory state or the like may be detected as biological information.

According to this embodiment, the patient 43 can be observed by the endoscope 42 and the biological information of the patient 43 is detected, and the information is transmitted to the operator 48 by tactile stimulation. Therefore, the operator 48 can more specifically grasp the condition of the patient 43 and bring information effective for diagnosis.

FIG. 11 shows a living body palpation device 81 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The living body palpation device 81 includes a probe 82
And an ultrasonic sensor 83 constituting the probe 82
Transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave, and a signal received by the ultrasonic sensor 83 is processed by an ultrasonic signal processing unit 84.
5, an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed. In addition, the probe 82
Are provided with pressure-sensitive sensors 86,..., 86. The pressure-sensitive signals detected by the respective pressure-sensitive sensors 86 are transmitted to the signal processing unit 8.
7 is input.

The signal processing unit 87 uses the pressure-sensitive signal and the ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic signal processing unit 84, and determines the shape of the observation unit from the ultrasonic signal and the hardness of the observation unit from the pressure-sensitive signal. Then, these signals are sent to the biological model driving unit 88. The biological model driving unit 88 deforms the biological model 89 based on the input signal so as to have the same shape as the observation unit.

The probe 82 has, for example, an outer shape as shown in FIG. A balloon 91 is provided at the tip of the probe 82, and pressure-sensitive sensors 86,..., 86 are mounted side by side along the surface of the balloon 91. Probe 8
An ultrasonic sensor 83 capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is provided inside 2. The balloon 91 is inflated with water (when inflated with air, ultrasonic waves do not pass).

FIG. 13 shows a probe 8 for diagnosis of esophageal vein cancer.
2 shows a state where 2 is inserted. A tomographic image of the plane indicated by the broken line is imaged by ultrasonic waves. Since the pressure sensors 86,..., 86 are mounted so as not to overlap the tomographic image, the images of the pressure sensors 86,.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the biological model 89, for example. This biological model 89 is, for example, a small balloon 9
A large number of balloons 4,..., 94 are arranged, and the balloon at a predetermined position is inflated or compressed so as to be deformed to have the same shape as the observation part. Then, by actually touching the living body model 89 with the hand 95, the size and hardness of the affected part can be confirmed. In the present embodiment, it is possible to make a diagnosis, which is impossible in an actual living body, in which palpation of esophageal vein cancer is performed from inside the esophagus. As shown in FIG. 15, the living body model 89 may be such that each pin 96 is moved by an actuator or the like to be deformed.

In the diagnosis of rectal cancer or the like, a finger may be directly inserted into the anus of the patient to check for lump or the like.
Although there was a problem in health and safety, if the present invention is applied, there is no need to directly touch the affected part, so that it is hygienic.

FIG. 16 shows a diagnostic system 101 with a temperature sensing function according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The system 101 includes an electronic scope 102 and a CCD of the electronic scope 102.
A camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 104 for performing signal processing on the CCU 103;
4, an endoscope image display monitor 105 for displaying a video signal processed by the signal processing unit 4, a temperature signal processing unit 107 for performing signal processing on a temperature signal detected by an infrared sensor 106 provided in the electronic scope 102, A temperature distribution image display monitor for displaying a temperature distribution image processed by the unit 107; a mouse 109 for setting a marker position; and a temperature changing unit 110 provided on the mouse 109 for displaying the temperature at the marker position by the mouse 109 And a main control unit 111 for performing processing to reproduce the data.

In the diagnostic system 101, the electronic scope 102 is provided with an infrared sensor 106 for detecting the temperature of the diagnostic site, the signal is processed by the temperature signal processing unit 107, and the temperature distribution image is displayed on the monitor 108. I have.
Further, the position of the marker 112 can be moved on the endoscope image and the temperature distribution image by the mouse 109. As shown in FIG. 17, the mouse 109 is provided with a temperature changing unit 110 made of a Peltier element or the like. The position of the temperature change unit 110 is set, for example, at a position where the index finger touches.

FIG. 18 shows a detailed configuration of the main control unit 111 in the diagnostic system 101. Mouse 1
The position (movement amount) signal of the signal 09 is transmitted to the mouse position detection circuit 11.
3, the position of the mouse 109 is detected, and this detection signal is sent to each image memory 11 in the CCU 104 and the temperature signal processing unit 107 via the marker display circuit 114.
5 and 116, and the markers 112 are displayed on the monitors 105 and 108, respectively.

The image memory 116 in the temperature signal processing unit 107 is connected to the temperature signal reading circuit 117, and the temperature signal at the position where the marker 112 is located is read by using the signal of the mouse position detecting circuit 113, and the signal is further amplified. Circuit 1
Amplified by 18. By this amplification, the temperature change is expanded so that a delicate temperature change can be judged by the sense of warmth of the hand, and then output to the temperature change element drive circuit 119, and the drive circuit 119 drives the temperature change unit 110.

The amplification factor of the signal amplification circuit 118 can be variably set by an amplification temperature adjustment circuit 120. According to this embodiment, looking at the endoscope image,
A site suspected of being a lesion can be confirmed as a warm feeling. Therefore, the diagnosis can be made even with a sense of warmness, as compared with the diagnosis based on only the visual sense in the conventional example, so that more accurate diagnosis can be made.

FIG. 19 shows a diagnostic system 131 with a thermal sensation function according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is
In the system 101 in FIG. 16, an ultrasonic endoscope (or an ultrasonic probe) 1 is used instead of the electronic scope 102.
The ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic transducer 133 incorporated in the ultrasonic endoscope 132 is processed by the ultrasonic signal processing unit 134, and the ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on the ultrasonic image display monitor 135.

The ultrasonic endoscope 132 has a microstrip antenna 136 as a temperature detecting element. The microstrip antenna 136 receives a microwave and outputs the microwave to the temperature signal processing unit 107.

The distal end side of the ultrasonic endoscope 132 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the shaft 1 rotated by a motor (not shown)
An ultrasonic transducer 133 and a microstrip antenna 136 are attached to the tip of 41, and these ultrasonic transducers 133 and the microstrip antenna 136 are rotated in the circumferential direction to perform a mechanical scan. The outer circumference of the vibrator 133 and the microstrip antenna 136 is covered with a rubber or a synthetic resin that transmits ultrasonic waves, and the inside of the vibrator 133 and the microstrip antenna 136 transmits ultrasonic waves and is electrically sealed with a liquid having insulating properties. I have. In the case of the ultrasonic endoscope 132,
It has an endoscope function (not shown).

The other construction is the same as that of the fourth embodiment, and the operation and effect are almost the same.

For example, in the fifth embodiment, a ring-shaped temperature changing member 153 having a position sensor 152 attached to a finger 151 may be attached instead of the mouse 109 as shown in FIG. In the above-described embodiment, a trackball provided with a temperature changing member or another pointing device may be used instead of the mouse 109.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, information on the subject is detected by the detecting means, and the subject is reproduced using the information so that the operator can recognize the object tactilely. Therefore, the operator can make a more accurate diagnosis and the like than when performing the diagnosis and the like only visually.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a mouse.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention in use.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a biological information detection unit and the like in a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a driving method for a heartbeat of a stimulus generating element.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of driving a stimulus generating element for blood pressure.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a driving method relating to the oxygen concentration of the stimulus generating element.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a biological information signal processing circuit and the like in a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a configuration of a probe according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state where the probe of FIG. 12 is inserted into the esophagus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a biological model according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing another example of the biological model in the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an overall configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a mouse according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main control unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an overall configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a distal end side of an ultrasonic endoscope according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a main part in a modification of the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Diagnosis system 2 ... Detection means 3 ... Signal processing means 4 ... Subject information reproduction means 11 ... Endoscope system 12 ... Electronic scope 13 ... Light source device 14 ... Information processing device & monitor 15 ... Mouse 15a ... Upper and lower part 41 ... Biological information notifying device 42 Endoscope 43 Patient 44 Biological information detecting unit 45 Biological information signal processing device 46 Driving device 47 Stimulation generating unit 48 Surgeon

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideyuki Adachi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiji Yamaguchi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Within Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Umeyama 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Eiichi Fuse 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Inside the Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Michio Sato Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Masakazu Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus In Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhito Tanaka 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo ORINPASS Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Takashi Fukaya 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori (72) Invention within Compass Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Kiyotaka Matsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuya Suzuki 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F055 AA05 BB14 CC60 DD20 FF05 GG03 2F056 HD02 HD06 HD10 4C061 GG11 HH51

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A contact portion with a subject, a biological information detecting means for detecting a pressure of a portion where the contact portion contacts the subject, a contact portion with an observer, and a contact portion with the observer And a stimulus generator that generates a pressure or a mechanical stimulus to the observer based on the output of the biological information detecting means. 2. A temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a subject, a contact part with an observer, and a temperature which is provided at a contact part with the observer and generates heat based on an output of the temperature detecting means. A diagnostic system, comprising: a changing unit.