JP2011167332A - Electronic endoscope system for telemedicine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscope system for telemedicine which can be remotely operated. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic endoscope system for the telemedicine includes an electronic endoscope which has a first image processing part for generating an observation image on the basis of signals from an imaging element and a radio module for radio transmitting the signals from the imaging element, and a receiver which has a second image processing part for receiving radio transmitted image signals and generating the observation images. The receiver radio transmits a first signal for making agreements for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope to the electronic endoscope by the operation of a first operation means, and the electronic endoscope radio transmits a second signal for permitting the control of the operation of the electronic endoscope by the receiver to the receiver by the operation of a second operation means. The receiver radio transmits a third signal for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope to the electronic endoscope by the operation of a third operation means after receiving the second signal, and the electronic endoscope is operated on the basis of the third signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system, and more particularly to an electronic endoscope system capable of controlling restriction and permission of remote operation in telemedicine.

  Conventionally, a part in a body cavity is imaged by an image sensor provided at the distal end of the body cavity insertion part of an electronic endoscope, and a captured image is generated by a video processor connected to the electronic endoscope and output to a monitor. Electronic endoscope systems are widely used in practice. In recent years, an electronic endoscope system that wirelessly transmits and receives image signals between the electronic endoscope and the video processor has also been proposed. An example of such an electronic endoscope system is described in Patent Document 1.

  In the electronic endoscope system of Patent Document 1, a wireless module for reception is mounted on a video processor that connects a conventional wired electronic endoscope, and an image signal wirelessly transmitted from the electronic endoscope is wirelessly connected to the electronic endoscope system. Receive at. In an electronic endoscope, an image signal output from an image sensor is modulated for wireless transmission, and then wirelessly transmitted to a reception wireless module attached to a video processor. The radio module for reception receives an image signal from an electronic endoscope and demodulates the signal, and then the demodulated image signal is subjected to image processing in a video processor as in the conventional case. The observation image thus obtained is displayed on the monitor. Therefore, regardless of whether the electronic endoscope is a wired type or a wireless type, an observation image can be generated and displayed in a single video processor.

  In addition, in a wireless electronic endoscope system, it has been proposed to remotely control one device from the other device. For example, when an operator who operates an electronic endoscope and a diagnostician who observes an endoscopic image are in different locations, the diagnostician can display the more appropriate image and perform electronic diagnosis by the operator. By supporting the operation of the endoscope, it is possible to accurately image the part that the diagnostician wants to observe. Furthermore, when conducting training for electronic endoscopes for trainees and trainees, the instructor can perform remote guidance without attending the surgeon's treatment site.

JP 2007-61296 A

  However, when a surgeon operating an electronic endoscope and a diagnostician observing an endoscopic image in telemedicine perform observations using different monitors at different locations, for example, the surgeon is in an ambulance. When the operator operates the endoscope and observes the image from the electronic endoscope in the clinic in the hospital, or when the operator performs tracheal intubation to the patient at the accident site, In the case of transmitting an observation image in the body cavity of a sick person imaged by an endoscope to a specialist in a facility such as a hospital and requesting advice from the specialist, in an electronic endoscope system such as Patent Document 1, an operator However, if a remote operation by the diagnostician occurs at an unexpected timing, there is a possibility that the surgeon may interfere with the operation of the electronic endoscope. For example, when a diagnostician remotely controls the electronic endoscope and performs image processing operations such as freeze and image zoom, the image displayed on the operator's monitor becomes a still image or an enlarged image. Then, the surgeon may have to interrupt the procedure due to unexpected image processing of the observation image, which may cause a reduction in procedure efficiency.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to perform an operation in telemedicine using an electronic endoscope by appropriately performing remote control of each other's devices between an operator who operates the electronic endoscope and a diagnostician who observes an endoscopic image. It is an object to provide an electronic endoscope system capable of improving efficiency.

  An electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first image processing unit that generates an observation image based on an image signal output from an image sensor, and an image signal output from the image sensor. An electronic endoscope having a wireless module for wirelessly transmitting the image, a wireless module for receiving an image signal wirelessly transmitted from the electronic endoscope, and a second image processing for generating an observation image based on the received image signal An electronic endoscope system for telemedicine, comprising: a receiving device having a control unit, wherein the receiving device controls the operation of the electronic endoscope by operating a first operation means provided in the receiving device. A first signal for performing an agreement to perform wireless communication to the electronic endoscope, and the electronic endoscope operates the second operation means provided in the electronic endoscope by operating the electronic device by the receiving device. Allow control of endoscope operation The second signal is transmitted wirelessly to the receiving device, and after receiving the second signal, the receiving device operates the electronic endoscope by operating the third operating means provided in the receiving device. A third signal for control is wirelessly transmitted to the electronic endoscope, and the electronic endoscope operates based on the third signal.

  Preferably, the electronic endoscope has a first storage unit that stores an identifier indicating whether or not there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope, and the receiving device performs the operation of the electronic endoscope. A second storage unit that stores an identifier indicating whether or not there is an agreement for control, and the electronic endoscope performs the operation of the electronic endoscope when wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the receiving device. An identifier indicating that there is an agreement for control is stored in the first storage unit, and when the receiving device receives the second signal, there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope. When the identifier indicating that the identifier is stored in the second storage unit and the identifier stored in the second storage unit indicates that there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope, The third signal is wirelessly transmitted to the electronic endoscope. As a result, after the agreement is confirmed once between the electronic endoscope and the receiving device, the receiving device can repeatedly operate the electronic endoscope at an arbitrary timing without confirming the agreement again. .

  Then, when the electronic endoscope is turned off, the electronic endoscope wirelessly transmits a fourth signal notifying that the power is turned off to the receiving device, and the receiving device receives the receiving device. When the power of the electronic endoscope is turned off, a fifth signal notifying that the power is turned off is wirelessly transmitted to the electronic endoscope, and the electronic endoscope is turned off when the power of the electronic endoscope is turned off. Alternatively, when the fifth signal is received, an identifier indicating that there is no agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope is stored in the first storage unit, and the receiving device has a power supply of the receiving device. When it is turned off or when the fourth signal is received, an identifier indicating that there is no agreement to control the operation of the electronic endoscope is stored in the second storage unit. As a result, the consensus confirmation is valid only within one treatment, so that the remote operation is not valid immediately after the electronic endoscope system is turned on during the next treatment.

  Alternatively, the first signal is continuously transmitted to the electronic endoscope while the first operation unit is operated, and the second signal is continued while the second operation unit is operated. The electronic endoscope operates based on the third signal only while the first signal is received and the second signal is wirelessly transmitted to the receiving device. . Therefore, since the remote operation is effective only while the electronic endoscope and the receiving apparatus continue to transmit a signal for mutual agreement of the remote operation, the remote operation of the electronic endoscope is unexpectedly performed for the operator. Therefore, the remote operation based on the agreement between the electronic endoscope and the receiving apparatus can be performed more reliably.

  More preferably, when receiving the first signal, the electronic endoscope has notification means for notifying that an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope is requested from the receiving device. In addition, the receiving device includes a notification unit that notifies that the control of the operation of the electronic endoscope is permitted when the second signal is received. As a result, the operator who operates the electronic endoscope and the diagnostician who operates the receiving device can grasp whether or not the other party has confirmed the agreement, so that smoother agreement confirmation and remote operation can be realized. Can do.

  Further, the electronic endoscope wirelessly transmits a sixth signal for controlling the operation of the receiving device by the operation of the fourth operating means provided in the electronic endoscope. It operates based on the signal. Therefore, when the diagnostician is not operating the electronic endoscope remotely, the operator can monitor the desired image on the monitor by controlling the processing of the observation image displayed on the diagnostician's monitor. The surgeon can ask the diagnostician for more accurate instructions and diagnosis.

  The first operating means is included in the front panel of the receiving device. Alternatively, the second operation means is included in the operation unit of the electronic endoscope. Therefore, the operator can confirm the agreement by operating the first operating means while operating the operation unit to perform various operations of the electronic endoscope. Similarly, the diagnostician can also confirm the agreement by operating the second operation means while performing various processing of the observation image by operating the front panel. Further, the third signal includes a signal for controlling various processes of the electronic endoscope. Therefore, the electronic endoscope can improve the treatment efficiency in the electronic endoscope system by performing various remote operations based on the third signal received from the receiving device.

  According to the electronic endoscope system of the present invention, the surgeon who operates the electronic endoscope receives the diagnosis from the diagnostic operator who operates the receiving device without any trouble in the operation and diagnosis of the surgeon and the diagnostician. Remote operation of the electronic endoscope by the device can be permitted when necessary. Therefore, it is possible to perform the operation and diagnosis in which the surgeon and the diagnostician are more coordinated without reducing the efficiency of the operation due to careless remote operation.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a timing chart of a handshake of remote operation agreement confirmation processing between the electronic endoscope and the video processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a timing chart of a handshake of remote operation agreement confirmation processing between the electronic endoscope and the video processor according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The electronic endoscope system 100 includes an electronic endoscope 1, a video processor 2, monitors 3 and 4, and a light source device 5. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the operator who operates the electronic endoscope 1 and the diagnostician who operates the video processor 2 are located at a distance from each other and perform telemedicine. The light source device 5 is optically connected to a light guide 18 similarly composed of an optical fiber bundle of the electronic endoscope 1 via a light guide 19 composed of an optical fiber bundle. Although not shown, the light source device 5 is a light source such as a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or a white LED, a condensing lens that condenses light from the light source at the incident end of a light guide 19 that is a propagation path of illumination light, and a light source Is provided between the light guide 19 and the light guide 19 for sequentially separating the white light from the light source into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light, and writing the image signal into the frame memory. A color filter rotation control circuit for controlling the speed and phase of the color filter so that the color filter rotates in synchronization with the timing pulse and the vertical synchronization signal, a light amount diaphragm for adjusting the amount of illumination light, a light amount diaphragm It has a control circuit and the like, and generates illumination light by a frame sequential method. Note that the imaging method may be a simultaneous imaging method instead of the frame sequential method. That is, the white light of the light source is condensed and propagated to the light guide as it is, irradiated to the observation target part, the complementary color signal is separated by an on-chip complementary color filter on the image sensor, and this complementary color signal is converted into R, G , B can be converted to color difference signals RY and BY using the color difference matrix. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which provides a light source part in the electronic endoscope 1 instead of using the light source device 5. FIG.

  In the electronic endoscope 1, a light guide 18 extends from the distal end (the distal end of the body cavity insertion portion) to the proximal end (a portion provided with an operation unit or an image processing unit connected to the operation unit). The illumination light generated by the light source device 5 is propagated by the light guides 18 and 19 to the distal end of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope 1. A light distribution lens 6 for irradiating the observation target site with illumination light propagated through the light guide 18 is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion. In addition to the light distribution lens 6, an objective lens 7 is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is provided behind the objective lens 7. 8 is arranged. Reading of the image signal from the image sensor 8 is controlled by the drive control unit 17.

  The illumination light emitted from the light guide 18 reaches the site to be observed through the light distribution lens 6. The illumination light is reflected by the site to be observed and enters the objective lens 7 and then reaches the imaging surface of the imaging device 8. Accordingly, the image of the site to be observed is connected to the imaging surface of the imaging device 8 by the objective lens 7. The illumination light received by the image sensor 8 is photoelectrically converted and analog-transmitted as an image signal to an ADC (Analog Digital Converter) 10 provided in the electronic endoscope 1 via a cable. The image signal is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 10 and then sent to the image processing unit 11 provided in the electronic endoscope 1. The image processing unit 11 performs various image processing so that color reproduction appropriate for image display is performed.

  The image signal sent from the ADC 10 to the image processing unit 11 is first subjected to white balance in white balance processing. In the white balance process, the color reproduction that has changed due to the color temperature of the light source or the spectral characteristics of the light guide is corrected. Specifically, the gain is adjusted so that the amplitude values of the RGB signals are equal in the white portion of the subject. Next, the interpolation processing based on the pixels existing around the pixel defect position is performed on the data acquired from the pixel where the pixel defect has occurred among the image data of the subject image included in the image signal by the pixel interpolation process. Done. Subsequently, processing for enhancing the contour of the image in the image is performed by enhancement processing. Further, color correction processing such as gain adjustment is performed by color matrix correction. Next, processing for adjusting the brightness and saturation of the observation image displayed on the monitor is performed by γ correction. Various setting values such as the saturation, brightness, and enhancement of the observed image are changed based on an operation by the operator on the image signal that has been optimized for image quality by γ correction. The image signal in which various setting values are changed is converted from an RGB signal to a Y color difference signal by Y color difference conversion. The image signal subjected to the image processing in this manner is sent to the modulation unit 12 and the image memory 14 respectively.

  The image memory 14 stores the image signal from the image processing unit 11. The stored image signal is read out at a predetermined timing corresponding to a timing signal output from a timing generator (not shown) and is provided in the electronic endoscope 1 (DAC (Digital Analog Converter)) 15. Sent to. Here, the predetermined timing refers to, for example, a timing at which a moving image composed of 30 frames per second can be displayed on the monitor 3. The image signal is converted into an analog signal by the DAC 15 and sent to the output unit 16, and the output unit 16 converts the image signal into a video signal suitable for the display method of the monitor 3. The converted video signal is sent to the monitor 3 and displayed as an observation image. On the other hand, the image signal sent to the modulation unit 12 is subjected to a process of placing the image signal on a radio wave that is a carrier wave, and then a radio frequency (RF) module 13 provided in the electronic endoscope 1 is used. Via the wireless transmission to the video processor 2 as a receiving device.

  The radio wave transmitted from the RF module 13 is received by the RF module 31 in the video processor 2 and then sent to the demodulator 32. The received signal is demodulated and converted into a baseband image signal by the demodulator 32 and then input to the image processor 33. The front panel 37 of the video processor 2 is provided with input means such as buttons for adjusting the saturation, luminance, enhancement, etc. of the observation image displayed on the monitor 4. The image processing unit 33 performs processing such as color adjustment and noise reduction on the image signal based on an operation signal generated when the diagnostician operates an input unit provided on the front panel 37. The image signal processed by the image processing unit 33 is stored in the image memory 34 in the video processor 2. From the image memory 34, the image signal is read at a predetermined timing based on a timing signal output from a timing generator (not shown), and sent to the DAC 35, as described above. The DAC 35 converts the image signal into an analog signal and sends the analog signal to the output unit 36. The output unit 36 converts the image signal into a video signal suitable for the display method of the monitor 4 as in the output unit 16 of the electronic endoscope 1. Is done. The converted video signal is sent to the monitor 4 and displayed as an observation image.

  Next, remote operation between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 will be described. When remotely operating an electronic endoscope that is directly operated by a surgeon by a remote diagnostician, it is necessary to prevent the remote control from intervening unexpectedly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, before starting the remote operation, a process for obtaining an agreement for performing the remote operation between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 is performed. Therefore, as an example, a function as input means for agreement confirmation is assigned to each button of the button group 9 of the operation unit of the electronic endoscope 1 and each button of the front panel 37 of the video processor 2. When the electronic endoscope system 100 is turned on, the buttons for confirming the agreement are turned off to disable the remote operation. Then, when both buttons are turned on after the power is turned on, the electronic endoscope 1 is in a state of accepting remote control from the video processor 2.

  The agreement between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 can also be performed using command communication. A diagnostician operates an input means such as the front panel 37 and transmits a command for requesting remote control restriction release from the RF module 31 to the electronic endoscope 1 via the CPU 38. The restriction release request command is received by the RF module 13 of the electronic endoscope 1 and then sent to the CPU 20. When receiving the restriction release request command, the CPU 20 controls the image processing unit 11 to display a dialog box for notifying the monitor 3 of the restriction release request. The surgeon confirms the message displayed in the dialog box and decides whether or not to release the restriction through the button of the dialog box. A message display command for displaying a message related to the operation result of the surgeon on the monitor 4 is transmitted to the video processor 2 depending on whether or not the operator permits the restriction release. The message display command is received by the RF module 31 and then sent to the CPU 38. The CPU 38 controls the image processing of the image processing unit 33 so as to display a message regarding the operator's operation result on the monitor 4 in accordance with the received command. Thereafter, when the electronic endoscope 1 receives a control signal from the video processor 2 via the RF module 13, the electronic endoscope 1 executes various processes in the electronic endoscope 1 based on the control signal.

  Here, control that can be restricted by the electronic endoscope 1 will be described. The diagnostician can perform freeze processing and copy processing of the electronic endoscope 1 by remote control. Thus, since the diagnostician can perform these processes and acquire a desired image, the diagnosis can be performed based on a more appropriate image than the image acquired by the surgeon performing the same process. It is also possible to change the image quality such as the color tone, gain, and contrast of the image. For this reason, in order to make it easy to see the site of interest, the diagnostician can adjust the color and brightness of the observation image by changing set values relating to display such as color balance, brightness, and enhancement.

  Furthermore, the diagnostician can enlarge and reduce the image by controlling the optical zoom and electronic zoom of the electronic endoscope 1 by remote control. In the operation section of the electronic endoscope 1, a motor 22, a rotary encoder 23 for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 22, a motor control section 21, and a gear 24 are provided as optical zoom means. The driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted to the gear 24, the objective lens 7 is moved in the optical axis direction by the gear 24, and the focal distance with the imaging surface of the imaging element 8 is changed. By performing feedback control based on information such as the rotational speed of the motor 22 detected by the rotary encoder 23, the optical zoom can be adjusted to a desired magnification. The CPU 20 of the electronic endoscope 1 sends a control signal to the motor control unit 21 based on the optical zoom control signal received from the video processor 2 via the RF module 13. The motor control unit 21 controls the motor 22 based on the received control signal, and moves the objective lens 7 in the optical axis direction by the number of rotations of the motor 22. When electronic zooming is performed, the image processing unit 11 performs a process of cutting and enlarging an image signal corresponding to a designated position on the observation image. The CPU 20 controls the electronic zoom process in the image processing unit 11 based on the magnification specified by the electronic zoom control signal received from the video processor 2.

  In addition, the diagnostician can remotely operate the electronic endoscope 1 to display the index on the observation image displayed on the monitor 3 on the operator side. Therefore, the diagnostician can also instruct the surgeon to image the designated site using the index. In addition, the diagnostician can instruct the treatment range using an index so that the surgeon can perform a suitable range of treatment on the target site.

  Furthermore, for example, when a peripheral device such as an external filing device 25 for storing image data is connected to the electronic endoscope 1, it is also possible to control the peripheral device. For example, a remote location of the electronic endoscope 1 as described above is used to specify a storage location in the filing device 25 for an image acquired by freeze processing or copy processing, and a desired location so that a diagnostician can easily use it later. You can save images in In addition, when the diagnosticist notices that the power of the electronic endoscope 1 and peripheral devices has been forgotten to be turned off after the operation, the power of the electronic endoscope 1 and peripheral devices at remote locations can be simply operated by operating the video processor 2. Can also be turned off. Therefore, the convenience of the electronic endoscope system of the present invention is improved by enabling the diagnostician to remotely control the electronic endoscope 1 to control the operation of the peripheral devices.

  Further, the surgeon may permit the diagnostician to control the air / water supply of the electronic endoscope 1. The electronic endoscope 1 has an air / water supply port 26 for inserting an external air / water supply plug, and an air / water supply for sending cleaning water and air supplied from an external air / water supply device to the tip. A water pipe 27 is provided. The surgeon controls the air / water supply with the air / water supply button of the button group 9 provided in the operation unit. If the patient's lumen is enlarged by air supply to secure a visual field, or the objective lens surface becomes dirty due to bodily fluids or bleeding, and the observation performance of the endoscope deteriorates, the cleaning liquid is sprayed to make the lens surface dirty. And the field of view is recovered by sending air and flying droplets on the surface of the objective lens. Therefore, the diagnostician can perform air supply / water supply at a more appropriate timing than issuing an instruction to the operator by remotely controlling the air supply / water supply of the electronic endoscope 1.

  In addition, an angle knob 28 that adjusts the bending of the insertion portion by rotating is provided in the operation portion of the electronic endoscope 1. Therefore, the surgeon can permit the diagnostician to remotely turn the angle knob 28 and turn on / off the lock. Therefore, the diagnostician can take an image optimal for diagnosis by remotely controlling the angle knob 28 to control the bending of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope 1 or fixing the position of the distal end portion. .

  Regardless of the on / off state of the agreement confirmation button, remote operation related to image processing from the electronic endoscope 1 to the video processor 2 is not restricted. For example, when an operator displays an index such as a marker on an observation image displayed on the monitor on the side of the diagnostician and requests diagnosis for a specific part, the addition of the index is an operation by the surgeon, so electronic endoscopy The operation of the mirror 1 is not hindered, and if the indicator is displayed on the observation image, the diagnostician can accurately give the operation instruction desired by the operator based on the indicator. Therefore, by permitting image processing-related remote operation from the electronic endoscope 1 to the video processor 2 without the need to perform an agreement confirmation work, the surgeon and the diagnostician can perform the treatment and diagnosis smoothly.

  The CPU 20 of the electronic endoscope 1 is connected to each block in the electronic endoscope 1 and designates a setting value for processing in each block and controls the operation of each processing. Similarly, the CPU 38 of the video processor 2 is connected to each block in the video processor 2 and designates a set value of processing in each block and controls the operation of each processing. The connection relationship between the CPU 20 and each block in the electronic endoscope 1 and the connection relationship between the CPU 38 and each block in the video processor 2 are not shown.

  Here, two examples in the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 2A is a timing chart of a handshake of remote operation agreement confirmation processing between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 in the first embodiment. The electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 are provided with flag memories 39 and 40, which are nonvolatile memories used for agreement confirmation processing, respectively. The flag memories 39 and 40 function as a storage unit that stores a flag as an identifier indicating whether or not there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope 1 between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2. . In the flag memories 39 and 40, when the flag is 0, it indicates that the agreement has not been confirmed, and when the flag is 1, it indicates that the agreement has been confirmed. When the flags in the flag memories 39 and 40 are both 1, the remote operation can be executed between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2. Before the agreement confirmation process, the flags in the flag memories 39 and 40 are set to 0. First, a diagnostician who performs remote operation of the electronic endoscope 1 transmits an agreement request signal to the electronic endoscope 1 using a button on the front panel 37 of the video processor 2. When the electronic endoscope 1 receives a consensus request signal, the electronic endoscope 1 displays on the monitor 3 a message for notifying that there has been a consensus request from the diagnostician. The surgeon confirms that there is an agreement request from the diagnostician, and operates a button of the button group 9 of the electronic endoscope 1 to transmit a reply permitting remote operation by the diagnostician. The CPU 20 of the electronic endoscope 1 changes the flag in the flag memory 39 to 1 when a reply permitting remote operation is transmitted.

  When the CPU 38 of the video processor 2 receives a reply permitting remote operation from the electronic endoscope 1, it changes the flag in the flag memory 40 to 1. Further, the CPU 38 controls the image processing of the image processing unit 33 so that a message notifying that the remote operation is permitted is displayed on the monitor 4. The diagnostician confirms the agreement confirmation from the surgeon and permission for remote operation from the message displayed on the monitor 4, and performs various operations of the electronic endoscope 1 using the buttons on the front panel 37. After the agreement is confirmed once between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 and the remote operation is permitted, the flags in the flag memories 39 and 40 are maintained at 1. Therefore, it is not necessary to execute the agreement confirmation process every time the remote operation is performed, and the diagnostician can perform various remote operations continuously and efficiently.

  In the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2, when one of the power is turned off, a signal notifying that the power is off is sent to the other. The CPU 20 sets the flag of the flag memory 39 when the electronic endoscope 1 is pulled out from a power supply unit (not shown) or the electronic endoscope 1 is turned off, or when a power-off signal is received from the video processor 2. Change to 0 and return to the state that does not allow remote operation. Similarly, when the power of the video processor 2 is turned off or when a power-off signal is received from the electronic endoscope 1, the CPU 38 changes the flag in the flag memory 40 to 0 and does not allow remote operation. Return to the state. As described above, remote operation agreements are valid on a per-treatment basis, so when remote operation is permitted and the operation is performed, the remote operation is permitted even if the agreement confirmation process is not performed at the next operation. Can be prevented.

  FIG. 2B is a timing chart of a handshake of remote operation agreement confirmation processing between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a button for agreement confirmation for generating an agreement confirmation signal is provided on each of the button group 9 of the electronic endoscope 1 and the front panel 37 of the video processor 2. In this embodiment, an agreement confirmation signal is simultaneously generated from the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 while the agreement confirmation buttons of both the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 are pressed. Remote operation is allowed only during that time. First, the diagnostician transmits a consensus confirmation signal to the electronic endoscope 1 for performing remote operation by pressing a consensus confirmation button. Since the diagnostician who desires remote operation keeps pressing the agreement confirmation button, the agreement confirmation signal is continuously transmitted to the electronic endoscope 1. In the electronic endoscope 1, when an agreement request signal is received, a message notifying that there is an agreement request from the diagnostician is displayed on the monitor 3.

  The surgeon confirms from the message displayed on the monitor 3 that the diagnosis is requested by the diagnostic operator, and presses the agreement confirmation button to allow remote operation and confirms the remote operation agreement. The reply to be performed is transmitted to the video processor 2. Since the surgeon also continues to press the button for confirming the agreement in order to cause the diagnostician to perform the remote operation, the signal for confirming the agreement continues to be transmitted to the video processor 2. Therefore, the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2 are in a state of continuing to transmit an agreement confirmation signal to each other. In this state, the diagnostician performs a desired remote operation on the electronic endoscope 1 while continuing to press the agreement confirmation button. When the remote control is finished, the diagnostician stops pressing the button for confirming the agreement. The CPU 20 of the electronic endoscope 1 returns to a state where the remote operation is not permitted when the agreement confirmation signal is not received from the video processor 2 or when the operator stops pressing the agreement confirmation button. In this embodiment, between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2, it is possible to repeatedly switch between a state where remote operation is permitted and a state where permission is not permitted with a simple button operation. It can be used efficiently. FIG. 2B shows the case where the diagnostician releases the agreement confirmation button to end the remote operation. In this embodiment, the operator confirms the agreement confirmation button at an arbitrary timing. May be released to return to a state where remote operation is not permitted.

  This completes the description of the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the consensus confirmation between the surgeon and the diagnostician may be performed using input means such as a keyboard in addition to the buttons. In addition, the notification in the agreement confirmation may employ a configuration in which an audio processing unit and a speaker are provided in both the electronic endoscope and the video processor to perform audio notification in addition to displaying a message on the monitor. In addition, the electronic endoscope and the video processor can perform transmission / reception using a single wireless module, or can perform transmission / reception using a plurality of wireless modules.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the electronic endoscope is made into the object of remote operation, according to this invention, it is not limited to this. For example, in the electronic endoscope 1, a treatment instrument insertion port 29 for inserting a treatment instrument such as a high-frequency knife, a biopsy forceps, a cytodiagnosis brush, and a basket from the outside, and the treatment instrument at the tip of the electronic endoscope 1 A treatment instrument pipe line 30 is provided for guiding to the above. Therefore, when an electric treatment instrument is used as the treatment instrument, it is possible to permit a diagnostician to remotely operate the electric treatment instrument. Therefore, when performing an operation on a certain site, the operator is dedicated to maintaining the position of the distal end portion and the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope 1, and the diagnostician needs to perform treatment by remotely operating the electric treatment instrument. Only appropriate parts can be appropriately treated. In other words, instead of the electronic endoscope 1 or together with the electronic endoscope 1, an electric treatment instrument can be a target for remote operation. However, when both the electronic endoscope 1 and the electric treatment tool are to be remotely operated, two types of receiving devices (receiving functions) corresponding to the video processor 2 are required.

  In the first embodiment, when various processes are performed by remote operation after confirming the agreement, the process to be remotely operated is a process that can be executed by the electronic endoscope 1 before performing each process. In addition, it is possible to add a process in which the video processor 2 confirms that the flag on the electronic endoscope 1 side is still in a state of permitting remote operation. Thereby, at the time of remote operation, it is possible to notify the diagnostician whether or not the process to be executed can be executed by the electronic endoscope 1. In addition, for example, after the agreement confirmation process is first performed and the remote operation is permitted, when the flag of the electronic endoscope 1 is not permitted to perform the remote operation, the video processor 2 side indicates that the state has changed to that state. From this, it is possible to notify the diagnostician that the remote operation is not permitted from the monitor 4 or the like. Therefore, it is possible to improve the safety of the remote operation while smoothly and flexibly switching the remote operation between the electronic endoscope 1 and the video processor 2.

  Furthermore, in Example 2, the button for confirming the agreement uses a momentary button that is turned on only while the operator or the diagnostician is depressing it. It may be used.

1 Electronic endoscope 2 Video processor 3, 4 Monitor 8 Image sensor 9 Button group 11, 33 Image processing unit 13, 31 RF module 21 Motor control unit 22 Motor 23 Rotary encoder 24 Gear 25 Filing device 26 Air supply / water supply port 27 Pneumatic water supply line 29 Treatment tool insertion port 30 Treatment tool pipe 37 Front panel 39, 40 Flag memory

Claims (17)

An electronic endoscope having a first image processing unit that generates an observation image based on an image signal output from the image sensor, and a wireless module that wirelessly transmits the image signal output from the image sensor; A receiving device having a wireless module that receives an image signal wirelessly transmitted from the endoscope and a second image processing unit that generates an observation image based on the received image signal;
A telemedicine electronic endoscope system comprising:
The receiving device wirelessly transmits a first signal for performing an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope to the electronic endoscope by an operation of a first operation unit provided in the receiving device. ,
The electronic endoscope sends a second signal to the receiving device that allows the receiving device to control the operation of the electronic endoscope by operating a second operating means provided in the electronic endoscope. Wirelessly transmit,
After receiving the second signal, the receiving device receives a third signal for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope by operating a third operating means provided in the receiving device. Wirelessly sent to the endoscope,
The electronic endoscope operates based on the third signal;
This is an electronic endoscope system for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope has a first storage unit that stores an identifier indicating whether or not there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope,
The receiving device has a second storage unit that stores an identifier indicating whether or not there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope,
When the electronic endoscope wirelessly transmits the second signal to the receiving device, an identifier indicating that there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope is stored in the first storage unit. Remember,
The receiving device stores, in the second storage unit, an identifier indicating that there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope when the second signal is received;
When the identifier stored in the second storage unit indicates that there is an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope, the receiving device transmits the third signal to the electronic endoscope. Wirelessly transmit to
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to claim 1. When the electronic endoscope is turned off, the electronic endoscope wirelessly transmits a fourth signal notifying that the power is turned off to the receiving device,
When the receiving device is turned off, the receiving device wirelessly transmits a fifth signal notifying that the power is turned off to the electronic endoscope,
The electronic endoscope indicates that there is no agreement to control the operation of the electronic endoscope when the electronic endoscope is powered off or when the fifth signal is received Storing an identifier in the first storage unit;
The receiver receives an identifier indicating that there is no agreement to control the operation of the electronic endoscope when the power of the receiver is turned off or when the fourth signal is received. 2 to store in
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to claim 2. While the first operating means is being operated, the first signal is continuously transmitted wirelessly to the electronic endoscope,
While the second operation means is being operated, the second signal is continuously transmitted to the receiving device by radio,
The electronic endoscope operates based on the third signal only while the first signal is received and the second signal is wirelessly transmitted to the receiving device.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to claim 1.   The electronic endoscope has notification means for notifying that an agreement for controlling the operation of the electronic endoscope is requested from the receiving device when the first signal is received. The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electronic endoscope system is for telemedicine.   The said receiving apparatus has a notification means to notify that control of the operation | movement of the said electronic endoscope was permitted when the said 2nd signal was received. The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of the above. The electronic endoscope wirelessly transmits a sixth signal for controlling the operation of the receiving device by an operation of a fourth operation means provided in the electronic endoscope,
The receiving device operates based on the sixth signal;
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first operation means is included in a front panel of the receiving device.   9. The telemedicine electronic endoscope system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second operation means is included in an operation unit of the electronic endoscope.   10. The signal according to claim 1, wherein the third signal includes a signal for changing an image quality of an observation image generated by the first image processing unit. 11. Electronic endoscope system for telemedicine.   11. The signal according to claim 1, wherein the third signal includes a signal for adding an index indicating a position on the observation image generated by the first image processing unit. The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to item. The electronic endoscope has a function of acquiring a still image,
The third signal includes a signal that controls a function of acquiring the still image.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope has a zoom function,
The third signal includes a signal for controlling the zoom function.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope has an air / water supply function,
The third signal includes a signal for controlling the air / water supply function.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope has a treatment instrument operation function,
The third signal includes a signal for controlling the treatment instrument operation function.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope has an angle knob that controls the bending of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope,
The third signal includes a signal for controlling the operation of the angle knob of the electronic endoscope.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine. The electronic endoscope is connected to various peripheral devices,
The third signal includes a signal for controlling the operation of the peripheral device.
The electronic endoscope system for telemedicine according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the electronic endoscope system is used for telemedicine.

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