JP6721994B2 - Medical signal processing device and medical observation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medical signal processing apparatus that inputs an image signal according to a test result inside a subject and processes the image signal, and a medical observation system including the medical signal processing apparatus.

Conventionally, in the medical field, an endoscope apparatus is used when observing an internal organ of a subject such as a patient. An endoscope apparatus controls the operation of an endoscope including an image pickup element (hereinafter referred to as a camera head) and the operation of the camera head, processes an image signal picked up by the image pickup element, and displays an image of the inside of the subject on a display device. And a transmission cable that electrically connects the camera head and the control device and transmits various signals.

In recent years, an image pickup device with a high number of pixels that enables clearer image observation has been developed, and application of the image pickup device to an endoscope apparatus is under study. Along with this, the adoption of an optical transmission system that transmits a signal using laser light is being studied in order to transmit a large-capacity signal at high speed between the image sensor and the control device (for example, Patent Document 1). See).

JP, 2009-61032, A

Usually, the transmission cable is separable from the control device and is connected by the respective connectors. Therefore, in the endoscope device, the image signal converted into the optical signal in the camera head is required by only one optical cable. It cannot be transmitted to the control unit. In other words, the optical signal from the camera head to the control device is passed through the optical cable on the transmission cable side, the optical connection part on the connector of the transmission cable, the optical connection part on the connector of the control device, and the optical cable on the control device side. Is transmitted. Here, if there is dirt or cloudiness on the connection surface of the optical connection part through which light passes, or if there is an angle deviation with respect to the optical path of the optical connection part, the optical signal is attenuated and the optical signal transmission failure occurs. There was a problem that an image suitable for observation was not displayed.

Also, if there is deterioration over time or deterioration of the cable due to use, optical signal transmission failure will occur. With conventional electric cables, even if there is deterioration over time, the noise caused by deterioration gradually appears on the signal as image noise and then breaks, so the operator is likely to notice an abnormal condition relatively early. .. On the other hand, in the optical cable, the optical fiber portion suddenly breaks and the image disappears, so that there is a problem that the image may disappear during the procedure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to detect a transmission failure in an optical transmission line and continue transmission of an image signal to a control device even when a transmission failure occurs in the optical transmission line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical signal processing device and a medical observation system that can be used.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the medical signal processing device according to the present invention is communicably connected to the medical control device via a plurality of signal transmission paths. A medical signal processing device for processing an image signal according to an inspection result, wherein a plurality of transmission signals are provided by distributing the image signal based on transmission failure information indicating a signal transmission failure in the plurality of signal transmission paths. A transmission signal processing unit that generates an image signal is provided, and the transmission signal processing unit transmits the transmission image signal to all of the plurality of signal transmission lines when a transmission failure does not occur in the plurality of signal transmission lines. The image signals are distributed so that when there is a transmission failure in the plurality of signal transmission paths, the transmission image signal is transmitted to a signal transmission path other than the signal transmission path in which the transmission failure has occurred. The transmission rate is changed according to the number of the image signals to be distributed so that the total transmission rate of the plurality of transmission image signals to be distributed and transmitted is the same regardless of the number of distributions. The image signal is distributed.

In the above invention, the medical signal processing device according to the present invention converts a plurality of electric signals based on the plurality of transmission image signals into a plurality of optical signals, and converts the plurality of optical signals into the plurality of signal transmission paths. It is further characterized by further comprising an electro-optical conversion unit for outputting the respective signals.

A medical observation system according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned medical signal processing device, a plurality of signal transmission paths for respectively transmitting the plurality of transmission image signals from the medical signal processing device, and the plurality of signal transmissions. And a medical control device having a reception signal processing unit that detects a signal transmission failure in a path and restores the image signal based on the plurality of transmission image signals transmitted through the plurality of signal transmission paths. And the medical signal processing device or the medical control device controls distribution of the image signal by the transmission signal processing unit based on a detection result of the transmission failure in the reception signal processing unit. It is characterized by having a control unit.

In the medical observation system according to the present invention, in the above invention, the medical signal processing device converts a plurality of electric signals based on the plurality of transmission image signals into a plurality of optical signals, and the plurality of optical signals. Is further provided to each of the plurality of signal transmission paths, and the signal transmission path includes an optical cable for transmitting an optical signal.

The medical observation system according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the medical control device further includes a photoelectric conversion unit that converts each of the plurality of optical signals into a plurality of electric signals.

In the medical observation system according to the present invention, in the above invention, the plurality of signal transmission paths are a plurality of the optical cables, a photoelectric conversion unit that converts the plurality of optical signals into a plurality of electrical signals, and the plurality of And a plurality of electric wirings for respectively transmitting electric signals.

In the medical observation system according to the present invention, in the above invention, further includes an output unit that outputs information indicating that the transmission failure has occurred when the reception signal processing unit detects the transmission failure. Characterize.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect a transmission failure in the optical transmission line, and it is possible to continue the transmission of the image signal to the control device even when the transmission failure occurs in the optical transmission line.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medical observation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera head, a transmission cable and a control device of the endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the inside of the control device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side view of a part of the inside of the control device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of transmission failure detection processing in the control device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an example of a plan view of a main part inside the housing of the control device shown in FIG. 7 is a view of the housing shown in FIG. 6 taken along a plane perpendicular to the board surface of the board in the housing. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the camera head, the transmission cable, and the control device of the endoscope according to the modified example 1-1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the camera head, the transmission cable, and the control device of the endoscope according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera head, a transmission cable, and a control device of an endoscope according to a modification 2-1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 11: is a figure which shows schematic structure of the medical observation system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the medical observation system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, an endoscope apparatus will be described as a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiment”). Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Further, in the description of the drawings, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medical observation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The medical observation system 1 is a system used in the medical field for observing the inside (in-vivo) of an observation target such as a person. As shown in FIG. 1, the medical observation system 1 includes an endoscope 2, a light source device 3, a light guide 4, a control device 5, and a display device 6.

The endoscope 2 inspects the inside of the living body (inside the subject) and outputs the inspection result. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 includes an insertion portion 7, a camera head 8 and a transmission cable 9.

The insertion part 7 is rigid and has an elongated shape, and is inserted into a living body. An optical system configured to use one or a plurality of lenses and condensing a subject image is provided in the insertion portion 7.

The camera head 8 is detachably connected to the base end of the insertion portion 7. Then, under the control of the control device 5, the camera head 8 captures the subject image collected by the insertion unit 7 and outputs the image signal obtained by the capture. The camera head 8 photoelectrically converts the image signal into an optical signal and outputs it. The detailed configuration of the camera head 8 will be described later.

The transmission cable 9 has one end detachably connected to the control device 5 and the other end connected to the camera head 8. Specifically, the transmission cable 9 is provided with a plurality of electric wirings (not shown) and a plurality of optical cables (not shown) inside the outermost jacket. The plurality of electric wirings are electric wirings for respectively transmitting the control signal, the synchronization signal, the clock, and the electric power output from the control device 5 to the camera head 8. The plurality of optical cables transmit a plurality of transmission image signals (optical signals) output from the camera head 8 to the control device 5. The transmission cable 9 according to the first embodiment transmits an optical signal using the optical cable group 91 and also transmits an electric signal using the plurality of electric wires 92. The optical cable group 91 is composed of four optical cables 91a to 91d that form a part of each of the four signal transmission paths.

The light source device 3 is connected to one end of a light guide 4 and supplies the one end of the light guide 4 with light for illuminating the inside of a living body.

One end of the light guide 4 is detachably connected to the light source device 3, and the other end is detachably connected to the insertion portion 7. Then, the light guide 4 transmits the light supplied from the light source device 3 from one end to the other end and supplies the light to the insertion portion 7. The light supplied to the insertion portion 7 is emitted from the tip of the insertion portion 7 and radiated into the living body. Then, the light (subject image) irradiated into the living body is condensed by the optical system in the insertion section 7.

The control device 5 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and comprehensively controls the operations of the camera head 8 and the display device 6. The control device 5 performs predetermined image processing on the image signal captured by the camera head 8. The detailed configuration of the control device 5 will be described later.

Under the control of the control device 5, the display device 6 displays various information including an image subjected to predetermined image processing by the control device 5. Thus, the operator can observe the image (in-vivo image) displayed by the display device 6 and operate the endoscope 2 to observe the desired position in the subject and determine the property. The display device 6 is configured by using a display or the like using liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence).

Next, the configurations of the camera head 8, the transmission cable 9, and the control device 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the camera head 8, the transmission cable 9, and the control device 5 of the endoscope 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the camera head 8 includes a lens unit 81, an image pickup element 82, a drive unit 83, a transmission signal processing unit 84, and an E/O conversion unit 85 (electrical light conversion unit).

The lens unit 81 is configured by using one or a plurality of lenses, and forms the subject image collected by the insertion section 7 on the image pickup surface of the image pickup element 82. The one or more lenses are configured to be movable along the optical axis. The lens unit 81 is provided with an optical zoom mechanism (not shown) that changes the angle of view by moving one or more lenses and a focus mechanism (not shown) that changes the focus.

The image sensor 82 captures an image of the inside of the subject under the control of the control device 5. The image pickup device 82 receives light from a subject illuminated by light and photoelectrically converts the received light to generate an image signal, and a plurality of light receiving units (not shown) arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of light receiving units. Reading unit (not shown) for reading out the image signal (electrical signal) generated by the pixel and an AFE unit (not shown) for performing noise removal and A/D conversion on the image signal (analog) read by the reading unit And a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the image sensor 82 according to the control signal received from the control device 5, and outputs a digital image signal. The image pickup device 82 is, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image pickup device capable of performing exposure and reading for each horizontal line. Further, the image pickup device 82 may be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image pickup device. The image signal generated by the image sensor 82 is output to the transmission signal processing unit 84 as a RAW format live image signal or an image signal of a predetermined format with a low compression rate.

Under the control of the control device 5, the drive unit 83 operates the optical zoom mechanism and the focus mechanism to change the angle of view and the focus of the lens unit 81.

The transmission signal processing unit 84 has a distribution switching unit 841 and four transmitters 842 to 845.

The distribution switching unit 841 receives from the control device 5 the transmission failure information indicating the failure of the signals on the four signal transmission paths, and switches the distribution method of the image signals to the four transmitters 842 to 845 based on the transmission failure information. As a result, a plurality of distributed image signals are generated and output. For example, when all the four optical cables are operating normally, the distribution switching unit 841 distributes the image signal to the four transmitters. Further, when a transmission failure is detected on m (m=1, 2, 3) signal transmission paths, the distribution switching unit 841 displays images on 4-m transmitters excluding the transmitters corresponding to the signal transmission paths. Distribute the signal. The distribution switching unit 841 changes the transmission rate according to the number of distributed image signals. At this time, the distribution switching unit 841 changes the transmission rate of the distribution image signal so that the total transmission rate becomes the same regardless of the number of distributions. In the first embodiment, each of the image signals distributed by the distribution switching unit 841 is a parallel signal.

The transmitters 842 to 845 perform encoding processing, parallel/serial (P/S) conversion processing, and the like on the distributed image signals received from the distribution switching unit 841 and output the signals to the E/O conversion unit 85. The transmitters 842 to 845 perform encoding processing such as N-bit/M-bit encoding (N<M). The transmitters 842 to 845 perform, for example, 8b/10b encoding processing, 64b/66b encoding processing, or 128b/130b encoding processing on the input distributed image signal based on the stored conversion table. .. The transmitters 842 to 845 perform processing such as clock signal superimposition processing, K code insertion processing at the start position and end position of valid data, P/S conversion, etc. on the encoded distribution image signal, and E/E conversion processing is performed. Serial output to the O conversion unit 85.

The transmission signal processing unit 84 described above is configured using, for example, a dedicated integrated circuit such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The E/O converter 85 converts the serial distributed image signals input from the transmitters 842 to 845 into optical signals, and outputs the converted optical signals to the corresponding optical cables 91a to 91d. For example, when four image signals are input, the E/O converter 85 outputs the four optical signals to the corresponding four optical cables. When three electric signals are input, the E/O converter 85 outputs the three optical signals to the corresponding three optical cables. The E/O converter 85 is configured by using, for example, a laser diode or the like, and has a light emitting unit that emits communication light such as laser light.

Note that the above-described light emitting means may cause performance degradation of optical transmission due to a decrease in the amount of emitted light due to driving for a long time. Therefore, the medical observation system 1 may include a replacement time notification unit that notifies the replacement time of the light emitting unit. The replacement timing informing means includes energization time counting means for counting energization time to the light emitting means, a non-volatile memory for storing energization time information by the energization time counting means, and energization time information stored in the non-volatile memory. And comparison means for comparing a predetermined replacement time with a predetermined replacement time, and notification means for notifying that when the energization time exceeds the replacement time by the comparison means.

The timing of the notification by the notification means may be a timing at which the energization time exceeds the replacement time, a timing at which the replacement time is approached by a predetermined time, or both timings. The above-mentioned predetermined time may be set appropriately according to the timing of notification.

Further, the medical observation system 1 may include a light amount measuring unit that measures the light amount of at least a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit, instead of the energization time counting unit. In this case, the notification means may notify when the amount of light becomes a predetermined value or less.

The operator or service person who receives the notification from the notification means replaces the transmission cable 9, for example. The part to be replaced is not limited to this, and may be the light emitting means itself or the E/O converter 85. Further, when the light emitting means is arranged not on the transmission cable 9 but on the camera head 8, for example, an operator or a service person replaces the camera head 8. In this way, it is possible to always realize optical transmission without performance degradation.

The transmission cable 9 includes a connector 90 (transmission-side connector) that is detachably connected to a connector 50 of the control device 5 described later, an optical cable group 91 including four optical cables 91a to 91d, and a plurality of electric wires 92. Have and.

Each of the optical cables 91a to 91d has its tip connected to the E/O converter 85, and each base has optical connectors 93a to 93d (transmission side optical connectors). The optical connectors 93a to 93d are provided on the connector 90. Each optical connection part 93a-93d has a GRIN lens connected to the optical fiber end surface of each corresponding optical cable 91a-91d, and the cover glass which covers this GRIN lens surface.

The control device 5 includes a connector 50 (reception-side connector), an optical cable group 51 including a plurality of optical cables 51a to 51d, an O/E conversion unit 52 (photoelectric conversion unit), a reception signal processing unit 53, and an image. The processing unit 54, the display control unit 55, the control unit 56, the input unit 57, the output unit 58, the storage unit 59, and the dust detection unit 60 are provided.

The connector 50 has optical connection parts 50a to 50d (reception side optical connection parts), and corresponding optical cables 51a to 51d extend from the respective optical connection parts 50a to 50d. The optical connecting parts 50a to 50d are provided at the tips which are the input side end parts of the corresponding optical cables 51a to 51d, and are separably connected to the optical connecting parts 93a to 93d in the connector 90 of the transmission cable 9 which is an external member. .. Each of the optical connection parts 50a to 50d has a GRIN lens connected to the optical fiber end faces of the optical cables 51a to 51d, and a cover glass that covers the surface of the GRIN lens. The optical connecting portion 50X (X=a, b, c, d; hereinafter, the same letters correspond to each other) and the optical connecting portion 93X on the transmission cable 9 side are in contact with each other at their connecting surfaces, so that the optical cable 91X and the optical cable 91X. Connect with 51X. The optical cables 51X and 91X and the optical connection units 50X and 93X form one signal transmission path. In the first embodiment, the number of signal transmission lines is not limited to four, but may be two, three, or five or more.

The optical cables 51a to 51d transmit the optical signals input to the corresponding optical connection units 50a to 50d, and input the transmitted optical signals to the O/E conversion unit 52.

The O/E conversion unit 52 converts each of the plurality of optical signals transmitted by the optical cables 51a to 51d into a plurality of serial electric signals and inputs the serial electric signals to the reception signal processing unit 53.

The reception signal processing unit 53 includes four receivers 531 to 534 that respectively receive the serial electric signals converted by the O/E conversion unit 52, and a transmission failure that detects a transmission failure based on the reception status of the receivers 531 to 534. The detection unit 535 and the integration unit 536 that integrates and outputs the signals output by the receivers 531 to 534, respectively.

The receivers 531 to 534 perform a clock data recovery (CDR) process for reproducing a clock signal superimposed on the serial signal received from the O/E conversion unit 52, and an S/P conversion for converting the serial signal after the CDR process into a parallel signal. Processing, K code detection processing for detecting K code from the parallel signal after S/P conversion to obtain valid data, bit error rate for calculating probability of receiving erroneous data from parallel signal after S/P conversion ( BER) detection processing and decoding processing for performing M-bit/N-bit conversion (decoding) on the parallel signal after the K-code detection processing are executed. The receivers 531 to 534 output the execution results of the CDR processing, the K code detection processing, and the BER detection processing to the transmission failure detection unit 535, respectively.

The transmission failure detection unit 535 detects the presence or absence of transmission failure of the optical signal in the plurality of signal transmission lines based on the execution results of the CDR processing, the K code detection processing, and the BER detection processing executed by the receivers 531 to 534, respectively. At the same time, the signal transmission path having the transmission failure is specified. The transmission failure detection unit 535 outputs the transmission failure information to the control unit 56. The transmission failure information includes at least information indicating the signal transmission path in which the transmission failure has occurred.

The integration unit 536 integrates a plurality of electric signals by performing a process opposite to the process performed by the distribution switching unit 841 of the camera head 8 using the parallel electric signals output by the receivers 531 to 534, respectively. The integration unit 536 performs integration processing according to the number of received parallel electric signals of the receivers 531 to 534. When a transmission failure occurs in any of the four signal transmission paths, the signal integrated by the integration unit 536 has a defect in which image data corresponding to the transmission failure is lost.

The reception signal processing unit 53 described above is configured using a dedicated integrated circuit such as an FPGA, similar to the transmission signal processing unit 84, for example.

Under the control of the control unit 56, which will be described later, the image processing unit 54 outputs an image signal output from the reception signal processing unit 53, that is, an image signal in a RAW format or a predetermined format with a low compression rate generated by the image sensor 82. Then, predetermined signal processing is performed. The image processing unit 54 performs an optical black subtraction process, a gain adjustment process, an image signal synchronization process, a gamma correction process, a white balance (WB) adjustment process, a color matrix calculation process, a color reproduction process on the image signal. Various types of image processing including edge enhancement processing are performed.

The display control unit 55 generates a display image signal to be displayed on the display device 6 from the image signal processed by the image processing unit 54. The display image signal output to the display device 6 is, for example, a digital signal in the SDI, DVI (registered trademark), HDMI (registered trademark) format, or the like. When the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects the transmission failure of the signal transmission path, the display control unit 55, under the control of the control unit 56, displays an alarm image signal indicating that the transmission failure has occurred in the signal transmission path. It is generated and displayed on the display device 6 for output. In addition, when the accumulated amount of dust detected by the dust detection unit 60 exceeds a certain threshold, the display control unit 55 may cause an abnormal increase in the in-machine temperature under the control of the control unit 56. An alarm image signal indicating that there is is generated and displayed on the display device 6 for output.

The control unit 56 is realized by using, for example, a CPU. The control unit 56 controls the processing operation of each unit of the control device 5. The control unit 56 controls the operation of the control device 5 by transferring instruction information and data to each unit of the control device 5. The control device 5 is connected to each component of the camera head 8 via each cable, and also controls the operations of the image pickup device 82, the drive unit 83, and the like. The control unit 56 also controls the distribution switching process performed by the distribution switching unit 841 of the camera head 8.

The control unit 56 changes the number of electric signals output by the transmission signal processing unit 84 according to the detection result of the transmission failure detection unit 535. When the transmission failure detecting unit 535 identifies the signal transmission path having the transmission failure among the plurality of signal transmission paths, the control unit 56 controls the plurality of optical signals on the signal transmission paths other than the signal transmission path having the transmission failure. Is generated, a distribution switching control signal for changing the number of distribution image signals output by the transmission signal processing unit 84 is generated and transmitted to the transmission signal processing unit 84 of the camera head 8.

The input unit 57 is realized by using an operation device such as a mouse, a keyboard and a touch panel, and receives input of various instruction information of the medical observation system 1. Specifically, the input unit 57 inputs subject information (for example, ID, date of birth, name, etc.), identification information of the endoscope 2 (for example, ID and examination corresponding item), and various instruction information such as examination contents. Accept.

The output unit 58 is realized by using, for example, a speaker or a printer, and outputs various information regarding in-vivo observation. Under the control of the control unit 56, the output unit 58 outputs an alarm sound indicating that the transmission failure occurs when the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects the transmission failure. Further, under the control of the control unit 56, the output unit 58 may cause an abnormal increase in the in-machine temperature when the dust accumulation amount detected by the dust detection unit 60 exceeds a certain threshold. An alarm sound indicating that is output.

The storage unit 59 is realized by using a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), and stores various programs for operating the camera head 8, the control device 5, and the like. Remember. The storage unit 59 temporarily records the information being processed by the control device 5. The storage unit 59 stores the image signal captured by the image sensor 82 and the image signal subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit 54. The storage unit 59 may be configured using a memory card or the like mounted from outside the control device 5.

The dust detection unit 60 detects accumulation of dust inside the control device 5, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 56. When the dust accumulation amount detected by the dust detection unit 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 56 may detect a fan lock, or a short circuit of the circuit due to dust accumulation or a decrease in the air flow may cause the internal temperature of the machine to decrease. The alarm information indicating that there is a possibility that the abnormal increase of the above may occur is output to the display device 6 or the output unit 58.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the inside of the control device 5. The dust detection unit 60 is, for example, a flow sensor, and a plurality (two in FIG. 3) is provided outside the filter 602 on the outlet side of the fan 601 of the control device 5. FIG. 4 is a right side view of a part of the inside of the control device 5 shown in FIG. The dust detection unit 60 detects the amount of wind blown from the fan 601 to the outside as shown by the arrow in FIG. When dust accumulates on the filter 602, the air volume decreases. Therefore, when the air volume value detected by the dust detection unit 60 falls below a certain threshold value, the control unit 56 performs an output control process of alarm information.

The dust detection unit 60 may be an optical sensor that optically detects dust. In this case, the dust detection unit 60 is installed in a place where dust easily collects, and when the detected dust amount exceeds the threshold value, the control unit 56 performs an alarm information output control process. Moreover, the dust detection unit 60 may be a circuit dedicated to dust detection. When this circuit is short-circuited due to dust, the control unit 56 performs output control processing of alarm information. Further, the dust detection unit 60 may be provided near at least one of the fan 601 and the filter 602, or may be provided at a corner portion of the housing where dust is likely to collect. Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example in which two dust detection units 60 are installed, the number of installed dust detection units 60 may be one or may be three or more.

Next, the transmission failure detection process in the control device 5 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of transmission failure detection processing in the control device 5 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the transmission failure detection unit 535 acquires the CDR processing result from the receivers 531 to 534 (step S1) and determines whether each receiver can execute the CDR processing (step S2). .. At the time of disconnection of the optical fiber, the optical signal itself is not input to the control device 5 on the receiving side from the optical cable having the disconnected optical fiber, so that the CDR process is not executed. Therefore, if there is a receiver that could not execute the CDR process (step S2: No), the transmission failure detection unit 535 has determined that there is a transmission failure due to disconnection or the like in the signal transmission path corresponding to the receiver. Is detected (step S3).

When determining that all the receivers have been able to execute the CDR processing (step S2: Yes), the transmission failure detection unit 535 acquires the K code detection processing result from the receivers 531 to 534 (step S4). The transmission failure detection unit 535 determines whether each receiver can detect the K code based on the acquired K code detection processing result (step S5). When the optical fiber is broken, the optical signal itself is not input to the control device 5 on the receiving side from the optical cable having the broken optical fiber, so that neither K code detection nor data timing detection is executed. Therefore, when there is a receiver that cannot detect the K code (step S5: No), the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects that a transmission failure has occurred in the signal transmission path corresponding to the receiver (step S5). S3).

When the transmission failure detection unit 535 determines that all the receivers have been able to detect the K code (step S5: Yes), it acquires the BER detection processing results from the receivers 531 to 534 (step S6). The transmission failure detection unit 535 determines, based on the acquired BER detection processing result, whether or not the bit error rate of each receiver is a high bit error rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value (step S7). When transmission failure or transmission deterioration occurs in the optical cable, the light intensity of the optical signal input to the O/E conversion unit 52 becomes weak, and the bit error rate detected by the BER detection processing also becomes high. Therefore, if the bit error rate in the BER detection processing results from all the receivers is not the high bit error rate (step S7: No), the transmission failure detection unit 535 determines that there is no transmission failure (step S8). ), and this transmission failure detection process ends.

On the other hand, if there is a receiver having a high bit error rate as a result of the BER detection processing (step S7: Yes), the transmission failure detection unit 535 has a transmission failure on the signal transmission path corresponding to the receiver. It is detected (step S3).

The process after step S3 will be described. The control unit 56 transmits a distribution switching control signal for distributing the image signal to the transmitters corresponding to the optical cables other than the optical cable specified by the transmission failure detection unit 535 (step S9).

The control unit 56 performs a transmission failure output process of causing the display device 6 and the output unit 58 to output the alarm information indicating that the transmission failure has occurred (step S10). This alarm information identifies and indicates the signal transmission path where the transmission failure has occurred, and also indicates the method of recovering the transmission failure. For example, regarding a signal transmission line for which CDR processing has not been executed or K code detection processing has not been executed, there is a high possibility that the optical fiber is broken, so a message recommending maintenance such as replacement of the optical cable after the inspection is completed. Output. Also, regarding the signal transmission path in which the high bit error rate was detected by the BER detection processing, the optical connection part of the connector may be dirty or cloudy, so a message recommending cleaning of the optical connection part is output after the inspection. To do. In this case, it may be possible that the optical axis of the optical connection part is displaced. Therefore, a message recommending correction of the optical axis is also output.

For example, the control device 5 may perform the processes of steps S1 to S10 even during the inspection, or may perform the processes of steps S1 to S10 at the time of inspection before use and at the end of the inspection.

As described above, in the first embodiment, even if a transmission failure occurs in one of the optical cables during the procedure, the control device 5 can switch to the other three signal transmission paths in which the transmission failure does not occur. The transmission of the optical signal (image signal) to the optical disc continues. Therefore, in the first embodiment, for example, even if a transmission failure occurs in the signal transmission path during the procedure, it is possible to reliably avoid sudden image loss during the procedure and appropriately continue the procedure. it can. Further, in the first embodiment, even if there is a stain on the optical connection portion, a misalignment of the optical axis, or a communication failure due to deterioration over time, image noise due to transmission failure is prevented, and a clear image display without noise is displayed. I can continue. In addition, in the first embodiment, since the alarm information is output when the transmission failure of the optical connection unit is detected, the transmission failure is not left unattended.

FIG. 6 is an example of a plan view of the main part inside the housing of the control device 5. 7 is a view of the housing shown in FIG. 6 taken along a plane perpendicular to the board surface of the board in the housing. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a device for executing various processes such as imaging is connected to a substrate 603 provided inside the housing of the control device 5, and each device heats when driven. It is common to emit. Therefore, although a fan or the like is usually provided to cool the heat generating device, when a fan lock occurs, the device on the substrate may be damaged by heat generation. Therefore, in the first embodiment, instead of providing a dedicated fan for each chip, a plurality of devices 604 and 605 are connected by a heat sink 606 that is a member having high thermal conductivity, and the fan 601 provided on the heat sink 606 is connected. By cooling the heat sink 606 with multiple fans 601 within the containing housing 607, the risk of a single failure of the cooling means, such as a fan lock, is avoided. When a single failure such as fan lock occurs, the control unit 56 performs an alarm information output control process.

The cooling means itself described above is also applicable to the camera head 8. When applied to the camera head 8, it is preferable that cooling is performed not by cooling with a fan but by transferring heat to a housing or the like to radiate heat. Further, when abnormal heat is generated inside the camera head 8, the camera head 8 notifies the control device 5 to that effect.

When the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects a transmission failure on one of the four signal transmission paths, instead of using all the remaining three signal transmission paths, two predetermined signal transmission paths are used. Optical signals may be transmitted over the path.

(Modification 1-1 of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the camera head, the transmission cable, and the control device of the endoscope according to the modified example 1-1 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, compared to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the connector 90A of the transmission cable 9A has the O/E converter 52, and the controller 5A does not have the O/E converter 52. The optical signal transmitted by each of the optical cables 91a to 91d is converted into an electric signal in the O/E conversion unit 52 of the connector 90A and output to the reception signal processing unit 53 via the four electric wires 51A. Therefore, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 8, by providing the O/E conversion unit 52 on the way of the plurality of signal transmission paths, the optical connection units 93a to 93d, 50a are provided to the connector 90A and the connector 50A on the control device 5A side. ˜50d may not be provided.

When the connector 90A on the transmission cable 9A side is provided with the O/E converter 52 as in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, a signal is transmitted from the transmission cable 9A to the control device 5A using electric wiring. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the transmission error and the image noise due to the optical axis shift of the optical connection portion, the dirt and cloudiness of the connection surface of the optical connection portion, and the like.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a spare optical cable is provided in the optical cable group, and when a transmission failure occurs in any of the normally used optical cables, the spare optical cable is used instead of the optical cable in which the transmission failure occurs. Performs signal transmission processing.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the camera head, the transmission cable, and the control device of the endoscope according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the transmission cable 209 according to the second embodiment has a spare optical cable 291d as an optical cable group 291, in addition to the three normally used optical cables 91a to 91c. The spare optical cable 291d can transmit at least one of the plurality of optical signals converted by the E/O converter 85. In the transmission cable 209, a spare optical cable 291d is used to fill the gap between the other optical cables 91a to 91c instead of the conventionally used support material. The optical cable group 251 on the control device 5 side also has a spare optical cable 251d in addition to the three normally used optical cables 51a to 51c. The optical cables 51Y (Y=a, b, c; hereinafter, the same letters correspond to each other), 91Y, and the optical connection units 50Y and 93Y form one signal transmission path that is normally used. Further, the optical cables 51d and 91d and the optical connection units 50d and 93d form a spare signal transmission path. In the second embodiment, the number of signal transmission lines normally used may be two or four or more, and the number of spare signal transmission lines may be two or more.

The camera head 208 according to the second embodiment has a transmission signal processing unit 284. The transmission signal processing unit 284 has a distribution switching unit 2841 and four transmitters 842 to 845. The transmission signal processing unit 284 functions as the medical signal processing device according to the present invention.

The distribution switching unit 2841 receives the transmission failure information of the signal transmission path from the control device 5, and switches the distribution method of the image signals to the four transmitters 842 to 845 based on the transmission failure information, thereby generating a plurality of distribution images. Generate and output a signal. For example, when the transmission states of all the signal transmission lines are normal, the distribution switching unit 2841 causes the image signals output from the image sensor 82 to be transmitted to three transmitters 842 that respectively correspond to the three normally used signal transmission lines. ~ 844. The three signal transmission lines have optical cables 91a to 91c, respectively. When a transmission failure is detected in n (n=1, 2) signal transmission paths of the three signal transmission paths, the distribution switching unit 2841 determines that the number of the 3-n number of transmission signals except the transmitter corresponding to the signal transmission path is 3n. The image signal is distributed to the transmitter and the transmitter 845 corresponding to the spare signal transmission path (including the optical cable 291d). Also in the second embodiment, each of the image signals distributed by the distribution switching unit 2841 is a parallel signal.

In the second embodiment, a maximum of three serial electric signals are input from the optical cable group 251 to the reception signal processing unit 53 of the control device 5.

In the second embodiment, when the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects a transmission failure in the signal transmission path including the optical cable 91a among the signal transmission paths normally used, for example, the control unit 56 controls the distribution switching unit 2841 of the camera head 208. On the other hand, while the distribution to the transmitter 842 corresponding to the optical cable 91a is stopped, a distribution switching control signal for distribution to the transmitter 845 corresponding to the spare signal transmission path in addition to the transmitters 843 and 844 is transmitted.

As described above, in the second embodiment, even if a transmission failure occurs in any of the three signal transmission paths during the procedure, the transmission path passing through the backup signal transmission path in which the transmission failure does not occur. The optical signal transmission is continued as it is, so that the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained.

When the transmission failure detection unit 535 detects a transmission failure in one of the three signal transmission paths, the predetermined one signal transmission path is used instead of using all the remaining two signal transmission paths. May be used.

(Modification 2-1 of Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera head, a transmission cable, and a control device of an endoscope according to a modification 2-1 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the modification 2-1 of the second embodiment, the connector 90A of the transmission cable 209A has the O/E conversion unit 52, as in the configuration of the modification 1-1 of the first embodiment. And the controller 5A does not have the O/E converter 52. Also in this case, similarly to the modification 1-1 of the first embodiment, since the signal can be transmitted from the transmission cable 209A to the control device 5A by using the electric wiring, the optical axis shift of the optical connection portion and the optical connection can be prevented. It is possible to suppress transmission failure and image noise due to dirt and cloudiness of the connection surface of the connection portion.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted or simplified. In the medical observation system 1 according to the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to the endoscope 2 using the camera head 8. On the other hand, in the medical observation system according to the third embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called videoscope having an imaging unit on the distal end side of the insertion portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 11: is a figure which shows schematic structure of the medical observation system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the medical observation system 1A according to the third embodiment captures an in-vivo image of the observation site by inserting the insertion section 7A in the living body to generate an image signal, and the image. An endoscope 2A that generates a plurality of transmission image signals from signals, a light source device 3 that generates illumination light emitted from the tip of the endoscope 2A, and a plurality of transmission images generated by the endoscope 2A. Based on a control device 5 (a control device described in the above-described first or second embodiment) that inputs a signal and processes the plurality of transmission image signals, and a video signal processed by the control device 5. And a display device 6 for displaying an image.

As shown in FIG. 11, the endoscope 2A includes a flexible elongated insertion portion 7A, and an operation portion 8A that is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 7A and that receives various operation signals. A universal cord 10A that extends in a direction different from the direction in which the insertion portion 7A extends from the operation portion 8A and that incorporates various cables that are connected to the light source device 3 and the control device 5 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion portion 7A includes a distal end portion 71 including an imaging portion (not shown) that captures an image of the inside of a living body and generates an image signal, and a bendable bending portion configured by a plurality of bending pieces. 72, and a flexible elongated tube portion 73 connected to the base end side of the bending portion 72.

Although not specifically shown, the operation unit 8A has the same configuration as that of the transmission signal processing unit 84 and the E/O conversion unit 85 described in the first embodiment, and the above-described imaging The transmission signal processing unit processes the image signal generated by the unit. The universal cord 10A includes substantially the same configurations as the light guide 4 and the transmission cable 9 described in the first embodiment, respectively. The plurality of transmission image signals (optical signals) processed (generated) inside the operation unit 8A (transmission signal processing unit and electro-optical conversion unit) are output to the control device 5 via the universal code 10A. ..

Even when the flexible endoscope (endoscope 2A) is used as in the third embodiment described above, the same effect as in the above-described first embodiment is obtained.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted or simplified. In the medical observation system 1 according to Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the present invention is applied to the endoscope 2 using the camera head 8. On the other hand, in the medical observation system according to the fourth embodiment, the present invention is applied to a surgical microscope for enlarging and imaging a predetermined visual field region inside a subject (in living body) or on the surface of a subject (living body surface). Has been applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the medical observation system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the medical observation system 1B according to the fourth embodiment captures an image for observing a subject to generate an image signal, and also generates a plurality of transmission image signals from the image signal. The surgical microscope 2B to be generated and a plurality of transmission image signals generated by the surgical microscope 2B are input, and the control device 5 that processes the plurality of transmission image signals (the above-described first embodiment or the embodiment). The control device described in Mode 2) and the display device 6 for displaying an image based on the video signal processed by the control device 5.

As shown in FIG. 12, the operating microscope 2B magnifies and images a microscopic portion of a subject, generates an image signal, and generates a plurality of transmission image signals from the image signal, and a microscope unit 21. A support portion 22 that is connected to a base end portion of the portion 21 and includes an arm that rotatably supports the microscope portion 21, and a base portion of the support portion 22 that is rotatably held and is movable on the floor surface. And a base portion 23. The control device 5 is installed in the base portion 23, as shown in FIG. The base portion 23 may be configured to support the support portion 22 by being fixed to a ceiling, a wall surface, or the like, instead of being movably provided on the floor surface. In addition, the base unit 23 may include a light source unit that generates illumination light that illuminates the subject from the surgical microscope 2B.

Although not specifically shown, the microscope section 21 includes an image capturing section that captures an image of a living body or a living body surface to generate an image signal, the transmission signal processing section 84 and the E/O described in the first embodiment. A configuration similar to that of the conversion unit 85 is built in, and the image signal generated by the imaging unit is processed by the transmission signal processing unit. The plurality of transmission image signals (optical signals) processed (generated) by the microscope unit 21 (transmission signal processing unit and electro-optical conversion unit) are wired inside the support unit 22 along the support unit 22. It is output to the control device 5 via the transmission cable 9.

Even when the surgical microscope 2B is used as in the fourth embodiment described above, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

In the present invention, the camera head side may perform the distribution switching control of the distribution switching unit included in the transmission signal processing unit of the camera head. In this case, the camera head controls the distribution switching of the distribution switching unit based on the transmission failure detection information received from the control device.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of signal transmission paths may respectively transmit electric signals. In this case, the above-mentioned optical cable, optical connection part, E/O conversion part, and O/E conversion part are unnecessary, and a plurality of signal transmission lines are configured using the electrical wiring and the connection part for connecting the electrical wiring. ..

Further, the medical observation system according to the present invention may include an ultrasonic endoscope configured by using an ultrasonic probe instead of the above-described endoscope.

A program for executing each process in the above-described camera head and control device is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a computer-readable record such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a CD-R, a DVD. It may be recorded on a medium and provided. Further, the above program may be provided by being stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and being downloaded via the network, or may be provided or distributed via the network such as the Internet.

1, 1A, 1B Medical Observation System 2, 2A Endoscope 2B Surgery Microscope 3 Light Source Device 4 Light Guide 5, 5A Control Device 6 Display Device 7, 7A Insertion Section 8, 208 Camera Head 9, 9A, 209, 209A Transmission cable 10A Universal cord 21 Microscope part 22 Support part 23 Base part 50, 50A, 90, 90A Connector 50a-50d, 93a-93d Optical connection part 51, 91, 251, 291 Optical cable group 51a-51d, 91a-91d, 251d , 291d Optical cable 52 O/E conversion unit 53 Received signal processing unit 54 Image processing unit 55 Display control unit 56 Control unit 57 Input unit 58 Output unit 59 Storage unit 60 Dust detection unit 71 Tip section 72 Bending section 73 Flexible tube section 81 Lens unit 82 Image sensor 83 Drive section 84, 284 Transmission signal processing section 85 E/O conversion section 91 Optical cable group 92 Electrical wiring 531 to 534 Receiver 535 Transmission failure detection section 536 Integrated section 601 Fan 602 Filter 603 Board 604, 605 Device 606 Heat sink 607 Housing 841, 2841 Distribution switching unit 842-845 Transmitter

Claims (7)

A medical signal processing device, which is communicably connected to a medical control device via a plurality of signal transmission paths, and which processes an image signal according to a test result inside a subject,
A transmission signal processing unit for generating a plurality of transmission image signals by distributing the image signals based on transmission failure information indicating transmission failure of signals in the plurality of signal transmission paths,
The transmission signal processing unit,
When no transmission failure occurs in the plurality of signal transmission paths, the image signal is distributed so that the transmission image signal is transmitted to all of the plurality of signal transmission paths,
When a transmission failure occurs in the plurality of signal transmission paths, the image signal is distributed so that the transmission image signal is transmitted to a signal transmission path other than the signal transmission path in which the transmission failure has occurred,
The image signals are distributed by changing the transmission rate according to the number of distributions of the image signals so that the total transmission rate of the plurality of transmission image signals to be transmitted is the same regardless of the number of distributions. A medical signal processing device characterized by: It is characterized by further comprising an electro-optical conversion unit that converts a plurality of electric signals based on the plurality of transmission image signals into a plurality of optical signals, respectively, and outputs the plurality of optical signals to the plurality of signal transmission paths, respectively. The medical signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 . A medical signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A plurality of signal transmission paths for respectively transmitting the plurality of transmission image signals from the medical signal processing device,
A reception signal processing unit that detects a signal transmission failure in the plurality of signal transmission paths and restores the image signal based on the plurality of transmission image signals transmitted through the plurality of signal transmission paths. Medical control device,
Equipped with
Either of the medical signal processing device and the medical control device,
A medical observation system comprising: a control unit that controls distribution of the image signal by the transmission signal processing unit based on a detection result of the transmission failure in the reception signal processing unit. The medical signal processing device,
A plurality of electric signals based on the plurality of transmission image signals are respectively converted into a plurality of optical signals, further comprising an electro-optical conversion unit that outputs the plurality of optical signals to the plurality of signal transmission paths,
The signal transmission path is
The medical observation system according to claim 3 , further comprising an optical cable that transmits an optical signal. The medical control device,
The medical observation system according to claim 4 , further comprising a photoelectric conversion unit that converts each of the plurality of optical signals into a plurality of electric signals. The plurality of signal transmission lines,
A plurality of the optical cables,
A photoelectric conversion unit that converts each of the plurality of optical signals into a plurality of electric signals,
A plurality of electric wirings respectively transmitting the plurality of electric signals,
The medical observation system according to claim 4 , further comprising: When the reception signal processing section detects the transmission failure, in any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the transmission failure further comprising an output unit for outputting information indicating that the resulting The medical observation system described.

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