JPH10262921A - Electronic endoscope equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the diagnostic property of endoscope examination without disturbing the visual judgement in the endoscope examination. SOLUTION: A video signal processing means 33 generates a standard image signal S7 based on a CCD output signal S2 from a solid-state imaging device 18 provided at an endoscope tip end part 9, an image signal rotating means 34 generates a rotated image signal S8 rotationally correcting the standard image signal S7 according to gravity direction based on the standard image signal S7 and a gravity direction signal S4 showing the gravity direction outputted from a gravity direction detector 20 provided at an endoscope inserting part 7 and at an image signal compositing means 35, a compositing image signal S13' is generated by compositing the standard image signal S7 and the rotated image signal S8 with suitable position and size and outputted as an image signal S16 through an output image signal selecting means 36 to external devices A, B... such as monitors. When the external devices A, B... are monitors, on these monitors, both a subject 25a due to the standard image signal S7 and a subject due to the rotated image signal S8 are displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a standard image and a rotated image whose rotation has been corrected in accordance with the direction of gravity at the tip of the endoscope.
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of displaying on a single monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic endoscope apparatus, the position of a solid-state image pickup device (hereinafter abbreviated as CCD) provided at the distal end of an insertion section is fixed, and its output signal has a direction with respect to the direction of gravity. Not specified. Therefore, the direction of the observation image displayed on the monitor does not always match the direction of gravity.

However, when observing a desired subject or when recording an image, an observation image in a certain direction with respect to the direction of gravity may be required. For example, with respect to a recorded image recorded by an external storage device, a complicated operation such as storing the image after adjusting its direction is necessary in order to unify the recorded image in a certain direction.

To solve this problem, see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-90.
No. 743 proposes that a gravitational direction detecting unit is provided in an insertion unit, a rotation angle of the insertion unit is generated based on a signal output from the gravitational direction detection unit, and a rotation process of an image is performed.

Hereinafter, an electronic endoscope apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 11, the electronic endoscope apparatus 1
Endoscope 2, light source device 3, image signal processing device 4, and monitor 5
It is composed of

[0006] The endoscope 2 has an insertion portion 7, and an operation portion 8 is connected to a rear end of the insertion portion 7. The insertion portion 7 includes a distal end portion 9, a curved portion 10, and a boundary portion 10a from the distal end side.
And the flexible portion 11 are sequentially provided.
The operation unit 8 is connected to the rear end of the device. The operation section 8 is provided with a bending operation knob 12 for bending the bending section 10 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a universal cable 13 extends from a side portion. At the end of the universal cable 13, there is provided a connector 13a detachably connected to the image signal processing device 4.

A light guide cable 14 extends to the side of the connector 13a. A connector 14a is provided at the rear end of the light guide cable 14 so as to be detachably connected to the light source device 3. ing.

The distal end 9 has an observation window 15 and an illumination window 16 at the distal end thereof, and an objective optical system 17 is disposed behind the observation window 15. A CCD 18 is provided behind the camera. This CCD 18
Is arranged so that its imaging plane coincides with the image forming position of the objective optical system 17. Further, a signal line 19 extending from the CCD 18 is connected to the image signal processing device 4 via the insertion section 7, the operation section 9, the universal cable 13, and the connector 13a.

A gravitational direction detector 20 as gravitational direction detecting means is fixedly provided behind the CCD 18 at the distal end portion 9. A plurality of signal lines 21, 21,... Are connected to the gravity direction detector 20.
Are connected to the image signal processing device 4 via the insertion section 7, the operation section 8, and the universal cable 13.

With the above configuration, the CCD 18 converts the formed optical image into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal Sa to the image signal processing device 4 via the signal line 19. The gravitational direction detector 20 is connected to the insertion portion 7.
Is output to the image signal processing device 4 via the signal lines 21, 21,....

The image signal processing device 4 includes a video signal processing means 33, a rotation angle generation circuit 23, and an image rotation processing circuit 2.
4 are provided. The video signal processing means 33 is connected to the CCD 18 via the signal line 19. The rotation angle generation circuit 23 is connected to the signal lines 21 and
1 are connected to the gravitational direction detector 20 via. Further, the video signal processing means 33 and the rotation angle generation circuit 23 are connected to the image rotation processing circuit 24, respectively.

The video signal processing means 33 converts the electric signal Sa into a standard video signal and outputs this video signal to the image rotation processing circuit 24.

The rotation angle generation circuit 23 outputs the rotation angle of the insertion section 7 as an information signal to the image rotation means 23 based on the gravity direction instruction signal Sb output from the gravity direction detector 20.

The image rotation processing circuit 24 processes the video signal according to the rotation angle of the insertion section 7 based on the information signal, so that the weight direction of the observation image displayed on the monitor 5 is always downward. Correct the rotation.

According to this prior art, the rotation angle of the endoscope insertion section 7 is corrected for rotation by the image rotation processing circuit 24, so that it is possible to always obtain an observation image with the direction of gravity downward. Therefore, when the subject 25 whose gravitational direction g is in the downward direction in the drawing is imaged and the tip end portion 9 is rotated in the range of a to b, when the rotation correction is not performed, FIGS.
As shown in (c), the observation image displayed on the circular image frame 5a of the monitor 5 rotates according to the rotation of the distal end portion 9. As shown in FIG. 4D, an observation image of the subject 25 whose weight direction g is always located below the monitor 5 can be obtained regardless of the rotation of the distal end portion 9.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, there has been proposed a technique in which an angle direction display circuit 26 and a superimpose circuit 27 are added to the image signal processing device 4.

According to this prior art, the character characters that rotate in accordance with the rotation of the insertion section 7 are displayed in the image frame 5.
It can be displayed outside of “a”. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 15A, U, R, D, and L corresponding to the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the insertion portion 7 are displayed on the screen of the monitor 5 every 90 degrees in the clockwise direction. When the endoscope end portion 9 is rotated as shown in FIG. 12, when the endoscope 9 is rotated, as shown in FIGS. U, R, D, L character characters that display
By rotating the endoscope in synchronization with the rotation of the endoscope, the position of the endoscope distal end portion 9 in the rotational direction can be easily grasped.

[0018]

However, in a conventional endoscopic examination for observing the inside of a body cavity, an operator visually judges a rotation state of an image displayed on a monitor 5 and determines an endoscope insertion portion. 7 is often performed. That is, by observing the change in the direction of the observation image linked to the angle of the endoscope distal end portion 9, the state of the distal end portion is determined.

For this reason, if the observation image at the time of insertion of the endoscope is always displayed with the direction of gravity downward, the visual judgment of the operator may be hindered rather than the conventional method. For an operator who is proficient in endoscopy, it may be a factor that prolongs the examination time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has provided a rotation image signal having a rotation corrected in a fixed direction with respect to the direction of gravity and a composite image signal of a standard image signal having the same direction as the rotation direction of the insertion portion. Is generated, and can be displayed on the same monitor, and further, it is possible to selectively output to the external device from among the standard image signal, the rotated image signal, and the composite image signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of avoiding prolonging an examination time and reducing a patient's pain without hindering visual judgment in an endoscope examination.

[0021]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is provided at a distal end of an endoscope and converts a subject image into an electric signal. A gravitational direction detecting unit that is provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope and outputs an information signal regarding the gravitational direction of the distal end portion, and an image signal processing device is provided.The image signal processing device includes an output signal of the solid-state imaging device. Video signal processing means for performing signal processing to generate a standard image signal; image signal rotating means for generating a rotated image signal for rotating the direction of the standard image signal based on an information signal from the gravity detecting means; Image signal synthesizing means for generating a synthesized image signal for synthesizing the image signal and the rotated image signal for display on the same monitor; and the standard image signal, the rotated image signal, and the synthesized image signal. Select one of the image signals from and characterized by including an output image signal selecting means for outputting to an external device.

According to such a configuration, the output signal from the solid-state imaging device provided at the end of the endoscope is subjected to signal processing by the video signal processing means to generate a standard image signal. Further, a gravitational direction detecting means provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope detects the gravitational direction of the distal end portion and outputs an information signal related to the weight direction. The image signal rotating means rotates the standard image signal based on the information signal from the gravity detecting means to generate a rotated image signal. The image signal synthesizing means synthesizes the standard image signal and the rotated image signal to generate a synthesized image signal for displaying the standard image and the rotated image on the same monitor. The output image signal selecting means selects one image signal from the standard image signal and the rotated image signal or the composite image signal and outputs it to an external device. This makes it possible to observe, on the same monitor, the rotated image that has been subjected to the rotation correction in the direction of gravity together with the standard image, and selectively outputs the desired image to the external device by outputting it to the external device. It becomes possible to output.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus. Numeral 30 in the figure is an electronic endoscope device, which comprises a known endoscope 2 and light source device 3 (see FIG. 11), an image signal processing device 31, and a plurality of external devices A, B... ing.

The image signal processing device 30 includes a CCD driving unit 32, a video signal processing unit 33, and an image signal rotating unit 3.
4. Image signal rigidity means 35, output image signal selection means 36
A driving signal S1 is output from the CCD driving means 32 to the CCD 18 provided in the endoscope 2, and the CCD driving means 32
8 and a CCD discrimination signal S3 for discriminating the type of the CCD 18, and a gravitational direction signal S4 from a gravitational direction detector 20 provided in the endoscope 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CCD driving means 3
2 is a CCD driving timing pulse generation circuit (hereinafter, C
41, a superposition circuit 42, a discrimination signal detection circuit 43, an isolation circuit 44, and a discrimination signal extraction circuit 45.

The electronic endoscope device 3 employed in the present embodiment
0, it is possible to selectively attach a plurality of endoscopes 2 having different types of CCDs 18 to the image signal processing device 31,
In step 1, a drive signal S1 of a different timing pulse is generated according to the type of the CCD 18 built in the mounted endoscope 2.

The CCD driving SSG 41 is composed of a programmable element or the like in order to generate driving signals S1 of different timing pulses.
By changing the algorithm according to the eight types, the circuit configuration is simplified. A timing generation circuit such as the CCD driving SSG 41 generates a desired timing pulse by the counter section and the address decoding section. However, since it is necessary to generate a different address by the CCD 18, the initial value of the counter section is set to the CCD.
By making the change by 18, the above-described counter section and address decoding section can be shared, and the number of gates used by the programmable element can be reduced accordingly.

The discrimination signal detection circuit 43 discriminates the type of the CCD 18 incorporated in the endoscope 2 to be used based on the CCD discrimination signal S3 output from the insertion section 7 of the endoscope 2, and The algorithm of the driving SSG 41 is controlled.

Further, the superimposing circuit 42 superimposes the CCD discrimination signal S3 in, for example, a non-video period of the CCD output signal S2.

The isolation circuit 44 electrically insulates an electronic circuit (patient circuit) connected to the insertion section 7 of the endoscope 2 to be inserted into a patient from a secondary circuit, thereby improving safety. This is a circuit for securing, and is usually composed of relatively expensive components such as a photocoupler and an insulating transformer. By superimposing the CCD discrimination signal S3 on the video signal by the superimposing circuit 42, the size of the isolation circuit 44 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

The discrimination signal extracting circuit 45 extracts and outputs the CCD discrimination signal S5 again from the output signal of the isolation circuit 44.

As shown in FIG. 3, the video signal processing means 33 includes a preamplifier 51, a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 52, an A / D converter 53, and a signal processing signal generation circuit (hereinafter referred to as a signal processing circuit). SSG) 54, an image processing circuit 55, and a memory 56.

The image signal S6 from the CCD 18 isolated by the isolation circuit 44 provided in the CCD driving means 32 is supplied to the preamplifier 5
And the image signal / video signal processing means 3
3 is output to the CDS circuit 52.

In the CDS circuit 52, the input image signal S 6 is reduced to a baseband band, converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 53, and then converted into a digital signal.
Output to

The image processing circuit 55 performs signal processing on the digitized image signal S6 in accordance with a synchronization signal for controlling the image processing circuit 55 output from the signal processing SSG 44 and performs rotation processing. A standard image signal S7 not generated is generated and output to the memory 56.

In the memory 56, the standard image signal S
7 is controlled, and the monitor image output area 47 shown in FIG.
Is output at the timing of the standard image output position 47a provided for the image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image signal rotating means 34 comprises a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as RAM) 61, a write address control unit 62, and a read address control unit 63.

The standard image signal S7 output from the video signal processing means 33 is input to the RAM 61.

In the write address control section 62, the standard image signal S7 inputted to the image signal rotating means 34
Of the RAM 61 is designated.

The read address control unit 63 receives the gravitational direction signal S4 from the gravitational direction detector 20 and performs an order such that the rotation for lowering the gravitational direction is performed based on the gravitational direction signal S4. The read address of
Output to M61.

The read address control section 63 is constituted by a look-up table such as a read-only memory (ROM), and uses the gravity direction signal S4 of the gravity direction detector 20 as an address and a corresponding read address. Is output. For example, the original image shown in FIG. 6A is 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 as shown in FIG.
→ 7 → 8 → 9
It is taken into M61. This is 7 → 4 → 1 → 8 → 5 →
By specifying the read addresses in the order of 2 → 9 → 6 → 3, an image as shown in FIG.
61 is output. As a result, the original image taken into the RAM 61 is rotated rightward by 90 degrees. The output timing at this time is specified to be the same as the standard image output position 47a.
Note that hatched portions in the drawing indicate dark portions of the image, and white portions indicate light portions of the image.

As a result, from the image signal rotating means 34,
A rotation image signal S8 obtained by rotation-correcting the standard image signal S7 is output.

As shown in FIG. 7, the image signal synthesizing means 35 includes a standard image output selector 71, a sub-image output selector 72, a memory 73, a write address control section 74, a read address control section 75, and a mask A selector 77 and a mask signal generation circuit 78 are provided.

The input terminals of the selectors 71 and 72 receive the standard image signal S7 and the rotated image signal S8. The selectors 71 and 72 output an image signal selection signal S output from an external interface (not shown).
9. That is, the standard image signal S7 is selected by the standard image selector 71 based on the image signal selection signal S9, and the standard image signal S7 is output as the image signal S10. And outputs the rotated image signal S8 as the image signal S11. Conversely, when the rotated image signal 7 is output as the image signal S10 from the standard image output selector 71, the sub image output selector 72 outputs Is logically assigned so that the standard image signal S7 is output as the image signal S11.

The output signal S11 from the sub-image output selector 72 is fetched into the address of the memory 73 specified by the write address control unit 74, and the output signal S12 of the memory 73 is output to the read address control unit 7
5 and output.

In the two address control units 74 and 75, the readout timing and the thinning amount of the image signal 11 are determined according to the CCD discrimination signal S5. This is because the images picked up by the CCDs 18 having different numbers of pixels are always displayed in the sub-image position 47b on the monitor at the optimum size.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the image signal output at the sub-image output position 47b is thinned out by a ratio of 1/2 with respect to the image signal output at the standard image output position 47a. Done. The standard image signal S7 and the rotated image signal S
8 is output at the timing of the standard image output position 47a, so that the output signal S10 of the standard image selector 71 is always
It is displayed at the standard image output position 47a. Note that Rh and Rv shown in FIG. 8A indicate the read timing of the memory 73, Rh is the read timing in the horizontal direction, and Rv
Is the readout timing in the vertical direction.

The output signal S of the standard image output selector 71
10 and an output signal S11 from the sub-image output selector 72 are output to the mask selector 77 as a synthesized signal S13 synthesized by the signal synthesizing unit 76.

The mask selector 77 displays the standard image output position 47a and the sub image output position 47b in the monitor image output area 47 by the mask signal output from the mask signal generation circuit 78 operating according to the CCD discrimination signal S5. Is performed, and the standard image signal S7 and the rotated image signal S8 are synthesized at an appropriate position and size.
3 'is generated and output to the output image selecting means 36.

As a result, by switching the image in accordance with the image signal selection signal S9, the standard image output position 47a and the sub image output position 47b of the monitor image output area 47 are shifted as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the subject image 25a based on the standard image signal S7 is displayed at the standard image output position 47a, and the subject image 25b based on the rotated image signal S8 is displayed at the sub image output position 47b. As shown in (b), the subject image 25b based on the rotation image signal S8 is located at the standard image output position 47a.
Is displayed, and an image can be selectively switched and displayed between the standard image signal S7 and the rotated image signal S8, for example, by displaying the subject image 25a based on the standard image signal S7 at the sub-image output position 47b. .

As shown in FIG. 9, the output image signal selecting means 36 includes a plurality of selectors 81a, 81b... And a driver 82 paired with the selectors 81a, 81b.
a, 82b...

Each of the selectors 81a, 81b,... Is provided with three input terminals, and a standard image signal S7, a rotated image signal S8, and a composite image signal S13 are input to each input terminal. Are individually controlled by external control signals S15a, 15b,....

The selectors 81a, 81b,... Select a desired image signal from the three image signals S7, S8, S13 in accordance with the control signals S15a, S15b,.
After the output impedance is adjusted by the drivers 82a, 82b,...
The selected image signal S16 is output.

It should be noted that the output image signal selecting means 36
It may be composed of one selector and one driver.
In the present embodiment, the control signals S15a, S15b
, The output image signal can be set from the outside, but the output image signal may be set in an internal circuit in advance.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the output image selecting means 36a according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a freeze command signal S17a for obtaining a still image and a release command signal S17b for an external recording device to capture an image signal are used as control signals for operating the selectors 81a and 81b. Command signal S17
The image signals S7, S8, and S13 are switched according to a and S17b.

As a result, for example, the subject image based on the standard image signal S7 can be displayed on the monitor when the endoscope is inserted, and the subject image based on the rotated image signal S8 can be displayed on the monitor during the freeze or the release. Accordingly, the rotation image signal S8 can always be selected for the image recorded by the external storage device. Output image signal selection means 3
6a can be reduced in circuit scale.

Each time the frozen image is pressed, the image rotation switch assigned to the scope switch arranged on the operation unit 8 provided on the hand side of the endoscope 2 is pressed.
A rough rotation angle (for example, 15 °, 30 °, 45 °, 90 °) set in advance through input means such as a keyboard.
°) in one direction, and every time the dedicated image rotation switch provided on the keyboard is pressed, the camera rotates rightward at a set fine rotation angle (for example, 1 °, 5 °, 10 °, 15 °). Rotate left and right respectively. As a result, the still image can be rotated on the keyboard with the scope switch at hand.

In this case, a mode switching key is provided on the keyboard, and in the rotation mode, for example, right and left cursor keys are assigned as right rotation and left rotation, respectively, and the still image is rotated by operating the cursor key. You may make it do. Further, a rotary key may be provided on the front panel. Furthermore, a release signal is input,
After the still image is recorded in the recording device, the original image that has not been rotated may be returned.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the CCD discrimination signal S5 indicating the type of the CCD 18 built in the endoscope 2 connected to the image signal processing device 31 is a CCD output signal. The CCD discrimination signal S5 may be superimposed on the CCD output signal S2 for a certain period immediately after the endoscope 2 is mounted. In this case, the CCD discrimination signal S5 may be a square wave, and the type of the CCD 18 may be discriminated by counting the number of pulses in the discrimination signal extraction circuit 45.

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

(1) A solid-state image sensor that is provided at the distal end of the endoscope and converts a subject image into an electric signal, and an information signal that is provided at the insertion portion of the endoscope and is related to the direction of gravity of the distal end. Video signal processing means for processing the output signal of the solid-state image sensor to generate a standard image signal, comprising: Image signal rotating means for generating a rotated image signal for rotating the direction of the standard image signal based on the information signal from the means, and synthesizing the standard image signal and the rotated image signal for display on the same monitor Image signal synthesizing means for generating an image signal, and selecting an image signal from the standard image signal, the rotated image signal, and the synthesized image signal to output the selected image signal to an external device. Electronic endoscope apparatus being characterized in that and means.

(2) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the output image selecting means is capable of selecting an image signal to be output to an external device at the time of freeze or release.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to proceed with the inspection while judging the rotation status of the endoscope tip, and to simultaneously observe a rotation image corrected for rotation in a certain direction. Can prevent the visual judgment in the endoscopy, prevent the examination time from being prolonged, reduce the pain of the patient, and improve the diagnosability of the endoscopy be able to.

Further, since it is possible to select between rotation and non-rotation when outputting an image to an external device, it is possible to increase the variations of recorded images required when generating an operator's chart or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of the CCD driving means.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the video signal processing means.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a monitor image output area.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration diagram of the image signal rotating unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing rotation correction of the original image displayed on the monitor in the weight direction.

FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an image signal synthesizing unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a standard image output position and a sub image output position are displayed on the monitor.

FIG. 9 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an output image signal selection unit.

FIG. 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of an output image selection unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the endoscope.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a display of an observation image with respect to a change in the rotation state of the endoscope end;

FIG. 14 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to another conventional example.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a display of an observation image with respect to a change in the rotation state of the endoscope end;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Endoscope 5 ... Monitor 7 ... Insertion part 9 ... Tip part 18 ... Solid-state image sensor 20 ... Gravity direction detector 25a, 25b ... Subject image 30 ... Electronic endoscope apparatus 31 ... Image signal processing apparatus 33 ... Video signal Processing means 34 Image signal rotating means 35 Image signal synthesizing means 36, 36a Output image signal selecting means A, B ... External device g ... Gravity direction S7 ... Standard image signal S8 ... Rotated image signal S13, S13 '... Synthesized image signal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state imaging device disposed at a distal end portion of an endoscope and converting an image of a subject into an electric signal, and an information signal provided at an insertion portion of the endoscope and outputting a direction of gravity of the distal end portion. A video signal processing unit that performs signal processing on an output signal of the solid-state imaging device to generate a standard image signal; and the gravity detection unit. Image signal rotating means for generating a rotated image signal for rotating the direction of the standard image signal based on an information signal from the image signal; and a synthesized image for synthesizing the standard image signal and the rotated image signal for display on the same monitor. Image signal synthesizing means for generating a signal; selecting an image signal from the standard image signal, the rotated image signal, and the synthesized image signal and outputting the selected image signal to an external device; Electronic endoscope apparatus being characterized in that and means.