JPS6083636A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an endoscopic device for obtaining endoscopic images on, for example, a TV monitor using an endoscopic imaging device.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Endoscope apparatuses are widely used in which an endoscope imaging apparatus is configured using a solid-state image sensor such as a COD, and is capable of displaying an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object to be examined with an endoscope is inside the human body cavity, and its surface is always wet.
The specularly reflected light component from the surface of the subject may directly enter the endoscope apparatus, causing halation in the monitor image.

When halation occurs, the quality of the monitor image deteriorates significantly, which may impede treatment of the affected area.

When halation occurs, it is conceivable to reduce the amount of light from the endoscope light source, but even if this is done, the halation will be weakened, but the brightness of the monitor image itself will also decrease, making it difficult to perform monitoring properly.

〔the purpose〕

Therefore, when trusion occurs in an endoscopic image, this invention removes the specularly reflected light component from the subject from the light incident on the imaging device, thereby improving the image quality. The purpose is to provide an endoscope device.

〔overview〕

According to this invention, the second polarizing filter having a polarization plane intersecting the polarization plane of the first polarizing filter provided between the endoscope light source and the subject is connected to the endoscope imaging device from the subject. Provided is an endoscope device provided with a means for opening and closing at least one of the first and second polarizing filters so that it is used only when halation occurs. .

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a condensing lens 13 is provided in front of a lamp 11 of an endoscope light source to condense the light of the lamp 11 onto an incident end surface of a light guide 12. light guide 12
One end is connected to the light source device 14, and the other end is connected to the operation section 15.
, is coupled to the endoscope tip 17 via the insertion section 16.

Therefore, the light from the lamp IZ is focused by the lens 13 and guided to the endoscope tip I7. □ The endoscope tip 17 is constructed as shown in FIG.

In the figure, a polarizing filter 18 is provided on the light emitting surface at the other end of the light guide 12. On the distal end surface of the endoscope distal end 17, there is an objective lens 1 adjacent to the polarizing filter Z8.
9 is arranged. Along the optical path of the light introduced by the objective lens 19, a polarizing filter 20 having a polarization plane orthogonal to the polarizing filter 18 and a CCD 21, which is a solid-state image sensor, are sequentially arranged. One end of the polarizing filter 20 is rotatably supported on a support 22 formed within the endoscope distal end 17 . One end of an operating wire 23 is attached to the polarizing filter 20, and the other end of the operating wire 23 passes through the insertion section 16 and the operating section 15 and is connected to an operating knob 24 provided on the operating section 15. . When the operating wire 23 is pulled by operating the operating knob 24, the polarizing filter 20 is held in the "open" position shown by the solid line in the figure, and when it is loosened, it is held in the "closed" position shown by the broken line.

The endoscopic image signal formed by the CCD 21 is led to a television signal forming circuit (not shown) via a signal line 25. , same, endoscope tip 17
is made of metal in this embodiment.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained below. When no noration occurs in a monitor image obtained on a monitor device (not shown) via the CCD 211f, the polarizing filter 20 is in the "open" position as shown.

In this case, the incident light to C0D21 is transmitted through the polarizing filter 18.
Since the light is only biased in one direction, there is a sufficient amount of light and a bright monitor image can be obtained.

When halation occurs on the monitor image and the subject becomes difficult to see, the operator operates the operating knob 24 to remove the operating wire 23.
, and the polarizing filter 20 is rotated to the "closed" position indicated by the broken line. As a result, the incident light to the CCD 21 is filtered through two polarizing filters, 18.2 and 18.
0f, because it is passed through the body, especially C, C from the subject's body
Most of the specular reflection component to D21 is removed. The intersection angle 4- of the polarization planes of the two polarizing filters 18 and 20 does not necessarily have to be orthogonal, but can be set to an appropriate angle depending on the use conditions such as the purpose of the endoscope and the strength of the light source. do it.

Further, the polarizing filter 18 may be positioned anywhere between the light source lamp 11 and the subject.

For example, the condenser lens 13 and light guide 120 in FIG.
It may be provided in between. Similarly, polarizing filter 2
The position of 0 may be anywhere between the subject and C0D21.

Furthermore, instead of manually opening and closing the polarizing filter 20 using the operating knob 24, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid may be provided in the endoscope tip 17, and the electromagnetic solenoid may be turned on and off from the operating section Z5. Polarizing filter 20
It may be made to open and close.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, on the optical path from the endoscope light source to the subject, and on the optical path from the subject to the endoscope imaging device, a pair of polarization planes are arranged such that their polarization planes intersect with each other. Polarizing filters are provided, and at least one of the polarizing filters is constructed so that it can be opened and closed as necessary, so when there is no halation in the monitor image, a bright tooth gap can be obtained without passing through the pair of polarizing filters. When halation occurs, by inserting a pair of polarizing filters into the optical path, a clear image in which halation is immediately removed can be obtained, resulting in an extremely useful endoscope device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment 11 of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 11... Endoscope light source, 12... Light guide, 15
...Operation unit, 18...Polarizing filter, 20...Polarizing filter, 21...CCD, 22...Support, 23.
...Operation wire, 24...Operation knob. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi 7-

Claims (1)

[Claims] a first polarizing filter provided between the endoscope light source and the subject; and a first polarizing filter that is provided on the optical path from the subject to the endoscope imaging device, is openable and closable, and has a polarization plane that is polarized by the first polarizing filter. a second polarizing filter provided to intersect with the plane;
An endoscope apparatus comprising means for opening and closing at least one of the second polarizing filters.