JP2001275950A - Medical care system and endoscopic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease probability of occurring failure of receiving in the case where a signal is transmitted wirelessly to another instrument by a medical care instrument. SOLUTION: Transmitting and receiving apparatuses 12 and 14 are provided with modulation circuits 34 and 44 in which carrier waves are modulated by video signals obtained by demodulation circuits 32 and 42, transmitting circuits 35 and 45 which adjust carrier waves outputted from the modulation circuits 34 and 44 to appropriate levels and output them, antennas 36 and 46 which radiate the carrier waves outputted from these transmitting circuits 35 and 45 as electric waves, change-over switch circuits SWI and SW2 for performing on-off for feeding image signals to the modification circuits 34 and 44 and setting means 37 and 47 for performing the on-off setting of the change-over switch circuits SW1 and SW2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medical system and an endoscope apparatus capable of transmitting a signal from a medical device to another device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes capable of monitoring and observing a subject image in a body cavity or a duct by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity or a duct have been widely used. Such an endoscope apparatus generally includes an endoscope having an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity or a duct, and is provided separately from the endoscope and supplies illumination light to the endoscope. A light source device, a light guide cable for guiding illumination light from the light source device to the endoscope, and an imaging signal for capturing an image of a subject which is provided to be built in the endoscope or provided detachably. An imaging device for obtaining an image signal, a video processor provided separately from the endoscope and converting an image signal obtained by the endoscope into a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor, and an image signal from the endoscope being converted to the video signal. It comprises a signal cable for transmitting to a processor and a monitor device for displaying a video signal obtained by the video processor. Therefore, the endoscope is connected to an external device by a light guide cable or a signal cable, thereby limiting a moving range of the endoscope,
The operability of the endoscope was hindered.

Here, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-48011
In the publication, a light guide cable extending from the endoscope is removed by incorporating a lighting device configured by an LED (light emitting diode) or the like into the endoscope, and video signal processing is performed on an image pickup signal. An endoscope is provided with a video signal processing circuit that obtains a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor and a transmission circuit that transmits the video signal by radio waves, and a receiving unit that receives the radio waves and demodulates the video signal is provided by an endoscope. An endoscope apparatus has been proposed in which a signal cable extending from an endoscope is removed by being provided separately from a mirror. Such an endoscope apparatus is generally called a wireless endoscope, and has an advantage in that a restriction on a moving range of the endoscope is eased and operability is improved.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of such a conventional endoscope apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, the endoscope apparatus 901 captures an image of a subject in a body cavity and transmits image information of the subject image by radio waves, and a radio wave from the endoscope 911. Receiving device 91 that receives and outputs image information of a subject image as a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor
2 is provided.

The endoscope 911 is provided at a distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, and has an imaging device 921 which captures an image of a subject and obtains an imaging signal. An image pickup control circuit 92 for inputting an image pickup signal from the input terminal 921 to obtain a video signal of a signal level capable of signal processing
2, a modulation circuit 923 for modulating a carrier with a video signal obtained by the imaging control circuit 922, and a modulation circuit 923
And a transmitting antenna 924 that radiates a carrier wave output from the GW as a radio wave.

[0006] The receiving device 912 is provided with the endoscope 911.
Antenna 931 for receiving a carrier wave transmitted as radio waves from the antenna, a demodulation circuit 932 for demodulating a video signal from the carrier wave received by the reception antenna 931, and performing video signal processing on the video signal obtained by the demodulation circuit 932. And a video signal processing circuit 933 that obtains a video signal in a format that can be displayed on a monitor.

A subject image observed by the endoscope 911 is picked up by an image pickup device 921 and given as an image pickup signal to an image pickup control circuit 922. The image pickup control circuit 922 can perform signal processing from the given image pickup signal. A video signal at the signal level is obtained and supplied to the modulation circuit 923. This modulation circuit 923
Modulates a carrier with a given video signal, and the modulated carrier is radiated from a transmission antenna 924 as a radio wave and supplied to a receiving device 912.

[0008] The carrier provided to receiving apparatus 912 is provided from receiving antenna 931 to demodulation circuit 932, which demodulates the provided carrier to extract a video signal and provides it to video signal processing circuit 933. The video signal processing circuit 933 converts a given video signal into a video signal in a format that can be displayed on a monitor and outputs the video signal to a monitor device 913. The monitor device 913 displays a subject image observed by the endoscope 911. Is done.

In such a conventional wireless endoscope apparatus for transmitting image information by radio waves, a high-frequency device that generates a high frequency, for example, a high-frequency cautery apparatus, a so-called electric scalpel apparatus, is used around the endoscope apparatus. However, there is a problem that noise leaking from the high-frequency device interferes with the endoscope apparatus, and an endoscope image obtained by the endoscope apparatus is disturbed.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-22285
Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for detecting that a high-frequency device is operated or in an operable state, and increasing the setting of a transmission output level in accordance with the detection result.

[0011]

However, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-222854, noise is less likely to be received from an electric knife, but means other than radio waves, such as optical communication and infrared communication, are transmitted. If an obstacle such as an operator or a nurse enters between the receiving side and the receiving side, communication is interrupted. Also, in the case of transmission to a plurality of devices, the reception state of only one becomes poor. For example, in the case of transmission to a TV monitor and a VTR, even if the reception state of the VTR is poor,
If the TV monitor side is normal, the user may not notice the reception failure on the VTR side and perform an image with a low level image.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and a medical system capable of reducing the probability of occurrence of poor reception when a medical device wirelessly transmits a signal to another device. And an endoscope apparatus.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical system, comprising: a medical device capable of wirelessly transmitting signals to a plurality of devices; receiving a signal from the medical device; First and second devices capable of wireless transfer, first receiving means provided in the first device for receiving a signal transferred by the second device, and provided in the second device , Second receiving means for receiving the signal transferred by the first device.

A medical system according to a second aspect is the medical system according to the first aspect, wherein the first device comprises:
A first switching unit that switches whether to transfer the received signal; and a second switching unit that switches whether to transfer the received signal. Is done.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus capable of converting a video signal obtained by capturing a subject image into a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to a plurality of devices. First and second devices that receive a signal from an endoscope device and that can wirelessly transfer the received signal, and are provided in the first device and receive a signal transferred by the second device. The apparatus includes a first receiving unit, and a second receiving unit provided in the second device for receiving a signal transferred by the first device.

[0016]

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

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a surgical apparatus to which the endoscope apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the appearance of the setting means of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a surgical apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an endoscope apparatus 2 and a TV monitor 13 and a VTR 15 used around the endoscope apparatus 2.

The endoscope apparatus 2 captures an image of a subject in a body cavity and transmits image information of the subject image by radio waves. The endoscope device 2 receives radio waves from the endoscope 11 and receives the radio waves from the subject image. A transmission / reception device 12 for outputting image information of the subject as a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor, and a transmission / reception device 14 for receiving radio waves from the endoscope 11 and outputting image information of a subject image as a video signal that can be recorded on a VTR. It is configured.

The endoscope 11 has an elongated insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion, for holding and operating the endoscope 11, and a subject. Illumination device (not shown) for illuminating the endoscope 11, a battery (not shown) for supplying power to each part of the endoscope 11, and an imaging device provided at, for example, the distal end of the insertion unit to obtain an imaging signal and obtain an imaging signal A device 21 and an imaging control circuit 22 that controls the driving of the imaging device 21 and receives an imaging signal from the imaging device 21 to obtain a video signal of a signal level that can be processed.
A modulation circuit 23 for modulating a carrier with a video signal obtained by the imaging control circuit 22; and a transmission antenna 24 for radiating the carrier output from the modulation circuit 23 as radio waves.

The imaging device 21 includes, for example, an imaging optical system (not shown) that forms an object image, and a CCD (not shown) that captures an image of the object formed by the imaging optical system and obtains an imaging signal. It is provided with an image pickup device such as a coupling device.

The radio wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 24 is
The signal is received by the receiving antenna 31 provided in the transmitting / receiving device 12 and the receiving antenna 41 provided in the transmitting / receiving device 14.

The transmitting / receiving device 12 includes a receiving antenna 31 for receiving a carrier transmitted as radio waves from the endoscope 11, a demodulation circuit 32 for demodulating a video signal from the carrier received by the receiving antenna 31, A video signal processing circuit 33 that performs video signal processing on the video signal obtained by the circuit 32 to obtain a video signal in a format that can be displayed on a TV monitor (television monitor); and modulates a carrier with the video signal obtained by the demodulation circuit 32. Modulation circuit 34, a transmission circuit 35 that adjusts and outputs a carrier output from the modulation circuit 34 to an appropriate level, and a transmission antenna 3 that radiates the carrier output from the transmission circuit 35 as radio waves.
6 and a video signal from the demodulation circuit 32
A switching circuit SW1 provided on a path for supplying the video signal to the modulation circuit 34, for turning on and off the video signal to the modulation circuit 34, and a setting means 37 for setting on / off of the switching switch circuit SW1.

The video signal processing circuit 33 includes an encoder for converting the video signal into a format that can be displayed on a TV monitor, a white balance correction circuit for performing, for example, a white balance correction process on the video signal, And a gamma correction circuit for performing gamma correction processing on the video signal, and an image enhancement circuit for performing image enhancement processing on the video signal.

The transmission / reception device 14 includes a reception antenna 41, a demodulation circuit 42, a video signal processing circuit 43, a modulation circuit 44, a transmission circuit 45, a transmission antenna 46, and a switch circuit SW
2 and setting means 47. Transceiver 1
4 receiving antenna 41, demodulating circuit 42, video signal processing circuit 43, modulating circuit 44, transmitting circuit 45, transmitting antenna 4
6, the changeover switch circuit SW2 and the setting means 47 are respectively the receiving antenna 31 and the demodulation circuit 3 of the transmitting / receiving device 12.
2, video signal processing circuit 33, modulation circuit 34, transmission circuit 3
5, the transmission antenna 36, the changeover switch circuit SW1, and the setting means 37. The video signal output from the video signal processing circuit 43 of the transmission / reception device 14 is supplied to a VTR (video tape recorder) 15 of the recording device.

Next, the appearance of the surgical apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope 11 has a structure in which an elongated insertion section 61, an operation section 62 for grasping and operating the endoscope 11, and the transmission antenna 24 are connected from the distal end side. Has become.

On the upper surface of the TV monitor 13, the transmitting / receiving device 1
2 is placed. Receiving antennas 31 and 36 are attached to the transmitting / receiving device 12 with their tips facing upward.

The transmitting / receiving device 14 is mounted on the upper surface of the VTR 15. The transmitting / receiving device 12 has a receiving antenna 41
Are mounted with their tips facing upward, and the transmitting antenna 46 is mounted slightly inclined from the vertical direction.

With such a configuration, the endoscope 11 can convert a video signal obtained by capturing a subject image into a wireless signal and transmit the wireless signal to a plurality of devices.

The transmission / reception devices 12 and 14 are first and second devices capable of receiving signals from the endoscope and transmitting the received signals wirelessly.

The receiving antenna 31, the demodulating circuit 32, and the video signal processing circuit 33 are provided in the first device and serve as first receiving means for receiving a signal transferred by the second device. The demodulation circuit 41, the demodulation circuit 42, and the video signal processing circuit 43 are provided in the second device, and serve as second receiving means for receiving a signal transferred by the first device.

Next, the appearance of the setting means 37 of the transmitting / receiving device 12 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the setting means 37 is a slide-type switch.
"Transmission", "ON", and "OFF" are described on the surface of, and the operation unit 64 is provided so as to be slidable left and right by manual operation. When the operation unit 64 is slid to the left, it is turned on (ON), and the changeover switch circuit SW1 is turned on. When the operation unit 64 is slid to the right, it is turned off (OF).
F) side and the changeover switch circuit SW1 is turned off.

The setting means 47 of the transmitting / receiving device 14 is the same as the setting means 37 of the transmitting / receiving device 12.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Table 1.

[0035]

[Table 1] A subject image observed by the endoscope 11 is picked up by an image pickup device 21 and given as an image pickup signal to an image pickup control circuit 22. The image pickup control circuit 22 has a signal level which can be signal-processed from the given image pickup signal. Modulation circuit 2 with video signal
Give to 3. The modulation circuit 23 modulates a carrier with a given video signal, and the modulated carrier is radiated from the transmission antenna 24 as a radio wave.

When the receiving condition is good, the radio wave from the transmitting antenna 24 is given to both the transmitting and receiving devices 12 and 14.

The carrier waves supplied to the transmitting and receiving devices 12 and 14 are respectively transmitted from the receiving antennas 31 and 41 to the demodulating circuit 3.
The demodulation circuits 32 and 42 demodulate the applied carrier waves to extract video signals and supply the extracted video signals to the video signal processing circuits 33 and 43. Video signal processing circuit 33
Converts a given video signal into a video signal in a format that can be displayed on a monitor, and outputs the video signal to a TV monitor 13.
In 3, a subject image observed by the endoscope 11 is displayed. The video signal processing circuit 43 converts the applied video signal to V
The video signal is converted into a TR recordable video signal and output to the VTR 15, and the VTR 15 records a subject image observed by the endoscope 11 on a video tape.

In this case, the operation unit 64 provided in the setting means 37, 47 is set to the off (OFF) side, and as shown in Table 1, the switch circuits SW1, SW2 are turned off (circuit cut off). ing.

Here, it is assumed that an abnormality occurs on the display of the TV monitor 13 due to an abnormality in the received radio wave due to an obstacle or noise mixed into the received radio wave.

As shown in Table 1, in the case of a reception failure on the TV monitor side, the operator turns off the switching circuit SW1,
The transmitting / receiving device 12 is turned on so that the switching circuit SW2 is turned on.
Is turned off (OF).
Then, the operation unit 64 provided in the setting unit 47 of the transmission / reception device 14 is slid to the ON side.

Accordingly, the demodulation circuit 4 of the transmitting / receiving device 14
The signal demodulated into a video signal in 2 is modulated again with a carrier wave by the modulation circuit 44 and radiated as a radio wave by the transmission circuit 45 and the transmission antenna 46. After this radiated radio wave is received by the receiving antenna 31 of the transmitting / receiving device 12,
The demodulation circuit 32 demodulates the carrier wave to extract a video signal. The extracted video signal is converted into a video signal in a format that can be displayed on a monitor by a video signal circuit 33, and the TV monitor 1
3 is output. Thereby, a good image is displayed on the TV monitor 13.

Next, it is assumed that there is an obstacle between the endoscope 11 and the transmission / reception device 14 and the recording of the VTR 15 is defective.

When an obstacle enters between the endoscope 11 and the transmission / reception device 14, the operator judges that the reception is poor on the VTR side and turns on the switching circuit SW1 as shown in Table 1. The operation unit 64 provided in the setting unit 37 of the transmission / reception device 12 is slid to the ON (ON) side so that the circuit SW2 is turned off, and the operation unit 64 provided in the setting unit 47 of the transmission / reception device 14 is turned off ( (OFF) side.

Thus, the demodulation circuit 3 of the transmitting / receiving device 12
The signal demodulated into a video signal in 2 is modulated again by a carrier in a modulation circuit 34 and radiated as a radio wave in a transmission circuit 35 and a transmission antenna 36. After this radiated radio wave is received by the receiving antenna 41 of the transmitting / receiving device 14,
A video signal is extracted by the demodulation circuit 42, and the extracted video signal is converted by the video signal circuit 43 into a video signal in a format that can be VTR-recorded, and output to the VTR 15. As a result, the VTR 15 can record a good image.

According to such an embodiment of the present invention, the endoscope 11 of the medical device is connected to the transmitting / receiving devices 12, 1 of a plurality of devices.
In the case where a signal is transmitted wirelessly to the communication device 4, an obstacle, for example, an operator or a nurse enters between the endoscope 11 on the transmission side and one of the transmission / reception devices 12 and 14 on the reception side, and communication is temporarily stopped. Even if the communication is interrupted, the communication can be restored immediately by operating the setting units 37 and 47. As a result, even if one of the TV monitor 13 and the VTR 15 has a poor reception, the reception state can be improved by the radio wave transmitted from the other device. Can be reduced, and a good image can be obtained with a high probability.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the setting means 37, 47 of the transmission / reception devices 12, 14 are slide switches, but the setting means 37, 47 are touch panel type switches. Or a switch of a communication switching method using infrared rays or the like that can be set remotely. The signals transmitted and received by radio waves may be analog signals or digital signals.

Further, a transmission / reception device for transmitting / receiving the above-mentioned radio waves may be provided on the head or the like of the operator who operates the endoscope 11. In this case, by arranging the transmission / reception device 12 near the TV monitor 13, the operator always looks at the TV monitor 13 to perform a treatment by looking at the TV monitor 13. By providing the above-mentioned transmitting and receiving device for transmitting the image of the endoscope 11 to the like, the information can be reliably transmitted and received during the treatment. If the operator faces the monitor during the procedure, the transmission / reception device is not limited to the head.

The transmitting / receiving device may be provided as a relay device for relaying radio waves by providing the transmitting / receiving device on the ceiling or wall of an operating room, or on the head of a nurse or assistant other than the surgeon. In this case, the transmission / reception device as the relay device does not block transmission of transmission signals to a plurality of medical devices in the operating room, and information can be reliably transmitted / received during the procedure.

Although the transmitting and receiving devices 12 and 14 are provided with the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna may be shared.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a surgical apparatus using an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the transmitting / receiving devices 3 and 4 make a transmission request.

Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment includes an endoscope apparatus 4 and a TV monitor 13 and a VTR 15 used around the endoscope apparatus 4.

The endoscope device 4 includes an endoscope 11 and a transmission / reception device 72 which receives radio waves from the endoscope 11 and outputs image information of a subject image as a video signal which can be displayed on a monitor.
And a transmission / reception device 74 that receives radio waves from the endoscope 11 and outputs image information of a subject image as a video signal that can be recorded on a VTR.

The transmitting / receiving device 72 includes a receiving antenna 31
A demodulating circuit 32, a video signal processing circuit 33, a modulating circuit 34, a transmitting circuit 35, a transmitting antenna 36, a level determining circuit 81 for determining the level of the video signal from the demodulating circuit 32, and a level determining circuit. Based on the determination result of 81, a transmission request circuit 82 that creates and outputs a request signal for requesting proper transmission or transmission of a video signal to the transmission / reception device 74, and a request signal from the transmission request circuit 82, for example, A transmitting means 83 for transmitting the image signal from the demodulation circuit 32 to the modulation circuit 34 and the level determination circuit 81 by transmitting the signal from the demodulation circuit 32 to the receiving means 94 of the transmission / reception device 74 by infrared rays or the like. A switch circuit SW3 for selecting and supplying one of the modulation circuit 34 and the level determination circuit 81, and receiving a transmission signal from the transmission unit 93 of the transmission / reception device 74. That the receiving means 84, the receiving means 8
4 includes a receiving circuit 85 that converts a signal received by the receiving circuit 4 into a signal that can be processed by a circuit, and a switching control circuit 86 that performs switching control of the switching switch circuit SW3 based on the signal converted by the receiving circuit 85.

The transmitting / receiving device 74 includes a receiving antenna 41
A demodulation circuit 42, a video signal processing circuit 43, a modulation circuit 44, a transmission circuit 45, a transmission antenna 46, a level determination circuit 91 for determining the level of the video signal from the demodulation circuit 42, and a level determination circuit. A transmission request circuit 92 for generating and outputting a request signal for requesting transmission / reception of a video signal to the transmission / reception device 72 based on the determination result of 91, and a request signal from the transmission request circuit 92, for example, A transmitting means 93 for transmitting to the receiving means 84 of the transmitting / receiving device 72 by infrared rays or the like, and a path for supplying the video signal from the demodulation circuit 42 to the modulation circuit 44 and the level determination circuit 91 are provided. A switch circuit SW4 for selecting and supplying one of the modulation circuit 44 and the level determination circuit 91, and receiving a transmission signal from the transmission unit 83 of the transmission / reception device 72. And the receiving means 94 that, the receiving means 9
4 includes a receiving circuit 95 that converts a signal received by the receiving circuit 4 into a signal that can be processed by a circuit, and a switching control circuit 96 that performs switching control of the switching switch circuit SW4 based on the signal converted by the receiving circuit 95.

The level judgment circuits 81 and 91 judge a reception failure when the level of the video signal from the demodulation circuits 32 and 42 falls below a predetermined value, respectively. When the determination circuits 81 and 91 determine the reception failure, a request signal is created and output.

The changeover switch circuits SW3 and SW4 have the common terminal C connected to the output terminals of the demodulation circuits 32 and 42, respectively, and the output terminal a1 connected to the level determination circuit 8 respectively.
1 and 91, and the output terminal a2 is connected to the modulation circuits 34 and 44, respectively.

With such a configuration, the level determination circuit 8
1, transmission request circuit 82, transmission means 83, reception means 84,
The receiving circuit 85 and the switching control circuit 86
2 serves as first switching means for switching whether or not to transfer the received signal. The level determination circuit 91, the transmission request circuit 92, the transmission means 93, the reception means 94, the reception circuit 95, and the switching control circuit 96 include a transmission / reception apparatus. A second switching unit 74 switches whether to transfer the received signal.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the power is turned on in step S1, the transmission / reception devices 72 and 74 turn off the transmission request flags of the transmission request circuits 82 and 92 in step S2, respectively.
, The switching switch circuits SW3 and SW4 are respectively switched to select the output terminal a1 side, and the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna 24 of the endoscope device 11 is received by the receiving antenna 3
1, 41, and the received signals are demodulated by the demodulation circuits 32, 4
2, demodulates to a video signal and switches the switching circuits SW3, S
The signal is supplied to the level determination circuits 81 and 91 via W4.

Thereafter, in step S5, the level determination circuits 81 and 91 determine whether or not the reception level of the supplied video signal is appropriate.

If the level is appropriate in step S5, the determination is yes and the level determination circuits 81 and 91
Is the transmission request circuit 8 in step S6.
At step S7, the transmission request flags of the transmission request circuits 82 and 92 are turned on, and the process returns to step S4.

If the level is inappropriate in step S5, the determination in step S5 is YES, and the transmitting / receiving apparatuses 72 and 74 determine in step S8 whether the transmission request flags of the transmission request circuits 82 and 92 are ON. Is determined.

If the transmission request flag is ON in step S8, the determination is yes, and the transmission / reception device 72,
74 is a transmission request circuit 82, 92 in step S9.
Output a signal indicating proper reception, and return to the process of step S4.

If the transmission request flag is off in step S8, the determination is no, and the transmission / reception devices 72, 7
4 returns to the process of step S4.

Here, it is assumed that an abnormality occurs on the display of the TV monitor 13 due to an abnormality in the received radio wave, noise mixed in the received radio wave, or the like.

In this case, as shown in steps S1 and S2, the transmission / reception devices 72 and 74 are turned on when the power is turned on.
The transmission request flags of the transmission request circuits 82 and 92 are turned off, and the switch circuits SW3 and SW4 are set to a
Switching to the first side, the radio waves transmitted from the transmission antenna 24 of the endoscope apparatus 11 are received by the reception antennas 31 and 41. In the case of the transmission / reception device 72, the video signal demodulated into the video signal by the demodulation circuit 32 is subjected to the determination of the reception level of the video signal by the level determination circuit 81 (the determination of the reception sensitivity may be performed). In this case, since it is not appropriate, the transmission request flag is turned on by the transmission request circuit 82 at the next stage, and the transmission request signal is transmitted via the transmission means 83.

In the transmission / reception device 74, the transmission request signal from the transmission means 83 is received by the reception means 94 and the reception circuit 95 and transmitted to the switching control circuit 96. Upon receiving the transmission request signal, the switching control circuit 96 switches the switching switch circuit SW4 to the a2 side. When the changeover switch circuit SW4 is switched to the a2 side, the modulation circuit 44 modulates the video signal again with the carrier wave, and the modulated signal is transmitted by radio waves via the transmission circuit 45 and the transmission antenna 46. This radio wave is received by the receiving antenna 31 of the transmission / reception device 72, and the level is determined by the level determination circuit 81. If the reception level is abnormal again, the above operation is repeated. However, if it does not return to normal within a certain time (the setting of the judgment time can be set arbitrarily), the notifying means (not shown) is used to display the buzzer sound by the buzzer or the light emission of the light emitting diode to display the device. Notification of poor reception or poor installation.

The level determining circuit 8 of the transmitting / receiving device 72
If the result of the level judgment of 1 is normal, the transmission request flag is judged by the transmission request circuit 82. If the transmission request flag is on, an appropriate reception request signal is transmitted from the transmission means 83. You. The request signal from the transmitting means 83 is received by the receiving means 94 of the transmitting / receiving device 74,
If the signal is a transmission request signal or a proper reception request signal in the receiving circuit 95, the switching control circuit 96 keeps the switching switch circuit SW4 on the a2 side.

The communication by the transmitting means 83 and 93 is performed by radio waves,
Any of optical, wireless, and wired communication may be used.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, even if one device becomes poorly received due to some trouble as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, good reception by the transmission radio wave from the other device is achieved. In addition to this, the changeover switch circuit SW3
Since the setting of SW4 is automatically performed and the notification of whether or not the reception failure has been improved is also performed, the device can be used with confidence and the doctor and nurse can concentrate on the operation.

The signals transmitted and received by radio waves may be analog signals or digital signals.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the surgical operation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. In addition, configurations other than those illustrated will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, T
Receiving antenna 3 of transmitting / receiving devices 72 and 74 on the V monitor side
A frequency selection circuit 101 is provided between the demodulation circuits 32 and 42 and the demodulation circuits 32 and 42.

The frequency selection circuit 101 includes a changeover switch circuit SW5 and a bandpass filter (B
PF) 102 and a band-pass filter (BPF) 103 having a modulation frequency B.

The signals received by the receiving antennas 31 and 41 are guided to the common terminal C of the switch circuit SW5. The first output terminal a1 of the changeover switch circuit SW5 is a BPF
102 is connected to the input terminal. Changeover switch circuit S
The second output terminal a2 of W5 is connected to the input terminal of BPF103. The output terminals of the BPFs 102 and 103 are commonly connected at a connection point P1, and then connected to the input terminals of the demodulation circuits 32 and 42.

On the other hand, the switching control circuit 104 generates first and second output terminals a1, a1 of the switching circuit SW5 based on the contents of the transmission signals from the transmission requesting circuits 82, 92.
Control is performed to connect one of the two to the selected common terminal C.

The modulation circuit 3 of the transmission / reception devices 72 and 74
At 4 and 44, modulation is performed using a frequency (B) different from the modulation frequency (A) of the modulation circuit 23 of the endoscope 11, and transmission is performed from the transmission antennas 36 and 46. 74 waits for reception by the receiving antennas 31 and 41.

The selection criterion of the frequency of the frequency selection circuit 101 by the switching control circuit 104 is determined according to the contents of the transmission signal in the transmission request circuit 82 as shown in Table 2.

[0079]

[Table 2] As shown in Table 2, when the request signal is no signal, that is, when the reception level is good, the changeover switch circuit SW5 selects the output terminal a1 side, and the selected frequency of the frequency selection circuit 101 is changed to the modulation frequency of the modulation circuit 23. A to pass through
If the request signal is a transmission request signal or a proper reception request signal, the switching circuit SW5 is caused to select the output terminal a2, and the selected frequency of the frequency selection circuit 101 is changed to the modulation circuit 2
The frequency B is different from the modulation frequency of No. 3. In the case of the frequency A, only the frequency A component is selected by the BPF 102 and then demodulated by the demodulation circuit 32 into a video signal. Similarly, in the case of the frequency B, the frequency B
Only the component is selected, and then demodulated by the demodulation circuit 32 into a video signal.

According to the third embodiment shown in FIG.
While having the same effect as the second embodiment of FIG. 4,
By changing the modulation frequency between the case of good reception and the case of reception from another device due to some trouble, there is an effect that radio interference from the endoscope and another device can be prevented.

The signals transmitted and received by radio waves may be analog signals or digital signals.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing the whole medical system composition concerning an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a medical system 701 of the present embodiment, a centralized control unit 702 and a transmission / reception unit 703
And first to third endoscopes 704, 705, 706,
Transmission / reception unit 703 and first to third endoscopes 704, 7
Wirings 707 and 70 that cascade-connect 05 and 706
8,709.

Centralized control section 702 is provided with transmission / reception section 710 for transmitting / receiving a radio signal to / from transmission / reception section 703.

The central control section 702 transmits a control signal from the transmission / reception section 710 to thereby control the first to third endoscopes 7.
04, 705, and 706, and a transmission signal from the transmission / reception unit 703 is received by the transmission / reception unit 710, so that the image of the patient captured by the first to third endoscopes 704, 705, 706 is displayed on the TV monitor. And V
It can be recorded in TR.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the transmitting / receiving section 703 and the first to third endoscopes 704, 705, 7
06 are cascade-connected, the wiring extending from the endoscopes 704, 705, 706 to the transmitting / receiving unit 703 is compared with connecting the first to third endoscopes 704, 705, 706 directly to the transmitting / receiving unit 703. The number can be reduced, and the wiring does not become much in the way during the medical treatment, so that the efficiency of the medical treatment can be improved.

The wireless signal transmission / reception according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 can be applied to various kinds of radio communication, optical communication, and the like. In addition, when a wired signal is used instead of a wireless signal, there is an effect that backup can be performed for disconnection of a signal cable. Also, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the reception signal is retransmitted from another device in the case of the reception failure, but the reception signal may always be retransmitted. Good. Further, as a medical device capable of wirelessly transmitting signals to a plurality of devices, various applications such as a CT scan can be applied in addition to an endoscope. As a device to which a signal is wirelessly transmitted from a medical device, various applications such as a personal computer and a TV monitor as a display unit, a VTR and a CCU as a recording unit are applicable.

Further, the medical system and the endoscope apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

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

(Additional Item 1) A medical device capable of wirelessly transmitting signals to a plurality of devices, and a first and a second device capable of receiving a signal from the medical device and transferring the received signal wirelessly. A device, first receiving means provided in the first device for receiving a signal transferred by the second device, and a signal provided in the second device and transmitting a signal transferred by the first device. A medical system comprising: a second receiving unit for receiving.

(Additional Item 2) The first device has first switching means for switching whether to transfer the received signal or not, and the second device transfers the received signal. The medical system according to claim 1, further comprising a second switching unit that switches whether or not the medical system is set.

(Additional Item 3) An endoscope capable of converting a video signal obtained by imaging a subject image into a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to a plurality of devices, and receiving a signal from the endoscope First and second devices capable of wirelessly transferring the received signal, first receiving means provided in the first device for receiving the signal transferred by the second device, An endoscope apparatus, comprising: a second receiver provided in the second device and receiving a signal transferred by the first device.

(Additional Item 4) Means provided on the endoscope to capture a subject image to obtain a first video signal, and provided on the endoscope and modulating a carrier with the first video signal. First and second receiving means for receiving and demodulating a carrier wave transmitted by radio waves and obtaining second and third video signals to be provided to a display means and a recording means, respectively. Second and third modulating means provided in the display means and the recording means, respectively, for modulating and transmitting a carrier wave to the demodulated second and third video signals in accordance with respective settings; An endoscope provided in the display means and the recording means, respectively, comprising first and second setting means for setting whether or not the second and third modulation means perform modulation, respectively. Mirror device.

(Appendix 5) Means provided on the endoscope for capturing a subject image to obtain a first video signal, and provided on the endoscope and modulating a carrier with the first video signal A first modulating means for transmitting and demodulating the carrier wave transmitted from the endoscope by radio waves to obtain second and third video signals to be provided to a display means and a recording means, respectively.
And first and second level determination means provided in the display means and the recording means, respectively, for determining the reception level of the demodulated second and third video signals. A first and a second unit provided in the display unit and the recording unit, respectively, for converting the determination results of the first and second level determination units into first and second determination result transmission signals and transmitting the signals, respectively. Second and third modulation means, respectively provided on the display means and the recording means, for modulating a carrier wave according to the setting with respect to the demodulated second and third video signals and transmitting the modulated radio waves by radio waves; Modulation means, provided on the display means and the recording means,
Based on the second and first determination result transmission signals transmitted from the second and first determination transmission means, respectively,
And an endoscope apparatus comprising: first and second setting means for setting whether or not the third modulation means performs modulation.

(Additional Item 6) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 4 or 5, wherein the transmission from the first modulation means is any of optical communication, infrared communication, and wireless communication.

(Additional Item 7) The endoscope according to any one of Additional Items 4 to 6, wherein the second and third transmitting means are integrated with the display means and the recording means, respectively. Mirror device.

(Additional Item 8) The second or third transmitting means may be separate from the display means and the recording means, respectively. Endoscope device.

(Additional Item 9) The transmission signal of the first and second determination transmitting means has a different frequency from the transmission signal from the first modulation means. An endoscope device according to any one of the above.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a medical device wirelessly transmits a signal to a plurality of other devices, it is possible to reduce the probability of occurrence of reception failure. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a surgical apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a description showing the appearance of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the appearance of the setting unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a surgical apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmitting / receiving device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main part of a surgical apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a medical system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional endoscope device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Surgical apparatus 2 ... Endoscope apparatus 11 ... Endoscope 12 and 14 ... Transmission / reception apparatus 13 ... TV monitor 15 ... VTR 24, 36, 46 ... Transmission antenna 31, 41 ... Receiving antenna 32, 42 ... Demodulation circuit 33, 43: video signal processing circuit SW1, SW2: changeover switch circuit 34, 44 ... modulation circuit 35, 45 ... transmission circuit 36, 46 ... setting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Keisuke Miura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuo Manju 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Yamauchi, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In-house Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Taro Miyazawa 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuhiro Gono, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Tokyo (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ushibo 2-43, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No.2 Inside Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoyasu Kawai 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Takeaki Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C061 AA00 BB00 CC00 DD00 JJ19 NN03 UU06 UU08 UU09 5C054 AA01 AA05 CA04 CC07 DA04 DA05 DA07 EA01 EA03 EA05 EA07 ED13 EE04 EE06 EJ01 FA01 FB04 GA01 GB02 GC04 HA12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A medical device capable of wirelessly transmitting a signal to a plurality of devices, a first device and a second device capable of receiving a signal from the medical device and wirelessly transferring the received signal. A first receiving unit provided in the first device for receiving a signal transferred by the second device; and a first receiving unit provided in the second device for receiving a signal transferred by the first device. A medical system comprising: a second receiving unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device has first switching means for switching whether to transfer the received signal, and the second device determines whether to transfer the received signal. The medical system according to claim 1, further comprising a second switching unit that switches between the two. 3. An endoscope capable of converting a video signal obtained by capturing an image of a subject into a wireless signal and transmitting the signal to a plurality of devices, receiving a signal from the endoscope, First and second devices capable of wirelessly transferring a received signal; first receiving means provided in the first device for receiving a signal transferred by the second device; and An endoscope apparatus provided with a device, and a second receiving unit for receiving a signal transferred by the first device.