JP2003190087A - Electronic endoscopic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide highly convenient electronic endoscopic equipment constituted so as to be capable of displaying an image on a display device using simple connection constitution by controlling the setting or the like of respective devices of transmitting the image. <P>SOLUTION: A light source device 6 for supplying illumination light to an endoscope 4 having a TV camera equipped with an image pickup element mounted therein, a CCU 7 performing signal processing with respect to the image pickup element, a VTR 8 for recording an image signal, a monitor 9 for displaying the image signal or the like are connected in a chain-like state by a twist paired cable 12a or the like for an IEEE1394 bus for serially transmitting image data and control data at a high speed and control data wherein an address is added to image data are mixed in an appropriate cycle to be transmitted. By this constitution, the monitor 9 takes in image data to display the same as an image and, in the device corresponding to the added address, the setting or the like of the device can be set on the basis of the control data. As a result, convenience is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus for performing an endoscopic inspection with an electronic endoscope provided with an imaging means. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitalization of video signals has progressed, and not only digital signal processing inside a signal processing device but also an electronic endoscope device for outputting digital video data has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-214290. Has been proposed. However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-214290, image data is simply output as a serial digital signal, and there is no deterioration in image quality caused by digital data, or a transmission cable using serial data. The purpose was to simplify. On the other hand, in a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus or electronic endoscope system, when constructing a surgical system using an illumination optical system TV camera, a display monitor, and other surgical equipment, various devices are controlled. As a method of doing so, a device called a system center is introduced, and the system center communicates with each device. [0004] For this reason, since the system center individually communicates with each device, the control becomes complicated and the time required for the communication takes a long time. There was a case that could not be done. In addition to the video signal output, various interfaces are individually provided for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a light source device (illumination device), and for transmitting and receiving various signals such as a VTR recording instruction signal and a remote connection at the time of system construction. Various cables had to be connected between them. (Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has a simple connection structure, which is capable of controlling the setting of each device and displaying the image on a display device by image transmission. It is an object to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus with high reliability. [0006] An illumination device having light source means for generating illumination light for illuminating a subject, and a first device provided in the illumination device and capable of transmitting and receiving control information in a predetermined format. A communication interface unit, an imaging device having an imaging unit configured to image the subject illuminated by the light source unit of the illumination device, and an imaging device provided in the imaging device and capable of transmitting and receiving the control information in the predetermined format. Communication interface means, a display device having a display means capable of displaying an image of the subject based on an image signal picked up by the image pickup means of the image pickup device; and Third communication interface means capable of transmitting and receiving control information in a format;
A communication cable that is controllably connected between the devices between the communication interface means, the second communication interface means, and the third communication interface means, and the communication cable is provided on the imaging device; Image data conversion means for converting the imaging signal of the imaging means into image data so as to be able to transmit the image data and outputting the image data to the second communication interface means, provided on the display device, and received via the communication cable Display processing means for displaying and processing the image data, so that the display can be displayed on the display device by controlling the setting of each device and transmitting the image with a simple connection configuration such as connecting a communication cable in a network type. I have to. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an endoscope equipped with a TV camera, FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a light source device, and FIG.
Shows the configuration of the camera control unit, and FIG.
3 shows a configuration of a TR. As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a rigid endoscope 2 and a TV camera 3 mounted on the rigid endoscope 2 (electronic). An endoscope 4 equipped with a TV camera, a light source device (or illumination device) 6 for supplying illumination light to the rigid endoscope 4 via a light guide cable 5, and a camera cable of the TV camera 3 An image pickup device or camera control unit (abbreviated as CCU) 7 which is detachably mounted at an end of the camera 35 and performs signal processing on image pickup means built in the TV camera 3, and a VTR 8 which records a video signal from the CCU 7.
A monitor 9 as a display device for displaying a video signal;
It consists of an insufflator 10 that inflates the body cavity by injecting carbon dioxide into the body cavity and inflates the body cavity, and a personal computer 11 that sends various setting information.
Light source device 6, CCU 7, VTR 8, monitor 9, insufflator 1
0, the personal computer 11 is an IEEE1394-1955 (High-speed) capable of serially transferring data such as video signals and control signals at high speed as digital communication interface means.
Performance Serial Bus) (hereinafter simply IEEE13)
94 bus), and these IEEE13
The 94 bus is connected in a chain with a twisted pair cable for the IEEE 1394 bus. For example, the personal computer 11 is connected to the insufflator 10 and the IE.
The EE1394 bus is connected by a twisted pair cable (hereinafter simply referred to as a twisted pair cable) 12a, the insufflator 10 is connected to the light source device 6 by the twisted cable 12b, and the light source device 6 is connected to the CCU 7 and the twisted pair cable 12a.
c, the CCU 7 is connected to the VTR 8 by a twisted pair cable 12d, and the VTR 8 is connected to the monitor 9 by a twisted pair cable 12e in a chain. With this connection, a network configuration based on the IEEE 1394 bus is formed, and digital high-speed video data and control data can be transferred serially. [0011] Since these need only be connected in the form of a chain in which the daisy chain system and the node system are mixed,
The order of connection is not limited to the embodiment and can be freely connected. For this reason, it is possible to easily add and remove devices in the system without considering the order of connection.
Each device has a unique ID, and by recognizing each other, a network is configured within a range connected by an IEEE 1394 bus. The data transfer mode includes an asynchronous transfer mode for transferring asynchronous data (asynchronous data) such as a control signal, and an isochronous transfer mode for transferring synchronous data (isochronous data) such as real-time video data and audio data. In each cycle, the transfer of isochronous data is prioritized over the transfer of asynchronous data, and is transferred in a mixed manner (time division) within the cycle. Each twisted pair cable 12i (i = a to
e) are six signal lines of two twisted pair signal lines (that is, four) and two power supply lines. Connectors 13i are provided at both ends of each twisted pair cable 12i. Freely connected.
Further, each twisted pair cable 12i and the connector 13
i has the same shape, and the twisted pair cable 12i used for connection can be used without limitation.
Each connector port to be described later to which the connector 13i is connected has the same shape, and an arbitrary connector 13i can be connected. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the endoscope 4 equipped with a TV camera. The rigid endoscope 2 includes a hard insertion portion 21 and the insertion portion 21.
And an eyepiece 23 provided at the rear end of the operation unit 22. One end of the light guide cable 5 is provided at the base of the operation unit 22. The other end of the light guide cable 5 is connected to a light source device 6
A light guide connector 24 is detachably connected to the light guide connector 24. A light guide 25 is inserted into the insertion section 21 of the rigid endoscope 2.
The rear end can be further connected to a light source device 6 via a light guide in a light guide cable 5. Then, the illumination light supplied from the light source device 8 is transmitted, emitted from the light guide distal end surface fixed to the distal end portion 26 of the insertion portion 21, and illuminates the subject. An objective lens 27 is provided at the distal end portion 26. An optical image from the objective lens 27 is transmitted to the rear side by a relay lens system 28, and is magnified and observed through an eyepiece provided in the eyepiece 23. be able to. A camera head 31 constituting the TV camera 3 is mounted on the eyepiece 23. This camera head 3
An image forming lens 32 is disposed in the unit 1 so as to face the shore contact lens, and an optical image transmitted to the eyepiece side is formed on a CCD 33 disposed at the image forming position. In front of the imaging surface of the CCD 33, for example, a mosaic filter 34 for (optically) color-separating R, G, and B for each pixel is arranged, and guides the color-separated light to the imaging surface of the CCD 33. The CCD 33 is connected to a contact of a signal connector 36 at a rear end of the CCD 33 by a signal line inserted into a camera cable 35 extending from the camera head 31. The signal connector 36 is detachably connected to the signal connector connection of the CCU 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the light source device 6 has a built-in lamp 41 for generating illumination light, and the white illumination light generated by the lamp 41 emits light from a stop 4 arranged in an optical path in front of the lamp.
2. The light passes through the infrared cut filter 43 that is freely inserted and removed and is condensed by the condenser lens 44 to supply illumination light to the light guide end face of the light guide connector. The aperture of the stop 42 and the insertion and removal of the infrared cut filter 43 from the optical path are driven by a drive unit 45. The drive unit 45 controls the drive of the CPU 46.
Is connected to In the case of normal observation, the infrared cut filter 43 is arranged in the optical path, and in the case of special observation using infrared light, the infrared cut filter 43 is moved out of the optical path. The CPU 46 is an IEEE 1394
It is connected to a bus 47. The IEEE 1394 bus 47 is connected to, for example, two connector ports 48a and 48b. A ROM 49 storing (recording) an operation program and the like of the light source device 8 is connected to the CPU 46. The ROM 49 is, for example, a non-volatile, electrically rewritable, EEPROM as a read-only memory,
Alternatively, a storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy disk may be used in addition to the ROM serving as a nonvolatile read-only memory. Also, as shown in FIG.
A driver 51 for driving the CCD 33 of the camera 3 is built-in.
The signal charge applied to D33 and photoelectrically converted is read out as a CCD output signal. A signal component of the CCD output signal is extracted by a CDS circuit 52 and input to a video processing circuit 53.
The video processing circuit 53 generates a standard video signal by performing video signal processing such as color separation and white balance correction,
Generate a dimming signal. The video processing circuit 53 includes a CPU 54 and an I
It is connected to the IEEE 1394 bus 55. Also, CP
U54 is also connected to the IEEE 1394 bus 55. For example, two connector ports 56a and 56b are connected to the IEEE 1394 bus 55. Also,
The CPU 54 is connected to a ROM 57 which stores (records) an operation program and the like of the CCU 7. This ROM
57 is composed of an EEPROM or the like, like the ROM 49 described above. The CPU 54 controls the transfer of the digital video signal generated by the video processing circuit 53 to the VTR 8 or the like by, for example, isochronous (synchronous) transfer via the IEEE 1394 bus 55, and also controls the transfer of the digital dimming signal. And so on. In the special observation mode using infrared light, the CCU 7 switches a signal processing matrix (not shown) in the video processing circuit 53 to one corresponding to infrared light in response to an instruction from the personal computer 11. That is, in the normal mode, a process of separating the output signal of the CCD 33 into R, G, B signals or a luminance signal and a color difference signal is performed, but in the special observation mode using infrared light, the R filter of the mosaic filter 34 is used. Corresponding CC
For example, G and B signals are also generated from only the output signals of the D pixels using a signal processing matrix. The light control signal is also generated by integrating the luminance signal in the normal mode, but is generated in the special observation mode based on the output signal of the CCD pixel corresponding to the R filter of the mosaic filter 34. , And the evaluation function for dimming is changed to one suitable for the special observation mode, such as changing the reference level. Also, as shown in FIG.
A main body 61 and a CPU 6 connected to the VTR main body 61
2 and an IEEE 1394 bus 63 and, for example, two connector ports 64 connected to the IEEE 1394 bus 63
a, 64b, and a ROM 65 connected to the CPU 62. The CPU 62 is also connected to an IEEE 1394 bus 63. The monitor 9 has the same configuration as the VTR 8 shown in FIG. 5 except that the VTR main body 61 is used as the monitor main body (in this case, one connector port is sufficient). In addition, the insufflator 10 has the same configuration as the VTR 8 in FIG. The personal computer 11 has a configuration in which an ordinary personal computer is provided with an IEEE 1394 bus and a connector port connected to the IEEE 1394 bus. In the electronic endoscope system 1 having such a configuration, the CCD of the endoscope 4 equipped with a TV camera as an imaging device is used.
The imaging signal imaged at 33 is converted into digital video data (image data) and transferred in the isochronous transfer mode. At that time, for example, the dimming data as control data is addressed to the light source device 6 at the address ( For example, the control data is transferred in a state where the control data is superimposed (in a time-division manner) on the video data in the cycle, for example, the transfer is performed in the asynchronous transfer mode with the ID added. In the present embodiment, a light source device 6 for generating illumination light for illuminating a subject, a TV camera 3 provided with an image pickup means for picking up an image of the illuminated subject, and a video signal picked up by the TV camera 3 , A monitor 9 for displaying video signals, a VTR 8 and an insufflator 1
The electronic endoscope system 1 used in a surgical system including peripheral devices such as 0 is provided, and a means for outputting a video signal digitally and superimposing and transmitting a control signal between respective devices is provided. The control signals of various settings can be mutually transmitted and received. In this manner, the video data and control data are distributed to the connected devices. For example, the monitor 9 can capture the video data and display the video data on the display surface, and the VTR 8 can be operated by the release operation. In such a case, video data can be recorded. Next, the operation of the present system 1 will be described by taking as an example a case where an operation is performed while switching between normal observation and special observation using infrared light. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, each device is connected by twisted pair cables 12a to 12e, and the power of each device is turned on to set the device to an operation state. Then, IEEE13
A 94 bus network initialization process is performed. That is, the bus initialization process is performed by the occurrence of the bus reset, the connection form of the connected devices is determined by determining the parent-child relationship between the devices between the nodes, that is, the tree identification process, and the ID identification after the tree identification. IEEE1
The determination of the relationship between the root as the highest-level device and the other nodes in the devices connected by the 394 bus, and the ID of the root and the device of each node are determined. Next, control data for operating the insufflator 10 is sent from the personal computer 11, and the insufflator 10 insufflates the body cavity to output information on the atmospheric pressure in the body cavity. And determine whether it is within the appropriate range. The monitor 9 receiving this information can also display information of the atmospheric pressure (pressure) on its display surface. For this reason, a specific address may not be designated from the insufflator 10 and may be transmitted to the system 1 in the isochronous transfer mode as broadcast data. Next, an instruction signal for operating in the normal mode is sent from the personal computer 11 to the entire system. In response to this instruction signal, the light source device 6 enters a state of outputting illumination light with the infrared cut filter 43 inserted in the optical path. The CCU 7 converts the image picked up by the CCD 33 into video data in each cycle in the isochronous transfer mode, and also transfers the dimming data in the asynchronous transfer mode by designating the address of the light source device 6. Then, video data is displayed on the monitor 9, and the light source device 6 performs a dimming operation to adjust the opening amount of the diaphragm 42 based on the dimming data to obtain an appropriate illumination light amount. When performing special observation using infrared light from the normal observation state, an instruction to switch is made from a keyboard or the like of the personal computer 11. The switching instruction is issued from the personal computer 11 to the entire system. With this instruction, the insufflator 10 serves to temporarily reduce the pressure in the abdominal cavity. The light source device 6 performs a process of removing the infrared light cut filter 43 in the optical path from the optical path. The CCU 7 is switched to a signal processing matrix adapted to infrared light, and can perform a series of these operations collectively. Further, the CCU 7 switches the evaluation function for dimming, outputs corresponding dimming data on the same path, and the light source device 6 receives this signal and adjusts the aperture of the diaphragm 42. I do. At this time, the CCU 7 adds an address indicating that the signal is output to the light source device 6. In this way, in the system 1 connected in a network or the like in a chain or the like, each device determines whether or not it is a control signal addressed to itself by determining whether or not it is its own address. If the signal is addressed to itself, it can be fetched and executed. Further, the insufflator 8 converts the information on the atmospheric pressure in the body cavity into encoded character information and sends it out to the system 1, and the personal computer 11 receives this information and receives the information within an appropriate pressure range. It is possible to determine whether or not there is, and the monitor 9 that has received the same signal can decode this pressure information and display it on the display surface. Information that is convenient to display also on devices other than the insufflator 8 may be transmitted as encoded character information in the same manner, and displayed on the monitor 9. In the case of such broadcast data, each device receives the broadcast data once, and in the case of data that can be processed in a corresponding manner, executes the corresponding processing individually. As described above, according to the present embodiment, various signals can be transmitted and received by a common protocol by connecting each device to a network using a twisted pair cable as the same communication cable. The settings can be changed collectively, and the common system has the effect of quickly responding to various needs in the medical field. In addition, since there is no need to be aware of the order of connection, erroneous connections and complicated wiring during system construction can be eliminated. Note that an electronic endoscope in which an image pickup device is arranged at an image forming position of an objective lens instead of the TV camera-mounted endoscope 4 provided with an imaging unit (in the present specification, the TV camera-mounted endoscope 4 is an electronic device in a broad sense). Obviously, the name included in the endoscope is adopted). (Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment, the TV camera 3 mounted on the rigid endoscope 2 in FIG. 1 is provided with a means for generating identification information (ID), and the CCU 7
The hardware configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the type of the TV camera 3 can be identified by D. In the second embodiment, a procedure-specific setting of the rigid endoscope 2 will be described as an example. The present embodiment is basically installed at a medical operation site, and includes various procedures such as laparoscopic endoscopic surgery and nasal endoscopic surgery. May be implemented using the same system. At this time, in the laparoscopic endoscopic operation and the endoscopic operation using the nasal scope, the setting of the equipment is greatly different, and it is very complicated to make the setting for this equipment one by one.
According to the present embodiment, the CCU 7 obtains the scope ID for determining the type from the TV camera 3 or the electronic endoscope, and broadcasts the information to each device, so that each device collectively changes its setting. You can do it. More specifically, the CCU 7 changes a color matrix for changing color reproduction, and the light source device 6 changes, for example, its light distribution. As described above, by connecting the TV camera 3 or the electronic endoscope to the CCU 7, the settings of the system 1 can be automatically changed without the intervention of the personal computer 11. As described above, in the present system 1, it is possible to automatically optimize the settings of the entire system by mutually transmitting the change in the state of each device. Others are first
This has the same effect as that of the embodiment. [Supplementary Notes] In an electronic endoscope system including an illumination optical system that illuminates a subject, a TV camera that captures an image of the subject, and a monitor that displays a video signal captured by the TV camera, a video signal is output digitally, and An electronic endoscope system comprising means for superimposing (in a time-division manner) a control signal between devices on the digital video signal and transmitting the signal, and mutually transmitting and receiving control signals of various settings. 2. In Appendix 1, the connection between each device is
An electronic endoscope system, which is a network-type connection and can perform setting of each device collectively. 3. An illumination optical system for illuminating the object, a TV camera for imaging the object, a monitor for displaying a video signal imaged by the TV camera, a VTR, an electric scalpel,
In an electronic endoscope system including a surgical system including peripheral devices such as a pneumoperitoneum, a means for digitally outputting a video signal and transmitting a control signal between devices superimposed on the digital video signal is provided. An electronic endoscope system for mutually transmitting and receiving control signals of various settings. 4. An electronic endoscope system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 3, wherein information sent from each device is displayed on a monitor. 5. In Appendix 4, the information sent from each device is:
An electronic endoscope system comprising encoded character information, which is decoded and displayed on a monitor side. As described above, according to the present invention, a control signal between devices is superimposed on a wideband video signal and transmitted, and a network-type connection is performed to unify the signal transmission path. By doing so, the settings of each device can be performed collectively, and the signals output from each device can be received directly by other devices, enabling high-speed and fine-grained control. In addition, convenience regarding system connection can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope equipped with a TV camera. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a light source device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a camera control unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a VTR. [Description of Signs] 1 ... Electronic endoscope system 2 ... Rigid endoscope 3 ... TV camera 4 ... TV camera mounted endoscope 6 ... Light source device 7 ... CCU 8 ... VTR 9 ... Monitor 10 ... Pneumoperitoneum 11 ... Personal computers 12a to 12e Twisted pair cables 13a to 13e Connector 25 Light guide 27 Objective lens 33 CCD 41 Lamp 42 Aperture 43 Infrared light cut filters 46, 54, 62 CPUs 47, 55, 63 IEEE 1394 Buses 48a to 48e: Connector ports 49, 57, 65: ROM 53: Video processing circuit

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Ryu Oshima             2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiji Yamaguchi             2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Nakachi             2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Kuniaki Kami, inventor             2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Terakubo             2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H040 FA10 GA00                 4C060 FF19 MM24                 4C061 AA12 AA24 CC06 DD01 HH09                       JJ18 JJ19 LL03 MM05 NN01                       NN05 NN07 QQ02 QQ03 QQ09                       RR02 RR04 RR14 RR15 RR17                       RR26 SS11 UU09 WW10 WW15                       YY03 YY12                 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC07 DA08 EA01                       EA05 EA07 GA01 GB02 HA12

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An illuminating device having light source means for generating illuminating light for illuminating an object, and a first communication provided in the illuminating device and capable of transmitting and receiving control information in a predetermined format. An interface unit; an imaging device having an imaging unit for imaging the subject illuminated by the light source unit of the illumination device; a second device provided in the imaging device and capable of transmitting and receiving the control information in the predetermined format. A communication interface means, a display device having a display means capable of displaying an image of the subject based on an image signal picked up by the image pickup means of the image pickup device, and the predetermined format provided in the display device Third communication interface means capable of transmitting and receiving control information with the first communication interface means; A communication cable that is controllably connected between the devices between a stage and the third communication interface means, and is provided on the imaging device, and the imaging of the imaging means is enabled to be transmitted via the communication cable. Image data conversion means for converting a signal into image data and outputting the image data to the second communication interface means; display processing means provided on the display device for displaying and processing the image data received via the communication cable; An electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising: