JP2008264313A - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope system capable of more shortening a period of time spent in endoscope observation with respect to a subject than heretofore. <P>SOLUTION: The endoscope system has: an endoscope provided with an image pickup part for picking up an image of a subject in a living body; an image recording instruction part for outputting an instruction signal for recording an image of the subject to a recording medium as a static image; a setting part for allocating observed part information showing which part of an image in the living body the image of the subject is to the image recording instruction part; a set content storage part for storing a set content in the setting part; and an image recording control unit for associating the static image with the observation part information and performing processing to output them to the recording medium on the basis of the set content stored in the set content storage part when it is detected that the instruction signal is outputted by the image recording instruction part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope system, and more particularly to an endoscope system that can output a still image of a subject image captured by an endoscope while associating predetermined information about the still image with each other.

  Endoscope systems configured with an endoscope or the like have been widely used in the industrial field, the medical field, and the like. In particular, endoscope systems in the medical field are mainly used for applications such as observation of various organs in a living body. As an endoscope system used in the above-described application, for example, there is an endoscope information recording system proposed in Patent Document 1.

An endoscope information recording system of Patent Document 1 is an endoscope that observes a predetermined part of a subject, an imaging unit that is connected to the endoscope and records an image formed by the endoscope, and , An endoscope camera having recording means for recording voice information dictating findings and the like by endoscopic observation, and an image information recording unit mounted inside the endoscope camera and recording the image And a film having an audio information recording unit for recording the audio information, image information reading means for reading image information recorded in the image information recording unit, and reading the audio information recorded in the audio information recording unit A voice information reading unit; and image information read by the image information reading unit, and a device for recording the voice information read by the voice information reading unit on a card-like recording medium. It has been. And the endoscope information recording system of patent document 1 makes it possible to simultaneously record the image information of the subject part and the information such as the explanation of the subject part and the observation findings by the configuration as described above. .
JP-A-6-96170

  However, the endoscope information recording system of Patent Document 1 uses, for example, an endoscope when recording an endoscope image and a name of a part of a subject corresponding to the endoscope image in association with each other. Since the user needs to input the name separately when acquiring the endoscopic image while performing observation, the time required for observation of the subject is increased as a result. Have the problem of

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system that can shorten the time spent for endoscopic observation of a subject as compared to the conventional art.

  An endoscope system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an endoscope including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject in a living body, and an instruction signal for recording the subject image as a still image on a recording medium. An image recording instructing unit for outputting the image, a setting unit for assigning observation part information indicating which part of the living body the image of the subject is to the image recording instructing unit, and setting contents in the setting unit A setting content storage unit, and when detecting that the instruction signal is output from the image recording instruction unit, based on the setting content stored in the setting content storage unit, the still image and the observation site information And an image recording control unit that performs processing for outputting to the recording medium in association with each other.

  An endoscope system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the first aspect, comprising a plurality of the image recording instruction units, and the setting unit is provided in each of the plurality of image recording instruction units. On the other hand, the observation site information can be assigned.

  The endoscope system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the image recording instruction unit includes a scope switch included in the endoscope, and the setting. It is characterized by being at least one of the predetermined keys which the keyboard which can be connected to a part has.

  The endoscope system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a voice input unit capable of voice input, and analyzing the contents of the voice input. A speech recognition processing unit that outputs the analysis result as speech analysis data to the setting unit, and the setting unit assigns the observation site information to the image recording instruction unit based on the speech analysis data It is characterized by that.

  An endoscope system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the first to fourth aspects, and further outputs endoscope identification information that is information relating to the type of the endoscope. It has an endoscope identification information output unit, and the setting unit changes contents of the observation site information allocated to the image recording instruction unit according to the endoscope identification information.

  An endoscope system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes an insertion section that is inserted into a living body, and an imaging section that is provided at the distal end of the insertion section and that captures an image of a subject. An endoscope insertion shape detection unit that detects an insertion shape of the insertion portion in the living body and outputs the detected insertion shape as insertion shape information, and positional information of the distal end portion based on the insertion shape information An observation site information acquisition unit that estimates which site in the living body the image of the subject is based on the position information, and acquires observation site information according to the estimation result; And an image recording control unit that performs processing for outputting the still image corresponding to the image of the subject and the observation site information to the recording medium while associating them.

  The endoscope system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the image recording control unit obtains the biological identification information for identifying the biological body, A process for outputting to the recording medium in association with a still image and the observation site information is performed.

  An endoscope system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising an instruction for reproducing the still image recorded on the recording medium. And a display control unit that performs processing for displaying the still image and the observation site information together on the display unit.

  The endoscope system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the eighth aspect, wherein the display control unit is configured to use the endoscope based on the biological identification information recorded on the recording medium. When it is detected that one living body being observed matches the living body identified by the biological identification information recorded on the recording medium, the still image recorded on the recording medium and the In addition, a process for displaying the moving image together with the moving image is further performed.

  The endoscope system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the endoscope system according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the display control unit reproduces the still image recorded on the recording medium. Is performed based on the observation site information recorded on the recording medium, and a control is performed to generate a template image indicating the site where the still image is acquired in the living body. A process for displaying the image, the observation site information, and the template image together on the display unit is further performed.

  According to the endoscope system of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time spent for endoscopic observation of a subject as compared with the prior art.

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

  1 to 10 relate to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a main part of an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the keyboard connected to the processor of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen in the processor of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the setting screen in the processor of FIG. 1 different from FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor when the image data recorded on the PC card in FIG. 1 is reproduced. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example different from FIG. 5 of an image displayed on the monitor when the image data recorded on the PC card of FIG. 1 is reproduced. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example different from FIGS. 5 and 6 of an image displayed on the monitor when the image data recorded on the PC card of FIG. 1 is reproduced. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration when an endoscope insertion shape detection device is further added to the endoscope system of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the endoscope system of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on the monitor by performing the processing of FIG. 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 1 captures an image of a subject inside a living body as a subject, and outputs an image of the captured subject as an imaging signal, and an endoscope 2. A processor 3 that generates and outputs a video signal by performing signal processing on the imaging signal output from the display, and a display unit that displays an image of the subject corresponding to the video signal output from the processor 3 And a monitor 4 as a main part. The processor 3 is connected with a keyboard 5 that can input various characters and instructions, and a sound collecting microphone 6 that can input a voice and serves as a voice input unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 is connected to an operation unit 2a provided with a plurality of scope switches 13 capable of performing various operation instructions, and the operation unit 2a, and is placed inside a living body as a subject. An elongated insertion portion 2b that can be inserted and has an imaging portion 14 at the distal end portion, and a connector 2c that can be connected to one end portion of a cable (not shown) in which signal lines and the like are arranged. Is done. It is assumed that the other end of the cable (not shown) can be connected to a connector 21 provided in the processor 3. Furthermore, the endoscope 2 has a treatment tool channel (not shown) through which a treatment tool or the like for performing various treatments on the subject can be inserted from the operation portion 2a to the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2b.

  The endoscope 2 also outputs an instruction signal from the scope switch 13 to the processor 3 and an endoscope control unit 15 that performs control such as operation control of the imaging unit 14 according to the control signal from the processor 3. It is provided inside the operation unit 2a.

  The imaging unit 14 includes an objective optical system and an imaging element disposed at the image forming position of the objective optical system. Then, the imaging unit 14 captures an image of a subject existing in the field of view of the objective optical system at an imaging timing according to the operation control of the endoscope control unit 15, and captures the captured image of the subject as an imaging signal. Output as.

  When the scope switch 13 is operated by a user, for example, the scope switch 13 outputs an instruction signal for performing various operation instructions such as a freeze instruction and a capture instruction to the processor 3 via the endoscope control unit 15 or the like.

  The endoscope control unit 15 as an endoscope identification information output unit generates endoscope identification information including information related to the type of the endoscope 2 (for example, for the upper digestive tract), and the endoscope The identification information is output to the processor 3.

  The processor 3 includes a connector 21 to which the other end of the cable (not shown) can be connected, a switch, and the like, and outputs instruction signals for giving various operation instructions to the processor 3 and the like by user operations. An operation panel 22 and a PC card slot (not shown) through which the PC card 23 can be inserted and removed are provided on the exterior surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the processor 3 includes a pre-processing unit 31, an A / D (analog / digital) conversion unit 32, a digital video signal processing unit 33, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34, an image compression / A decompression unit 35, a CPU 36, a D / A (digital / analog) conversion unit 37, a post-processing unit 38, a drawing control unit 39, a storage unit 40, and a voice recognition processing unit 41 are configured. Is done.

  The preprocessing unit 31 configured by an amplifier, an analog filter, and the like amplifies the imaging signal output from the endoscope 2 and outputs the amplified imaging signal after performing preprocessing such as noise removal.

  The A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion on the imaging signal output from the preprocessing unit 31 and outputs the result.

  The digital video signal processing unit 33 performs processing such as digital filter processing on the imaging signal output from the A / D conversion unit 32 and outputs the processed signal. Also, the digital video signal processing unit 33 is output from the A / D conversion unit 32 so that a predetermined character string or (and) a predetermined image is displayed on the monitor 4 based on the control of the drawing control unit 39. The predetermined character string or (and) the predetermined image is superimposed on the imaging signal and output as a video signal.

  The RAM 34 temporarily stores the video signal output from the digital video signal processing unit 33, and outputs the stored video signal to the image compression / decompression unit 35 based on the control of the CPU 36. The RAM 34 temporarily stores the video signal output from the image compression / decompression unit 35 and outputs the stored video signal to the D / A conversion unit 37 under the control of the CPU 36.

  Under the control of the CPU 36, the image compression / decompression unit 35 performs, for example, JPEG compression processing on the video signal output from the RAM 34, and outputs the result. Then, the image compression / decompression unit 35 outputs the video signal after the compression processing as an image signal to the PC card 23 in a state where it is inserted in a PC card slot (not shown). The image compression / decompression unit 35 performs decompression processing on an image signal that has been subjected to, for example, JPEG compression processing, which is output from the PC card 23, under the control of the CPU 36. Thereafter, the image compression / decompression unit 35 outputs the image signal after the decompression process to the RAM 34 as a video signal.

  The D / A converter 37 performs D / A conversion on the video signal output from the digital video signal processor 33 or the RAM 34 and outputs the result.

  The post-processing unit 38 converts the video signal output from the D / A conversion unit 37 into a video format such as NTSC format or PAL format, and then outputs the converted video signal to the monitor 4.

  The drawing control unit 39 generates a predetermined character string or (and) a predetermined image based on the control of the CPU 36 and outputs the image to the digital video signal processing unit 33, and the predetermined character string or (and) the predetermined image. Control for superimposing an image on an imaging signal is performed on the digital video signal processing unit 33.

  The storage unit 40 including a non-volatile memory or the like holds programs and table data related to various processes performed by the CPU 36.

  The CPU 36 responds to an instruction signal output from the endoscope control unit 15 and the operation panel 22 based on the instruction signal based on the instruction signal, the imaging unit 14, the PC card 23, the digital video signal processing unit 33, the RAM 34, the image compression / decompression. Control of the unit 35 and the like is performed.

  The voice recognition processing unit 41 analyzes the content of the voice input in the sound collecting microphone 6 and outputs the analyzed result to the CPU 36 as voice analysis data. Then, the CPU 36 performs control based on the voice analysis data for each part of the processor 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard 5 is configured to be able to input information (hereinafter referred to as patient information) such as an ID number, a name, and an age of a subject to be observed using the endoscope 2. And a plurality of keys including a capture key 5a to 5f, a character input key, a numeric key, and the like.

  The capture keys 5a to 5f are keys that can issue an instruction to output the subject image captured by the imaging unit 14 of the endoscope 2 to the PC card 23 as a still image.

  When the user operates each of the capture keys 5a to 5f on the setting screen of the processor 3 as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the user selects the part of the subject associated with the still image to be output to the PC card 23. A name can be set. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the capture key 5 a is operated, the user outputs information indicating the duodenum in association with a still image to be output to the PC card 23, When the capture key 5b is operated, information indicating the cardia is output in association with the still image to be output to the PC card 23, and when the capture key 5c is operated, information indicating the pylorus is output. When the capture key 5d is operated, the information indicating the vat is output in association with the still image to be output to the PC card 23, and the capture key 5e is output. On the setting screen shown in FIG. 3, the setting that causes the information indicating the gavel to be output in association with the still image to be output to the PC card 23 when Ukoto can.

  In the present embodiment, the setting content of the item “Capture1” in the “Capture settings” column of FIG. 3 is the setting of the capture key 5a, and the setting content of the item “Capture2” is the setting of the capture key 5b. The setting content of “Capture 3” is the setting content of the capture key 5c, the setting content of the item “Capture 4” is the setting of the capture key 5d, the setting content of the item “Capture 5” is the setting of the capture key 5e, and the setting content of the item “Capture 6” Are reflected as the settings of the capture key 5f.

  The setting in each of the capture keys 5a to 5f can be realized by a selection method using a pull-down menu on a setting screen (of the processor 3) as shown in FIG. The pull-down menu may be directly selected by input from the keyboard 5 or a mouse (not shown), or generated and output by the voice recognition processing unit 41 in response to voice input from the sound collection microphone 6. It may be selected based on the voice analysis data to be processed.

  The pull-down menu is appropriately changed by control performed by the CPU 36 (for the drawing control unit 39 and the like) based on the endoscope identification information generated and output in the endoscope control unit 15 of the endoscope 2. . Specifically, the CPU 36 reads the table data stored in the storage unit 40 based on the endoscope identification information, for example, if the endoscope 2 is for the upper digestive tract, as shown in FIG. A menu with such contents (options such as “duodenum”, “cardia” and “pylorus”) is displayed on the setting screen, and for example, if the endoscope 2 is for the lower digestive tract, it is shown in FIG. Control for displaying a menu (options such as “rectum”, “descending colon”, and “transverse ileum”) different from those on the setting screen is performed (for the drawing control unit 39 and the like).

  Further, the settings in each of the capture keys 5a to 5f can be reflected on the scope switch 13 and a foot switch (not shown) on a setting screen (of the processor 3) as shown in FIG. Specifically, in each item of “Switch 1”, “Switch 2”, “Switch 3”, and “Switch 4” in the “Scope switch settings” column of FIG. The setting in each of ˜5f can be selected and reflected. Further, in the four items provided in the “Foot switch settings” column of FIG. 4, for example, the settings in each of the capture keys 5 a to 5 f can be selected and reflected for a maximum of four foot switches.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 36 having a function as a setting unit performs various processes for reflecting the setting contents made on the setting screens shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and information on the setting contents, and Assume that a RAM 36a as a setting content storage unit capable of temporarily storing information such as position information described later is provided.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, after connecting each part of the endoscope system 1, the user turns on and activates each part of the endoscope system 1. In addition, the user inserts the PC card 23 into a PC card slot (not shown) of the processor 3. It should be noted that the settings in each of the capture keys 5a to 5f are set in advance as the setting contents shown in FIG. 3 described above when each part of the endoscope system 1 is activated.

  The endoscope control unit 15 generates endoscope identification information at the timing when the endoscope 2 is activated, and outputs the endoscope identification information to the CPU 36 of the processor 3.

  Thereafter, the user inserts the insertion portion 2b of the endoscope 2 into the subject, and then is illuminated with illumination light supplied from a light source device (not shown) at a desired site inside the subject. The subject is imaged. The subject image captured by the imaging unit 14 of the endoscope 2 is photoelectrically converted and then output to the processor 3 as an imaging signal.

  After the imaging signal output from the endoscope 2 is input to the processor 3, the preprocessing unit 31 performs amplification and noise removal processing, and the A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion. The digital video signal processing unit 33 performs processing such as digital filter processing, the D / A conversion unit 37 performs D / A conversion, and the post-processing unit 38 performs signal conversion processing. Is output. As a result, an image of a subject in the duodenum, for example, as a desired part inside the subject, imaged by the endoscope 2 is displayed on the monitor 4 as an image.

  Then, the user gives an instruction to record the screen displayed on the monitor 4 as an image on the PC card 23 by pressing the capture key 5 a of the keyboard 5.

  When the CPU 36 as a part of the image recording control unit detects that the instruction signal is output from the capture key 5a of the keyboard 5 based on the setting contents stored in the RAM 36a, the image displayed on the monitor 4 is displayed. The drawing control unit 39 is controlled such that, for example, a predetermined character string indicating the duodenum is associated with (image to be recorded) as information indicating the duodenum. Then, the drawing control unit 39 as a part of the image recording control unit performs control such that a character string “dudenum”, for example, is superimposed on an image to be recorded as a predetermined character string indicating the duodenum. To the unit 33.

  Note that the image recording control unit in the present embodiment includes the CPU 36 and the drawing control unit 39.

  Based on the control of the CPU 36 and the drawing control unit 39, the digital video signal processing unit 33 superimposes a predetermined character string indicating the duodenum on the imaging signal output from the A / d conversion unit and outputs it to the RAM 34.

  The imaging signal output to the RAM 34 is converted into an image signal by being subjected to compression processing in the image compression / decompression unit 35 and then output to the PC card 23.

  As described above, the still image of the subject image displayed on the monitor 4 is recorded on the PC card 23 as, for example, JPEG image data. Also, under the control of the CPU 36, the patient information input from the keyboard 5 and the setting contents stored in the RAM 36a (the capture keys 5a to 5f, the scope switch 13 and the like of the subject assigned to the PC card 23) are controlled. Information such as observation site information corresponding to the name of the site is recorded as being associated with the image data (or embedded in the image data). The image data is a folder generated on the PC card 23 by the CPU 36 and is collected in a folder having the subject ID number as biometric identification information as a folder name (collected as data for each patient). Is recorded). Thereby, the PC card 23 as a recording medium stores image data of a still image acquired when observing one subject, observation site information corresponding to the image data, and an ID number of the one subject. Are recorded as associated states.

  Then, after the user finishes observing the inside of the subject with the endoscope 2, for example, by operating the keyboard 5, the user instructs the processor 3 to reproduce the image data recorded on the PC card 23. .

  The CPU 36 having a function as a display control unit causes the image compression / decompression unit 35 to output an image signal corresponding to the observation image recorded on the PC card 23 based on the instruction signal output from the keyboard 5.

  The image signal output from the PC card 23 under the control of the CPU 36 is subjected to expansion processing and conversion processing into a video signal by the image compression / expansion unit 35, and is output to the D / A conversion unit 37 via the RAM 34. After being subjected to D / A conversion by the / A conversion unit 37 and subjected to signal conversion processing by the post-processing unit 38, it is output to the monitor 4.

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 5, the patient information 101, the observation information 102, the observation site information 103, and the observation image 104 are displayed on the monitor 4 together.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the observation information 102 includes the date and time when the observation image 104 was acquired, the name of the doctor who performed the observation, the magnification when the observation image 104 was acquired, and the emphasis when the observation image 104 was acquired. Is included as information. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the observation site information 103 is information indicating which site (in the living body as the subject) the observation image 104 is.

  As described above, the observation site information 103 is information that is determined according to the setting of the capture key pressed during image recording. The observation site information 103 is displayed on the monitor 4 as a character string “Part: duedenum” in the case described above, for example, when an image is recorded by pressing the capture key 5a of the keyboard 5. . Thereby, the user can easily recognize that the observation image 104 is an image of the duodenum.

  The content displayed on the monitor 4 when the observation image recorded on the PC card 23 is reproduced is not limited to the patient information 101, the observation information 102, the observation site information 103, and the observation image 104. A body cavity template image 105 corresponding to the observation site information 103 may be further included.

  The body cavity template image 105 is an image showing a general organ shape generated by the drawing control unit 39 according to the control of the CPU 36 and the observation site information 103. Further, the body cavity template image 105 has a marker 105 a for indicating a part uniquely defined according to the observation site information 103.

  Specifically, for example, when the observation image 104 is of the duodenum, as shown in FIG. 6, the characters “Part: duedenum” as the patient information 101, the observation information 102, and the observation site information 103 are displayed. A column, an observation image 104, a template image 105 in the body cavity including an image showing the duodenum, and a marker 105a for indicating a general duodenum location are displayed on the monitor 4 together.

  The screen shown in FIG. 6 shows the screen when the observation image by the endoscope 2 for the upper digestive tract is reproduced among the observation images recorded on the PC card 23. For example, when the observation image recorded by the endoscope 2 for the lower digestive tract is reproduced among the observation images recorded on the PC card 23, for example, the screen shown in FIG.

  Specifically, for example, if the observation image 104 is a rectum, as shown in FIG. 7, the body part includes a character string “Part: rectum” as the observation site information 103 and an image showing the rectum. A template image 105 and a marker 105a for indicating a general rectal location are displayed on the monitor 4 together.

  Note that the endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the one having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and for example, as shown in FIG. 8 that further includes a device for detecting the insertion shape of the endoscope 2. It may be configured as an endoscope system 1A.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the endoscope system 1A is inserted into a subject, the endoscope 2 having the above-described configuration, the processor 3 having the above-described configuration, the monitor 4 having the above-described configuration. The endoscope insertion shape detection device 7 that detects the insertion shape of the endoscope 2 and outputs the detected result to the processor 3 as insertion shape information is provided as a main part. Similarly to the endoscope system 1 described above, the processor 3 is connected to a keyboard 5 capable of inputting various characters and instructions and a sound collecting microphone 6 capable of inputting voice.

  An endoscope insertion shape detection device 7 as an endoscope insertion shape detection unit includes a probe 71 that can be inserted into a treatment instrument channel (not shown) of the endoscope 2 and the shape of the probe 71 that is inserted into the endoscope 2. And an endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 capable of detecting the insertion shape (of the insertion portion 2b) of the endoscope 2 inserted into the subject.

  The probe 71 has an elongated shape (according to the shape of the insertion portion 2b of the endoscope 2) and has a predetermined interval in the longitudinal axis direction from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. A plurality of coils (not shown) are arranged inside.

  The endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 is connected to the processor 3 and the probe 71, and performs control for driving a plurality of coils (not shown) arranged inside the probe 71, thereby not showing the figure. A magnetic field is generated in each of the plurality of coils. The endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 receives the magnetic field emitted from each of the plurality of coils (not shown) in the antenna unit 72a, and based on the received result, the treatment instrument channel (not shown) of the endoscope 2 While detecting the shape of the probe 71 inserted inside, the detected result is output to the processor 3 as insertion shape information.

  The antenna unit 72a is configured to have a plurality of coils (not shown), for example, as a configuration that can receive a magnetic field emitted from the probe 71.

  Here, the operation of the endoscope system 1A will be described.

  First, after connecting each part of the endoscope system 1A, the user turns on and activates each part of the endoscope system 1. Further, the user inserts the PC card 23 into a PC card slot (not shown) of the processor 3 and inserts the probe 71 into the treatment instrument channel (not shown) of the endoscope 2.

  The endoscope control unit 15 generates endoscope identification information at the timing when the endoscope 2 is activated, and outputs the endoscope identification information to the CPU 36 of the processor 3.

  Thereafter, the user inserts the insertion portion 2b of the endoscope 2 into the subject, and then is illuminated with illumination light supplied from a light source device (not shown) at a desired site inside the subject. The subject is imaged. The subject image captured by the imaging unit 14 of the endoscope 2 is photoelectrically converted and then output to the processor 3 as an imaging signal.

  After the imaging signal output from the endoscope 2 is input to the processor 3, the preprocessing unit 31 performs amplification and noise removal processing, and the A / D conversion unit 32 performs A / D conversion. The digital video signal processing unit 33 performs processing such as digital filter processing, the D / A conversion unit 37 performs D / A conversion, and the post-processing unit 38 performs signal conversion processing. Is output. As a result, the monitor 4 displays an image of the subject imaged by the endoscope 2 at a desired site inside the subject.

  On the other hand, the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 receives a magnetic field emitted from the probe 71 at the antenna unit 72a, and detects the shape of the probe 71 inserted into the endoscope 2 based on the received result. At the same time, the detected result is output to the processor 3 as insertion shape information.

  The CPU 36 of the processor 3 obtains position information indicating in which part of the subject the distal end portion of the endoscope 2 exists based on the insertion shape information output from the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 as needed. Generate.

  Thereafter, the CPU 36 indicates that a capture instruction has been given (for example, by inputting an instruction signal) in each key of the scope switch 13 or the keyboard 5 other than those set on the setting screens of FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. Upon detection, based on the position information, the organ in which the distal end portion of the insertion portion 2b of the endoscope 2 is disposed, that is, the subject imaged by the imaging portion 14 provided at the distal end portion is detected. It is estimated which part in the living body the image is.

  Then, the CPU 36 renders the drawing control unit 39 so that the image displayed on the monitor 4 (image to be recorded) is associated with the observation site information as information acquired according to the estimation result. To control. Specifically, when the image to be recorded is an image of the duodenum, the CPU 36 controls the drawing control unit 39 so that a predetermined character string indicating the duodenum is associated with the image to be recorded. . Then, the drawing control unit 39 controls the digital video signal processing unit 33 to superimpose, for example, a character string “dudenum” on the image to be recorded as a predetermined character string indicating the duodenum.

  By performing the above-described processing and the like in each part of the endoscope system 1A, an image similar to the image shown in FIG. 5 described above is displayed on the monitor 4 when the observation image recorded on the PC card 23 is reproduced. Is done.

  Note that the CPU 36 is not limited to performing estimation of an organ at a position where the distal end portion of the endoscope 2 is present only at a timing when a capture instruction is given, for example, an endoscope insertion shape detection device It may be performed in real time based on insertion shape information output from the main body 72 as needed.

  In the endoscope system 1 </ b> A, past recorded images existing in the PC card 23 can be displayed on the monitor 4 together with images being observed by the endoscope 2. The specific action will be described below. In the following, for simplicity of explanation, the portions already described in the description of the operation of the endoscope system 1 are omitted as appropriate.

  After each part of the endoscope system 1A is activated, the CPU 36 detects the ID number of the subject D from the patient information of the subject D input on the keyboard 5 (step S1 in FIG. 9).

  The CPU 36 determines whether or not a folder FD having the ID number of the subject D as a folder name exists in the PC card 23 inserted in a PC card slot (not shown) (step S2 in FIG. 9). Then, when detecting that the folder FD does not exist in the PC card 23, the CPU 36 further performs a process of step S11 in FIG. Further, when the CPU 36 detects that the folder FD exists in the PC card 23, whether each part (the probe 71 and the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72) of the endoscope insertion shape detection device 7 is further operating. Whether or not is detected (step S3 in FIG. 9).

  When the CPU 36 detects that at least one of the probe 71 and the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 is not operating, the CPU 36 further performs a process of step S7 in FIG. 9 described later. Further, when the CPU 36 detects that both the probe 71 and the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 are operating, the position is determined based on the insertion shape information output from the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 as needed. Information is generated (step S4 in FIG. 9).

  The CPU 36 determines whether or not the same observation site information corresponding to the position information exists in the folder FD (step S5 in FIG. 9). Then, the CPU 36 indicates that the same part as the observation part information corresponding to the position information does not exist in the folder FD, that is, the part under observation by the endoscope 2 is indicated by the observation part information existing in the folder FD. Until reaching one of the parts, the processes of steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 9 are repeated. Further, the CPU 36 having a function as a display control unit has the same information as the observation part information corresponding to the position information in the folder FD, that is, the part being observed by the endoscope 2 is in the folder FD. When any one of the parts indicated by the observation part information existing in is reached, a past recorded image corresponding to the part being observed is output from the folder FD, and the past recorded image is displayed on the monitor 4 For this purpose (step S6 in FIG. 9).

  Through the series of processing and control described above, the monitor 4 is displayed on the monitor 4 while the desired part of the subject D is being observed, for example, as shown in FIG. Real-time observation image 201 of the region, the past recorded image 202 of the desired region existing in the PC card 23, date and time information 202a indicating the date and time when the recorded image 202 was acquired, patient information 101, and observation information 102 and observation site information 103 corresponding to the real-time observation image 201 are displayed together.

  Note that the image displayed on the monitor 4 as the recorded image 202 is, for example, any of an image with the latest acquisition date and time, a predetermined number of images selected in order of acquisition date and time, or all applicable images. Also good.

  When the CPU 36 detects that at least one of the probe 71 and the endoscope insertion shape detection device main body 72 is not operating in the process of step S3 in FIG. 9, the CPU 36 waits for input of an instruction signal corresponding to the capture instruction. The state is held (step S7 in FIG. 9). Then, when an instruction signal corresponding to a capture instruction made in any of the capture keys 5a to 5f of the keyboard 5 is input, the CPU 36 cancels the input waiting state and also records the image I1 to be recorded. Then, a process of associating with the observation site information of the image I1 is performed (step S8 in FIG. 9).

  Thereafter, the image data corresponding to the image I1 and the observation site information of the image I1 are stored together in the folder FD (step S9 in FIG. 9).

  The CPU 36 determines whether or not observation site information similar to that associated with the image I1 exists in the folder FD (step S10 in FIG. 9). When the CPU 36 detects that observation part information similar to that associated with the image I1 does not exist in the folder FD, that is, the observation part information in which the part from which the image I1 is acquired exists in the folder FD. Is different from any of the parts indicated by the above, the above-described processing from step S7 to step S9 in FIG. 9 is repeated. In addition, when the CPU 36 detects that observation part information similar to that associated with the image I1 exists in the folder FD, that is, the observation part information in which the part from which the image I1 is acquired exists in the folder FD. If it matches any of the parts indicated by, the same processing as in step S6 of FIG. 9 described above is performed. As a result, an image substantially similar to the image shown in FIG. 10 described above is displayed on the monitor 4.

  Further, when detecting that the folder FD does not exist in the PC card 23 in the process of step S2 in FIG. 9, the CPU 36 holds a state waiting for an instruction signal input in accordance with the capture instruction (step S11 in FIG. 9). . Then, when an instruction signal corresponding to a capture instruction made in any of the capture keys 5a to 5f of the keyboard 5 is input, the CPU 36 cancels the input waiting state and also records the image I1 to be recorded. Then, a process of associating the observation site information of the image I1 is performed (step S12 in FIG. 9), and a folder FD is generated on the PC card 23 (step S13 in FIG. 9). Thus, the image data corresponding to the image I1 and the observation site information of the image I1 are stored together in the folder FD (step S14 in FIG. 9).

  Of the processes performed in the endoscope system 1A shown in FIG. 9, processes other than the processes related to the endoscope insertion shape detecting device 7 (steps S3, S4, and S5 in FIG. 9) The present invention can also be applied to the endoscope system 1.

  As described above, the processor 3 according to the present embodiment records the name of the part of the subject corresponding to the image to be recorded without being separately input by the user while automatically associating the image when acquiring the image. The recording medium can be recorded on a medium. As a result, the processor 3 of the present embodiment can shorten the time spent for endoscopic observation of the subject as compared with the conventional case.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Of course, a various change and application are possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention.

The figure which shows an example of a structure of the principal part of the endoscope system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the outline | summary of a structure of the keyboard connected to the processor of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen in the processor of FIG. The figure which shows the example different from FIG. 3 of the setting screen in the processor of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a monitor, when reproducing the image data recorded on the PC card of FIG. The figure which shows the example different from FIG. 5 of the image displayed on a monitor when image data recorded on the PC card of FIG. 1 is reproduced. The figure which shows the example different from FIG.5 and FIG.6 of the image displayed on a monitor when reproducing | regenerating the image data recorded on the PC card | curd of FIG. The figure which shows the structure at the time of further adding the endoscope insertion shape detection apparatus to the endoscope system of FIG. The flowchart which shows the process performed in the endoscope system of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a monitor by performing the process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Endoscope system, 2 ... Endoscope, 3 ... Processor, 4 ... Monitor, 5 ... Keyboard, 7 ... Endoscope insertion shape detection apparatus, 36 ... CPU, 39 ... Drawing controller, 101 ... Patient information, 102 ... Observation information, 103 ... Observation site information, 104 ... Observation image, 105 ... Intracavity template image 201 ... Real-time observation image, 202 ... Recording image

Claims (10)

An endoscope including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject in a living body;
An image recording instruction unit for outputting an instruction signal for recording the subject image as a still image on a recording medium;
A setting unit that assigns observation part information indicating which part of the living body the image of the subject is to the image recording instruction unit;
A setting content storage unit for storing the setting content in the setting unit;
When it is detected that the instruction signal is output from the image recording instruction unit, the recording medium is associated with the still image and the observation site information based on the setting content stored in the setting content storage unit An image recording control unit that performs processing for output to
An endoscope system comprising: A plurality of the image recording instruction unit;
The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit can assign the observation site information to each of the plurality of image recording instruction units.   3. The image recording instruction unit is at least one of a scope switch included in the endoscope and a predetermined key included in a keyboard connectable to the setting unit. The endoscope system described in 1. A voice input unit capable of voice input; and a voice recognition processing unit that analyzes the content of the voice input and outputs the analysis result to the setting unit as voice analysis data.
The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit assigns the observation site information to the image recording instruction unit based on the audio analysis data. Furthermore, it has an endoscope identification information output unit that outputs endoscope identification information that is information on the type of the endoscope,
The said setting part changes the content of the said observation site | part information allocated to the said image recording instruction | indication part according to the said endoscope identification information, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Endoscope system. An endoscope provided with an insertion section that can be inserted into a living body, and an imaging section that is provided at the distal end of the insertion section and captures an image of a subject;
An endoscope insertion shape detector that detects an insertion shape of the insertion portion in the living body and outputs the detected insertion shape as insertion shape information;
Based on the insertion shape information, the position information of the distal end is acquired, and based on the position information, it is estimated which part of the living body the image of the subject is, and according to the estimated result An observation site information acquisition unit for acquiring the observed site information;
An image recording control unit that performs a process for outputting to a recording medium while associating the still image corresponding to the subject image and the observation site information;
An endoscope system comprising:   The image recording control unit performs processing for outputting biometric identification information for identifying the living body to the recording medium in association with the still image and the observation site information. The endoscope system according to claim 6.   Furthermore, when an instruction to reproduce the still image recorded on the recording medium is given, display control for performing processing for displaying the still image and the observation site information together on the display unit The endoscope system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a section.   The display control unit, based on the biometric identification information recorded on the recording medium, is a living organism that is identified by the biometric identification information recorded on the recording medium. The process for further displaying the still image recorded on the recording medium and the moving image being observed on the display unit together when the coincidence is detected. The endoscope system according to 8.   The display control unit, when instructed to reproduce the still image recorded on the recording medium, based on the observation site information recorded on the recording medium, Performing control for generating a template image indicating the acquired part, and further performing processing for displaying the still image, the observation part information, and the template image together on the display unit The endoscope system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the endoscope system is characterized.

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