JP2011011005A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of relatively displaying a distance between an observation object and the distal end part of an endoscope.SOLUTION: A scope controller 231 virtually divides an observation image into a plurality of meshes, and makes a laser radiation part 215 radiate laser light to the center point C of a mesh. A laser light reception part 216 receives the reflection light from the center point C to detect a phase of the reflection light. The scope controller 231 uses the phase difference between the radiated laser light and the reflection light to calculate a distance from the center point C to a distal end part 211. A system controller 301 draws an equal distance line corresponding to the received distance to synthesize a display image, and displays the display image on a display part 400. An equal distance line surrounding a sight nearest from the distal end part 211 is drawn in deepest color and the color is made lighter as the distance from the distal end part 211 becomes longer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that displays a distance between an observation object and an endoscope distal end portion.

  The endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope scope that is inserted into a subject's body and an endoscope processor that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing. A distal end portion of the endoscope scope is provided with a light guide that irradiates an observation target with illumination light, and an image sensor, for example, a CCD. The imaging device transmits an observation image obtained by imaging an observation object in the body to the endoscope processor. The endoscope processor displays the observation image on the display device after image processing.

  In general, the luminance of the observation image is reduced at a portion of the observation target that is far from the distal end. A configuration is known in which a luminance distribution of an observation image is obtained after processing for making the intensity distribution of illumination light constant by using this property, and contour lines of the luminance distribution are displayed (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4229791

  However, in the configuration in which the contour distribution of the luminance distribution is displayed, the distance to the distal end portion may not be displayed with high accuracy due to the color of the observation object. Further, in the conventional configuration, a process for making the intensity distribution of the illumination light constant is necessary, and the time required until the contour line display is performed increases. If the time required until the contour line display is increased, the operator cannot immediately grasp the distance between the site to be observed and the distal end portion, the observation time becomes longer, and the load on the subject increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an endoscope apparatus capable of relatively displaying the distance between an observation object and an endoscope distal end portion. .

  An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope, and is provided at a distal end portion with a laser light irradiation portion that irradiates an observation target with laser light, and the laser light irradiation portion is observed. Reflects the laser beam information used to calculate the distance between the laser beam receiver that receives the reflected light of the laser beam irradiated to the object and the observation object irradiated with the laser beam and the distal end. A laser information detection unit that detects using light, a laser distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between an observation object irradiated with laser light and a distal end using laser light information, and a laser distance calculation unit. In accordance with the calculated distance, an image processing unit that creates an equidistant line connecting parts having the same distance between the object to be observed and the distal end with a line, and a display unit that displays the equidistant line are provided. Features.

  The endoscope apparatus includes an imaging unit that is provided at a distal end portion and captures an observation target and transmits the observation image, and uses the luminance component included in the observation image to display the observation target and the distal end. An image distance calculation unit that calculates the distance of the object, and the image processing unit is a part where the distance between the observation object and the distal end is equal according to the distance calculated by the laser distance calculation unit and the image distance calculation unit It is also possible to create equidistant lines connecting the lines with lines.

  The imaging unit transmits the observation image while repeating an image transmission period for transmitting the observation image and a blanking period for not transmitting the observation image at a predetermined cycle, and the laser information detection unit transmits the laser light information within the blanking period. Is preferably transmitted.

  The laser information detector is preferably provided at the distal end.

  The laser information detection unit outputs laser light information as an electrical signal, and the endoscope apparatus includes an electrical signal conversion unit that converts laser light information from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and an optical signal that converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. A conversion unit, and the electrical signal conversion unit converts the laser light information into an optical signal and then transmits the optical signal to the optical signal conversion unit, and the optical signal conversion unit converts the optical signal into an electrical signal and then the laser distance calculation unit. It is preferable to transmit to.

  The endoscope apparatus includes an imaging unit, a laser beam irradiation unit, a laser beam receiving unit, a laser information detection unit, and a laser distance calculation unit, and includes an endoscope scope, an image processing unit, and a display that are close to the observation object. An endoscope processor having a section, the endoscope scope includes a connector for connecting to the endoscope processor, the laser information detection section is provided at the distal end, and the laser distance calculation section is It is preferable to be provided in the connector.

  The laser beam information is preferably the difference between the phase of the laser beam irradiated by the laser beam irradiation unit and the phase of the reflected light received by the laser beam receiver.

  According to the present invention, an endoscope apparatus capable of relatively displaying the distance between an observation object and an endoscope distal end is obtained.

It is the figure which showed the endoscope apparatus schematically. It is a timing chart which showed the timing which transmits laser beam information. It is the figure which divided the observation part into the some mesh virtually. It is the flowchart which showed the equidistant line display process. It is the figure which showed the display part which displays the equidistant line by a laser beam. It is the figure which showed the display part which displays the equidistant line by a laser beam and an observation image.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the configuration of the endoscope apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The endoscope apparatus 100 includes an endoscope scope 200 that is inserted into a subject's body, an endoscope processor 300 that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing, and a display unit that is connected to the endoscope processor 300. 400 is mainly provided.

  The endoscope scope 200 mainly includes a flexible part 210 to be inserted into the body of a subject, an operation part 220 held by an operator, and a connector 230 that connects the endoscope scope 200 and the endoscope processor 300. Prepare for.

  The distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 is inserted into the body of the subject, and the proximal end portion 212 is connected to the operation portion 220. The operation unit 220 is connected to the connector 230 by a flexible cable 203.

  The distal end 211 of the flexible part 210 is irradiated to the observation object 500 by the CCD 214 forming the imaging part, the laser light irradiation part 215 for irradiating the observation object 500 with laser light, and the laser light irradiation part 215. A laser light receiving unit 216 that receives reflected light of the laser beam, a laser information detection unit 217 that detects a phase difference of the light, and an electric signal conversion unit 219 that converts an electric signal into an optical signal are mainly provided.

  The CCD 214 images the subject via the imaging lens 218 and transmits the observation image obtained thereby to the electric signal conversion unit 219 as an observation image signal. The laser light irradiation unit 215 emits laser light having a predetermined wavelength and phase. Then, the laser light receiving unit 216 transmits the phase of the received reflected light to the laser information detecting unit 217.

  The laser information detection unit 217 detects a phase difference between the phase of the light irradiated by the laser beam irradiation unit 215 and the phase of the reflected light received by the laser beam receiving unit 216, and uses this phase difference as phase difference information as an electrical signal. The data is transmitted to the conversion unit 219. In this embodiment, the phase difference information forms laser beam information. At this time, the phase difference information is transmitted on the electric signal. The electrical signal converter 219 converts the electrical signal having the observation image signal and the phase difference information into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the connector 230.

  A light distribution lens 213 that distributes illumination light to the subject is attached to the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210, and a light guide is provided inside the distal end portion 211 and on the optical axis of the light distribution lens 213. The distal end of fiber 233 is exposed. The light guide fiber 233 is provided over the entire length of the endoscope scope 200 and conveys illumination light generated by an endoscope processor 300 described later to the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210. The illumination light is emitted from the distal end of the light guide fiber 233 toward the light distribution lens 213.

  The operation unit 220 includes an operation member 223 and first and second switches 221 and 222. The operator can move the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 in a desired direction by operating the operation member 223. When the operator operates the first switch 221, the endoscope apparatus 100 executes an equidistant line display process for displaying an equidistant line on a display image to be described later, and when the operator operates the second switch 222, the observation is performed. The endoscope apparatus 100 executes processing for recording an image as a still image. The equidistant line is obtained by connecting parts of the observation object 500 that have the same distance from the distal end 211 of the flexible part 210 with a line.

  An optical signal converter 232 and a scope controller 231 are provided inside the connector 230.

  The optical signal converter 232 receives the optical signal from the electrical signal converter 219 and converts it into an electrical signal. Then, the electric signal is transmitted to the scope controller 231.

  The scope controller 231 extracts phase difference information and an observation image signal from the electrical signal received from the optical signal converter 232. Then, after performing predetermined signal processing on the observation image signal, the observation image signal is transmitted to the endoscope processor 300.

  In addition, the scope controller 231 forms a laser distance calculation unit, and calculates the distance between the portion where the laser light is reflected and the distal end portion 211 of the flexible part 210 using the phase difference information. The calculated distance is transmitted to the endoscope processor 300 as distance information.

  Further, the scope controller 231 receives the command signals from the first and second switches 221 and 222 and transmits the command signals to the endoscope processor 300.

  The endoscope processor 300 includes a system controller 301 that controls the operation of the endoscope apparatus 100, an image memory 302 that forms a storage unit that stores captured images, and a light source 303 that irradiates the light guide fiber 233 with illumination light. Is mainly provided.

  The system controller 301 is electrically connected to the scope controller 231 through wiring and receives distance information and an observation image signal.

  When the observation image signal is received from the CCD 214, the system controller 301 performs image processing on the observation image signal to create a display image. Then, the display image is transmitted to the display unit 400. The display unit 400 displays this display image.

  When the distance information is received from the scope controller 231, the system controller 301 creates an equidistant line between the observation target object 500 and the distal end portion 211 described later using the distance information, and inserts the equidistant line into the observation image. That is, the system controller 301 constitutes an image processing unit.

The system controller 301 can also create equidistant lines between the observation object 500 and the distal end portion 211 using the luminance component included in the observation image. That is, the system controller 301 forms an image distance calculation unit. The luminance component Y is obtained by the following equation using the red signal R, the green signal G, and the blue signal B.
Y = 0.299 × R + 0.587 × G + 0.114 × B
The Y, R, G, and B signals have an 8-bit scale that takes a value from 0 to 255.

  At the time of imaging, the system controller 301 controls the light emission interval and the light emission amount of the light source 303. Thereby, the light quantity and timing of the illumination light irradiated to the observation target object 500 are adjusted.

  When the first switch 221 is operated, the system controller 301 creates an equidistance line based on the distance information received from the scope controller 231 and inserts it into the observation image. Then, the display image with the equidistant lines inserted is displayed on the display unit 400.

  When the second switch 222 is operated, the scope controller 231 transmits a switch operation signal to the system controller 301. The system controller 301 that has received the switch operation signal causes the image memory 302 to store one frame of the currently received observation image signal as a still image.

  Next, means for transmitting phase difference information from the laser light receiving unit 216 to the scope controller 231 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The electric signal converter 219 transmits the observation image signal at a predetermined cycle. More specifically, the transmission of the observation image signal is started after a lapse of a predetermined period after the vertical synchronization timing becomes Hi. This predetermined period is called blanking time, and is provided for reasons such as preventing noise and the like from being mixed into the observed image signal. The phase difference information is transmitted within the blanking time. That is, when the vertical synchronization timing becomes Hi, transmission of phase difference information is started. Thereby, the phase difference information can be transmitted to the scope controller 231 without providing a new wiring in the flexible part 210.

  Next, means for calculating the distance from the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 using laser light will be described with reference to FIG.

  The scope controller 231 virtually divides the observation image 600 into a plurality of meshes. Then, the laser light irradiation unit 215 is irradiated with laser light toward the center point O of the mesh. The laser light receiving unit 216 receives the reflected light from the center point O and detects the phase of the reflected light. The scope controller 231 calculates the distance from the center point O of the mesh to the distal end 211 using the phase difference between the irradiated laser light and reflected light. By performing this process on all meshes, the distance from the center point O of each mesh to the distal end portion 211 can be calculated.

  Next, the equidistant line display process will be described with reference to FIGS. The equidistant line display process is executed when the surgeon operates the first switch 221.

  In step S401, the scope controller 231 extracts RGB components from the observation image signal, and creates a mesh in the observation image.

  In step S402, the scope controller 231 causes the laser light irradiation unit 215 to irradiate the center of each mesh with the laser light.

  In step S403, the laser light receiving unit 216 receives the reflected light and detects the phase difference. Then, the scope controller 231 calculates the distance from the center point O of the mesh to the distal end portion 211 using the phase difference between the irradiated laser light and reflected light. The calculated distance is transmitted to the system controller 301.

  While steps S402 to S403 are being performed, in step S404, the system controller 301 calculates the distance from the observation site to the distal end portion 211 using the luminance information included in the observation image signal.

  In step S404, the system controller 301 creates an equidistant line 412 according to the distance calculated from the laser light and the luminance information, and synthesizes it with the display image. Then, the display image is displayed on the display unit 400 (see FIG. 6). At this time, if there is an error greater than or equal to a predetermined value between the distance calculated using the laser beam and the distance calculated using the luminance information, the periphery of the part with the error is displayed in a color different from the equidistant line. To do.

  By calculating the equidistant line 411 from the distal end portion 211 of the flexible portion 210 using the laser light, a display image as shown in FIG. 5 is created. Then, a more detailed equidistant line 412 can be obtained by combining the equidistant line calculated using the luminance information with the equidistant line 411 by the laser beam. At this time, the equidistant line 412 surrounding the portion closest to the distal end 211 is drawn in the darkest color, and the color representing the equidistant line 412 becomes lighter as the distance from the distal end 211 increases ( (See FIG. 6).

  The lesioned part tends to be brighter or darker than the non-lesioned part. Therefore, when calculating the distance to the lesion using only luminance information, if the lesion is brighter than the non-lesion, there is a tendency to calculate the distance shorter, and the lesion is darker than the non-lesion. In some cases, the distance tends to be long. Therefore, if there is an error greater than or equal to a predetermined value between the distance calculated using the laser beam and the distance calculated using the luminance information, the site having the error is determined to be a lesion and instructed to the display unit.

  Furthermore, by using the equidistant line by the laser light and the equidistant line by the luminance information, the size of the mesh used when measuring the distance by the laser light can be increased to some extent. Thereby, the time required for distance measurement can be shortened.

  According to this embodiment, it becomes easy for an operator to find a lesioned part quickly and accurately.

  Further, by using the optical signal, the observation image signal and the phase difference information can be transmitted in a short time. Thereby, the time lag from imaging to display can be shortened.

  Note that the imaging unit is not limited to the CCD 214, and may be an imaging element such as a CMOS.

  Further, the phase difference information may be transmitted to the endoscope processor 300 using a wiring newly provided in the flexible part 210.

  The equidistant line by the laser light may not be combined with the equidistant line calculated using the luminance information, and only the equidistant line by the laser light may be displayed on the display unit 400.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Endoscope apparatus 200 Endoscope scope 203 Cable 210 Flexible part 211 Distal end part 212 Proximal end part 213 Light distribution lens 214 CCD
215 Laser light irradiation unit 216 Laser light receiving unit 217 Laser information detection unit 218 Imaging lens 219 Electric signal conversion unit 220 Operation unit 221 First switch 222 Second switch 223 Operation member 230 Connector 231 Scope controller 232 Optical signal conversion unit 233 Light guide fiber 300 Endoscope processor 301 System controller 302 Image memory 303 Light source 400 Display unit 500 Observation object O Center point

Claims (7)

A laser beam irradiation unit that is provided at the distal end of the endoscope and irradiates the observation target with laser beam;
A laser beam receiving unit that is provided at the distal end and receives reflected light of the laser beam irradiated to the observation object by the laser beam irradiation unit;
A laser information detector for detecting laser light information used for calculating the distance between the observation object irradiated with the laser light and the distal end using the reflected light; and
A laser distance calculation unit that calculates the distance between the observation target irradiated with the laser beam and the distal end using the laser beam information;
In accordance with the distance calculated by the laser distance calculation unit, an image processing unit that creates an equidistant line by connecting parts with the same distance between the observation object and the distal end part with a line;
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays the equidistant line. An imaging unit provided at the distal end, for imaging an observation object and transmitting an observation image;
An image distance calculation unit that calculates the distance between the observation target and the distal end using the luminance component included in the observation image,
The image processing unit creates an equidistant line by connecting parts having the same distance between the observation object and the distal end part with a line according to the distance calculated by the laser distance calculating unit and the image distance calculating unit. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1. The imaging unit transmits the observation image while repeating an image transmission period for transmitting the observation image and a blanking period for not transmitting the observation image at a predetermined cycle,
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser information detection unit transmits laser light information within the blanking period.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser information detection unit is provided at the distal end. The laser information detector outputs laser light information as an electrical signal,
The endoscope apparatus further includes an electric signal converter that converts the laser light information from the electric signal into an optical signal, and an optical signal converter that converts the optical signal into the electric signal,
The electrical signal converter transmits the laser light information to the optical signal after transmitting the laser light information to the optical signal converter,
5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical signal converter converts the optical signal into the electrical signal and transmits the converted signal to the laser distance calculator. 6. The endoscope apparatus is
An endoscope scope that has the imaging unit, the laser light irradiation unit, the laser light receiving unit, the laser information detection unit, and the laser distance calculation unit, and is close to an observation object;
An endoscope processor having the image processing unit and the display unit;
The endoscope scope includes a connector for connecting to the endoscope processor,
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the laser information detection unit is provided at the distal end portion, and the laser distance calculation unit is provided at the connector.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser light information is a difference between a phase of laser light emitted by the laser light irradiation unit and a phase of reflected light received by the laser light receiving unit.