JP2012161541A - Medical image processing device and electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image processing device suitable for inhibiting a taken moving image from being lost when a file is not normally closed.SOLUTION: The medical image processing device includes: a compressed data generating unit for generating compressed moving image data by compressing the moving image through predetermined digital encoding; and a file storage unit for automatically filing the generated compressed moving image data every time predetermined conditions are satisfied, and sequentially storing the files in a predetermined storage medium.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus that compresses a moving image using a predetermined digital encoding method and stores it in a recording medium or the like.

  As a system for observing the inside of a body cavity of a patient, an electronic endoscope system is generally known and put into practical use. This type of electronic endoscope system includes an image processing apparatus that processes an image in a body cavity imaged by an imaging device mounted at the tip of an electronic scope so that the image can be displayed on a monitor.

  A specific configuration example of an electronic endoscope system including an image processing device is described in Patent Document 1. The image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 compresses a captured image using a predetermined digital encoding method so that the captured image (moving image or still image) can be confirmed at any place after surgery. The image processing apparatus can reproduce the captured image on an information processing terminal other than an electronic endoscope system such as a PC, so that an extension suitable for the file system is attached to the compressed moving image data to form a file and recorded on a memory card or the like. Save to media.

Japanese Patent No. 4531416

  However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620, when a recording medium is detached from the image processing apparatus or the power of the image processing apparatus is turned off during the compression or conversion of the captured image, the file may not be closed normally. In particular, when the captured image is a moving image, dynamic information in the body cavity that has been captured so far and can be an important material for diagnosing the patient is substantially lost, which is not desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus and electronic device suitable for suppressing loss of a captured moving image when a file is not normally closed. An endoscope system is provided.

  A medical image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a compressed data generation unit that generates compressed moving image data by compressing a moving image using a predetermined digital encoding method, and a generated compressed moving image. It is characterized by having a file storage means for automatically creating a file every time a predetermined condition is satisfied and sequentially storing the data in a predetermined recording medium.

  According to the present invention, originally a single compressed moving image file is automatically divided into compressed moving image files in units satisfying a predetermined condition and sequentially stored. For this reason, for example, even if there is a problem that the file does not close normally during compression or filing of the shot image, the saved compressed movie file that has been filed can be used. Loss is effectively suppressed.

  As the predetermined condition, it is assumed that a certain time has passed or that the compressed moving image data has reached a certain data amount.

  A recording medium that is a storage destination of the compressed moving image file after file conversion is an external storage such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a memory card, or an external HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  The medical image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a capacity check unit that checks a remaining capacity of a recording medium when the compressed moving image file is stored in the recording medium, and a case where the compressed moving image file cannot be stored due to a shortage of the remaining capacity. It is good also as a structure which has a notification means to notify that.

  An electronic endoscope system according to an aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems includes the medical image processing device and an electronic scope that captures a moving image and outputs the moving image to the medical image processing device. At least one of the operation unit of the electronic scope and the operation unit of the medical image processing apparatus has a user interface for instructing to start or end the compression of the moving image by the data generation unit and the storage of the compressed moving image file by the file storage unit. It is characterized by.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the medical image processing apparatus suitable for suppressing the loss of the imaging | photography moving image when a file is not closed normally, and an electronic endoscope system are provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic endoscope system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the recording process performed when the recording button provided in the electronic scope of embodiment of this invention is pushed.

  Hereinafter, an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 1 includes an electronic scope 100, a processor 200, and a monitor 300. The proximal end of the electronic scope 100 is connected to the processor 200. The processor 200 is an apparatus that integrally includes an image processing device that processes an imaging signal output from the electronic scope 100 to generate an image, and a light source device that illuminates a body cavity that does not reach natural light via the electronic scope 100. is there. In another embodiment, the image processing device and the light source device may be configured separately. In addition, the image processing apparatus (and the light source apparatus) constitutes a medical electronic endoscope system in this embodiment, but in another embodiment, other forms such as an ultrasonic image diagnosis apparatus and an X-ray fluoroscopic diagnosis apparatus are used. It is good also as a structure incorporated in the medical device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the processor 200 includes a system controller 202 and a timing controller 204. The system controller 202 controls each element constituting the electronic endoscope system 1. The timing controller 204 outputs a clock pulse for adjusting the signal processing timing to various circuits in the electronic endoscope system 1.

  The lamp 208 emits white light after being started by the lamp power igniter 206. As the lamp 208, a high-intensity lamp such as a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, or a metal halide lamp is suitable. The illumination light radiated from the lamp 208 is collected by the condenser lens 210, is limited to an appropriate amount of light through the diaphragm 212, and enters an incident end of an LCB (Light Carrying Bundle) 102.

  A motor 214 is mechanically connected to the diaphragm 212 via a transmission mechanism such as an arm or a gear (not shown). The motor 214 is a DC motor, for example, and is driven under the drive control of the driver 216. The diaphragm 212 is operated by the motor 214 to change the opening degree so that the image displayed on the monitor 300 has an appropriate brightness, and the amount of illumination light emitted from the lamp 208 is limited according to the opening degree. To do. The appropriate reference for the brightness of the image is changed according to the brightness adjustment operation of the front panel 218 by the operator. Note that the dimming circuit that controls the brightness by controlling the driver 216 is a well-known circuit and is omitted in this specification.

  Various forms of the configuration of the front panel 218 are assumed. As a specific configuration example of the front panel 218, a hardware key for each function mounted on the front surface of the processor 200, a touch panel GUI (Graphical User Interface), a combination of a hardware key and a GUI, and the like are assumed. .

  The illumination light incident on the incident end of the LCB 102 propagates by repeating total reflection in the LCB 102. The illumination light that has propagated through the LCB 102 is emitted from the exit end of the LCB 102 disposed at the tip of the electronic scope 100. The illumination light emitted from the exit end of the LCB 102 illuminates the subject via the light distribution lens 104. The reflected light from the subject forms an optical image at each pixel on the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 108 via the objective lens 106.

  The solid-state imaging device 108 is, for example, a single-plate color CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor having a Bayer-type pixel arrangement, accumulates an optical image formed by each pixel on the light receiving surface as a charge corresponding to the amount of light, It converts into the image pick-up signal according to each color of R, G, B. The converted image signal is amplified by the preamplifier 110 and then input to the signal processing circuit 220 via the driver signal processing circuit 112. In another embodiment, the solid-state image sensor 108 may be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

  The timing controller 204 supplies clock pulses to the driver signal processing circuit 112 in accordance with timing control by the system controller 202. The driver signal processing circuit 112 drives and controls the solid-state imaging device 108 at a timing synchronized with the frame rate of the video processed on the processor 200 side in accordance with the clock pulse supplied from the timing controller 204.

  The imaging signal input to the signal processing circuit 220 is processed for each color of R, G, and B in units of frames for each color signal after processing such as clamping, knee, γ correction, interpolation processing, AGC (Auto Gain Control), AD conversion, etc. Buffered in a frame memory (not shown). Each buffered color signal is swept from the frame memory at a timing controlled by the timing controller 204, and converted into a video signal conforming to a predetermined standard such as NTSC (National Television System Committee) or PAL (Phase Alternating Line). Converted. By sequentially inputting the converted video signals to the monitor 300, an image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 300.

  A recording button 114 is provided on a hand control unit (not shown) of the electronic scope 100. In FIG. 1, the connection between the recording button 114 and other blocks is omitted in order to simplify the drawing. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a recording process executed when the recording button 114 is pressed. For convenience of explanation, the processing step is abbreviated as “S” in the description and drawings in this specification.

  In the process of S1, when the recording button 114 is pressed, the compression circuit 222 starts to compress the captured moving image. Specifically, the compression circuit 222 sequentially takes in frame images generated immediately after the recording button 114 is pressed from the frame memory, and compresses them using a predetermined digital encoding method. Thereby, compressed moving image data is generated. Examples of compression methods include MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), H.264, and the like. H.264 or the like.

  In the process of S2, it is determined whether or not the recording button 114 has been pressed again. Here, the recording button 114 is configured to receive a recording start and end operation input with one button in order to efficiently use the limited button arrangement space of the hand operation unit of the electronic scope 100. . The operation of the recording button 114 when the moving image compression is not performed is a recording start operation, and the operation of the recording button 114 during the moving image compression is a recording end operation.

  When the recording end operation is performed (S2: YES), in the process of S3, the recorded moving image can be played back by an information processing terminal other than the electronic endoscope system 1, such as a PC. The compressed moving image data is converted into a file with an extension adapted to a predetermined file system (for example, FAT (File Allocation Tables) 32).

  The processor 200 has a USB port 224. A USB memory 400 is inserted into the USB port 224. In the process of S <b> 4, the compressed moving image file converted into a predetermined file format is transferred from the compression circuit 222 to the USB port 224. In the process of S5, the transferred compressed moving image file is written in the USB memory 400. In the process of S6, since the recording end operation is performed (S6: YES), the process of this flowchart ends.

  The processor 200 checks the remaining capacity of the USB memory 400 when writing the compressed moving image file, and notifies the fact using the monitor 300 or the front panel 218 when the compressed moving image file cannot be stored due to insufficient capacity.

  If the recording end operation is not performed in the process of S2 (S2: NO), after the recording start operation is performed or the previous compressed moving image data is filed (more accurately, the previous file conversion is performed). It is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed (after starting the compression of the moving image after the target moving image) (S7). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (S7: NO), the process returns to S1. When the predetermined time has elapsed (S7: YES), the processes of S3 to S5 are executed. In the process of S6, since the recording end operation is not performed (S6: NO), the process returns to S1.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the compressed moving image data is automatically filed at regular time intervals unless the recording end operation is performed after the start of the recording process shown in FIG. Is written to. For example, if the recording of the inside of the body cavity is continued for 1 hour with a fixed time of 5 minutes, a total of 12 compressed moving image files of 5 minutes are stored in the USB memory 400. Originally, a single compressed video file is divided into a plurality of short time compressed video files and sequentially stored, so that, for example, the USB memory 400 is dropped from the USB port 224 or the processor 200 is in the process of compressing or filing a captured image. Even if an unexpected situation such as a power failure occurs, a compressed moving image file that has already been filed and written can be used, so that the loss of the captured moving image can be effectively suppressed.

  The above is the description of the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, a recording button for compressing and storing a moving image may be provided on the front panel 218 as well as the operation unit of the electronic scope 100. Further, the recording button 114 does not necessarily have to be a button, and may be any user interface capable of inputting instructions such as a switch and a touch panel.

  The processor 200 may include a decompression circuit that decompresses the compressed video file and outputs the compressed video file to the signal processing circuit 220 in order to play back the compressed video file stored in the USB memory 400 on the monitor 300.

  The recording medium that is the storage destination of the compressed moving image file is not limited to the USB memory 400, but may be another form of external storage such as a memory card or an external HDD. Alternatively, a built-in memory (not shown) installed in the processor 200 may be a storage destination for the compressed moving image file.

  The compressed moving image file has a file size that increases or decreases due to a change in compression rate that depends on the content of the image (brightness / darkness difference, saturation difference, luminance difference, etc. of observation objects between frames). The larger the file size, the longer it takes to transfer the compressed video file to the USB memory 400 or the external storage. Therefore, sufficient processing power cannot be allocated to the imaging process or the compression process, or the transfer speed of the compressed video file decreases. There is a concern about the malfunction. In another embodiment, in order to avoid the occurrence of these problems, the “recording start operation is performed in S7 of FIG. 2 or the previous compressed video data is filed (more precisely, the previous time) Determine whether or not a certain amount of time has passed (after starting to compress the video after the video to be filed), or whether it is generated after the previous file conversion or the amount of compressed video data generated after the recording start operation Instead of determining whether the amount of compressed video data (more precisely, the amount of compressed video data generated by compressing the video after the previous video to be filed) has reached a certain amount of data ” It is good also as a structure which performs a recording process. According to another embodiment, since the file size of the compressed moving image file is constant regardless of the content of the image, the design for suppressing delays in the imaging process, the compression process, and the transfer process is facilitated.

1 Electronic Endoscope System 100 Electronic Scope 114 Recording Button 200 Processor 220 Signal Processing Circuit 222 Compression Circuit 224 USB Port 300 Monitor 400 USB Memory

Claims (5)

Compressed data generating means for compressing a moving image by a predetermined digital encoding method to generate compressed moving image data;
A file storage means for automatically generating a file every time a predetermined condition is satisfied and sequentially storing the generated compressed moving image data in a predetermined recording medium;
A medical image processing apparatus comprising:   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a certain time has elapsed or that the compressed moving image data has reached a certain data amount.   The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an external storage. Capacity checking means for checking the remaining capacity of the recording medium when the compressed video file after the file is stored in the recording medium;
A notification means for notifying that when the remaining capacity is insufficient and the compressed video file cannot be stored;
The medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: The medical image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An electronic scope that captures the moving image and outputs it to the medical image processing apparatus;
Have
A user interface for instructing to start or end the compression of the moving image by the compressed data generation unit and the storage of the compressed moving image file after the file storage by the file storage unit is provided on the handy operation unit of the electronic scope or the medical image An electronic endoscope system comprising at least one of operation units of a processing apparatus.

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