JP2018094312A - Operation management method for endoscope apparatus, endoscope apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To beforehand detect and communicate non-correspondence of software and a substrate to a predetermined function with respect to various combinations of a videoscope and a processor.SOLUTION: Prepared and held for each of a videoscope 10 and a processor 30 is a function correspondence database which indicates correspondence between each of a series of image-edit processing steps and software and substrate versions required for the respective image-edit processing steps. A function correspondence database of a newer version of the scope-function correspondence database and a processor-function correspondence database is determined as a reference database. The software and substrate versions incorporated into an apparatus holding a function correspondence database which is not the reference are checked against the function correspondence database to see whether or not they are non-corresponding to a function with respect to each image-edit processing step. If a non-corresponding image-edit processing step is present, a message to that effect is displayed on a screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus that images a subject such as a body organ using a scope (endoscope) and performs treatment, and more particularly to updating (updating) a program related to processing of the endoscope apparatus.

  In the endoscope apparatus, a videoscope and a processor operate under program control, and a programmable logic circuit such as an FPGA is also used for the control circuit and image signal processing circuit of the processor or videoscope. In such an endoscope apparatus, when a new function relating to image processing or the like is taken in, update work (version up or update) of software and firmware of the control program is performed.

  In an endoscope apparatus, there are a plurality of devices that can be upgraded, and there are also a plurality of video scopes, and the operation of performing such processing individually is time-consuming and complicated. For this reason, a folder suitable for the work environment is selected from the version upgrade programs prepared in advance, and the target devices are upgraded in a batch according to the program of the selected folder (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-215464 A

  When using a new model videoscope (or processor) with new functions in a conventional endoscope device, the connected processor (or videoscope) does not support that function. It cannot be updated at once.

  On the other hand, even if an attempt is made to perform such a function by updating the program, if the processor and the board inside the scope cannot be adapted to the new function, the system becomes inoperable by performing the version upgrade / update. There is a fear.

  Therefore, when a desired function is executed in the endoscope apparatus, it is required to appropriately cope with the function and prevent inoperability of the system.

  The operation of the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes management data in which a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus and software and / or board executable version information that can execute the respective processing functions are associated with each other. Keep in memory. The version information includes, for example, the minimum version number of software or a board necessary for realizing the function.

  Then, it is determined with reference to the management data whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by software and / or a board version incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope. If it is determined that the predetermined processing function cannot be executed, a message indicating that software update and / or board replacement is necessary is displayed on the screen. Such processing can be executed in a period that is not related to endoscopic work such as surgery and treatment, such as when the power is turned on or when the video scope and the processor are connected.

  As a determination method, a videoscope and a processor can be compared with each other in view of efficient processing. For example, it is possible to determine whether there is version software and / or a board that cannot execute a predetermined processing function in one of the processor and the videoscope.

  As an example, separately created scope management data and processor management data are stored in a scope memory provided in the scope and a processor memory provided in the processor, respectively. It is possible to determine whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed using management data having a relatively larger number as reference management data.

  In addition, a predetermined processing function can be executed by a software and / or a board version incorporated in a machine in which management data of a scope and a processor having a relatively smaller version number is stored. It can be determined based on the reference management data.

  By identifying and displaying on the screen a version of software and / or a board that cannot execute a predetermined processing function, the user can be informed of specific contents.

  An endoscope apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is a management data in which a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus are associated with software capable of executing the respective processing functions and / or executable version information of the substrate. A memory for storing the data, a control unit for referring to the management data and determining whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by software and / or a board version incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope; When it is determined that the processing function cannot be executed, a display processing unit that displays on the screen that software update and / or board replacement is necessary is provided.

  The program according to another aspect of the present invention includes an endoscope apparatus having a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus, software that can execute the respective processing functions, and / or executable version information of the board. With reference to the management data, whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by the reading means for reading the associated management data from the memory and the software and / or the board version incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope. If it is determined that the determination means and the predetermined processing function cannot be executed, it is made to function as a display processing means for displaying on the screen that software update and / or board replacement is necessary.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect and notify in advance whether the software or the board does not support the predetermined function even for various combinations of the video scope and the processor.

It is a lineblock diagram of an endoscope apparatus in this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the management process which determines the system operation | movement with respect to a series of image editing processes. It is the figure which showed partially the contents of the processor function correspondence database. It is the figure which showed the content of the message displayed on a screen.

  Below, the endoscope apparatus which is this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment.

  The endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope apparatus 100 having a video scope 10 to be inserted into the body and a processor 30 to which the video scope 10 can be detachably connected, and a monitor 60 is connected to the processor 30. ing.

  The processor 30 includes a lamp 40 such as a xenon lamp, and lights up when power is supplied from a light source power source (not shown). Light emitted from the lamp 40 is incident on an incident end of a light guide (not shown) provided in the video scope 10 via a condenser lens (not shown). Light emitted from the light guide exit end through the light guide is emitted from the scope distal end 10T toward the subject (observation target) via a light distribution lens (not shown). A diaphragm 42 is provided between the lamp 40 and the light guide.

  The light reflected by the subject is imaged by an objective lens (not shown) provided at the scope tip 10T, and a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 12. The image sensor 12 composed of a CMOS sensor, a CCD, or the like is driven by a drive circuit (not shown), and a pixel signal for one field or one frame is sent from the image sensor 12 at a predetermined time interval (for example, 1/60 second or 1/30 second interval). On the light receiving surface of the image sensor 12, a color filter array (not shown) in which color filters such as Cy, Ye, G, Mg or R, G, B are arranged in a matrix is disposed.

  The pixel signal read from the image sensor 12 is input to the signal processing circuit 15 via an amplifier (not shown), and the signal processing circuit 15 performs predetermined signal processing on the pixel signal. The pixel signal subjected to the signal processing is sent to the processor 30. The image processing circuit 56 of the processor 30 performs image signal processing such as white balance processing and gamma correction processing on the pixel signal. As a result, R, G, and B image signals are generated.

  By outputting the R, G, B image signals to the monitor 60, the observation image is displayed on the monitor 60 as a moving image. Further, the image processing circuit 56 performs contour enhancement processing, superimpose processing, and the like on the image signal. On the other hand, when recording a moving image file in the external storage device 70, the moving image data is temporarily stored in the internal memory 54 and then recorded in the external storage device 70 via the sub-controller 52.

  The main controller 50 including the main CPU outputs a control signal to the aperture 42, the image processing circuit 56, and the like, and controls the operation of the processor 30 while the processor 30 is in the power-on state. Further, the sub controller 52 including the sub CPU performs display control of the touch panel 53, conversion of moving image data into a file, and the like. Operation control programs for the main controller 50 and the sub controller 52 are stored in advance in a ROM (not shown).

  A scope controller 16 provided in the video scope 10 outputs a control signal to the signal processing circuit 15 to control the operation of the video scope 10. When the video scope 10 is connected to the processor 30, the data stored in the memory 14 is read and transmitted to the main controller 50 of the processor 30.

  The operator can perform various image editing processes by operating the touch panel 53. Here, the monitor 60 performs enhancement (outline enhancement) processing, structure enhancement processing, and surface enhancement processing according to the work environment. It is possible to apply to the observation image displayed on the screen. The structure enhancement process is an image process for enhancing the stereoscopic effect of the projected image of the tissue, and the surface enhancement process performs an image process so as to enhance the surface portion of the organ inner wall.

  Further, the processor 30 can execute contrast enhancement processing and R, G, B tone curve adjustment processing as new image editing processing. In contrast enhancement processing, image processing is performed so as to enhance the contrast of the observed image, and in R, G, and B tone curve adjustment processing, each of R, G, and B gradation corrections can be performed. When the video scope 10 and the processor 30 corresponding to such a new image editing process are connected, the contrast enhancement process and the R, G, B tone curve adjustment process are appropriately performed according to the input operation of the user.

  On the other hand, when the connected video scope 10 does not support the new image editing process, the new image editing process cannot be executed even if the user operates the touch panel 53. Conversely, if the processor 30 does not support a newer image editing process different from the image editing process described above, the image editing process is executed even if the connected video scope 10 supports the process. I can't.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the combination of the processor 30 and the connected video scope 10 can be used for each of a series of image editing processes, and if it cannot be used, that fact is displayed on the monitor 60. This will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a management process for determining a system operation for a series of image editing processes. When the main power supply of the processor 30 is turned on with the video scope 10 connected to the processor 30, or when the video scope 10 is connected to the processor 30 in the power-on state, the processing is started.

  In step S101, a function-corresponding database (hereinafter referred to as a scope function-corresponding database), software related to the videoscope 10, and version data of each board are read from the memory 14 of the connected videoscope 10. Also, a function correspondence database (hereinafter referred to as a processor function correspondence database) stored in the memory 55 of the processor 30, software related to the processor 30, and version data of each board are read out.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram partially showing the contents of the processor function correspondence database.

  Here, the processor function correspondence database is a database (management data) in which a series of image editing processes and software and board versions that enable execution of the image editing processes are associated with each other. The function ID is assigned. For each type of processor and video scope, version numbers essential for realizing each image editing process are shown. In FIG. 3, one processor model and three video scope models that can be connected to it are targeted. The three video scope models (K series, I series, and J series) have different parts as observation targets, and have different imaging element characteristics (number of pixels).

  The scope function correspondence database and the processor function correspondence database are stored in advance in the memory 14 of the scope 10 and the memory 55 of the processor 30, respectively. The scope-side function correspondence database and the processor-side function correspondence database are separate databases, and the versions differ depending on the time of manufacture and sale of the model or the time of database update. FIG. 3 shows the processor-side function correspondence database.

  Here, as a series of image editing processing, enhancement processing, structure enhancement processing, surface enhancement processing, contrast processing, R, G, and B tone curve processing are illustrated. In order to execute each image editing process, the software installed in the processor 30 and the video scope 10 or the version of the mounted board must be a number greater than or equal to the version indicated in the processor-side function correspondence database. Necessary.

  The software of the processor 30 and the software of the video scope 10 are software related to the operation control programs of the main controller 50 and the scope controller 16, respectively. Further, the substrate A, the substrate B, the substrate C, and the substrate D of the processor are substrates constituting the main controller 50, the sub controller 52, the image processing circuit 56, and the internal memory 54, respectively, as shown in FIG.

  The higher the software and board version number, the more recent the software or board. However, in order to distinguish between the software version and the board version, a version number is given after the alphabet. The version number is given separately for each software or board, and even if the numbers match, they are not necessarily created at the same time.

  For example, for enhancement processing, the software incorporated in the main controller of the processor and the version numbers of the boards A, B, C, and D mounted on the above-described circuits are S1, A1, B1, C1, and D1, respectively. A version is required. That is, it is possible to realize the software and the boards A to D with the oldest versions.

  For the video scope 10, for example, in the case of a K-series video scope, it is indicated that the software incorporated in the scope controller 16 and the version of the mounted board E may be K1, E1 or higher. .

  On the other hand, regarding the R, G, B tone curve processing as a newer image editing processing function, the versions of the processor software and the boards A to D require S3, A3, B1, C2, D2 or more, respectively. Also, the video scope (K series) software and the board E require versions K2 and E2 or higher, respectively.

  For example, if the software of the processor 30 in FIG. 1 and the versions of the boards A to D are S3, A3, B1, C2, and D2, respectively, the processor 30 can naturally handle enhancement processing and structure enhancement processing. , Surface enhancement processing, contrast processing, and R, G, B tone curve processing can all be supported.

  On the other hand, for example, when the software of the connected videoscope 10 and the version of the substrate E are K1 and E1, enhancement processing, structure enhancement processing, and surface enhancement processing can be handled, but contrast processing, R, G, and B tone curves Cannot handle processing. This is due to the software processing capability of the scope controller 16 and the like.

  Therefore, the processor 30 cannot be connected to the video scope 10 to execute contrast processing, R, G, and B tone curve processing. Conversely, if the software of the processor 30 and the boards A to D are S1, A1, B1, C1, and D1, the software of the video scope 10 (K series) and the version of the board E are K2 and E2. , Contrast processing, R, G, B tone curve processing cannot be executed. Similar problems occur with other video scopes (I series, J series) and other processors.

  In the present embodiment, the video scope 10 and the processor 30 determine whether or not a series of image editing processes can be handled based on the function correspondence database. In particular, the version of the software and board in one machine is determined by comparing and referring to the version number that is essential for each image editing process.

  Returning to FIG. 2, data such as the corp function correspondence database read in step S <b> 101 is temporarily stored in the memory 55 or the like. In step S102, the version numbers are compared between the processor function correspondence database and the scope function correspondence database. Of the two, a function-corresponding database with a new version (that is, a large number) is selected as a reference database. The larger the version number, the larger the number of image editing processing items listed in the database.

  As described above, the processor function-corresponding database and the scope function-corresponding database are databases stored separately in the processor 30 and the video scope 10, respectively. By using a newer database as a reference database, the processor 30, the video scope If any of the 10 aircrafts cannot cope with the functions listed in the database, the functions cannot be executed.

  When a database serving as a reference is set, the version of the board and the software incorporated in either the processor 30 or the video scope 10 that holds the other database that has not become the reference database is read out. Referenced (S103). At this time, for each function listed in the reference database, the software and board versions required on the reference database are compared with the read software and board versions.

  When there is a function that cannot be supported by the read software or board version, a message is displayed to inform the user that the function cannot be executed for that function, and that the update (version up or update) is necessary. As shown, display processing is executed in the processor 30 (S104, S105).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the content of a message displayed on the screen. In step S102, the display contents differ depending on whether the reference database is a scope function-compatible database or a processor function-compatible database. Also, the display contents are different when only software is not supported and when both software and board are not supported.

  Specifically, if the database for processor functions is used as a standard, if only the software of the video scope 10 is not compatible, it is necessary to update (or upgrade) the software (-). Is displayed (see A in FIG. 4). Further, if the board is not compatible, a display such as “... the board (-) needs to be replaced.” Is also performed (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

  On the other hand, when the videoscope function database is used as a reference, if only the software of the processor 30 is not supported, a display such as “... software (-) needs to be updated (or upgraded)” is displayed. (See C in FIG. 4). In addition, if the board is not compatible, a message such as “... the board (-) needs to be replaced.” Is also displayed (see C and D in FIG. 4).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the function correspondence database showing the correspondence between the series of image editing processes, the software essential for each image editing process, and the version of the board is stored in each of the video scope 10 and the processor 30. Prepare and hold. Then, a new version of the function-corresponding database among the scope function-corresponding database and the processor function-corresponding database is defined as the reference database, and the software and board incorporated in the aircraft holding the function-corresponding database that has not become the standard. Are checked against the function-corresponding database to determine whether or not the image editing process is incompatible. If there is an incompatible image editing process, a message to that effect is displayed on the screen.

  When the video scope 10 and the processor 30 determine that there is an aircraft that does not support the new function, the fact is displayed and the function execution is canceled. As a result, for example, when a videoscope with new functions is connected to a processor that is already in use at a customer site, etc., it becomes possible to notify the operator that it is not compatible, and there will be disruptions in the field due to the inability to realize the functions. The situation can be prevented.

  Further, when only the software is updated and the board is updated, there is a possibility that the operation becomes impossible due to inconsistency between the software and the hardware. However, such a situation can be prevented in advance.

  In this embodiment, the function-corresponding databases are prepared separately for the video scope and the processor, and determination is made based on any new version of the database. However, such function-corresponding databases are not compared, and one function-corresponding database is used. You may judge using. Further, for each image editing process, the essential version and the incorporated version may be checked against the video scope and the processor. Furthermore, it may be determined whether functions other than the image editing processing function can be executed in the same manner.

10 video scope 16 scope controller 30 processor 50 main controller

Claims (8)

Management data in which a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus and software capable of executing the respective processing functions and / or executable version information of the board are associated with each other are held in a memory,
It is determined with reference to the management data whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by software and / or a board version incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope,
An operation management method for an endoscope apparatus, wherein when it is determined that a predetermined processing function cannot be executed, a message indicating that software update and / or board replacement is necessary is displayed on a screen.   2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in one of the processor and the video scope, it is determined whether or not version software and / or a substrate that cannot execute a predetermined processing function exists. Operation management method. Scope management data and processor management data created separately are stored in a scope memory provided in the scope and a processor memory provided in the processor, respectively.
2. The scope management data and processor management data, wherein management data having a relatively larger version number is used as reference management data to determine whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed. The operation management method of the endoscope apparatus according to 2.   A predetermined processing function can be executed by the software and / or the version of the board incorporated in the machine in which the management data of the scope and the processor having the smaller version number is stored. 4. The operation management method for an endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein whether or not it is determined based on the reference management data.   5. The operation management method for an endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a version of software and / or a board that cannot execute a predetermined processing function is specified and displayed on a screen.   6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed is determined when power is turned on or when the videoscope and the processor are connected. Operation management method. A memory for storing management data in which a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus and software capable of executing the respective processing functions and / or executable version information of the substrate are associated with each other;
A control unit that refers to the management data and determines whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by software and / or a version of the substrate incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope;
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a display processing unit that displays on a screen that software update and / or board replacement is necessary when it is determined that a predetermined processing function cannot be executed. Endoscope device
A reading means for reading out management data from a memory in association with a series of processing functions related to the operation of the endoscope apparatus and software and / or executable version information of the substrate that can execute the respective processing functions;
A determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined processing function can be executed by software and / or a version of a substrate incorporated in each of the processor and the video scope, with reference to the management data;
A program which, when it is determined that a predetermined processing function cannot be executed, functions as a display processing means for displaying on the screen that software update and / or board replacement is necessary.

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