JP2644286B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices as imaging means and using each solid-state imaging device by connecting to a separate signal processing device.

[Prior art] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity,
2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes capable of observing organs in a body cavity and the like and performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary are widely used.

Also, various electronic endoscopes using a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) as an imaging unit have been proposed.

By the way, in the detection of early cancer, etc., it is sometimes important to identify fine irregularities on the surface.However, with a conventional endoscope, an observable image is planar, and it is necessary to identify the fine irregularities. Was difficult.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a plurality of solid-state imaging devices in the endoscope to enable stereoscopic viewing.

The electronic endoscope is connected to a light source device and a signal processing device for use. The light source device and the signal processing device may be integrated or separate. In such an electronic endoscope, as shown in JP-A-62-111040, a light guide connector connected to a light source device and an electrical connector connected to a signal processing device are separated. Nevertheless, in general, the electrical connectors are integral.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in an endoscope having a plurality of, for example, two solid-state imaging devices as described above, if the electronic connector is integrated, signal processing for each solid-state imaging device is performed. It is necessary to integrate two signal processors. Then, a dedicated electric connector of the endoscope having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices and a dedicated signal processing device are required. Such a dedicated electrical connector and a dedicated signal processing device may not be usable for a normal observation endoscope having one solid-state imaging device. In addition, the amount of attachment / detachment force of the electrical connector increases. In addition, a dedicated signal processing device having a built-in signal processing device corresponding to each solid-state image sensor can be used for an endoscope for normal observation. For users who use, the unnecessary signal processing device is always built in, which is not economical.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a plurality of solid-state imaging devices, and can be easily mourned by combining a plurality of signal processing devices used for normal observation. It aims to provide an endoscope.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] An endoscope according to the present invention is an endoscope having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices as imaging means, wherein connectors connected to the respective solid-state imaging devices are provided with separate signals. Forming a stereoscopic image when at least two of the connectors are connected to the signal processing device, and forming a planar image when the connector is independently connected to the signal processing device. Features.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope system, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system includes an endoscope 1 capable of stereoscopic viewing. The endoscope 1 includes a light source device 20 including a first video processor (hereinafter, referred to as a video processor (1)) 21 and a second video processor (hereinafter, referred to as a video processor (2)). 22 and to be connected to. A monitor 23 is connected to the light source device 20.

The endoscope 1 includes a slender, for example, flexible insertion section 2, and a large-diameter operation section 3 is connected to the rear end of the insertion section 2. A flexible universal cord 4 extends laterally from the operation unit 3, and a first connector 5 connected to a connector receiver 25 of the light source device 20 is provided at an end of the universal cord 4. Have been. As shown in FIG. 2, the first connector 5 has an electric connector 5a and a light guide connector 5b. A signal code 6 extends from a side of the first connector 5, and an end of the signal code 6 is connected to the video processor (2) 22.
A second connector 7 is provided to be connected to the connector receiver.

On the distal end side of the insertion portion 2, a rigid distal end portion 9 and a bending portion 10 which can be bent rearward adjacent to the distal end portion 9 are sequentially provided. The operating section 3 is provided with a bending operation knob 11, and by rotating the bending operation knob 11, the bending section 10 can be bent in the up / down / left / right directions. Further, the operation section 3 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 12 communicating with a treatment instrument channel provided in the insertion section 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, objective lens systems 37R and 37L are disposed at the distal end portion 9 so as to have a predetermined parallax. Note that the objective lens system 37R corresponds to the right eye, and the objective lens system 37L corresponds to the left eye. The objective lens system 37R, 37L
The solid-state imaging devices 40R and 40L such as CCDs are disposed at the image forming positions. The solid-state imaging devices 40R and 40L respectively include:
The signal lines 44R and 44L are connected. The signal line 44L on the side of the solid-state imaging device 40L corresponding to the left eye is inserted into the insertion section 2, the operation section 3, and the universal cord 4, and the first connector 5
This electrical connector is connected to the electrical connector 5a.
The video processor (1) 21 in the light source device 20 is connected via the connector 5a and the connector receiver 25. The signal line 44R on the solid-state imaging device 40R side corresponding to the right eye is
2, inserted into the operation unit 3, the universal cord 4 and the signal cord 6, and connected to the second connector 7, through which the video processor (2) 22 is connected. ing. And the solid-state imaging device 40L
Are driven by a bioprocessor (1) 21, and an output signal of the solid-state imaging device 40L is processed by a video processor (1) 21 for video signal processing. Similarly, the solid-state imaging device 40R is driven by a video processor (2) 22, and an output signal of the solid-state imaging device 40R is processed by the video processor (2) 22 for video signal processing.

Light distribution lens systems 52R and 52L are mounted on the distal end portion 9. The light distribution lens system 52R mainly irradiates illumination light to the visual field of the right-eye side objective lens system 37R, and the light distribution lens system 52L is mainly for the left-eye side objective lens system 37L.
The illumination light is applied to the field of view. The light distribution lens systems 52R and 52L have a light distribution lens system 52R with respect to the objective lens system 37R, and a light distribution lens system 52L with respect to the objective lens system 37L.
However, it is desirable to arrange them so that the conditions such as the amount of light, the number, the direction, and the distance between the objective lens system and the light distribution lens system are substantially the same. By arranging in this manner, the luminance distribution of the illumination light in each of the left and right images becomes substantially the same, and when the left and right images are superimposed, an image which is easy to see without flickering can be obtained.

At the rear end of each of the light distribution lens systems 52R and 52L,
Light guides 54R and 54L formed of fiber bundles are provided continuously. The light guides 54R, 54L are inserted into the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, and the universal cord 4, and the incident end side is integrated and connected to the light guide connector 5b of the first connector 5. . The integrated light guide is indicated by reference numeral 54.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 20 includes:
A lamp 62 is provided, and light emitted from the lamp 62 is condensed by a condenser lens 63 and is incident on a light guide 54 incident end of the first connector 5 connected to the connector receiver 25. ing. Further, inside the light source device 20,
A video signal from a video processor (1) 21 in the light source device 20 and a video processor (2) separate from the light source device 20
There is provided a video signal switching means 65 for inputting the video signal from the monitor 22 and alternately outputting the video signal to the monitor 23 at a predetermined cycle. Accordingly, on the monitor 23, at a predetermined cycle, a subject image captured by the right-eye solid-state imaging device 40R,
The subject image captured by the left-eye solid-state imaging device 40L is displayed alternately.

Further, in this embodiment, a switching signal from the video signal switching means 65 is input, and portions corresponding to the left and right eyes are alternately opened and closed in synchronization with the switching of the left and right images displayed on the monitor 23. A pair of glasses 67 with a liquid crystal shutter is provided. By observing the screen of the monitor 23 through the glasses 67, stereoscopic viewing becomes possible.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

The light emitted from the lamp 62 in the light source device 20 is incident on the incident end of the light guide 54 of the endoscope 1, is emitted from the distal ends of the branched light guides 54R, 54L, and is distributed by the light distribution lens system 52.
The object is irradiated through R and 52L. The return light from the subject is imaged on the solid-state imaging devices 40R and 40L by the objective lens systems 37R and 37L. The output signals of the solid-state imaging devices 40L and 40R are subjected to video signal processing by a video processor (1) 21 and a video processor (2) 22, respectively.
The video signals from the video processors 21 and 22 are alternately output to the monitor 23 at a predetermined cycle by the video signal switching means 65, and the monitor 23 captures the video signals at a predetermined cycle by the right-eye solid-state image sensor 40R. The subject image captured and the subject image captured by the left-eye solid-state imaging device 40L are displayed alternately. Then, by observing the screen of the monitor 23 through the glasses 67, the subject can be three-dimensionally observed.

In the present embodiment, the electric connector 5a connected to one solid-state imaging device 40L and the connector (electric connector) 7 connected to the other solid-state imaging device 40R can be connected to separate video processors 21 and 22, respectively. Are separated. Therefore, by combining the video processors 21 and 22 corresponding to an endoscope for normal observation having one solid-state imaging device, it is possible to support the endoscope 1 having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices, and it is possible to easily perform stereoscopic viewing and the like. A possible endoscope system can be configured.

Further, both the light source device 20 and the video processor (2) 22 can be used for an endoscope for normal observation, and the operability and economy are good.

Further, the amount of detachable force of the connectors 5, 7 can be reduced as compared with the case where the connectors are integrated.

As means for stereoscopic vision, for example, the left and right images are displayed simultaneously on the left and right sides of the same monitor or on separate monitors, respectively, and the left and right images are respectively viewed by the left and right eyes using polarized glasses or the like. It may be viewed or a lenticular lens may be used.

When the endoscope 1 of the present embodiment is used, in addition to stereoscopic vision, the video signal switching means 65 alternately sends video signals of the left and right images to the computer, and performs image processing by the computer, thereby providing a three-dimensional image. Image synthesis and measurement can be performed one after another.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the configurations of a light source device, a video processor and a video signal switching means in a modification of the first embodiment.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the video signal means 65 is provided on the video processor (2) 22 side. That is, the video signal switching means 65 is not provided in the light source device 20. Further, a signal processing device 70 in which the video processor (2) 22 and the video signal switching means 65 are integrated is provided.
The video signal from the video processor (1) 21 in the light source device 20 and the video signal from the video processor (1) 21 in the signal processing device 70 are input to the video signal switching means 65. The output of the switching means 65 is input to the monitor 23.

According to this modification, the light source device 20 can be configured in exactly the same manner as that corresponding to an endoscope for normal observation. And
When performing stereoscopic viewing or the like, the endoscope 1 having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices can be supported by adding the signal processing device 70.

Further, a modified example shown in FIG.
Is provided separately from the light source device 20 and the video processor (2) 22.

According to this modification, the light source device 20 and the video processor (2) 22 can be configured in exactly the same manner as those corresponding to the endoscope for normal observation. When performing stereoscopic viewing or the like, the endoscope 1 having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices can be supported by adding only the video signal switching means 65 to these components.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the universal cord 4 is
The light is branched into a light source side code 73 and a signal code 74 via a branching unit 72. A first connector 5 is provided at an end of the light source-side code 73, and a second connector 7 is provided at an end of the signal code 74. The signal line 44R connected to the solid-state imaging device 40R is connected to the signal code.
It is inserted into 74 and connected to the second connector 7.

According to the present embodiment, the degree of freedom of the positional relationship between the light source device 20 and the video processor (2) 22 is increased.

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a light source device 80 without a video processor is provided, and a video processor (1) 21 and a video processor (2) 22 are provided separately from the light source device 80. At the end of the universal cord 4 of the endoscope 1, a connector 81 connected to the light source device 80 is provided.
Two signal cords 82 and 83 extend from the connector 81. At the end of the signal cord 82, a connector 84 connected to the video processor (1) 21 is provided. Is provided with a connector 85 connected to the video processor (2) 22. And solid-state imaging device
The signal line 44L connected to the 40L is inserted into the signal code 82 and connected to the connector 84, and the signal line 44R connected to the solid-state imaging device 40R is inserted into the signal code 83 and connected to the connector 85. It is connected.

According to the present embodiment, the video processor (1) 21 and the video processor (2) 22 can have substantially the same configuration.

The video signal switching means 65 is a video processor (1)
21, the video processor (2) 22 and the light source device 80, or may be provided separately from them.

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a connector portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the first end of the universal cord 4 is
A connector 90 substantially similar to the connector 5 in the embodiment is provided. The connector 90 has an electric connector 5a and a light guide connector 5b, and can be connected to the light source device 20. A signal line is provided on the side of the connector 90.
An electrical connector receiver 91 connected to the solid-state imaging device 40R via 44R is provided. The electric connector receiver 91 and the video processor (2) 22 are connected via an electric cable 93. An electric connector 94 connected to the electric connector receiver 91 is provided at one end of the electric cable 93, and an electric connector 95 connected to the video processor (2) 22 is provided at the other end. Have been.

According to the present embodiment, when the endoscope 1 is held, as long as the connector 90 is held, there is nothing to hang around and the endoscope 1 is easily held. In addition, the connectors do not collide with each other, and there is no risk of breakage.

The electric connector 95 of the electric cable 93 may be left connected to the video processor (2) 22,
The electric connector 95 may be eliminated, and the electric cable 93 may be extended from the video processor (2) 22.

Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example,
Three or more solid-state imaging devices may be provided.

Further, the present invention uses an external television camera having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices connected to the eyepiece of an endoscope having a plurality of image guides and a plurality of eyepieces corresponding thereto. The present invention can also be applied to an endoscope device. That is, the connectors connected to the respective solid-state imaging devices of the external television camera may be separated so that they can be connected to separate signal processing devices.

The color imaging method may be a field sequential method in which illumination light is sequentially switched to R, G, B, or the like, or a color filter that transmits R, G, B, or other color light on the front surface of the solid-state imaging device may be a mosaic. A simultaneous type in which filter arrays arranged in the same manner may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in an endoscope having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices, connectors connected to each of the solid-state imaging devices are separated and connected to separate signal processing devices. Since it is made possible, there is an effect that it can be easily dealt with by combining a plurality of signal processing devices used for normal observation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope system, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the endoscope system, and FIG. FIG. 4 and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a light source device, a video processor, and a video signal switching unit according to a modification of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an endoscope system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a connector portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope, 20 ... Light source device 5 ... 1st connector, 7 ... 2nd connector 21,22 ... Video processor 40R, 40L ... Solid-state image sensor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices as imaging means, wherein connectors connected to each of the solid-state imaging devices are separated so as to be connectable to separate signal processing devices, respectively. An endoscope which forms a stereoscopic image when one of the connectors is connected to the signal processing device, and forms a planar image when the connector is independently connected to the signal processing device.